Making the Family Skeleton Dance

Welcome to The House on Harrison Street: The Gordon-Ritchie Saga.

Included on this Blog are tidbits of what you can expect when you hold in your own hands a copy of The House on Harrison Street.  It will not be an e-book nor will it be available on Kindle.  It is a family history saga, written in the creative non-fiction genre, and is published for you and for many, it is hoped, as a reference book regarding Camden, Arkansas social history and for use as inspiration for those who wish to tell their own family stories by bringing their ancestors to life through storytelling.

Margaret Jane when living at 134 Harrison

In one of the stories I share about my early years in school at Cleveland Avenue, Mother says to me, after I share my embarrassing day at school, "Well, Margaret Jane, you don't have to tell everything you know. You could have not raised your hand at all!"  Sorry, Mother, I'm still at it, still telling "everything I know." Not really; sometimes silence is the better part of the story, but not in this case.

The House on Harrison Street - 134 Harrison

While this volume will not be, nor do I propose for it to be, a best-seller, it is important for historic preservation. Children today do not have the same beautiful opportunity that we did. Most live far from their cousins and have no weekly dinner with Grandmother; they do not rip and romp with their cousins, hear family tales while shelling peas and snapping beans. Women today seem too busy to pull up a tall chair or a stool for their daughters, allowing the little mess-pots to learn how to make Tattee's Candy or how to make muscadine jelly or plum preserves, all the while sharing family stories. We, of our certain age, came in on the tail-end of that era and reaped the benefit of "home training."

My sons do not know the stories I have shared. Perhaps they are not interested. Not today. But when you and I are long gone from this world, they might wonder about the family, their ancestry. Contained within this volume are those stories, the questions, and most of the answers.

I always liked to read biography, autobiography, and books about families. It's like walking through the neighborhood, taking time to look through the open windows, checking out decor or other interesting elements. I like to read about other people, true stories, stories that confess, "Yep, us, too." Everybody has feet of clay.

1983 Gordon-Ritchie Family Reunion

Within the book are forty photos, some that have rarely, if ever, been seen. End notes, a bibliography, and an index are included.

 For the immediate family, I've also created a CD which contains Time Lines, Family Group Sheets, and Ancestry.com genealogy, family recipes, plus many more photos than the 40 contained within the book. Those of you who have responded via email, I have your order recorded. Thank you!

Starting February 1, 2016, approximately 3-4 times a week, I will post a little blurb on this Blog (www.houseonharrison.blogspot.com). The blurb is intended to whet your appetite for the book.

You can PRE-ORDER the book and CD from me (janegatewood@centurylink.net) or (ellajane.jg@gmail.com).  Each copy is $20 (before shipping). My immediate COUSINS who helped me compile this book will receive ABSOLUTELY FREE OF CHARGE the accompanying CD. Otherwise, the CD is an additional $10.  You can avoid the Shipping Expense by being in Camden March 11, 12, or 13 for the Daffodil Festival and I'll have your signed copy for you. Otherwise, the shipping expense is $5 and should be added to the price of the book and CD.

Thank you for your interest in this volume of Family and Camden History.
I look forward to sharing the Gordon-Ritchie stories with you.