The House that Dr. Robert W. Hargis Built

I tried squidoo and have yet to have a visitor to the web site. Because I've owned the house since 1991, I have always been fascinated by its history. Dr. Robert W. Hargis was the president of the Escambia County, Florida, Board of Health. He posted the quarantine rules for yellow fever in the April 20, 1889 issue of "The Pensacola Daily News." His father, Dr. Robert B.S. Hargis, was also active in battling the yellow fever epidemics that plagued the Gulf Coast. Click on the title to see my squidoo blog.


In 1860 census, the young Robert W. was living at home with his parents on Romana Street on the site where the Pensacola News Journal stands today.

In the 1870 census, Robert W. is listed twice, once on page 30 with his father and $200 in real estate and then on p. 65 as head of household with 10 seamen plus servants and 2 laborers - and $3500 in real estate. Question is: Could he have built my house in 1870 and used it as a hospital? He owned or ran several during his lifetime.




PHOTO: Dr. Robert B.S. Hargis

Here's the 1870 census page with his father:

Dwelling 206 (Romana Street)
Hargis Robt BS 50 M W Physician $500 NC
Hargis Modeste 30 F W Keeping house $3,500 Fla
Hargis Marcie B 72 F W VA
Hargis Ann A 48 F W NC
Hargis R. W. 22 M W Pharmacist $200 Ala
Hargis Marion P 13 F W Ala
Hargis P Mary 6 F W Ala
Hargis Kate F 4 F W Fla
Hargis J C Whit(n)ey 9/12 M W Fla

This is the other census page: Dwelling 476:
Robt W. Hargis age 23
The following were seamen in the same dwelling:
Ann's note: Most of these do not appear in the 1885 and 1893 directory.
John Morgan KY age 33
Thomas Durant MS age 22
Frank Comerson/Cowerson MD age 39
James Railey England age 82 England
R Alexander age 79 AL
Charles French age 35 Ireland
Harry Hamblett age 37 England
George Moore age 33 FL
William Clarke/Starke age 42 LA Ann's note: 1885 directory: Clarke William D. . carpenter h Gregory n Cevallos)
John Lewis age 38 Germany Ann's note: 1893 directory Lewis John B. baker h 124 W Intendencia
Elizabeth Nicholson age 32 Black Cook AL
Viney Nicholson age 16 Black Servant
Fran/May Nicholson age 2 Black Servant
Hary?Nicholson age 48 Black Laborer
Eugene Horton age 22 Black Laborer Ann's note: relatives in 1893 directory?

In the 1880 census, the Hargis family is living with Merced's Bonifay brothers, as they did for many years on West Gregory St., although the location in the census margin says West Garden Street.

Household Members: Name Age
R. W. Hargis 32
Merced Hargis 31
R. B. Hargis 5
Irene Hargis 4
Petronilla Hargis 2
Merced Hargis 4M
Olena Demouy 14 servant
Geo. Bonifay 33
Manuel Bonifay 25
Peter Bonifay 22


What's interesting is that Royal Putnam is the next person on the census page, and he lived at Spring and Chase and definitely not West Garden as indicated in the margin.

In fact, if you look at the margins on all 32 pages of this district, there are only a few streets actually named: North Palafox, North Baylen, North Spring and then West Romana, West Garden, West Chase and then many pages labeled Wright Street. It appears this district runs down what is now considered South Palafox (below Cervantes down to the wharf) and west almost to A Street, with Coyle being mentioned as the westernmost street. Around 1880, this section was known as West Hill, and includes the Belmont DeVilliers neighborhood.

To help relocate the addresses of these families in this District 45, I've incorporated where possible the addresses and information found in the 1885 Pensacola business directory. Some people have moved and some have died in the intervening five years. One the first page of the census it describes this section as embracing the 4th ward, 2nd election precinct of the city. The symbol * in the 1885 directory is used to indicate people of color. I left this to show the great mix of races in this part of the city as well as to help any family researchers who come across this post. My system improved as I moved through the pages. I will clean this up if this is deemed an important contribution by anyone. I find that the more ways I come at a problem, the more I'm inclined to find the solution. Unfortunately, I have not proven beyond a doubt that R.W. Hargis built the house in 1890, only that he lived there. Based on the research below, my best guess is that if the house was already built when he moved in, more than likely it was occupied by Peter and Gila Gonzalez, who both passed away in 1881. The property was sold by their son M.F. Gonzalez to R.W.'s brother-in-law, George Bonifay, who then sold it for $1 to his sister. Here is a summary of key deeds:

March 11, 1890. To George Bonifay from W.E. Plummer. Block 3 Belmont. 8 157
Ann’s note: 1893 Directory: William Plummer. machinist home 215 N Reus. A Victorian house remains on that property. 1885 directory: Plummer William * machinist h Reus n Gregory. That means George Bonifay bought a house on this lot in 1890, not just a lot.

March 19, 1890. To George Bonifay from M.F. Gonzalez 8 194 Block 3 Belmont. $1,000.

1890. Deed to Hugh B. Hatton from George Bonifay. 8 489 on Gregory Street.
Ann’s note: 1893 Directory: Hatton Hugh B . clothing, custom tailor, gents' furnishings, hats, shoes, etc home 402 W Gregory 41-43 S Palafox
Hatton P Frank. Clerk. Home 226 N Reus corner Wright (this lot does not touch 402 West Gregory).
Another note: Jotted from March 17, 1889 newspaper item: Hugh Hatton, father of Hugh B. Hatton of this city, died at Warrington. The deceased was born in Ireland in 1817, a resident 40 years, 25 years as a merchant. Eldest son John. P.F. Hatton also a son. M.F. O’Brien.

