My move in February forced me to deal with the overflowing contents of my basement. Many of the boxes that were stashed away contained items belonging to my mother, who now, at 85, lives is an assisted living facility. Mom is a saver. I went through box after box of old phone bills, insurance bills, even canceled checks from my brothers high school tuition drawn on a bank called the Chemical Corn Exchange Bank in 1958. I got rid of tons of old paper, but then the move happened so the rest of the stuff went on the truck. I was unpacking the last of the boxes the other day I came across an old, red lacquer box that I vaguely remember seeing as a child. When I looked inside, I found a folded up old paper with the words "Landed in America, March 17th, 1903" scrawled on the back. There was also the name of a ship, but I cannot make out the letters due to the childlike penmanship. I might be SS Invernis. Sail away with me.
Read More