JIRINA (GEORGIA) MATILDA SNÁŠEL
And Husband
Bedrick (Ben) Kucera
THE STORY OF HER LIFE
Part Two
Click on the RED BOX to see a map of Plzen and the surrounding area.
Click here to go to an interactive map of the Czech Republic.
Georgia Snášel came to America at the age of 13 and moved with her family to Wichita Falls, Texas. She went to school and farmed with her family in Texas, and then moved to Summerdale, Alabama to the Sonora Community, in December 1925. She married Bedrick (Ben) Kucera on August 20, 1927. She and Ben had two sons, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren. Following is Bedrick (Ben) Kucera's family history.
Ben Kucera's mother, Markéta (Margaret) Terezie Dolák, was born on May 13, 1885 in Louny, Bohemia, and died on September 6, 1962 at the Thomas Hospital, in Fairhope, Alabama. She is buried in the Silverhill Cemetery in Silverhill, Alabama. Her family line came from Czechoslovakia. Margaret's mother, Anna Krajcova, was born in Milinov (see map above), County Blovice, in Bohemia. She married Frank Dolák, Sr. He died in 1910 at the age of 69 in Cechy, County Louny, close to Plzen (Pilsen), Bohemia. Anna died September 29, 1923 in Bridgeport, Ohio. She is buried in Linwood Cemetery. She came to America on the ship Brandenburg. Anna's father, Jan Krejci, was born in Mišov, County Blovice, in Bohemia.
Margaret Dolák's sister Barbara Dolák-Andel was killed in a car accident in Bellere, Ohio on May 28, 1932. Barbara is buried next to her mother in Linwood Cemetery, in Bellere, Ohio. Another sister, Katerina Dolák-Krob died on December 9, 1954 and is buried at the Silverhill Cemetery, Silverhill, Alabama.
Margaret's brother Joseph Frank Dolák, Sr., was born in Plzen (see map above), in the State of Bohemia on February 12, 1890 (now Czech Republic). He died on September 22, 1971 in Cleveland, Ohio. His wife, Rose Dolák was born in Vejprnice (see map above), County Plzen, Bohemia on March 13, 1902. She died on October 1, 1980 in Cleveland, Ohio.
Ben Kucera's paternal grandparents were Frantisek (Frank) and Marie Kucera, who were both born in Vejprnice, County Plzen, in Bohemia. Frank died in 1910 in Bellere, Ohio. Marie died in 1909 in Bellere, Ohio. They are both buried in Linwood Cemetery, Bellere, Ohio.
Frank and Marie Kucera had a son named Frank Thomas Kucera, who was born on October 3, 1885 in Vejprnice, Bohemia. Frank Thomas Kucera married Markéta (Margaret) Terezie Dolák. He died on December 26, 1953 in Silverhill, Alabama and is buried at the Silverhill Cemetery.
Frank Thomas Kucera and his wife Margaret (Dolák) Kucera had four children:
- Bedrick (Ben) Fred Kucera - born on January 15, 1904 in Dillonvale, Ohio. Died on March 15, 1990 and is buried in the Silverhill Cemetery.
- Joseph M. Kucera - born on August 6, 1907 in Dillonvale, Ohio. Died on December 14, 1979 in Chicago, Illinois.
- Mary Helen Kucera - born on June 3, 1908 in Dillonvale, Ohio. Died at Fox River Grove, Illinois.
- Frank Anton Kucera - born on December 4, 1910 in Dillonvale, Ohio. He died on July 29, 1969 at Mobile General Hospital at the age of 59 from lung cancer. He had a military funeral and is buried at the Silverhill Cemetery.
Ben, was the first child born to Thomas and Markéta. He was born in Dillonvale, Ohio, on January 15, 1904, in a small log cabin by the coal docks. He went to school through the 8th grade, otherwise he was self-educated. He went to work in the coalmines with his Dad at the age of 14. He moved to Silverhill, Alabama with his parents, two brothers, and a sister in 1920. He farmed with his father, and after each crop season, he went back to Ohio to work in the coalmines, and later in a glass factory. In 1924, he came back to Alabama to stay, working on an orange plantation for Dr. O.F.E. Winberg.
