THE GENEALOGY OF A LANDSCAPE
Brenda Kellow
August 12, 2012
Several polls and articles appeared lately asking whether or not you have searched the history on your home. Having built the homes I have lived in with my parents and husband, I have not done that. However, new to me is the genealogy of a home’s original landscaping.
One such home’s landscaping is the Saigling house that sits on the northwest corner of Haggard Park. The Saigling family lived in the house until about 1932. It is most likely the first brick house in Plano and may have had the first basement in town. I do know of one other home on the east side with a basement, and it is in good condition, too.
When I was growing up, Ann Myers lived in the Saigling house with her parents who were the owners from about 1945-1972. I visited Ann on a few occasions. I remember her home being a nicely furnished home. It had a basement, as did another house on the east side. Both of these basements held the furnace, was dark, scary and damp. I do not remember the landscaping being memorable. I do remember that in those days there were many English boxwood hedges and Nandina bushes around the old homes. My parents’ home had those and the sweetest smelling lilac bushes in the back of the house, a black walnut tree, red buds, peach trees, pear trees and crepe myrtles.
Now that Collin Intervention to Youth (C.I.T.Y.) has the house up for sale, Candace Fountoulakis, [email protected], is trying to find out about the original landscaping when the Saigling family lived there. Candace is only interested in the landscaping by the original owner. I will be interested in hearing about the landscaping genealogy of the Saigling house of Plano.
If you have any information you could share with Candace, please contact her. Many of the older homes in Plano are historic and deserve having the history uncovered. I think I will investigate the family history of that other home with the spooky basement. I went to school with their daughter and her cousins, too.
1940 CENSUS INDEX COMPLETE ON ANCESTRY: Ancestry.com finished indexing the 1940 census for every state and it is available online. You can access Ancestry free at the Genealogy Library with a library card.
HISTORY OF PLANO BOOK SIGNING: Janice Cline will be signing copies of her new book, History of Plano on August 13, at 1013 15th St.
PATRICK HENRY FILMED IN BONHAM: Last fall at Fort Inglish Village in Bonham a film was produced about Patrick Henry. Some of the locals were extras in the film. It is being shown on Friday, August 17 at 6 p.m. at the Rialto Theatre in Denison, 424 West Main Street, www.rialtodenison.com. I was finally able to have a film of Patrick Henry produced here in Bonham, Texas at Fort Inglish Village last fall. Some of you were involved in the filming. We are having a showing of the film in conjunction with a showing of “The Patriot” with Mel Gibson at the Rialto Theatre in Denison Texas, 424 West Main Street, on Friday, August 17, 2012 at 6:00 p.m. If you have a costume or period clothing they ask for you to wear it. It is being shown in conjunction with “The Patriot” starring Mel Gibson. It is being billed as “Founding Fathers Night.”
MORE ON POSSIBLE ANCESTRY BUYOUT: A rumor surfaced a few weeks ago about a possible buyout of Ancestry.com. The second quarter financials report the profits are up. The Salt Lake Tribune announced on July 29 the final bids for the sale is due next month. However, Ancestry.com CEO Tim Sullivan declined to comment. I guess we will just have to wait and see if there is a sale or not. You can read the Tribune report at www.sltrib.com/sltrib/money/54573263-79/ancestry-com-million-analysts.html.csp.
Brenda Kellow has a bachelor's degree in history, teaches, and lectures on genealogy. Before retiring to publish her family’s histories in 2007, Brenda held certification as a Certified Genealogist and as a certified Genealogical Instructor. Send reunion announcements, books to review, and genealogy queries to: [email protected].