Author | Lightnews

Buried Forest @buriedforest.bsky.social · 8d

#InternationalDayOfRuralWomen, I’m honoring the Dougherty women of Alpena, MI. Here's Mary (Hall) Dougherty with her descendants and their spouses in front of Greely Hall, 1941. #alpenamichigan #GreelyMi #Hillmanmi #MichiganHistory #buriedforestresearch #familyarchives #RuralRoots

Large black-and-white group photo from 1941 showing men, women, and children posed in rows outside Greely Hall, a white clapboard building with tall windows. The gathering includes members of the Dougherty family and extended relatives, dressed in early 20th-century attire. The photo captures a formal moment of reunion or celebration, reflecting the legacy of rural women and pioneer families in Alpena County.

Buried Forest @buriedforest.bsky.social · 8d

This #InternationalDayOfRuralWomen, I’m honoring the Dougherty women of Alpena, MI-who built homes, raised families, and fed generations. Their legacy still warms our quilts and fills our jars. 💚 #alpenamichigan #GreelyMi #Hillmanmi #MichiganHistory #buriedforestresearch #familyarchives #RuralRoots

Black-and-white newspaper clipping from 1941 featuring Mary Hall, my great-great-grandmother, seated with her children around her. The caption identifies the Dougherty family of Greely as pioneer settlers in Alpena County, Michigan. The photo includes seven family members dressed formally, posed in front of a stone wall. Names listed are Mrs. Mary Dougherty (center), Mrs. Fred Beal (left), Mrs. Irwin Keegan (right), and standing behind them: John Dougherty, Esther O’Neil, Irene Cousineau, and Charles Dougherty.

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Buried Forest @buriedforest.bsky.social · 11d

These aren’t just photos-they’re field notes from a life of resilience.
💬 Got farmers in your family tree? Tag them or share a memory-we’d love to grow this thread together. #FarmersDay #BuriedForestResearch

Buried Forest @buriedforest.bsky.social · 11d

🌻 Tom Clark was known for his giant vegetables-sunflowers like trees, pumpkin leaves like umbrellas. We even digitized a Super 8 film of his farm. Bouncy, but magical. 🎥 youtu.be/goPJuHV--n8?... #CentralLake #Super8 #History #Michigan #GiantVegetables

CB 1960 Up North with Ella May and Tom's Farm

YouTube video by Buried Forest Research

youtu.be

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Buried Forest @buriedforest.bsky.social · 11d

🌼 Grandma Clark, age 21 in 1937, seated in her Bellaire garden. During the Depression, she made jams and jellies to help the family get by. Grace in hard times. #BuriedForestResearch #FarmersDay #BellaireMi

Black-and-white photo of Grandma Clark, age 21 in 1937, sitting in a striped lawn chair in a garden behind her home in Bellaire, Michigan. She rests her chin on her hands, with a second empty chair beside her. The garden supported the family during the Depression.

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Buried Forest @buriedforest.bsky.social · 11d

🦌 On John Clark’s farm in Central Lake, deer grazed beside cows in the field. A peaceful reminder that nature and nurture often walk side by side. #CentralLake #TorchLake #FarmersDay #MichiganHistory

Mid-20th-century photo of a grassy field with several people standing and a deer grazing near a cow. Taken on John Clark’s farm in Central Lake, Michigan, the image shows peaceful coexistence between wildlife and livestock in a rural landscape.

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Buried Forest @buriedforest.bsky.social · 11d

🏗️ In 1947, James H Clark and his brother built a tractor dealership in Cedar Springs. This photo captures the bones of a dream taking shape. #CedarSprings #MichiganHistory #Tractors

Black-and-white photo of a concrete block building under construction in 1947, with wooden beams forming the roof and scaffolding in place. A vintage truck is parked nearby. This is the future site of James H Clark’s tractor dealership in Cedar Springs, Michigan.

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Buried Forest @buriedforest.bsky.social · 11d

👦 My dad, age 4, surprised his dad by starting the tractor-no lessons, just observation. A moment of curiosity and confidence that still makes us smile. #FarmersDay #ClarkFamilyLegacy

Black-and-white photo of a young boy standing on the footrest of a vintage Ford tractor in a grassy field. He grips the steering wheel, wearing light overalls. The scene captures a moment of curiosity and early independence in a rural setting.