In 1925, he worked for the Sanford Poultry Farm near Robertsdale, Alabama operating the chick incubators. He later went to work as a meat cutter for the Bender-Bilek Sausage Company in Robertsdale and worked in that position until August of 1927.
On August 20, 1927, he married Georgia Snášel of Summerdale, Alabama (Sonora Community) and together they farmed until 1929.
During the summer of 1929, he was commissioned as Deputy Sheriff for South Baldwin County and worked in that capacity until 1942 when he reached the rank of Chief Deputy Sheriff of Baldwin County.
In 1942, he took the exams for the Alabama Beverage Control Board (A.B.C. Board) and on receiving his commission; he worked in Mobile, Alabama and Mobile County for two years. He then received a promotion and was transferred to Wilcox and Monroe Counties with his home base being Camden, Alabama (Wilcox Co). All this work was done under the orders and direction of the Sheriff of the respective county.
In 1945, he came to Robertsdale on the request of the Mayor, Dr. Amos Garrett, to take over the job of Chief of Police, which was recently vacated by Mr. W.R. Duckworth. He worked in that position until 1960.
In 1960, he was appointed as Mayor of Silverhill, Alabama. He was then elected as Mayor by the citizens in 1964 and held that position for 14 years. At the same time, he held the positions of Superintendent of the town's water system and the natural gas system. Through his and the town council's efforts, the town's people are enjoying the water and gas in their homes. Most of the town's streets were blacktopped while he was a Mayor.
Ben also engaged in other activities and memberships: He was a Scout Master of Boy Scout Troop 42 in Silverhill. He was a 1st Lieutenant in the Civil Air Patrol, under the command of Capt. Harry Schadd of Foley. He was a 50-year member of the Masonic Lodge, Robertsdale, AL and a 32nd Degree Mason, Abba Temple, Mobile, AL. He was initiated in Lodge No. 821 on January 18, 1938. He received his 50th year pin on March 15, 1988 by the Honorable James B. Casey, D.L, of Spanish Fort, Alabama at Ben's home since he was bedridden at the time. Ben had a Masonic Rites Funeral and his honorary pallbearers were his fellow shriners.
Ben was a member of the "Order of Eastern Star Chapter" in Robertsdale, AL. Secretary of the Woodmen of the World, Robertsdale Camp. President of the P.Z.K. Club, a Czech organization, in Robertsdale, AL. Past president of the Baldwin County Shrine Club. Past president of the National Police Association. Honorary lifetime member of the U.S. Air Force.
In between all this work described, Ben always helped the "little people," those who were sick, hungry, and those without transportation. No work was ever too little or too big for him to do, anytime of the day or night.
Ben and Georgia had three children:
- Infant Daughter - died at birth.
- George Bedrick (Benny) Kucera, born in Silverhill, Alabama.
- Frank (Frankie) Joseph Kucera, born in Silverhill, Alabama.
Benny Kucera married Marybelle Smith of Loxley, Alabama. They had a daughter and grand children. Frankie Kucera married Martha Jean Brogdon. They have two children and grandchildren.
Georgia recalls how these events took place:
From the time we came to Alabama in 1925 up to 1927, we made many friends (and also special boyfriends). I kept company with a young Czech man by the name of Bedrick (Ben) Kucera who was also a farmer and who lived in the Silverhill community. After two years of courting, Ben and I (Georgia Snášel) got married. We drove to the Bay Minette Court House to be married, then back to our new home in the Sonora Community to a wedding reception where my Mama, with the help of neighbors Mrs. Sodoma and Mrs. Cejka, had food ready for about 300 guests. The wedding was on a Saturday (August 20, 1927) and Bay Minette was full of farm people, so they all followed us into the Court House where we were married. After the reception, many people went home to do the evening chores (earlier) then came back to eat supper with us... of what was left of this food, which was taken to the Little Bohemian Hall in the Silverhill community. This is where we had our wedding dance. Mr. John Novák and his band played for us till the "wee hours" of the morning.
Ben and I had no honeymoon... we stayed and lived with my folks (the Snášel's) for the first two years of our married life. We farmed a piece of land my Dad gave us, so the profit from the crops would be all ours. We always made good on the cucumbers and the potatoes, but the turnip greens did not fare good at all.
