Video Blog: Apalachin Meeting – The Mafia in Appalachia

 Apalachin Meeting – The Mafia in Appalachia

The Appalachin meeting was a secret gathering of American Mafia leaders in 1957 to discuss illegal operations. The meeting took place at the home of mobster Joseph “Joe the Barber” Barbara in Apalachin, New York.

Join us as we discuss how this meeting changed the Mafia in America forever.

Prefer the Podcast version?  Click here.

Are you related or connect to any of these mobsters? 

Find out by visiting the Appalachin Meeting page on WikiTree.

Ancestry Roads and WikiTree: 

 Where Appalachian Stories and Genealogy meet.

View more Appalachian Stories at Ancestry Roads YouTube .

Ancestry Roads: https://www.ancestryroads.com/

WikiTree: https://www.wikitree.com/ 

52 Ancestors Week 10: Siblings

 

This week’s theme is “Siblings.”   The DNA surprise when your family tree takes a sharp turn. 

Siblings. They're our first friends, our partners in crime, our biggest rivals, and our lifelong companions. The two brothers that I grew up with, Steve and Tim, were the only siblings that I knew.  They were much older than me.  I was the completely annoying bratty little sister that they didn't want and didn't expect.

The Craig Kids

I was also the one that got mad because they wouldn't let me play with their amazing hot wheel tracks up and down the basement stairs and all around the basement.  Boys can be so mean.

But, when in need, they both came running to help me.  Once, in 9th grade, I was severely bullied by a boy that wanted me to go to a school dance with him.  I just didn't want to go to the dance. I had nothing against the boy.   But, he took it badly, and harrassed me, followed me everywhere, in school and out, would call me horrible names, by yelling, in front of everyone at the lockers or lunch room.  The school administrator and security guard did nothing to stop it.   

So, for a month straight, my brothers picked me up from school.  They waited by this boy's school bus and made sure to say hello to him, every day.  That was it.  Just hello.  The fact that they both rode their Harleys and looked like Hells Angels might have also had something to do with it.

Click on Read More to see my Mom's and Dad's siblings....

12 Photos: March 2025 Sports

 

March 2025

12 Months of Photos - Appalachia Style

"Sports"

My husband and son are golfers. The amount of golf talk in my house is truly overwhelming. The way their facial expressions change when discussing what happened on hole twelve depends entirely on the day, the club, and the weather.

But as a mom, I’ve supported my son by taking him to golf lessons five days a week and enduring the sweltering Georgia heat for his tournaments. When I say he has a natural talent, I’m not exaggerating. This isn’t just a proud mom bragging (though I am, and I do)—this kid is an insanely good golfer who rarely practices. He’d much rather just get on the course and hit the ball.

My son doesn’t allow me to share photos of him online—on social media, blogs, or videos. But he did allow me to share this one picture of him on the course.

This picture is especially dear to my heart. I used to pick him up from school with his golf clubs already in the car. We would head straight to the golf course, where he would play nine holes before dinner. Since this course didn’t allow him to drive the cart, I was always with him throughout.

Being a typical mom, I snapped pictures of him all the time. But this day was different. It was autumn in Atlanta—a beautiful day. When he reached this putt, I remember looking at the picture through my cell phone, and it nearly took my breath away. The moment was so peaceful, so silent, and so perfect.

Just a boy enjoying the game he loves.

The golf music video.  Tee it up!

Join the 12 Months of Photos at WikiTree.  Show off your Genealogy.

52 Ancestors Week 9: Family Secret

this week’s theme is “family secret.”   Tips on sharing the deep dark secret and setting it free.

Every family has its stories, the tales passed down through generations, embellished with each retelling. But what happens when a story isn't told? What happens when a secret, carefully guarded and whispered only in hushed tones, finally comes to light?

You already know mine by reading Surprise, DNA Edition, Letters, and bits from the Migration posts.  But, as a professional genealogist, over the years, I have had my fair share of secrets that I've discovered and discussed with clients.  This is never an easy conversation.  In all my years, when I say I have a secret to tell you about.... it's not that you are directly related to a famous cousin but rather your cousin might be closer than a cousin.

The ethnicity estimate, from the Ancestry.com DNA test, was interesting enough, confirming some family lore and debunking others. But it was the "DNA Relatives" section that truly caught my attention. There, listed alongside distant cousins I'd never heard of, was a name that didn't belong. A name with a significantly higher percentage of shared DNA than a distant relative should have. 

To help understand what to do with a surprise in your DNA Test, I've put together a few tips that worked for me.  There are still times that I get angry or sad or incredibly frustrated because one side of the story is not being told but I always remember:  Let the skelton out of the closet to dance.

Click on Read More to read the tips on sharing your family secret....

52 Ancestors Week 8: Migration

 

This week’s theme is “migration.”   The Hillbilly Highway

I am the product of the Hillbilly Highway.  My Dad decided to move my mom and two brothers out of Weston, West Virginia to Baltimore, Maryland for the chance of a better life.  Jobs were scare in West Virginia.  Families were hungry.  Many left Appalachia for the Steel Towns of the North and the opportunities to the East.  This became known as the Hillbilly Highway.

Some made it back home.  Others never did.   

This video is maternal family's deeply personal story. "Hillbilly Highway: The Out-Migration of Appalachians" features Sandy Patak discussing the migration patterns of people from the Appalachian region to industrial cities. The presentation delves into the reasons behind this migration and examines the cultural impacts on both those who left and those who remained in Appalachia. 

What is the Hillbilly Highway and Why is it so important to Appalachian Genealogy?

Click on Read More to find out....