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Buried Forest @buriedforest.bsky.social · 11d

🌾 Happy Farmer’s Day from Buried Forest Research! The Clark family’s farming legacy is stitched into Michigan soil-full of grit, growth, and a little mischief. A thread 🧵👇 #FarmersDay

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Buried Forest @buriedforest.bsky.social · 13d

For #WorldMentalHealthDay, here’s a quiet prompt: “I’ve been thinking about how our family handles stress. Would you be open to sharing any experiences that shaped how we talk about mental health?”
Even one honest moment can open a door. 💬 #BuriedForestResearch #FamilyHistory

A graphic slide advocating for researching family mental health history. It features a beige rectangle with rounded corners centered on a pale olive-green background. At the top is a dark green leafy branch icon. The main heading reads “Ask about family mental health history” in bold dark green text. Below is a centered prompt: “I’ve been thinking about how our family handles stress and emotions. Would you be open to sharing any experiences — your own or ones you've witnessed — that shaped how we talk about mental health?” At the bottom, a subheading reads “Family Mental Health Reflection Starter.”

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Buried Forest @buriedforest.bsky.social · 18d

Teachers shape lives-whether they’re our own or our ancestors. If you know a teacher, thank them. If you are one, God bless you. 💛 #WorldTeachersDay #ThankATeacher #BuriedForestResearch

Buried Forest @buriedforest.bsky.social · 18d

Jennie taught until age 20, then married Emory LaForge. They raised 7 kids in what’s now Detroit’s Greektown and welcomed nieces and nephews into their home. #WomenWhoTeach #MillsFamily #NewBaltimoreMI

Outdoor black-and-white photo of Jennie E. Mills and her husband Emory D. LaForge standing in front of a wooden building. Emory wears suspenders, a patterned tie, and holds a white hat. Jennie wears a light-patterned dress. The photo captures a mid-20th-century moment in rural Michigan.

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Buried Forest @buriedforest.bsky.social · 18d

Susan taught until abt 30, then retired to care for her mother. She wove rag carpets to earn income and raised a young boy named Clarence on her own. Quiet strength, lasting legacy. #MillsFamily #NewBaltimoreMI

Black-and-white portrait of Susan A. Mills wearing a dark, high-collared dress with buttons down the front. Her short, curly hair and serious expression reflect the modest style and demeanor of a late 19th-century educator and caregiver.

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Buried Forest @buriedforest.bsky.social · 18d

Caroline trained at 15 in Milan, OH-Edison’s hometown-then taught in Alpena, MI. She met Fred J. Smith, raised 5 kids, and one became a sci-fi legend: Edward E. Smith, PhD. #FamilyHistory #MillsFamily #NewBaltimoreMI #AlpenaMI

Historical black-and-white photo of Caroline seated in a wooden chair beside her husband Fred J. Smith, who wears a white dress shirt, suspenders, and a tie. They pose in front of a picket fence with foliage behind them, likely in early 20th-century Michigan.

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Buried Forest @buriedforest.bsky.social · 18d

For #WorldTeachersDay, meet the Mills sisters of New Baltimore, MI-Caroline, Susan & Jennie. All 3 became teachers before marriage. Their stories span classrooms, carpets, and California gardens. 🧵 #Genealogy #BFR #Millsfamily #NewBaltimoreMI

Vintage flyer for Western Reserve Normal School in Milan, Ohio, with ornate borders and stylized fonts. It notes the school’s origins as the Huron Institute in 1832 and its reorganization in 1858. Printed by Mowry & Brady, Milan, OH.

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Buried Forest @buriedforest.bsky.social · 19d

Whether they were posing with pets or taking in orphans, these photos give me clues to my ancestors’ personalities. Share your own with #BFRAnimalTales and help build a gallery of furry, feathered, and hoofed history. #WorldAnimalDay #Genealogy

A warm brown graphic with cream-colored text and animal icons. The main message reads: “Meet the animals who left pawprints in our family story.” Below it, the closing text says “#WorldAnimalDay” in cursive and “Buried Forest Research” in uppercase sans-serif font. Surrounding the text are stylized cream-colored silhouettes of a dog, paw print, deer, goat, horse, and horse head, arranged symmetrically. The design evokes nostalgia and celebrates the role of animals in family history.

