Wednesday's Child

My youngest child, a grown woman, with the statue of John Henry, in Talcott, West Virginia. The new John Henry Memorial Park was built with Big Bend Tunnel just behind the statue. (I love everything paranormal and took dozens of digital photos in hopes of finding something in them - nope, not a thing but darkness and dank water laying in the entrance).

Many of you may know the legend of John Henry was based on a real person.

This is what Wikipedia has to say about him:

"John Henry is an African American folk hero. He is said to have worked as a "steel-driving man"—a man tasked with hammering a steel drill into rock to make holes for explosives to blast the rock in constructing a railroad tunnel. According to legend, John Henry's prowess as a steel-driver was measured in a race against a steam-powered hammer, a race he won, only to die in victory with his hammer in his hand as his heart gave out from stress. The story of John Henry is told in a classic folk song, which exists in many versions, and has been the subject of numerous stories, plays, books, and novels.^[1][2] Various locations, including Big Bend Tunnel in West Virginia, Lewis Tunnel in Virginia, and Coosa Mountain Tunnel in Alabama, have been suggested as the site of the contest."

However, only Summers County, West Virginia, where Big Bend Tunnel is located, can boast of a man named John Henry, in their Census Records for the time period of the Great Steam Engine Race, making the 'folklore' a more plausible legend. Especially since the John Henry of the Census worked for the railroad engineers.

You weigh it out. Fact? Or fiction?

If you ever get the chance, you can visit the John Henry Memorial Park located just above Talcott, WV on Route 12, There is a lovely picnic area, portable toilets, and a playground for the children.

Oh, and why my interest in John Henry?

This is a snapshot of my very own John Henry (yes that's his real name). My husband, John Henry; his handle? The Steel Driver.

Surname Saturday - Henry

My surname is now Henry. It hasn't always been. You see I married a man whose last name was Henry back in 1998. It wasn't the first marriage for either of us. And at first I was a wee bit reluctant to even take on the same surname as he had, always waiting for the other shoe to drop, as had become my norm since a failed first [and second!] marriage. But I did. And I am so glad that I did.

Little did I know that I would be taking on the surname, from the same ancestry, as one of my childhood hero's. You see, I grew up in the naval seaport of Norfolk, Virginia. Right in the heart of the birthplace of our nation!

As a young girl I visited Jamestown, Williamsburg, Washington D.C., Yorktown, Richmond, Baltimore, Philadelphia, and so many more places!

But it was the scene of the old church in Colonial Williamsburg, and the re-enactor portraying Patrick Henry, giving his infamous "Give me liberty, or give me death!" speech that made the historic figure one of my hero's! Little did I then know that one day I would be marrying a man who's ancestry lead me to Patrick Henry's uncle. And a shared grandfather!!!

Next week I'll begin posting that surname summary. But for now, I thought I'd share with you the Henry family crest, from England. You see, there are SEVERAL Henry family crests, including France, Ireland and Scotland! Are they real? I don't know. I've been taught in genealogy that most families did NOT have a crest, unless they were quite wealthy. Still, it's fun to view them, tear apart their adornments to determine what each means, and dare to fantasize on their originations!

So, who is the Henry descendant I married???

Would you believe John Henry? [Seriously... that's his name!]

Oh yes, I married myself a man with a real hero name!!! Just goes to show you, a little girls dreams can really come true!

John & Cyndi Henry

February 1998

On our honeymoon at Natural Bridge, Virginia