Kennisons' Meeting Place

John Francis Kennison   1900 - 1972 I wasn't thinking of tracing our dad's father but in the recent post for dad's great grandmother there was an active link to John from Ancestry.com .  I clicked on the link and went a little way down the rabbit hole and found a few interesting bits of our family history.  John was born in 1900 in Liesenring.  His father is shown as John T Mullin and mother is Mary Ellen McCullough Kennison - 1873 - 1935.  I couldn't find anything on John T Mullin without joining Ancestry but I have a clear memory that I was told that our family came from the Mullin line through John and Josephine.    I found that John T Mullin was born in 1869 in Parkersburg   WV and passed away in 1900, the year of our paternal grandfather's birth.  Dad's grandmother on John's line is Mary Ellen McMurrough Kennison, born in 1873 in Glasgow Scotland.  Six years after John's birth Mary Ellen married George W. Kennison.  It app...

  Elta Lee Frick Mechling 1873 - 1941 The Kennison kids did not get to meet and know our great-grandmother Elta, as she passed in 1941 at the age of 68 as the result of an apparent heart attack.  We surely know of Elta's love and care for family from the character of her only daughter Josephine and the gentle demeanor of her husband Arthur.  This couple helped raise our dad and his siblings when John Kennison abandoned his young family.  This photo of Elta was on display for many years in the foyer area of Ginny's home.   Elta is laid to rest alongside of her husband Arthur Shupe Mechling in the Sylvan Heights Cemetery in Uniontown .  I traced her ancestry on Find A Grave and find that her roots are similar to Arthur's, coming from humble backgrounds in Europe, ultimately arriving in Philadelphia in 1767.  Grandmother Jo proudly served in the Daughters Of The American Revolution due to this heritage.  Here is the linage on her dad's side...

 Kristin, Greg, Stephanie and I enjoyed a special dance recital at the Morada.  One of our dearest friends owns the Miss Persis School Of Dance.  Her tap group made up of ladies in their 70's and 80's put on a song and dance review that was a hit with us and all the residents.  The Miss Persis School will return around Christmastime with their legendary Elf Show.  A link is attached here for some more pics and videos. Prime Time Steppers

 Carey called me and asked if I could find the listing of contacts for our family that he created years ago.  I did have a file copy and Carey and I updated it.  I have attached this here in Word and Pages that can be edited for new entries and updates.  There is also a PDF copy.  I added sections for Aunts & Uncles and Cousins.  These sections are missing people and dates, but perhaps I can work with Kristin to fill in some of this. Kennison Contacts - Word   Kennison Contact - PDF - Goggle Docs  

 When watching the evening news today, I saw an image of coal barges lined up at the docks at the USS Mon Valley Steel Plant.  Of course the news segment was about the White House blocking the sale of USS to Nippon Steel.  My mind wandered to to dad's career at the Robena Prep Plant.  I didn't think that it was still in operation but I searched for more information.  I found that the Robena deep mines closed in 1983, but plant continued to operate until 2017 processing coal from surface mining for Consol Mining.  It seems that reclamation of the site began many years before 2017, most likely mandated by local concerns about environmental damage from seepage from the three large slurry ponds and other surface contamination.  Dad took me out one Sunday afternoon to inspect the dikes and berms around the ponds.  We had to hop into one of the big company trucks to traverse the dirt roads around the site. I read a couple of articles about the ongoing l...

 I purchased the Ford Explorer Sport Trac in 2002 for use in my business.  I retired the truck in 2012 and have since kept it to pull the boat to the nearby lake and to loan to anyone in the family that had a car in the shop.  Grandsons Miles and Sam turn 16 next week.  Sam has claimed his moms hand-me-down SUV.  Miles and his dad are 3 months into restoring a 1986 Toyota Landcruiser with about 3 more months to go. Since the boat would sit undercover all winter, I suggested that Miles could use the Sport Trac until his cool ride is ready,  This week I changed the oil, replaced the windshield, and purchased 4 new tires.  With a pretty good driveway detail, outside and in, it looks pretty good for a 22 year old truck with 236,000 miles.   

 The tires on the BMW had quite a bit of tread left when I purchased the car 18 months ago.  After 9,000 miles have passed, and a nail in the sidewall on one that could not be repaired, it was time for a new set.  As I only use this car to take Patch to park and run some errands, I looked into using entry level tires and an economical price.  Discount Tire stocked an import brand for $73 each that had the same speed, weight load, and tread wear ratings as the usual Michelins that are three times the price.  The car now has a much lighter steering feel and smoother ride, so I am pleased so far.

