You missed a great FOAP Reunion!

Those of you who were unable to attend the Friends of Aunt Phoebe Reunion on July 24th missed out on a great event! We didn't have quantity (only 16) but definitely had quality. Bob McDermott unveiled his bronze bust of Phoebe Goodell Judson..actually she was unveiled by a great-great-great-great granddaughter, 6 year old Phoebe Judson Allyn (through Phoebe and Holden's daughter, Mary Judson McTaggart.) We were also privileged to have Phil Dougherty of Washington History Link to meet with all of the Judson/Goodell cousins and me, an "honorary cousin" since the first FOAP Reunion in 2006. The food at La Vita e Bella was scrumptious..their lasagne light as a feather thanks to their handmade pasta..yum! And the desserts, heavenly. I had the "grandmother's cake" but hear tell that the "limoncello gelato" was both tart and creamy. I am attaching some photos of the happy participants.

Next year we will be off to Vermilion, Ohio, where the Judsons' Oregon Trail journey began in Spring of 1853. So far, the response has been good and we expect to have a big crowd next September for that unique event. Stay tuned for details, if you want to attend, Sept. 16-18, 2011.

The Fifth Annual Friends of Aunt Phoebe Reunion is nigh!

The time is nigh for the Fifth Annual Friends of Aunt Phoebe (FOAP) Reunion! On Saturday, July 24th, a group of Judson/Goodell descendants, some historians (like me) and just plain "fan"-atics will gather for the fifth time since our original gathering on Memorial Day of 2006 at the Lynden Pioneer Museum. It's not too late to come down to La Vita e Bella in Seattle for dinner and a planning session for our trip in 2011 to Vermilion, Ohio. All you have to do is call me at (360) 201-7373 or e-mail me at michaelsonmary@yahoo.com in order to join the fun.

A special treat this year will be the debut of the bronze bust of Phoebe Goodell Judson, recently completed by sculptor, Robert "Bob" McDermott, who also created the "Dirty Dan" Harris sculpture in Fairhaven and "Vigil" in Blaine. Bob is currently working on a life-sized bust of Holden Judson, which we hope to have completed within a couple of months. Meanwhile, the bust of "Aunt Phoebe" will be on display at the Lynden Pioneer Museum following the FOAP Reunion and until it is placed atop the completed statue of the Judsons.

Also on display will be a brand-new artist's conception of the "Mary Woodruff," the little sidewheel steamer that brought Phoebe and Holden from Whidbey Island to Whatcom in March of 1870. We can thank Don Carver, direct descendant of Phoebe's older brother, William, for locating the marine artist and coordinating all of the artwork and photos which allowed this wonderful drawing to be created. Don and his wife, Kathy, will be there to tell us the story of how it all came about and will bring along some of their historical photos and albums.

And, of course, we will get to see the original camp kettle used by Aunt Phoebe to mix her salt- rising bread as they journeyed across the Oregon Trail in 1853. John Hamilton and wife Ada, owners of the camp kettle, are also keepers of the FOAP Scrapbook, as well as a rare photo of Phoebe, an album of remembrances from 1854 and other precious artificacts. Those who come to the event will have a chance to examine these items up close and exchange stories, experiences and personal memories with other Goodell "cousins."

It's not too late to join us for the fun!!

The Bust of Phoebe Goodell Judson

The life-sized, bronze bust of Phoebe Goodell Judson is complete and mounted on a marble base. It will be delivered to the Lynden Heritage Foundation (Lynden Pioneer Museum) within days and will be displayed in "Aunt Phoebe's Kitchen," along with other material relating to the Judson Memorial Statue Project. Bob McDermott and I had several consultations as he was sculpting her in oil-based clay. With the use of numerous photos of Phoebe and my deeply ingrained instincts about her personality and appearance, "we" made her look lifelike and absolutely beautiful! Such a warm and glowing countenance. She will smile and look over Lynden and its inhabitants for hundreds of years to come. I have posted a photo of this beautiful sculpture, which will untimately be added to her body, next to that of her beloved husband, Holden, when the project is finished. Congratulations to Bob McDermott for a job well done!

Linked at last to LPM !

Yes, I have been "linked" to the Lynden Pioneer Museum since July of 2004, but never on the net. Yesterday we brought this relationship into modern times by clicking, selecting, entering and..voila! "Aunt Phoebe's Corner" and "Museum Museums" are linked. I will be able to dig into my monstrous collection of research and historic photos and find wonderful things to post to the museum's blog and website. It may take a few days to get everything fine-tuned, but if you stay tuned and tune in often, the rewards will be great! History awaits!

Clearing the way for the PNQ!

I have been clearing my calendar to allow time to write the article for the Pacific Northwest Quarterly. During the two month hiatus (July & August) of Whatcom Writers and Publishers, I'll also be taking time off from writing the newsletter, "Writers' Block" and have cancelled meetings for The Best Seller's Book club here in Lynden and the Julia Cameron writing workshop on Saturday evenings. Writing for the PNQ is a serious business in that the article will be reviewed by a panel of historians at the UW, including Editor, Prof. John Findlay. My writing of late has been light, such as newsletter and little pieces for the writing workshop. Now I will have no "I'm too busy" excuses and am determined to write SOMETHING every day. I'm thinking that a commitment to blog daily and confirm the writing will help to keep me on track. So I hereby make the commitment, beginning on Monday, June 28th (which is, coincidentally, my 65th birthday..a good time to make the change and the commitment.)

Inquiring Mind says "yes!"

Good news to report! On June 3rd, in Moses Lake, WA, I auditioned for Humanities Washington to become a speaker for the Inquiring Mind program. On June 14th, I received notification that I had been accepted and will be sent for training and orientation in Seattle on August 2nd. This is a wonderful opportunity to be paid to travel throughout the state and give programs about my favorite subject..Phoebe Goodell Judson. Many thanks are owed to John Findlay, Professor of History at University of Washington, who gave me a glowing recommendation and a beautifully written letter for my audition folder. I am now working on creating an actual historic character, Cornelia Mahler, for a "Living History" portrayal. Cornelia appears on page 267 of the paperback version of Phoebe's book (although not named)and this is, I think, one of the most dramatic stories in the book. Family genealogist, Carolyn Stone, and I are seeking living descendants of Cornelia Mahler to find out more about her. The new Inquiring Mind Speakers List (open to schools, libraries, museums and other non-profits) will be effective September first and I will begin my career as a professional historian/lecturer for the State of Washington. Wish me luck and lots of wonderful, adventure-filled bookings!

Ferry House Open House

The most significant new development is my visit to the Ferry House on Ebey's Praire, Whidbey Island, on Sunday, May 2nd. This is the first time that the public, as a group, has been invited inside this wonderful, 150-year old structure. It has been undergoing renovation and restoration through Ebey's Landing National Historic Reserve and they have done a masterful job. More money is needed, however, to continue the process. Sunday's event has probably set that effort into motion in a big way, as they had about 700 visitors. Several "Friends of Aunt Phoebe" showed up for the event, even though there was no widespread publicity about it. Some word-of-mouth and the rest just happened to show up. We greeted one another with hugs and smiles and talked about out upcoming Fifth Annual Friends of Aunt Phoebe Reunion on Saturday, July 24th, for dinner at La Vita e Bella in Seattle. Anyone can attend if you just send me an RSVP at michaelsonmary@yahoo.com Folks can order and pay separately. I will be giving a PowerPoint slideshow and talk about Vermilion, Ohio, and this will be a planning session for our Sixth Annual FOAP Reunion in Vermilion next year, likely Sept. 18-20th.