Mary Ann S., who runs the Facebook group Reconnecting Kalamazoo, made a big find relating to this blog and my family. Thank you so much, Mary!!! She emailed me that she had found something on ebay I might be interested in.
Let me catch you up on something first.
Four years ago, I published a post on some of my research into Frank Tazelaar. I had found dozens of newspaper articles about Frank. Check out my post, After Reading Fifty Newspapers about Frank Tazelaar. Frank was the husband of my 3x removed 1st cousin, Genevieve Remine Tazelaar. Actually I’m related to Genevieve through two branches of the family so that isn’t reflected in the “3x removed 1st cousin” label.
In that post I wrote about a fish supper held by the Knights of Pythias. Here is a quote:
On June 25 [1911], there is a somewhat humorous article about the fishing teams of the Knights of Pythias lodge. Frank is one of the team captains. This article is notable for sharing Frank’s photo. He was about 39 here . . . .
This article is ALSO notable for mentioning my great-grandfather’s fish market! Referring to the fish caught in the contest, the article says, “All fish must be delivered at Zuideweg’s [SIC: should be Zuidweg’s] market in Eleanor Street by Monday noon . . . .” So you know the connection, Genevieve Remine Tazelaar was the first cousin of my great-great-grandfather Richard DeKorn whose son-in-law was my great-grandfather Adrian Zuidweg who owned the fish market. Now the most important part: Richard DeKorn built the Pythian building known as Pythian Castle and, earlier, as the Telegraph Building. The link explains about the building.
I’ve posted a photo of the fish market in the past.
Fish Market on Eleanor Street with Adrian Zuidweg and helper
Now, what is the big find?
A mailer/flyer about the fish dinner!!!!!! Yes, I definitely ordered it from ebay.
It’s very hard to get the color right in a photograph or a scan, but it is actually fire engine red. Notice that my great-grandfather’s fish market is mentioned on here, as well as Frank Tazelaar as one of the captains.
I think this card might have been addressed to Vernon G. Bellows, a nurse at the Kalamazoo State Hospital in 1911. I found him in the City Directory. I realize the initials are switched, but that would be an easy mistake or even the way Bellows sometimes signed his name. Maybe he was a member of the Pythians.
The Family Kalamazoo 
Wow, what fun!
I know! What a thrilling email :).
Very cool, Luanne! I’ve heard of people doing searches on ebay for memorabilia related to genealogy, but I wouldn’t even know how to search. What a great find!
I thought that after Mary told me about ebay for this type of thing before that I had set up an automatic search thingie, but I never got a notice of this, so maybe I did not.
I assume you search for Kalamazoo. I wouldn’t have a clue what to search for since my ancestors lived in big cities all over the country and all over the world! And their surnames aren’t unusual enough to use those either.
I can see where that would be very difficult!!! But you might want to try the surnames, just to see, every once in awhile.
I’m very interested. Two of my great-great-aunts Hemmes (sisters) married in Michican with two brothers Tazelaar from Wissenkerke, Province Zeeland, The Netherlands. All of them moved to the US with their parents/mother. (It seems that the bewidowd mother Hemmes-Aeilkema remarried in the US. I found a grave of a daughter, hope especialy someone knows more about the mother.) Do you immediately recognize them? Thanks, family H-O
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Yes, two of Frank’s brothers, Henry (Hendrik) and Albert John?), married Marie (Mary) and Katrina (Katie) Hemmes! I’m sorry that I don’t have too much info for you as other than Frank I have not really researched the Tazelaar family.
Luanne, I am so happy to have helped you find a piece of your puzzle! The name jumped out at me, as a devoted follower of your blog! Maybe you can inspire me with mine!
You definitely made my week. Yes, you need to get back to your blogging, and you could blog about family history stuff, as well as other subjects!!! xo
That is sooo exciting! I’m glad you were able to get the flyer! Amazing what you can find on eBay! That makes me want to look for items from Ludington there more often. Maybe I can find a family treasure too. 😀
Supposedly there is a way to set up an automatic notification, which I thought I had done. Apparently not. I need to check that out again. Let me know if you figure it out!
Great catch Luanne.
Thank you, Jose! Hope you are well!
Sounds fishy to me!!! Awesome too.
LOL! You crack me up! Yes, very awesome!
Marvellous
Thank you, Derrick–yes!!!
What a find! You must have been so excited!!
SOOOO excited! And it’s so much more beautiful in person than it looked on ebay, too.
Even better!
wow ~ what a great find! This makes me smile 🙂 I often look on ebay for items relating to family names and places.
Did you set up a notification thingie on it? I thought I did that, but maybe not?
No, I did not set anything up for notifications. Didn’t;t realize you could even do that
[…] A Family Treasure from Ebay […]
Luanne, I sign into ebay. Go to search box, I typed in “Kalamazoo” under ‘collectibles’ category. I also look under books, etc.
Isn’t there a way to get notifications on certain words? I thought there was, but maybe I’m remembering wrong.