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Buried Forest @buriedforest.bsky.social · 19d

From my maternal grandma’s collection, taken in Mount Clemens, MI. Probably her dog—definitely a character. #WorldAnimalDay #MtClemensMI #VintagePhotos #dogsofBluesky

A small dog sits inside a vintage baby stroller indoors, with its front paws resting on the edge. Behind it are a table with a lamp and flowers, a wooden chair, and a window with sheer curtains.

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Buried Forest @buriedforest.bsky.social · 19d

Unknown kids on my maternal side with a rescued fawn, near Alpena, MI, sometime between 1935 and 1955. Gentle hands, wild hearts. #WorldAnimalDay #AlpenaMI #VintagePhotos #Fawn

One child interacts with a young fawn while another child watches. The setting is rural, with trees and distant buildings in the background.

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Buried Forest @buriedforest.bsky.social · 19d

A deer grazing among cows near Central Lake or Bellaire, MI, 1930s–40s. Took me years to notice it wasn’t a cow. #WorldAnimalDay #CentralLakeMI #BellaireMI #VintagePhotos

A deer grazes in a grassy field alongside cows, with several people standing and observing nearby. Trees and a gently sloping hill form the rural backdrop.

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Buried Forest @buriedforest.bsky.social · 19d

My dad on a pony with his younger sister Alice looking on, around 1950. A quiet moment of pride and sibling admiration. #WarrenMI #MichiganHistory #WorldAnimalDay2025

Two young boys sit on a pony holding the reins, with a younger girl standing nearby and looking up at him. The scene takes place on a dirt path next to a dark house with white-trimmed windows.

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Buried Forest @buriedforest.bsky.social · 19d

My grandma Alice A. Bedell and her friend Eloise Cook, about 1930 in Bellaire, MI. Goat-pulled sleds and winter smiles. #BellaireMI #WinterFun #1930s #WorldAnimalDay

Two girls in winter coats and hats sit on small sleds pulled by goats in a snowy outdoor setting. The girl on the right is Alice A. Bedell, my paternal grandmother. Bare trees and buildings are visible in the background.

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Buried Forest @buriedforest.bsky.social · 19d

While archiving, I found animals all over my family’s history-dogs, rabbits, deer, goats, even bears. These snapshots reveal kindness, curiosity, and a little chaos. #WorldAnimalDay #BFRAnimalTales

A warm brown graphic with cream-colored text and animal silhouettes. The title reads “Animals in Our Family History” in large serif font. Below, the hashtag “#WorldAnimalDay” is written in cursive, followed by “Buried Forest Research” in uppercase sans-serif font. Surrounding the text are stylized cream-colored silhouettes of a dog, deer, goat, horse, and pig, arranged symmetrically around the title. The design evokes a nostalgic, archival feel and celebrates the role of animals in family history.

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Buried Forest @buriedforest.bsky.social · 21d

Festus and Martha Mills, his bride of 67 years, pictured here. They were married in New Baltimore on March 5, 1890. #NationalCustodianDay #ThankYouCustodians #genealogy #familyhistory #ancestry #buriedforestresearch #MichiganHistory #macombcounty #royaloakmichigan #newbaltimoremi

Festus and his wife Martha stand in a field for a photo. Festus is wearing a suit and glasses, and Martha is in a white dress.

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Buried Forest @buriedforest.bsky.social · 21d

Three generations of the Mills family: Festus, his son Daniel, and grandson Hoyt.
#NationalCustodianDay #ThankYouCustodians #genealogy #familyhistory #ancestry #buriedforestresearch #MichiganHistory #macombcounty #royaloakmichigan #newbaltimoremi

A portrait of Festus Mills with his grandson and son, Hoyt and Daniel. Festus has a mustache and is wearing a suit jacket and tie.

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Buried Forest @buriedforest.bsky.social · 21d

Festus Elbert Mills about 1890, the man who transitioned from farming to a career as a custodian at Royal Oak High School. #NationalCustodianDay #ThankYouCustodians #genealogy #familyhistory #ancestry #buriedforestresearch #MichiganHistory #macombcounty #royaloakmichigan #newbaltimoremi

A portrait of Festus E. Mills, standing and looking to the side. He has a mustache and is wearing a suit and tie.

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