Two months after our marriage, I got pregnant and so we stayed on with my folks. Something happened to me in my eighth month of pregnancy and I lost my baby girl (it was stillborn). I was very sick for seven weeks and couldn't even get off the bed, but with my Mama's good care, I survived it all. Our baby was beautiful with dark brown hair. We missed her very much... but our lives went on.
We finally rented a farm across the road from the Snášel's and we farmed more land there. We bought two horses, a cow for milk, some chickens, and pigs to fatten up for meat. We fared okay and always had some profit from the crops. During the next four years, we rented different farms and always made good crops. The best crop we ever had was on Mr. Joe Bucek's farm near Robertsdale. We lived there for two and a half years.
In 1929, Ben was asked by the Baldwin County Sheriff's Department to take the job of Deputy Sheriff for the South End of Baldwin County, and he did. His work took him away from home a lot, so that year I had to finish farming by myself with the help from my brother Charlie Snášel.
In 1930, I found a home that was for rent close to the town of Silverhill, Alabama. I rented it and we lived there for the next few years. Both our sons George and Frankie were born on farms just out of the town's limits. We also farmed a piece of land on Frank Kucera's farm (Ben's Dad). But, after 1934, we quit farming and moved into the Town of Silverhill to be close to the stores, the Post Office, and the school, as our boys were growing up and would start school. It was an ideal place for us as Ben was away from home more and more. Later his work took him all over the county and even out of state. He made one trip with a prisoner all the way to Hackensack, New Jersey. He loved the work he was doing and was always respected by the prisoners. He never had any trouble with any of them on the long trips, but here in his home state, he was injured twice by drunks. Once, he was overpowered by a drunk, knocked down, and got bitten by him... almost bit his nose off. Another time he got stabbed in the eye,... he took the stab that was meant for another man. But, he always came out of it all okay.
Our life went on.... Ben worked as Deputy Sheriff for many years and with promotions, made Chief Deputy of Baldwin County. He also ran for the office of Sheriff but lost to his opponent by only nine votes. Right about that time the town of Robertsdale had lost their Chief of Police, Mr. Duckworth. The town officials asked Ben to come to work in Robertsdale to take the job of Chief of Police. Along with that, he also took the task to supervise the city water works. This job brought him back home to us. He worked that job for many years. Ben and I took life a little easier, but I got involved with the school, since our boys were in Silverhill School. I joined the PTA and helped the teachers whenever they needed help in the classroom. I was a substitute teacher all the years that our sons were in grade school. I also helped out even when they went on to High School.
Onlooker Newspaper Article Click picture to Enlarge.
Newpaper article from early 1950s.
Ben Kucera and his family were members of the Civil Air Patrol.
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When Frankie was 14 years old, and Benny was 17, we all joined the Civil Air Patrol, and were also members of the Ground Observer Co-op. That was in 1953 when there was no radar to watch for enemy planes. We worked with that organization for three or four years until radar was then put to work. We were a hard working family, for ourselves, and for our government. I (Georgia) was also a member of the Civil Defense, and worked with them for about four or five years. We all were always ready to do whatever had to be done for our people, our town, and for our government. No job was too big or too little for us to do. We taught our sons to help other people whenever possible, and even now, they are always lending a helping hand.
The Snasel Family in 1954 - Click picture to Enlarge.
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Standing, left to right:
Charlie Snasel, Agnes Snasel Andrade, Vinci Snasel Fetters, Emilie Snasel Mikkelsen, Frank Snasel.
Seated, left to right:
Georgia Snasel Kucera, parents Vincencie and Karel Snasel, Helen Snasel Bartosh.
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Karel and Vincencie Snasel about 1954. - Click picture to Enlarge.