July 2, 1890. Book 8 p. 521. THIS IS DEFINITELY 412 WEST GREGORY. To Merced B. Hargis from George Bonifay. $1 plus natural love and affection. North line of Maxent tract 124 at right angle and northward from Reus in Block No. 3 of Belmont, thence southward along west line to lot belonging to Hugh B. Hatton 90.75 feet to Hugh B. Hatton’s southwest corner on Gregory Street (124 feet) westward (together with tenements and appurtances). Signed June 30, 1890.

PLEASE LEAVE A COMMENT IF YOU HAVE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION ON THESE FAMILIES AND THEIR HOME ADDRESSES OR EMAIL ANY PHOTOS TO ME AT sfnewsgal at yahoo. Ann

Page 1. North Palafox 10 households incl.
Cody Fanny, Mrs. 1885: home on Gregory near Alcaniz;
Santo Corigrano . 1885: clerk h Intendencia c Baylen;
Soderlind Charles . merchant tailor h outside city limits business at 24 Palafox;
Edmunds George * servant/laborer h Gregory n Coyle;
Wyer Joseph, Mrs. * bakery and confectionery h Palafox n Post-office;
Kahn Jacob, clothing and gents' furnishings h Chase n Palafox business Palafox c Zarragossa;
Stone Phineas, clothing, hats, trunks and gents' furnishing goods h Palafox n Chase business Palafox n Government;
Criglar, William L., lumber merchant h Government facing Seville sq;

Page 2. North Palafox 9 households incl
Bell John W. . (Bell & Bell) h Palafox cor La Rua Palafox Wharf
Jordan Robert J. . bookkeeper h Barcelona n Wright .
Taylor Emma H. . widow h Palafox n Belmont . (husband L.B. Taylor, book agent)
Emanuel Catherine . widow h Belmont cor Palafox .
Herron James S. . M.D. h Palafox n Belmont, plus his mother Fanny M. Herron and siblings.

Page 3. North Palafox 5 households North Baylen 5 households incl
Blount Alexander C. . atty-at-law h Palafox n Belmont .
Reese George . tax assessor h Baylen cor Jackson .
Flinn/Flynn James M. . captain h Baylen n La Rua .
Thomas James W. * barber h Coyle n Gregory Palafox n Wharf
Dawson Frank * laborer h Baylen cor Belmont .
Larkin Kate * . h Baylen ab Wright .
Larkin Richard * waiter h Wright n Coyle
Raucher Julia in census, but not in 1885 directory (see Rauscher below)
Nash Francis . mcht. tailor h Baylen n Garden .
Frohlichstein Nathan . cigar mfr h Intendencia n Palafox .

Page 4 North Baylen (not written) 11 households incl

Jacoby Joseph M. . clerk P. Stone b Palafox n Garden .
Watson Thomas * laborer h Baylen n Romana .
(alternatively) Watson Thomas C. . real estate and collecting agent h Gregory near and E of Palafox Government next City Hotel opp Pub sq
Lewis John B. * clerk h Government n Baylen
Jackson William * drayman h Baylen cor La Rua .
(Alternatively) Jackson William * laborer h Zarragossa n Baylen .
Cole Ellen * widow of laborer William in 1885, h Baylen n Intendencia .
Butterfield John * painter h Jackson n Reus .
Scott J. Jackson, D.D., L.L.D. . Rector Christ's Church h Baylen cor Garden .


Page 5. North Baylen 4 households North Spring 5 households incl
Smith Margaret * restaurant h Zarragossa cor Commendencia; also in 1885: Ditmars Agnes . widow h Zarragossa n Barcelona . Margaret was the daughter of Sarah Ditmars.
Rauscher Henry . saloon and summer garden h Baylen bet Zarragossa and Government Baylen bet Zarragossa and Government; also Rauscher Mary, Mrs. . . . Wright c Baylen .
Harvey March * expressman h Tarragona beyond gas house .
Cottrell Julius (was in March household in 1880) * laborer h De Villiers cor La Rua .
Goldbach Samuel M. grocer and dry goods h Spring n Belmont; also Goldbach Milton . groceries (in same household, son of S.M., in 1880). h foot 10th ave n saw mill
Sellars Lewis H. . ice h Spring n Wright . also daughter Louise age 11 in 1880 house: Is she related to: Sellars Louis H. in 1885. Tres. Pensacola Ice Co. h 8th Ice House Wharf
McVoy Thomas . . h Spring c Wright . Three Hernandez brothers-in-law living in same house: Herrell (Heroldo), Willie and Reuben
Williams Henry H. * carpenter h Belmont cor Coyle .


Page 6. North Spring 7 households total page incl
Everett Nathan L. . engineer h 11th ave cor Garden . (moved by 1885)
Oneal Chester . clerk h Spring n Romana . also in household: Oneal (George H.) Chaffin (James A.) & Co. . . timber and lumber h Spring n Romana Palafox Wharf
Oneal William R. . clerk h Spring n Romana . Children of New York merchant G.L. and Rachel Oneal
Jolly George (jr) father deceased by 1885 . . h Spring n Garden . also: Jolly Josephine, Miss . dressmaker h Spring n Garden . Jolly Sarah . widow of Maryland merchant George Jolly; h Spring n Garden .
Thomas Virgil * . h Reus n Belmont .
Carr Thomas * cook h Spring cor Garden .
Leary Eliza * laundress h Spring n Garden .
Jackson John R (wife Eliza) * carpenter h Garden n Spring .

