"Monopoly's Redding Railroad"

Reading, Pennsylvania is a haven for historians, with historical sites for the Civil War and 30 different museums. The city is also the site of the famous Parker Brothers' Monopoly game's Reading Railroad... one of 4 railroads' squares on the famous board game.

Thanks to Karin Schueler Donato for finally & officially retiring the age-old debate: is it pronounced "Reading" or "Red-ding?" The answer is that it is pronounced as "Red-ding" which is the way this PA city & railroad pronounce it. A cousin, Clint Hadden, said that the way the locals say it, is the way it is!

I hated to give in on this, as we always called it "Reading Railroad" saying it as it looks. The debate grew as my son tried to hold on to our tradition and his wife, Christie Schueler West - yes, Karin's sister! - fought, with Vigor and a few other people, against us! Christie resorted to having all of her friends on FaceBook to vote for her precious "Red-ding" version of the name.

Alas, as a true West, we will show our honorable side by admitting that we were wrong! Karin submitted this as her proof - the History of the Reading Railroad called Reading Railroad Online.

For a time in the 19th Century, Reading was the largest corporation in the world. As the coal business declined and truck competition increased, Reading's revenues signficantly declined. Reading entered bankruptcy in 1971. I wonder if they had pronounced the name correctly, would they still be prominent & powerful today?

- Compiled by JGWest

PS: The Schueler sisters are from Cincinnati for whatever that is worth.

From the FIRST MATE's PHOTO ALBUM...

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My Grandson, Evan, graduated in June this summer...

and his family was there to celebrate the day! L-R: JJ West, Halle West, Evan West (the Graduate) and Christie West.
I post this photo to remind all of our genealogy friends that for special events like Easter, Memorial day, 4th. of July, Labor Day, Thanksgiving, Christmas, etc. and graduations, weddings & even funerals are good times to be with your families and learn about the living family, as well as, the ones that have passed on in time. Get family addresses, phone numbers and email - so you can keep in touch. Send your family members a brief history of the family as it relates to them... then keep them posted as to any changes or additions. Sharing with them may mean that, later, they will share with you.

- Compiled by JGWest

From the FIRST MATE's PHOTO ALBUM...

A few Halloween photos that came in too late for the TSGS Halloween Photo Contest, that I decided to post for today.

My wife Becky works with these two kids' (Brian & Allison) mother at the Little Sisters of the Poor St. John's Home for the Aging (nursing home). Photos taken by Jenny Morphew

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These photos are of my grandkids... Evan & Halle. Photos taken by JJ & Christie West.

Red Power Ranger and Dorothy of the "Wizard of Oz"

From the FIRST MATE's PHOTO ALBUM...

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Remember the Tooth Fairy when we were kids?

My granddaughter just recently lost her first tooth and is quite proud of her advancement in the growing-up progress! My Grandson, Evan West (4 years old), asked me this past weekend, if I was his daddy's dad... and then asked if he was going to be a daddy someday! Let's mark this time as the beginning of his genealogical hobby.

Halle West & Tooth!

Both grandkids are growing-up very quickly and before we know it, they will start the next generation and the genealogist's story continues!

-Photo provided by Christie West