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Before graduating from High School, Frankie did several different jobs and even worked in a bakery for a while. He then joined the Army National Guard in Robertsdale, Alabama in December 1955. He graduated from Robertsdale High School in 1956 and went to Norfolk, Virginia for three months of military training in the National Guard. When he completed the training be came home and went to work for the State of Alabama and worked on the road building crew in Robertsdale. After about six months, he went to work for the Loxley Prison Camp where he took care of the Oil and Gas House and helped out in the Bookkeeping Department of the prison and the shop. In January of 1958, Frankie then went to work for the Baldwin County Electric Co-op (REA) in Robertsdale working there in the office as a cashier for one and a half years. He then went to work for the "Berglin Azalea Brand Ice Cream Co." in Fairhope, Alabama in the Bookkeeping Department. He worked there for 18 months, then moved to Miami, Florida and worked for Bransfield and White Construction Co. where he helped build and pave local roads and interstate highways. Later, he moved to Silverhill and went to work again for the Baldwin County Electric Co. (REA) in August 1960. He worked there until September 1961, when he was called on Active Duty during the Berlin Crisis and was stationed in Augusta, Georgia for 10 months and 9 days. He was released from active duty as a Sergeant E-5 and came back home to Silverhill to live with his wife Martha.
Frankie then sold insurance for the Mutual Savings Insurance Co., and lived in Magnolia Springs, Alabama for four months. Then, in 1962, he went back to work for the Baldwin County Electric Co-op (EMC) as a ground man on the construction crew in Robertsdale. He worked through his apprenticeship and worked his way up to his present position as Manager of Operations and Maintenance and worked there for a total of 31 years, to the present time (1992). He also served as Silverhill Town Councilman from 1972 to 1976. He was elected Mayor of Silverhill, Alabama in 1976 and served two terms as Mayor to 1984. As of this writing, February 1992, he is still with the Electric Co. and lives with his wife Martha in Silverhill, Alabama.
When George B. (Benny) Kucera was still in high school, he learned carpentry before he graduated from High School. He was then drafted in the U.S. Army and was sent to France in 1955 where he served for 18 months. While there, he worked in carpentry and acoustics in the Army offices. He returned home safely. When he got home from France, he went right on with carpentry work. One of the first jobs he took on was to remodel our family home here in Silverhill. As of this writing, Benny is still doing carpentry work and lives with his wife Betty and two children Janet and Michael in Silverhill, Alabama.
In the early years, Dr. Amos Garrett was Mayor of Robertsdale and the town was prospering nicely. Mrs. Florence Higgins was the town clerk. When she died, Dr. Garrett and Ben took care of her burial. She was buried in Silverhill Cemetery.
In 1960, the Silverhill town mayor, Mr. Emery Johnson, died and the town officials asked Ben to temporarily take the job of Mayor. He did and wound up staying in that job for the next 14 years. Silverhill prospered nicely under Ben's leadership. The town got a public water system for all citizens in town and the water lines were extended out of town to nearby homes. The town also got a natural gas system for all citizens and that was a real treat for many of us who were still using wood stoves for cooking and heating. During this time, all streets in town were paved. Ben talked to the town council about getting a sewer system for the town, but it was never approved by the council. After 14 years as Mayor, and his health failing, Ben stepped down. The town then elected Mr. J. Cooper as Mayor. He held the position for four years. When election time came around again, our son Frankie J. Kucera was elected Mayor, a job that he held for eight years.
During Frankie's term as Mayor of Silverhill, all streets were resurfaced, a firehouse was built, and our "Heritage Day" celebrations began. Frankie continued to work with the Baldwin County Electric Membership Co-Op at the same time and has stayed with them continuously. He has about two years to go before he retires from the Electric Company.
When Mrs. Sadie B. Wingard was a principal of Silverhill School, the PTA members started a PTA Founders Day program and held banquets with tables decorated to represent months of the year. They would have two hostesses and two serving girls to a table with 12 or 14 guests. Later, we took up the idea and decorated tables to represent nationalities. Those tables were really beautiful. The serving girls were dressed in their National Costumes. I always decorated a table in a Czechoslovakian motif and wore my beautiful costume... just to show it off!
Georgia Kucera in her Czechoslovakian Costumes. Click each picture to Enlarge.
Georgia Kucera in her Czechoslovakian Costume.
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Georgia Kucera in her Czechoslovakian Costume on the right.
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Georgia Kucera in her Czechoslovakian Costume.
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Georgia Kucera in her Czechoslovakian Costume.