Page 7. North Spring 9 households incl
Smith Betty * widow h Government n Alcaniz .
McVoy La Barron . conductor L.& N. R.R. h 1st n 8th ave . moved
Roche Myra C. G. . widow h Baylen n Government . could be Catherine, wife of Joseph Roche in 1880. Nephew Henry Roche and sister Charlotte Roche also live here in 1880 (missing in 1885)and brother-in-law Faust Maura.
Merritt John * laborer h 9th ave n 2d .
Merritt John A. . inspector b Jackson c Spring .
Merritt Erastus B. . (L. M. Merritt & Co.) b Gadsden c Baylen Government opp Public Square
Merritt Lucius M. . Vice-Consul Argentine Republic and (L. M. Merritt & Co.) ship brokers, timber and lumber merchants originally from Massachusetts; h Gadsden c Baylen Government opp Public Square
Merritt Lucius M., Jr. . (L. M. Merritt & Co.) b Gadsden c Baylen Government opp Public Square
McGaughy John R. . Canadian bookkeeper h Spring c Gadsden .
Baars (Henry) & Downing (Elisha) . . Bremen lumber and timber h Spring cor La Rua Palafox Wharf

Page 8. West Romana 10 households incl
Douglas Parker * gardener h Romana n Palafox .
Riera Albert . (Riera Bros.) h Romana n Baylen Palafox opp Pub sq (not listed in 1880 census, only Anthony's family); Riera Anthony . (Riera Bros.) h Romana n Baylen Palafox opp Pub sq Riera Bros. (Anthony and Albert) . billiards . Palafox opp Pub sq (up stairs) .
Ramirez Aniese * widow h Baylen n Intendencia . Mother Saline Savage
Burke Mary A. . widow in 1885 of Irish laborer Thomas Burke in 1880 census h west end Intendencia .
Hyer William K. . (Hyer Bros.) Father bavaria, mother bohemia, but he was born in Florida. h Wright cor Barcelona business at Zarragossa, 1st door from Palafox
Whiting Clara R. . widow of Virginia physician J.C. Whiting h Spring cor Jackson .
Whiting J. Thornton son bookkeeper b Spring cor Jackson .


Page 9. West Garden 6 households (Hargis, Bonifays)incl
Sarah and Juliet Hyer, J.C. Whiting's sisters-in-law
Knowles Peter, Whiting's brother-in-law, and a real estate agent
Thornton Henry H. . commission h Barcelona n Belmont . Laura Thornton, his mother, is deceased by 1885. She might have also been a sister of William K. Hyer, since she was born in Florida, had a Bavarian father and Bohemian mother.
Knowles Louis P. . President Merchants' Bank of Pensacola and Insurance and (Knowles Brothers) real estate agents h Barcelona n Belmont Government cor Palafox; Government near Palafox; also in household is Knowles William H. . Vice-President Merchants' Bank of Pensacola and (Knowles Bros.) h Belmont n Barcelona . In 1880, they are listed as nephews of JC Whiting. Louis is 31 and WH 28 in 1880.
Hyer Albert . (Hyer Bros.) h Belmont cor Barcelona Zarragossa, 1st door from Palafox
Abercrombie James E. . timber h Jackson cor Spring . Mother is Sarah Abercrombie in 1880 census. He is 26 in the census, with several siblings in the house.
Bonifay George . dry goods and gents' furnishing goods . Palafox n Romana .
Hargis RW - not listed with address in 1885
Putnam Royal . inspector custom house h Spring n Chase .


Page 10. West Garden 8 households incl

McGovern Edward . stevedore h Zarragossa n Barcelona .
Hendricks Dietrich . laborer h Barcelona n Zarragossa . Nellie Hendricks is listed as Edward McGovern's sister-in-law and is in his household in 1880.
Oliver Anais . widow of Portuguese pilot LA Oliver, who is age 37 in 1880 census, h Garden n Palafox . Her sister is M.S. Jackson. Probably 15 West Garden
James G. Gonzalez, age 40, is lister as his "brother" (brother is law, maybe?). Gonzalez James G. . policeman h Garden n Palafox .
Nephew is Willie Hall. hall William J. . clerk h Romana n Barcelona .
T Wentworth, painter from Prussia, is next - can't find him in 1885 directory.
McNeil General * laborer h Intendencia n Barcelona .
Harman Flay / Flavius * laborer h Main cor Alcaniz .
Davis Lee M. . Grocer (Johnson & Davis) . Palafox cor Intendencia .
Goldstucker Otto . liquors h Chase n Baylen 18 Palafox
Goldstucker (Otto) & Borelli (John S.) . . bar room and billiards . 20 Palafox .

Note: Here is the obit of James G. Gonzalez, who lived at 15 W. Garden in 1880:
Gonzalez, James G.
Dec 1838 - Mar 17, 1901
Daily News, Mon., Mar 18, 1901
James G. Gonzalez is Dead
Death has claimed another of Pensacola's aged citizens. James G. Gonzalez, a native of this city, a gallant Confederate soldier, has been called to his final reward. The funeral will take place from St. Joseph's church at 4:30 o'clock this afternoon. The cortege will leave the residence of Mrs. A. S. Oliver, 15 West Garden street at 4 o'clock. In his younger days, Mr. Gonzalez was employed as a ship carpenter at the Pensacola navy yard and he had held many places of honor and trust in this city. He was a gallant Confederate soldier, having been shot through the lung in the service of his country, his health having been broken by the injury, leaving him but a wreck of his former giant strength. He leaves many loving relatives to mourn his demise and every man who knew him was his friend. He had passed the three score mark in life's journey and it was always a rare treat to hear him talk of the Pensacola of long ago.


