Brickhouse Family Newsletter – January 2006

 

Brickhouse Family Association

 

18th Annual Brickhouse Family Reunion

 

Wow! Did anyone else feel as though they were melting? It’s somewhat hard to remember now that winter is here but I would have to say that was by far the hottest reunion I’ve ever been to! However, in spite of the heat, I think everyone had a good time. After receiving a ‘warm’ welcome, we were able to enjoy good food, good company and good music.

The where and when for this year’s reunion is still undecided.  If anyone would like to host or organize the 2006 reunion, or help with it, or even just have suggestions; contact me by phone, letter, or email!

 

My dad’s shoes

 

            It has been almost 2 years since dad passed away and I still miss him everyday. I have a million questions I wish I could ask him, such as how did he become such a bold person. He left behind rather large shoes to fill (10 ½ wide to be exact), and I am just beginning to understand the size of his personality. I came to the realization at the reunion that I am not my dad. While I did inherit the Brickhouse ‘gift of gab’, I did not inherit his boldness. I had planned on getting up and speaking at the reunion but when Sara Reynolds asked if anyone had anything they wanted to say, I felt my mouth going dry, my knees started knocking and my heart felt like it was going to pound out of my chest. Not only was I going to give a little speech but I was going to talk to everyone, get to know them, where they are from, which line they descended. I am just beginning in genealogy and I have found it very interesting. However, while I have no problem talking to people once I meet them, I cannot do as my dad did, go from person to person, getting their information, etc. I am working to overcome this shyness; after all, the Brickhouse boldness gene has to come out sometime right? Perhaps the next reunion I go to I will be able to talk to more than 3 people. J

            One of the things I had wanted to say at the reunion was something I had read about in Family History. Dad wrote a lot about the early Brickhouses and one of the traits that struck me as funny was their stubbornness. Now anyone who is married to a Brickhouse will tell you without a doubt that their spouse is one of the most stubborn people they have ever met. I did not think I inherited this from dad until I got married, and of course my husband started calling me stubborn. For a long time I assumed that this trait was learned, until my 2nd baby, Caelyn, was born. I had at first wanted a boy so I could name him after my dad but Caelyn is about as close to my dad’s personality as you could get. The stubbornness is not learned; it is unquestionably an inherited trait. For the most part I think it is a good one because when faced with opposition you tend to stand for what you believe is right-like George Brickhouse not moving to another state in spite of the fact that he could be persecuted for his religious beliefs. He was stubborn, hardheaded, and willing to do what he felt was right no matter the costs. There are of course instances when this trait is faulty, such as my arguing until I’m blue in face with my husband over some small detail until he calls me ‘the most stubborn person’ he ever met. But in general, I’m proud of it, hardheaded, whatever, it’s something that I did get from dad.

 

News and Inquiries from Across the Nation:

 

Patrick Russell, grandson of Stella Brickhouse Russell, graduated from the University of Houston in July with a Bachelor of Science in History.

 

Greta Garrett, daughter of Sidney and Sandra Brickhouse Garrett. Greta graduated from East Carolina University receiving her Masters of Elementary Education from ECU in December. She will be married on May 20, 2006 to Lyle Lentz.

 

True Story- (submitted by Sandra Brickhouse Garrett) Sandra’s grandfather’s name was originally George Washington Brickhouse and out there somewhere was another man by the same name. They kept getting each other’s mail, among other things, mixed up so finally her grandfather changed his middle initial to S. When he was questioned by some agency what the “S” stood for, he replied, “It is a secret.”. Hence from that day forth his name was George Secret Brickhouse.

 

Hurricane Rita- Michael Russell and his wife Patricia were able to escape the storm and had only minimal damage to their property.

 

Lost- Carolyn Brickhouse Randlett, your high school reunion committee is looking for you! If you are interested in responding to the person who emailed me, here is his address: Wayne Martin, 3687 Bryant, Palo Alto, CA 94306

 

Albert Brickhouse- Does anyone have information about an Albert Brickhouse who was married to Mettie Rhodes, specifically how and when he passed away? Albert was born in 1895 and lived on Sound Side. Request for information from Al Vanhorn.

 

Henry Case Waddle- Does anyone know an exact birth date for Henry? We have the year but I received an email from someone who would like the month and date.

 

Is there a doctor in the house? I received an email from someone looking for a Dr. William Brickhouse who is an expert on mental health facilities in prisons. Please let me know if you want to respond to this person, I have the email address.

 

DNA- I received an interesting email from Donald Potter (a Brickhouse descendant) asking if any Brickhouse men have had Y-chromosome DNA testing completed. If so, please email Donald at: dpotter69@yahoo.com

 

 

This newsletter was brought to you by:

 

Yvonne Brickhouse

Brenda Slack

Donna Faye Brickhouse

 

Thank you for all your help and support!

 

 

NEWSLETTER EDITOR

Janel Brickhouse Flor

 

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