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In the 1980s, my husband Ben Kucera's health was failing, and he became very forgetful. This went on for several years, but we took care of him at home. But, after so long we got the "home health care" help. For a long time, our sons and their wives came early in the morning to help me get Ben up, walk him, give him a bath, and sit him into a wheelchair where I would feed him. One morning when I helped to turn him over on his bed I hurt my back and had to go the hospital, so we had to put Ben into a nursing home. He stayed for 4 and a half months in the Villa Mercy Nursing Home in Daphne. After that, we brought him home hoping that we could take care of him. However, his health failed so much that he had to go back to the nursing home again. But this time we took him to Foley, Alabama where they had room at the nursing home there. He was in the nursing home for two and a half years when he passed away on March 15, 1991 (at the age of 86). He is buried in the Silverhill Cemetery.
I am still living in my home in Silverhill, Alabama with my sons and their families looking in on me every day. I still do all my work and crochet a lot of things for the children and grandchildren so they'll have things to remember me by. They visit me often. Once in a while, I'll cook a pot of soup that they all like and call for them to "come and get it." Mostly, I cook beef or chicken soup with lots of fresh vegetables and mushrooms. Instead of “bought” noodles, I mix flour, egg, and milk, and mix well, then drop small pieces into the boiling soup. I cook this for a few minutes and then serve it. It's delicious soup any time of the year... also good for people of any age. This soup is called "kapanky soup," but the children call it "cotton" soup.
I went back to visit my former homeland, Czechoslovakia, in 1970. I lived here in America for 51 years, but when I went back to Czechoslovakia, I noticed that the country did not change any… it was as if I never left.
It was 1968 when Russia invaded the Czech country, so it was poor in everything as the Russians were sending everything back to their country. People were afraid to talk to each other on the streets. Towns were full of Russian soldiers. There was no food or meat in the stores for sale. The dry goods stores were closing or stayed open only 2 or 3 hours a day. Now, in 1991, when you see pictures on T.V. where bins in the stores are empty, you had better believe it, as it is true. I visited there for seven weeks and experienced a lot of hardship. People lived in their homes, which they had to take care of, but all homes were the property of the Russian Government.
I visited my birthplace home in a small village, my school, and the church, where I was christened. I also visited the cemetery where one set of Grandparents and one brother are buried. I made the best of everything and enjoyed being with my cousins from both sides of our family. Everyone whom I came in contact with enjoyed seeing me, but no one ever believed that any of us from America would visit there while things were so bad. I did visit and I am very happy about it, as I probably will never get there any more. Since January 1991, I lost three cousins there… my first cousins. Now, only the second-generation remains and that is different as they grew up under the Communist Regime.
I enjoyed my visit; saw many friends and kinfolks, many villages and cities, and the beautiful and historical City of Prague. But, I was really happy to get back to what my home is now, the beautiful, freedom loving, America. God bless it.
Back at home in Silverhill, I still enjoy my doll collection of which I have around 120 dolls. The dolls are of different sizes and all are dressed in the native costume of the country for which they represent. I started this doll collection around 1940. I would buy the basic doll, then buy a pattern, make a dress, and fix up the doll to represent a particular country. Friends would occasionally give me a doll already dressed, but most of them were hand made by me. I crocheted most of the outfits and dressed many of the dolls in a Czech costume. The smallest doll I dressed was only 1 inch tall. I gave this doll to my cousin Annie (in 1921) who lives in Prague. When I visited her in 1970, she still had the doll and returned it to me as a token of our friendship. The tallest doll is three feet tall. I have all the dolls stored in my house in several cabinets and on different shelves and bookcases. This is a hobby I really enjoyed and sharing with my friends.
I finished writing this story in 1992. I learned to love my new home, the United States of America, but I will never forget my former homeland, the beautiful Moravia.
Georgia remained an active and very energetic woman for many more years. She died July 10, 2002, at the age of 93, and is buried beside her husband, Ben Kucera, in the Silverhill Cemetery.
Georgia Kucera collected newspaper clippings and articles of Silverhill, herself, her husband the mayor, and her son the mayor. Click each to expand and read.
The Baldwin Press, Oct. 31, 1967 Click to expand and read more.
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The Onlooker, Apr. 11, 1968 Click to expand and read more.
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The Baldwin Press, Jul. 11, 1968 Click to expand and read more.
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The Onlooker, Aug. 8, 1968 Click to expand and read more.
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The Baldwin Press, Aug. 14, 1968 Click to expand and read more.
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The Baldwin Times, Jan. 30, 1969 Click to expand and read more.