Page 11. West Chase Street 7 households (Gonzalez families) incl
Goldstuker Adolph . leather and shoe findings h Baylen c Chase Palafox n Main
Grant Alexander . captain h Chase cor Spring .
92 Gonzalez Peter age 70 and Wife Gila/Eulalie age 64 (he's missing in 1885 directory); He died March 11, 1881. She died 8 months later on Nov. 21, 1881. They are buried in St. Michael's Cemetery.
Kuester Paul F., age 30 in 1880, a bookkeeper h Gregory bey De Villiers in 1885 and married to Emily, Peter's daughter, and their son Leo are in this first household.
93 Gonzalez Samuel J. . (Peter's son) grocer h Gregory cor De Villiers Business: Gregory cor Barcelona Wife Florence and their son Albert are in this household.
94 Gonzalez, J.B. wife Emilia and children Winters, Gila, Blake and Erick.
Note: Son Blake lived at 214 N. DeVilliers when he died in 1952.
95. Gonzalez C.H., wife S.J., son C.H. Jr., son Gamaliel F. and daughter Mary E. This could be Celestino.
96. Gonzalez Mannie F. . miller h De Villiers cor Wright . Peter's son lived at 226 N. DeVilliers when he died in 1907 - see obit at end of this section. M.F. Gonzalez married Kate Chapman. In 1880, he had William, Viva, Blanche and Kate in the household.
97. Gonzalex Lambert and Laura, plus toddlers Stella and Marie.


Gonzalez, Manuel F.
Dec 18, 1839 - Mar 6, 1907

#1 Pensacola Journal, Thurs, Mar 7, 1907

Prominent Citizen Has Passed to Great Beyond. M. F. Gonzalez Dies at Home After a Lingering Illness. Had Been In Ill Health For A Year Or More, But Taken Seriously Ill About A Week Ago - Funeral Will Occur To-Morrow Morning.
M. F. Gonzalez, one of the oldest most popular and successful business men of the city, died yesterday morning at 9:45 o'clock at the family home, No. 226 North De Villier street. He had been in ill health about a year or since he suffered an attack of pneumonia, from which he never fully recovered, but his condition did not become serious until about a week since. The deceased had many friends in Pensacola. While his charities were unknown to the public in general he assisted in a quiet and assuming manner many of the poor families of the city. He always had a kind word for the needy and no worthy person ever asked for assistance from him, but they met with a ready response. He was a devout Christian, and always attended services at St. Michael's church. Mr. Gonzalez was born in Pensacola and spent most of his life of 69 years in this city. He became prominent in business circles many years ago, and throughout his life held the confidence and esteem of the entire public. He was a member of one of the oldest and most prominent families of the city, and leaves many relatives and friends to mourn his death. His sons are Chapman, William R., Charlie F. and Dixon B. Gonzalez, and daughters Mrs. Wm. D. Greenwood of Mobile; Mrs. Harry Sheppard and Mrs. W. D. Howe, of this city. He also leaves a number of brothers and sisters, as follows: Blake J., Celestino H., Lambert X., Samuel J., and O. A. Gonzalez, Mrs. Mary Louise Kendrick, of Baldwin county, Ala.; Mrs. Eulalie Bobe, Mrs. Emil Kuester, of this city, and Mrs. Merced D. Greenwood, of Bohemia.

The remains of the deceased will be placed at rest to-morrow morning, the funeral cortege leaving the family home at 9 o'clock and proceeding to St. Michael's church, where requiem mass will be said. The remains will be placed at rest in the family plot in St. Michael's cemetery. The following personal friends of the deceased will act as pall bearers and are requested to meet at the family home at 8:30 a.m.; W. K. Hyer, Jr., Wm. H. Knowles, F. C. Brent, W. A. Blount, Geo. W. Wright & Jas. McVoy, the latter of Cantonment.

#2 Pensacola Journal, Sat., Mar 9, 1907

Funeral of M. F. Gonzalez. Many Were Present to Pay Their Last Sad Tribute of Respect to Deceased.
The remains of M. F. Gonzalez, one of the most widely known and highly respected citizens of Pensacola, were placed at rest yesterday morning in the family burying ground in St. Michael's cemetery. The funeral services were conducted at St. Michael's church, where requiem mass, was said. The spacious church was filled with the hundreds of friends of the deceased , who listened to the eulogy upon the life of the deceased delivered by Rev. Father Fullerton. When the funeral cortege moved to the cemetery many followed the remains to the last resting place, and the floral offerings were many and beautiful. Many in Pensacola regret the death of Mr. Gonzalez, who was an exemplary citizen and a man who during his entire life lived a true Christian life.

Page 12. West Chase Street 11 households (incl James N. Moreno, Dorrs of 323 West Gregory St)
98 Moreno James and wife Clara (nee Dorr), plus sons Edwin, Scarrett and Mansfield, plus daughters Ruth and Violet. Also in the house at 323 West Gregory St. is Sarah Dorr, mother-in-law.
99. S.Z. Gonzalez with H.A., his wife. They live next door at 313 West Gregory.
100. Putnam E.H. Edward), retired merchant wife F.N. and 19-year-old son R.H., a printer. A Pensacola map shows he had a dairy at 401 West Gregory, at the corner of Reus. Called Gulf City Dairy.
101. Ahrens Robert, a shoemaker, and Josephine, his wife. Plus 5 kids and her mother, Emma Laus (?).
102. Gonzalez James, a retired merchant, age 65, and wife Fannie living with nephew Gregory Yniestra (age 10, son of sister Eulalie and Peter.) If he is actually S.J. Gonzalez, then he's a grocer living on Gregory corner De Villiers with grocery on Gregory corner Barcelona
103 Plummer Solomon, wife Sarah and daughters Roxanna and Sarah Ann.
104 Plummer Alex, son of Solomon, wife Mary and their two children Mary A. and James Thomas. The 1885 directory has this:
Plummer Solomon * laborer h Gadsden n Reus . (moved)
Plummer William * machinist h Reus n Gregory .
105 Weatherford Henry, * laborer / line rep, with wife Louisa and 6 kids. Home in 1885 listed at Spring near Gregory
106 Townsend Scott * wife Lucy son William 1885: laborer h Belmont n Reus .
107 Milton Thad, * shoemaker, wife Elizabeth, children Caroline and Warran. 1885: Milton Thaddeus h Reus c La Rua .
108 Judge Anthony * wife Maria laborer h Gregory bey Coyle .

