Tennessee nonprofit hopes to reunite Barnesville families with heirloom photographs
When genealogist Chris Hodge purchased a dusty old photo album from an online seller, he had no idea what treasures he might discover. As the names of past residents from the Village of Barnesville made themselves known, Hodge, founder of Heirloom Archaeology, began his quest to reunite the photographs with the owner's descendants.
Heirloom Archaeology, an all-volunteer, nonprofit organization in Nashville, Tennessee, is a service that reunites found heirloom and historical pieces with the families of the original owners. Items located and identified by the group are typically returned to families after an informal interview. The group is careful to make sure artifacts are returned to direct descendants and those who appreciate the history that naturally becomes embedded in the objects.
Every document, be it a marriage certificate, photograph or cradle roll, is documented in high resolution, not only for posterity but as a way to easily share the information with those involved.
The photo album Hodge purchased came to him from an individual located in Vermont and had the names Grier and Cope scattered throughout. His research led him to Barnesville and the surrounding areas. Hodge utilized various family tree websites and other methods to research and locate the birthplace of a named individual, Jane Wilson Kennon Grier. From there he was able to fill in gaps and zero in on Belmont County, specifically the small Village of Barnesville.
To date, individuals identified in the album include Jane Wilson Kennon Grier and Mary Ann Kennon Buchanon of Belmont, Mary Rebecca (Grier) Kennoon, Fay Wilson (Grier) Cope and Mary Ellen Urban of Barnesville.
Other related names that may have a connection to the photos include Marjorie Grier Cope Nilles, Joshua Albin Cope, Caleb and Lydia Wilson, Sarah Pennell Ballinger Cope, Caleb Duane Cope, Marjorie Grier Cope Nilles, Merven Thomas, Joshua Albin Cope, Sarah Pennell Ballinger Cope, Katherine Murphy, Oliver Wilson, Eva Erb, Carlisle Erb (friends of Fay Wilson), Lenora Tedrick, Caleb Duane Cope, Katherine Murphy, Lydia Sharpless Pernell Ballinger, Katherine Murphy and Addison Clarkson Murphy.
In its more than 20 years of service, Heirloom Archaeology has never charged an individual for the research or return of family objects. "It doesn't feel right. It's something that belonged to your family and we just want to give it back to you. We want to have something that is free, and we hope that it always is and remains a free place to be able to search for your family's long, lost things," Hodge said.
Those interested in finding lost heirlooms or family artifacts, or those who may know any of the individuals listed above can reach out to Heirloom Archaeology and Chris Hodge via the Heirloom Archaeology Facebook page or call 615-457-3001.
This article originally appeared on The Daily Jeffersonian: Nonprofit seeks to return heirloom photos from Barnesville to family
