Aunt Mary's house,
1402 1st Avenue, Sterling, Illinois
Aunt Mary was interested in family history. She corresponded with relatives, sent care packages to German cousins after WWII, wrote or acquired several histories posted on this site, and made a trip to Herr House in Pennsylvania. Mary's mother was descended from Bishop Herr.
Aunt Mary Hey Harshman
I used to mow Aunt Mary's lawn. I was fascinated by the 2 fish ponds, one outdoors and one indoors on the sun porch. How exciting to have gold fish and move them indoors in the winter! I still remember mowing the lawn for the last time. Afterwards, Aunt Mary called me inside, took me to her library, and offered me any book that I wanted. I chose a collection of Longfellow's poems with a beautiful, red leather cover. It was from this book of Aunt Mary's that I was first captivated by "The Village Blacksmith." "Under the spreading chestnut-tree The village smithy stands; The smith, a mighty man is he, With large and sinewy hands...
Verna Hey Harshman, Marty, Ruth Hey
at Steve & Kathy's Wedding
Mary Hey Harshman
Aunt Mary's Memories
of Her Family Life
Front: Verna, Mary, Ira, Back: Abram, Henry, Clement
Mary, the oldest, and Verna, the youngest married brothers. So both married names were Harshman.