Page 13. Wright Street (West Gregory skipped over?) 8 households
108 Gibson Benj * and Melissa family; 4 kids and father Jack Gibson
109 Wright George W and M.E. family; 7 children, mother in law W.B. Baglery, 1885: Wright George W. . manufacturer and shipper of yellow pine and cypress lumber and timber, and cypress shingles and laths h Baylen c Gregory east end Intendencia and foot 10th ave
110 Sullivan M.H., wife Kate, 4 kids. 1885: Sullivan Martin H. . Pres. First National Bank, timber and lumber h Gregory c Baylen Sullivan's Wharf
111 Avery O.M., judge county court, wife M.E. and daughter Annie 1885: Avery Martha E., Mrs. . . h Baylen cor Gadsden .
112 Ruby V, wife Merced, 5 kids, one grandson Ruby 1885: Ruby Valarie * grocer h Romana c Baylen business Romana c Baylen
113 Hafler Charles, wife Missouri, 5 kids. Hotel keeper, not in 1885 directory
114 Epping Carl C. age 60, wife S.E., son J.E., his wife and child, 2 other sons C.A. and J.A. Timber merchant - not in 1885 directory.

Page 14. Wright Street (not written) 12 households
115 De la Rua, John, age 37 wife Mattie kids Elwood and Philo. De la Rua John . Deputy Co. Clerk h Gregory n Tarragona . De la Rua Filomeno E. . Clerk Escambia Co. Circuit Court h Gregory n Tarragona Court House
116 Strout Albion wife Addie daughter Irene E.
117 Tarble J.M. wife Sarah A and son Jno E 1885: Tarble John M. . collector of customs h Belmont n Palafox Palafox cor Government
118 Shepard James, wife Christina, sons Charles, John, Eddie dau Annie and Lavonia 1885: Sheppard James . engineer h Gregory cor Reus
119 D'Alemberte A.H., age 22, wife C.A., age 20, 1885: D'Alemberte Arthur H. . dry goods h Gregory n De Villiers
120 Benjamin M. wife Ida son Anderson, one other son?, mother Emily
121 Lucas Nassau, wife Elizabeth, 4 kids
122 Gaskins Frank, wife Emeline dau Emma and Melanie? 1885: Gaskins Caroline * widow h De Villiers cor La Rua .
123 Burton S, wife Rhoda, 3 sons and nephew William
124 Seikauf U. wife Mary dau Lizzie
125 Hill Chas wife Virginia, dau Julia, dau Bella McNair and 2 grandsons 1885: Hill Charles * carpenter h Gregory n Coyle .

TO BE CONTINUED if for some reason a lot of people ask for more! Obviously, these are not all Wright Street.
15. Wright Street (not written) 14 households
16. Wright Street (not written) 9 households Thomas Sunday (lived at Coyle and Wright)
17. Wright Street (not written) 11 households
18. Wright Street (not written) 10 households
19. Wright Street (not written) 10 households
20. Wright Street (not written) 10 households
21. Wright Street (not written) 10 households
22. Wright Street (not written) 10 households
23. Wright Street (not written) 10 households
24. Wright Street (not written) 10 households
25. Wright Street (not written) 10 households
26. Wright Street (not written) 10 households
27. Wright Street (not written) 10 households
28. Wright Street (not written) 10 households
29. Wright Street (not written) 10 households
30. Wright Street (not written) 10 households
31. Wright Street (not written) 10 households
32. Wright Street (not written) 10 households

This iPod Touch has Mikela's Name on It

OK, so I've been sweeping like crazy since Christmas - not meaning that I have been cleaning my house, but that I've been entering sweepstakes. It began when I googled to see if there were any iPod Touch sweeps online so that I could win one for my granddaughter Mikela, who had her heart set on getting one for Christmas, but didn't (see earliest blog below). I'm happy to announce that on April Fool's Day, I became the proud winner of an iPod Touch during the Oberto's Ultimate Alpha Zone Sweepstakes. When I told Mikela, she hit an operatic whoop for a solid 30 seconds. No foolin'!






The question of this hour is: Will I keep sweeping now that I've reached my original goal - or will I move on to the next round? Easy enough: My Ford Taurus is 10 years old. I can't decide if I'd rather have the All-American Rejects' Honda, the Pink Panther's Smart Car coupe or one of the three Priuses being given away right now. Gander Mountain's Dodge Ram truck looks great, but I've never driven a truck before, so I might have to barter that one. Oh, well, beggars can't be choosers. But sweepers can be winners!



HEY, LITTLE GECKO GUY!

What's funny is that I won a second prize on April Fool's Day: the Geico Gecko Pack given away by Gena M at http://themorrisbunchblog.com/. This one's for me - at least, the little Gecko bobblehead! I love that little guy - I hope that's not the only reason I have Geico insurance. Gena's blog contest was really fun - it went "live" and set an end time at 200 comments with no limits on how many comments you could post, only that each one had to be relevant to the contest. My competition included some fast-and-furious dueling mommas, but I had random pick on my side that day and took home the prize.







MIKELA'S VIDEO ON THE MONK THEME
HAS BEEN VIEWED NEARLY 900 TIMES
ON YOUTUBE!!!

In deference to Monk's OCD, I posted 900 so that this would be a nice even number. He would also be pleased to know that this video is exactly 1:00 long (although it sometimes comes up as 1:01 - but don't tell him).

Midwife to a Polyphemus Moth

When you live in Florida, you can expect natural surprises on a regular basis. A couple of days ago, for example, I was looking out my second story window in downtown Pensacola when a large redtail hawk landed on the live oak branch not 30 feet from me.

