The Mystery of the Irish at Duffy’s Cut

The 175-year-old mystery of Irish Catholic railroad workers may now be solved after a team led by brothers Dr. William and Frank Watson, has been found.

The labourers arrived in Pennsylvania in June 1832 to construct the Philadelphia and Columbia Railroad but six weeks later all had died and were buried without ceremony in a ditch. The deaths were orginally covered up, then later said that the men perished in a cholera epidemic. There are also theories that they were murdered by anti-Irish vigilantes. If the deaths were murder, then it will become a crime scene, even after all these years.

The Watson brothers think they have found the spot of the grave. A marker was put up in 2004, but the actual site was not known at that time. They are finding many personal items such as buttons, pipes, cooking utensils as well as bones, at a site nearby.

There is so much to be done in this discovery but funding is a issue.

There are many articles on line about Duffy’s Cut, a book, and videos. Here is one to entice you. Duffy's Cut

Are one of these men the relative you have been searching for?

Jennie Wade for Tombstone Tuesday

Jennie Wade, Gettysburg, PA She was the first person killed in the Battle. She was in her sister's kitchen baking bread for the Union troops when a stray bullet came through the door and shot her in the back.

Ocie Taylor Songer

Ocie Taylor Songer was in town recently. She told The Corona Historic Preservation Society about her experiences in early Corona. She arrived is 1896, the very begining of this little hamlet. Her father was the offical founder. She lived here until her death in 1971, at age 94. Of course she had some tales to tell. She knew all the early residents as well as many that came later to make their mark on Corona.

Ocie was portrayed by...moi, me and myself. I enjoyed it so much. Ocie left all her scrapbooks, the family bible, family papers and documents to the public library. At the Heritage Room the documents are in a special collection that can be browse through. It was such a pleasure to be able to tell her story and know that everything was as she saw it, because the information all came from her own pen.

When I visit her grave Ialways tell her that I hope she is pleased with me for keeping her alive in Corona. She did so much in the way of writing Corona's history as it took place. I want to keep it going.

One thing she said in a letter (written in her hand) was that "the older ones are going and the young ones don't care about Corona's story."

I always think that whatever I say about Corona is also the story of every town in America. The faces and names are changed but the stories are alike.

The news of yesterday is the history of today.

Warkintin Family in Newton, KS for Tombstone Tuesday

In Newton, Kansas there is a beautiful Victorian home, complete with much orginal furnishings. It offers tours and tells the history of the Warkentine Family and their connection to Newton. This home is on the National Register of Historic Places.

Bernard Warkintine was responsible for the Turkey red hard winter wheat that Kansas is famous for. He had many interests in Kansas and Oklahoma. He died of an accidental gunshot wound while he was in the Holy Land in 1908. His wife Wilhelmina contined to live in the home until her death in 1932.

The grave is located in Greenwood Cemetery, about four miles from the home. I peeked inside the tomb. There looks to be four marble crypts, and a lovely stained glass window. Although it was snowing and cold the day I was there. the sun shined through the glass giving the tomb a very church like atmosphere, which I am sure the Warkentins would like.