Marjorie’s Horse-Hero, Barney

From the diary of Ms. Marjorie Rose Ghering Geary, daughter of Tompkins Ghering and Mary Swaney Ghering of Old Mission:

We had a wonderful horse named “Barney.”  He was black and of medium size.  Mother and I drove him to town on a mid-Winter day with a light sleigh.  The days were short, as even now, and it was getting dark when we started home.  The snow was so deep that Barney leaped and broke the whippletree out of the sleigh.  

He was worried about Mom and me and blew his nose at each of us trying to sympathize and converse.  The he resolutely started home and went to a window and whinnied until Dad noticed him.  Dad knew what must have happened, so he harnessed a team and hitched them to a big flat sleigh and came after us.  We would have frozen!  No traffic!

Dad kept Barney and his mate long after he had a tractor.

Seeking information on Old Mission midwife

Midwife Martha Mlujeak delivered many OM babies around the turn of the last century.  We are trying to locate any additional information about this wonderful Bohemian grandmother to all.  If you are a family member or someone who knew of Grandmother Mlujeak, please feel free to leave a comment.  It will not be posted publicly, so please include a phone number or email address where we may reach you if necessary.

Thank-you kindly.

Old Mission Historical Society

If you’re interested in learning more about the Old Mission Stories project,  I’ll be delivering a brief overview at the Old Mission Historical Society meeting on January 8th at the St. Joseph Church hall (across Center Rd. from the Township Hall).  

Hope to see you there.

Posting to the blog

Old Mission Stories is a project designed to archive stories of significant events, archeological and geological discoveries, cultures and personal narratives and photographs of the north end of Old Mission Peninsula.  If you have a story or photograph you would like to share, please feel free to do so in the comment space provided below.  Your comment will not be posted unless you say it is okay to do so.  

If you would prefer to speak to me in person, please leave your name and phone number, submit your comment and I will return your call.

Coming soon…