So it wasn't too shocking today as I was taking my 6-month-old non-poodle poodle home from a walk when I noticed something crawling in the grass that looked remarkably like a tarantula. On closer inspection, I realized I was looking at a giant polyphemus moth trying to emerge from its cocoon. The legs were thick and huge and the antenna fanned out like a peacock's tail. Glued in some fashion to the walnut-size cocoon were several liveoak leaves that gave the whole production a sense of tribal ritual. Apparently, the strong winds today had broken the branch on which the cocoon was attached. The poor giant moth couldn't get grounded and so was dragging its prison in an attempt to break free of it.

I took the little critter home and put it in a cardboard box and held the branch as if it were still attached to the tree. Slowly the creature pulled free, but its wings were folded and crumpled, and I thought it would never make it. Gradually, however, it climbed up a cardboard box and hung itself out to dry. The little crumpled wings turned into about a five-inch wingspan that is still expanding.

I'm keeping him by the window in the hope that he'll take flight (do they only travel at night?). But I'm worried some hawk or bird will grab him as soon as he is free. I feel like a protective mother and am hoping he'll stay in his little box a bit longer before testing his wings.

The two videos above are of my moth, but I found a time-lapse video on youtube that really tells the tale. Life is so amazing!!



DAY 2-3. I left the shoebox and moth near an open window that night, and in the morning, the box was empty. The moth, however, had chosen to attach itself to a wall rather than fly out the window. It was threatening to storm, so when I left for the day, I closed the window. That evening, the first thing I noticed was a lizard at the top of a floor-to-ceiling window (see pic) and the moth on the second section. This gave me a cold shudder because I had once before witnessed a lizard attacking a huge moth in my room. (Long story, but these windows raise up into the attic and both the lizard and moth had come through the opening from the attic. I heard the fluttering one night and put the light on just in time to see the battle, but not in time to save the moth.) I immediately nudged the moth from its perch and then took several photos of the moth with his wings outspread (see top photo). Fearful of the lizard's intentions and worried that the prevailing wind was too strong still, I boxed up the moth for the night.

This morning, the lizard had disappeared and I let the moth go out into the predawn world. I watched him fly a bit spastically, and then I went to make a cup of coffee. I saw him flying some more as I looked out the kitchen window. Yes, he can fly pretty well now, but I worry about birds and lizards and cats that can catch him. How do these beautiful creatures ever survive???

Ultimate Blog Party 2009

This virtual blog party is surreal. It's international in depth and up-close and personal in breadth. The party, which runs March 20-27 is hosted by a blog site called 5minutesformom.com, and already the stats are impressive. On day 2, close to 1,500 bloggers of just about every persuasion have added their link to the party. Nearly 200 have posted their facebook links, and nearly 600 have signed posted their twitter addresses.

Invitations to the party come in all sorts of media - from photos of wine salutes to families around the table sharing cupcakes and party favors.

Of course, there are nearly 100 prizes that help spur the activity, many baby related items, but also ones generic enough to be useful to almost everyone. My favorite was an international prize:
INTL 34 — $30 care package of Italian regional delicacies
Provided by: Milanese Masala
Prize details: Hankering for an authentic taste of Italy? Milanese Masala is donating a $30 care package full of goodies direct from “The Boot”.

I've not only been hankering for an authentic taste of Italy ever since I left San Francisco, but have entered every trip to Italy sweepstakes I can find. (Come on, Olive Garden, be good to this half-Italian pizza lover!)

The prize entry rules require that you post comments on at least 20 blogger websites. I decided to visit The Milanese Masala site first at http://milanesemasala.wordpress.com/2009/03/. There I learned the Masala came from the blogger's Indian heritage (I love anything cooked using garam masala spice mix.) Linda posted a great Seinfeld clip on the Costanza family's Festivus celebration (where they have a pipe instead of a tree and spend their holiday being critical). In a archived post, she mentioned a Milanese singing idol named Adriano Celentano. He apparently loved Elvis and imitated his style in some of his songs, such as the one called "Prisencolinensinainciusol" below on youtube. Can you imagine that title ever reaching No. 1 on the Hit Parade? Fact is, I watch this video frequently now. I love it!
Ciao bella, for now.




PS - If some other worthy blogger wins the Milanese package, I'd be interested in (aren't these prizes wonderful and generous???):

58 – Kitchen Aid Artisan Stand Mixer
Provided by: Moms Who Think
Prize details: From Amish Friendship Bread to Decadent Cheesecake and all the meals in between dessert, Moms Who Think has recipes you’ll love. We would like to donate a Kitchen Aid Artisan Stand Mixer to help make one lucky winner’s home cooking even easier. (winner’s choice of color, $349.99 retail value)

21 — $50 gift certificate to Target Stores
Provided by: Agoosa - Funny Name, Sound Advice
Prize details: Agoosa would like to donate a $50 Target gift card to one winner.

88 –$40 gift certificate to Carrabba’s Italian Grill
Provided by: The Divine Miss Mommy
Prize details: Discover the Passion, the Thrill and the Grill of Carrabba’s! The Divine Miss Mommy would like to donate a $40 gift certificate to three winners to be used at any Carrabba’s Italian Grill.

20 – 5 bars of handmade goat milk soap, your choice of scent
Provided by: Goat Milk Stuff
Prize details: Feel the difference that goat milk makes! Goat Milk Stuff is donating 5 bars of our handmade goat milk soap (made with milk from our own dairy goats). And the best part - you get to choose your favorite scents!

43 — Two $25 gift certificate to eco Store USA
Provided by: Rachael @ Little Bites of Heaven
Prize details: Eco store has eco friendly products for your home + life; their tagline reads No Nasty Chemicals™. Little Bites of Heaven would like to offer a $25 gift certificate to two winners to be used at their online store.

83 – Prize: $25 Gift Certificate to ecostoreusa.com
Provided by: Sweet Serendipity
Prize details: Winner will receive a gift card worth $25 to be used at ecostoreusa.com to purchase earth friendly products.

