Admittedly, I’ve been neglecting the blog the last few days. Fear not! I have more to share. Most folks pick up a refrigerator magnet, coffee mug or keychain as a souvenir. Not me. I returned home with stacks of photocopied old deeds, marriage licenses and family genealogies which I am still organizing.

In the meantime, this post is pure nostalgia. My father and I took a daytrip from Warren County, Missouri and traveled to Osage County, Missouri which sits two counties to the west. My mother’s family hailed from these parts. Our objective was to visit the cemeteries where many of her ancestors are buried. And that we did.

As we passed through the town of Chamois, my father spotted the school attended by my maternal grandparents Troy and Myrtle (Clark) Utlaut. Sitting high atop a hill, the school has been masterfully repurposed as a bed and breakfast by its current owner who just happened to be sweeping the sidewalk as we pulled up its steep driveway. He generously gave us a tour of the building. The classrooms have been transformed into luxurious suites complete with whirlpool tubs, polished hardwood floors and shiny new fixtures. Despite these changes, it is still very much a school and it was not difficult to imagine my grandparents walking the halls and flirting with one another on their way to class.

(Incidentally, I did pick up a few traditional souvenirs at the school including a packet of postcards and a little jar of Osage County honey which later caused quite a ruckus as I passed through airport security. Oops!)

The sun was not cooperating when I captured the attached photo but I think you get the idea.

Kenfolk: Utlauts
Relation: Maternal grandparents
Common ancestors: Troy and Myrtle (Clark) Utlaut are my mother’s parents