Now that I have retired I can attend the Dutch Fork Genealogy Society monthly meetings. That wasn’t always the case. The group meets in the morning at Crooked Creek Recreational Center in Chapin. The meetings are held in the heart of the Dutch Fork.

Through the years I kept up with them at annual meetings and the state genealogy workshop in the summer. Shirley Trotter could be counted on to attend these meetings. She lead us through genealogy charts and selling the club’s publications, maps, and books.

Since the fall, Dutch Fork has been discussing the upcoming annual meeting. The new research facility in Little Mountain opening in April was also discussed.

This year’s annual meeting will be held at St. Jacobs Lutheran Church outside of Chapin April 27th. Speakers Vernon Tanner and Michael Iron Horse Matthews have been invited. They will speak during the morning and afternoon sessions. They plan to discuss Native American topics and to demonstrate the way of the Red Road. There has been considerable interest across the state. Dutch Fork is expecting a larger than usual crowd for this meeting.

If you would like more information there is a Facebook page. It will have more information as the event gets closer. Search for SC Chapter of the Dutch Fork Genealogy Society or visit www.facebook.com/dutchforkchapterofscgsinc/ . Dutch Fork is gaining new members every month. This is in an environment where genealogy societies are losing members or even disbanding altogether. Sue Eleazer, Dutch Fork President, is doing a great job keeping people interested in these long-dead ancestors.

A new genealogy research room and library will soon be coming to the Dutch Fork. It is located in Little Mountain on Depot Street near the water tower. There will be club members on hand to help visitors, a reading room and computer ports. The book collections of June Seay, Shirley Trotter, Mary Stockman, and others have been acquired. They will be in the research library plus many, many other books and maps.

Many of you may remember June Seay. I remember her through my Grandpa Corley. While she was collecting information for her books Silent Cities and Still Village she came by to grandpa and me. Off we’d go in search of long-forgotten cemeteries.

I particularly remember the day we found the old, original cemetery at Sardis Baptist Church. It’s outside of Swansea on #6 Hwy. The graves had aged. The pine knot markers were still visible at the head of sunken ground where pine coffins had returned to earth.