55 – $21 Strawberry Smash Moisturizer from Farmhouse Fresh
Provided by: Now What Baby
Prize details: Enjoy this deliciously scented strawberry moisturizer made with live strawberry cells! The packaging is so cute you have just have to see it!!


21 — $50 gift certificate to Target Stores
Provided by: Agoosa - Funny Name, Sound Advice
Prize details: Agoosa would like to donate a $50 Target gift card to one winner.

22 — $50 gift certificate to Target Stores
Provided by: Beginner Baby Blog
Prize details: Everyone loves a gift card! Beginner Baby Blog would like to donate a $50 Target gift card to one winner.

26 — $30 gift certificate to Target
Provided by: Little Miss Hannah - Our Fight Against Gaucher’s Disease
Prize details: Go shopping!

91 — $25 gift card to Target
Provided by: Mummy Deals
Prize details: What girly doesn’t want a moment to splurge at Target? Enter to win a $25 gift card from Mummy Deals and go shopping on me!

118 — $25.00 Old Navy Gift Card
Provided by: Manic Mother
Prize details: Buy something fun for yourself or the little one

130 — $25 gift certificate for DOVE Chocolate Discoveries
Provided by: Aimee Wilson, Independent Chocolatier
Prize details: Discover new ways of enjoying chocolate with exclusive DOVE Chocolate Discoveries. This prize must be redeemed directly with this Chocolatier only.

12 — $20 gift certificate to The Gift Closet
Provided by: The Gift Closet
Prize details: Pamper yourself with this $20 Gift Certificate to The Gift Closet! Choose from my handmade Shea Butter, Soy Linen & Body Spray, Scrabble Pendants, or Scrabble Magnets!

42 — 5 kajeet phones with $5 of airtime
Provided by: kajeet
Prize details: kajeet the pay-as-you-go cell phone service for kids, created from a kid’s point of view. kajeet services include unlimited free parental controls and GPS – along with all the text, pictures, talk and games that kids want. kajeet is pay as you go with no long term contracts, no activation fees, no termination fees, and no high overage surprises.

ONE CALL ALLOWED FOR ROYAL CARIBBEAN'S CLUES TO THE CRUISE SWEEPSTAKES

Two days ago, I came across the new sweep by Royal Caribbean that ordinarily would not draw me in because it takes more than 20 seconds to enter. I've never taken a cruise, and really have no desire to take one, but the contest starts out with really fine animation of a big ship that looks like the Love Boat. Posted on its stern (or bow?) are 25 squares, and out of curiosity I clicked on one. A word game similar to Wheel of Fortune popped up. Curiously, there were no letters to scramble and when I clicked, no real help.

Well, the shortened version is I became addicted to figuring it all out. Some clues took me to a youtube video, some to the advertising posted on the game site. The one that really impressed me was a clue that popped up in the advertising to the right of my yahoo mail center. I never look at the stupid ad videos that slow down my mail, but this had the image and the letters I was trying to unscramble. Great scot, I thought, do they have so much control of our computers now that they know which clue I'm working on and send it to yahoo when I check my messages. No, I reasoned, it's a big contest and they know I play games, so it's a coincidence. Whatever, I was glad for the letters.

Again, cutting to the chase, I worked quite a few hours (doesn't the time fly when you're playing games?) and got down to several games of skill I just couldn't beat. One was a maze with a bunch of Hs, and you have to collect all of them. Another was a bunch of flags you have to puzzle back together. The third was several rows of deliciously looking smoothies that need to be sipped down before they spill over. Dang, I couldn't get any of them. So, like the Slumdog Millionaire, I made my one call. Naturally, it was to my 12-year-old granddaughter.

"Mikela, are you on your computer?" Yes. "Go to cluesforthecruise.com and click on No. XX." My daughter interrupted and said it was nearly time to leave for their dinner invite. "Well, just try it once and see if you think it's beatable." She called me back in three minutes and said it was done. OMG! She solved the Coke puzzle while she was telling me about the Hs. I told her to take a look at the flags. "Gotta go, Grandma. Mom insists." All right. Do it when you get back.

While she was out dining with the millionaires from Wyoming, I figured out how to beat the glasses. I stopped reasoning on which one to click on to empty and clicked my mouse like a maniac without a brain.

I got a call at 9. It was from my son. He was trading in one boat for a bigger one with beds and a cabin I could sit in to get away from the sprays of water. It was big enough now he could go cobia fishing in the gulf with it. Did the sweeps time this call, too, so that I would be lured into an adventure in the sea? As the contest states, "Why not?"

At midnight, I got a call from my granddaughter. She solved the last square! Wow. I had tried to beat that puzzle all evening without success. "So, Grandma," she asked, "what can we win?" "I'm not too sure," I said, but mostly cruises to the Caribbean and Mexico. There's also one to Alaska, but if we win that one, I'm not going. I can't imagine being around glaciers." "Me either," she said, even though she lives in the heart of Colorado ski country. Goodnight, and great job.

Confessions of a Sweepaholic

My name is Ann and I'm a Sweepaholic. I wasn't always like this. I used to play Yahoo games. I was able to limit myself to mainly Bejeweled and Tiptop. I could stop after two hours. Then people started laughing at me for playing games, told me what a waste of my good brain that was. Sure, I said, but it might keep Alzheimer's at bay (but not RSI at my keyboard). I got so good. Sometimes the game would take so long, I'd have to take a nap and continue later. I could play for money, I reasoned, but I wasn't that good. I needed to direct my energy into something that could yield a buck or two while wearing pajama bottoms and a long-sleeved shirt.

That's when the neuron telling me to make money and the neuron wanting money to yield to my granddaughter's wish for an iPod Touch collided, and I googled. I've written about how I found Walmart's "11 Moms" each giving away an iTouch. It was like a free sample of crack cocaine, introducing me to the seriously Type A world of Mom bloggers. I was a mom like them 30 years ago. I qualified.