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The Onlooker, Sep. 18, 1969 Click to expand and read more.
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The Onlooker, Oct. 16, 1969 Click to expand and read more.
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The Baldwin Press, May 21, 1970 Click to expand and read more.
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The Onlooker, Jun. 20, 1970 Click to expand and read more.
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The Onlooker, Jun. 20, 1970 Click to expand and read more.
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Fairhope Courier, Dec. 3, 1970 Click to expand and read more.
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The Onlooker, Oct. 28, 1971 Click to expand and read more.
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The Onlooker, Oct. 11 1971 Click to expand and read more.
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The Onlooker, Nov. 18, 1971 Click to expand and read more.
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Fairhope Courier, Nov. 23 1971 Click to expand and read more.
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The Onlooker, Dec. 30, 1971 Click to expand and read more.
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March, 1972 Click to expand and read more.
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The Baldwin Press, Apr. 1972 Click to expand and read more.
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The Onlooker, Jul. 6, 1972 Click to expand and read more.
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The Onlooker, Jul. 20, 1972 Click to expand and read more.
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The Onlooker, Mar. 8, 1973 Click to expand and read more.
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Mar. 15, 1973 Click to expand and read more.
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The Onlooker, Jun. 14, 1973 Click to expand and read more.
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May 5, 1975 Click to expand and read more.
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The Onlooker, Jan. 4, 1977 Click to expand and read more.
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The Independent, Mar. 30, 1977 Click to expand and read more.
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The Baldwin Press, Nov. 24, 1977 Click to expand and read more.
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The Independent, Feb. 6, 1978 Click to expand and read more.
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The Independent, Mar. 29, 1978 Click to expand and read more.
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The Onlooker, Aug. 17, 1978 Click to expand and read more.
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The Baldwin Press, Dec. 21, 1978 Click to expand and read more.
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The Baldwin Press, Date unknown Click to expand and read more.
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The Independent, Sep. 19, 1979 Click to expand and read more.
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Date and paper unknown Click to expand and read more.
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The Independent, Date unknown Click to expand and read more.
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The Independent, Feb. 20, 1980 Click to expand and read more.
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The Independent, Apr. 9, 1980 Click to expand and read more.
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The Independent, Jan. 21, 1981 Click to expand and read more.
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The Independent, Feb. 25, 1981 Click to expand and read more.
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The Independent, Mar. 18, 1981 Click to expand and read more.
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The Independent, Jul. 8, 1981 Click to expand and read more.
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The Independent, Feb. 21, 1982 Click to expand and read more.
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The Independent, Jul. 28, 1982 Click to expand and read more.
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The Independent, Sep. 2, 1982 Click to expand and read more.
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The Baldwin Press, Sep. 2, 1982 Click to expand and read more.
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The Independent, Feb. 20, 1983 Click to expand and read more.
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The Independent, Feb. 20, 1983 Click to expand and read more.
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The Independent, Mar. 9, 1983 Click to expand and read more.
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The Independent, Mar. 1983 Click to expand and read more.
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The Independent, Mar. 1983 Click to expand and read more.
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The Independent, Apr. 10, 1983 Click to expand and read more.
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The Independent, Jun. 1, 1983 Click to expand and read more.
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The Independent, Jun. 25, 1983 Click to expand and read more.
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The Independent, Sep. 7, 1983 Click to expand and read more.
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The Independent, Date unknown Click to expand and read more.
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The Independent, 1983 Click to expand and read more.
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The Baldwin Press, Sep. 15, 1983 Click to expand and read more.
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The Independent, Feb. 1984 Click to expand and read more.
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The Baldwin Press, Feb. 19, 1984 Click to expand and read more.
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The Independent, Jun. 6, 1984 Click to expand and read more.
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The Baldwin Press, Jun. 10, 1984 Click to expand and read more.
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The Independent, Aug. 1, 1984 Click to expand and read more.
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The Baldwin Press, 1984 Click to expand and read more.
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The Independent, Nov. 7, 1984 Click to expand and read more.
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The Baldwin Press, 1984 Click to expand and read more.
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The Independent, Oct. 14, 1993 Click to expand and read more.
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The Independent, Sep. 14, 1995 Click to expand and read more.
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