Wednesday, December 2, 2009

If these stones could talk...

The old homeplace of Sam Cofield still exists although it is in very bad condition. The log walls have been covered up with paneling, and this has provided some protection, but it's just a matter of time before the wonderful old house is gone forever. The stone chimney is still standing, rather proudly, although it seems as if the chimney and the house are propping each other up. The stones have such a history ... if only they could talk, what stories they could tell! And that old tree! Can't you imagine Sam's children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren playing under its shade?

Sam Cofield was my grandmother Pearl's grandfather, and he played an important part in her life following the death of his son, her father.


5 comments:

Untangled Family Roots said...

Wow what a special, tangible piece of your history. I see the building in the back is now gone. If only there was a way to rescue that building before it's completely gone. Is there a local museum that could rescue it, maybe even remove the siding and restore it to it's former glory? It's amazing that it's still there.

Anonymous said...

Be sure that you have a way to keep the photos retrieved from your camera disks in some form to make replacable copies (we keep learning that our disks of yesteryear are not a lifetime investment - remember all the stuff we had stored on Beta Max tape?). Did you transfer all those tapes to the disk players?

I don't know where Ron got the "Gold" CD's that are supposed to hold up for 300 years! - and they "ain't" cheap. . . SO!, my big question to him at the time, "With all the new creations/technology in less than 100 years, do you suppose that our new machines will reproduce from our disks or film?

At least you know who lived in those homes etc. and have that documented for the future generations - they may not know how they are connected to their family, but will know that they meant something to their ancestor who took the time to go out and photograph before they are gone. (I am so proud of the photos that we made of the home of the late Dr. Achilles L. Moorman and wife Ophelia Stone Moorman and or Morman & Kate Robinson Stone on May 30, 1980 in Bexar, AL. Oh, some of the house looked like it was almost ready to fall down, but after the drug makers burned it down to prevent getting caught makes my old photos and negatives so much more valuable to their descendants.) So please do make sure that all photos are properly identified NOW! bettye

Janice Tracy said...

Great photos and story....what a wonderful part of your family history. And I hope there is a way for the building to be preserved.

Don Dulaney said...

You know what I think you should do!

LPM said...

Don, I know what you are thinking and I think so too. I know some folks who are experts at moving log cabins!