Then I won something. It wasn't one of the iPods, but it was a Flip camcorder, and I know my granddaughter would love it. She was elated. I was hooked. Then I won $14 in Kraft coupons, one of which was for Triscuits, my all time favorite cracker. My favorites bar became peppered with daily entries: iPod 1-5, Prius 1-3, a year's supply of Annie's, Olive Garden's trip to Italy. My next win was a $700 gift card to Dick's Sporting Goods. Hurray - a bike for both Teresa and Mikela and some boating items for my son. This is cool. Next I want to win a designer handbag for Jodi, who's on a limited budget, and maybe a watch for myself (my Timex keeps ticking but it's falling apart). Jodi also wants me to win a trip to NYC, and I would enjoy that, too.

I've never been into fashion or makeup or designer this or that, but I just had to watch the Confessions of Shopaholic movie. I see how similar we are - she maxes out her credit card and I max out my entries to win the same things. The difference is she wants all this stuff for herself. I just want to pass these items on to my friends and family members who actually love this stuff. In other words, I enter giveaways to give away. I love it! But I'll have to stop discussing this for now. Madberries and March Madness sweeps are calling me.

HARD TIMES

I was raised by a generation that went through the Depression, by parents who worried that I would get polio and were fearful our days were numbered by a nuclear blast from Moscow. When my great-grandmother spotted a safety pin on the floor, she would pick it up and add it to the string of pins already attached to her dress. She rolled string into a ball for future recycling.

As a 12-year-old, I wondered if I could shoot someone trying to break into our fallout shelter (if, indeed, we ever built one). During the moon landing, my grandmother insisted she saw the moon turn blood red. There were winter months when my father, a construction worker, could not find work and I overheard my parents worrying about paying the mortgage on our $12,000 post-war prefab in Detroit. There was some minimal unemployment compensation back then, but no food stamps, and I don't ever recall my dad mentioning health insurance.

Mostly, though, I was oblivious to their concerns and challenges. Kmart was new and amazing, and I had bright dresses for school. My lunch box always had treats, and I was an all-A student who actually loved learning. My dad and I created a beautiful garden in the backyard, with tomatoes that had a flavor I haven't tasted in decades. He built a garage from wood left over from the jobs he was on and refinished the attic so I could have my own room.

On the weekends, we took picnics to parks with lakes for swimming or ventured to a spot of curiosity. Yates cider mill was about the most fascinating place I'd ever seen. Thousands of bees swarmed around the rotting apple mash, piled high in a pit you could look into. Dozens of apple trees of many varieties were there for the picking (even if we could only afford half a bushel). But the grandest moment was the free glass of ice cold cider coupled with a 5-cent donut lifted from a vat of hot lard and sugared.

Thrift stores like the Salvation Army were magical back then, although there was a stigma attached to going to them. We had our own code name for them - "Sallie's" (from "Salvation"). The main Sallie's in the heart of Detroit was a three-story warehouse. I always headed for the book section after a tour of the furniture (so many curved glass, heavy dark pieces that nobody wanted) but fascinating to me, aging oil paintings of obscure topics and bulky, fascinating jewelry so out of fashion. I always came home with a box of books, mostly Nancy Drew and the Hardy Boys, but often books from obscure series about girls like the Bobsey twins who were young when my mother was young. The books were a dime apiece, and my father bartered with the old clerk to give him a deal. He was determined that I would go to college and I don't think I ever spent a dollar that I received as a gift - it all went into the bank for college.

I seldom think of these years. I did get two college degrees. Art, theater and literature were the focus of my studies, so money or the lack thereof remained part of my lifestyle, but it was one that I chose, not one that I was forced to struggle within. In 2006, however, I began having a deja vu experience from my childhood. I was a news copy editor at the San Francisco Chronicle, which was purchased by Hearst a couple of years earlier. The managers, who had paid a whopping $66 million to the Fang family to take the Examiner off their hands and who had merged the Chronicle and Examiner staffs into one humongous newsroom, started complaining about huge losses - a million dollars a month or some such unbelievable figure! They needed to trim the staff and offered handome buyouts to anyone who would volunteer to leave. I was 59 at the time and could take an early pension, along with the buyout. I decided to return to the house I owned in Pensacola, Fla.

I had a pretty nice 401(k) and transferred it to a Treasury money market, deciding to forego all the quick profits I was getting from the high-risk stocks I'd been purchasing, now favoring of preservation. I suppose it was the Depression-era influence kicking in, and in view of the stock market today, I'm glad I thought that way a few years ago. I still get very meager returns, but I still have my principal.

Last week, the Chronicle email staff basket (which I still belong to) started perking again. Hearst is insisting that it needs to lay off 175 of the 225 Newspaper Guild staff members, and if the union doesn't agree to it, the paper will lay off all 225 members. Imagine a newspaper that's been around since 1865 and the heart of the heart that everyone leaves in San Francisco (according to the song) not having any newsroom or copy editors or photographers? These are not people 3 years from early Social Security. These are young people with kids who may soon find themselves in mortgages they cannot pay looking for jobs that don't exist. Unlike my dad, they will have good unemployment compensation for a year, continued medical insurance, job training and food stamps if they need it. But their houses in the Bay Area are $300,000, their gas is at times $4.00 (not 25 cents) a gallon and their car payments can run $300 (my dad's new Ford cost $2,000 total). We didn't have credit cards to max out.

My first early Social Security check will arrive in July. I told the application taker that every check that comes in will be like winning the lottery. I don't know if it will be there for the rest of my life, but I plan to use what comes in as wisely as I can.

There is an old blues singer that laments, "If I didn't have bad luck, I wouldn't have any luck at all." Today's blues singer might complain, "If we didn't have hard times, we wouldn't have any times at all."