ARTHUR SHUPE MECHLING 1877 - 1958   February 3 will be the 147th anniversary of Arthur Mechling's birth.  Great Grandfather Mechling was present in my young life, as the grandfather that stepped up to take care his daughter Josephine and her four little ones, abandoned by their father, John Kennison.   Arthur married on September 20,1900 in Westmoreland Co PA to Elta Lee FRICK (1873-1941)  Arthur and Elta had only one child, Josephine, born in 1901.  They lived in German Township PA for most of their lives.  We were frequent guests at their home in Ronco. Obituary Excerpt  Arthur S. MECHLING, 71, of Ronco, a native of Mt. Pleasant and employee of the Union Supply Company (USCO) for 52 yrs before retirement, died at 8:15 o'clock Friday morning. He was a member of Marion Lodge 562, F & A M of Scottdale, Lodge of Perfection of Uniontown & Pittsburgh Consistory, an honorary member & past president of the Masontown Rotary Club, and a founde...

It was a special treat to have Stephanie, Aaron, and Kristopher at our home to celebrate the Kristopher's 45th birthday.  We also raised a toast to Greg on his birthday as well.

The Jag just came back today from thirty days in the Auto Spa - aka the body shop.  Over the last 18 months a chunk of tire came up an busted the right front bumperette.  Then a stationary dozer blade jumped out and hit the back bumper on the street in front of our home, and finally a concrete lamp post reached out and scraped the right rear quarter panel at Kathy's work parking lot.  Time to get some cosmetic fixes.  I had the shop fix every little stone chip was well so it came back looking like new.  It's eight years young with 56,000 miles on the odometer and 20,000 miles on the warranty replacement engine.  We drove a BMW 430i hard top convertible rental for the last month.  It was great fun with the top down, but it had a unacceptably harsh ride and so much noise from the front suspension and tires on rough pavement.  BMW missed this one.  The twin turbo 4 had a little bit of punch but it pales compared to the 5.0 liter...

I have been communicating with the "Carmichaels Area Historical Society" this evening and he came up with some photos from the Perry Myers Collection that they archive that we may not have seen before. I scanned the photo from 1960 where we are seated on the couch.  He sent me that photo without the wrinkles and crinkles evident in "our" print.  As I went back through my scans, I found one where we are all standing that I didn't remember.  The last one he sent is a "candid" family pose of us seated and looking at an art book.  I remember that we used to dress up every Sunday evening and gaze adoringly at Degas prints.  So much fun.

My little Prius C has been retired.  Someone ran a stop sign and knocked the front end off and totaled the car.  Their insurance company offered me about $4,000 over the market value so I used that money to go into a new vehicle.  It's a '17 VW Golf Alltrack.  All wheel drive, raised a bit over the standard Golf Sportwagon, and so much room to store gear for our road trips.  It has "Driver Assist" features that will stop the car if some one stops suddenly in front of me and all the latest technology.  Two days in and 300 miles and I love it.

We Call this Hideous Cancer Face at the Kennison household.  Anyone who is 68 years old and has enjoyed the outdoors needs to get rid of the sun damage on the face.  Go for it.

Happy Birthday Jeff.  It's been a special joy to know you are family.

Obviously this is a picture of the town square (I have no idea of when or where I got it). I don't know what year it is (and I can't even tell by those cars [but I think it is in the 60's]). I don't remember them pave the road, do you?

Take me disappearing through the smoke rings of my mind Down the foggy ruins of time Far past the frozen leaves The haunted frightened trees Out to the windy bench Far from the twisted reach of crazy sorrow Yes, to dance beneath the diamond sky With one hand waving free Silhouetted by the sea Circled by the circus sands With all memory and fate Driven deep beneath the waves Let me forget about today until tomorrow Brother Brian knew early on that Bob had the gift.  I bought the first albums with my $20 a day (cash) from Rod's motorcycle shop.  Had to leave them in Carmichaels when I went off to the war.  I appreciate this acknowledgment by the Nobel committee.  Add your thoughts and lyrics if you will.

It was so nice to see Will selected by the teachers at Boles Jr. High as a student that contributes in every way to all that he does at school.  Will is a straight A, advanced placement student, but this is about adding to the positive atmosphere of Boles and not just grades.  The teacher that nominated Will called him an All Star.  I agree.  Stephanie and I ran into one of his coaches for football, basketball and track, and he added that Will has been a joy to be around.  Nice to see that a 14 year old can be one of the "cool kids" with his group and still contribute so much to his classes and peers.

Stephanie's first born son, Drew, is graduating from the University of Texas Arlington in December.  He will be completing a BA in Graphic Design.  Drew has loved drawing since he picked up his first crayon.  I went to visit at the Collins house when Drew was 4.  He showed me the graphic novel (comic book) that he penned (his mother bound it) and as I marveled at the story and the art, he pronounced that "he had no small ambitions" concerning his art. At the end of his sophomore year, Drew was referred to the university graphic arts department and he was chosen as their student intern.  There were 300 other students that wanted that position.  This experience he gained has served him well as he went out into the business world.  He applied for an open spot at the world headquarters of Six Flags which is located here in Arlington.  He just found out today that he has the position!!  He starts next week as he continues to finish his last se...

Will is playing full contact football in the 3rd grade. He is is gung ho, and enjoying it so far. Drew and Katie were there to support him.