Ashford Manor guests with a past - can you help them rediscover their roots?

Any help anyone can be with this would be great - it is not every day we receive guests from New Zealand and Austria with a Watkinsville past in our lovely little town. The following with photos are clues to the past of former Watkinsville resident Paul and Peter Skandera. If anyone recognizes anyone in these photos or the names of some of the residents past and present, please call Dave and Mario at Ashford Manor and let them know - 706-769-2633. Obviously the Dooleys are a rather well known quantity around Athens and the University of Georgia, but some of the other folks may not be quite as well known. Feel free to use the email links and forward anything you would like on this particular entry. I love history and helping people uncover their family trees and genealogy.

Subject: Ashford Manor guests with a past



To all concerned:
This is Dave from Ashford Manor.  We are expecting guests on October 3rd and 4th that are on a mission.  They are brothers, Paul and Peter Skandera.  They lived here in the 60's.  And when I say here, I mean in our house, the cottage at Ashford Manor.  Paul lives in Austria, Peter lives in New Zealand.  They are meeting up to specifically head to Watkinsville. Their mission is to connect with as many people as they can from their past here.  They reference several names and have attached photos (one of our house, and one I believe 'the well house' that many have talked about.  I am trying to get their information to as many names as they reference and to anyone who might be able to assist them.  I will be happy to collect any information anyone has for them, or you could contact them directly via their emails.
Mr. Bob and Mr. Henry are obviously Ashfords.  Clint and Rebecca, you may know of these folks.
The Dooleys he refers to are obvious.  I am not sure who David Jones might be.
Grace Skilling still lives down the street on Harden Hill if I am not mistaken (though we have not seen her lately—Clint, Rebecca?)
I believe Jo Anne is the lovely woman honored as the Marshal of the Christmas Parade, who I believe passed away recently (Vinnie, Maridee)
The other more modern house on Harden Hill still exists but I am not sure other than that fact what information they may be seeking about that
So do pass this along to anyone that might help these gentlemen connect with their past—they are traveling a great distance—and will certainly be surprised at the changes in Watkinsville.  I hope that they will be able to meet with these friends mentioned and maybe others that know them.
Vinnie, Maridee perhaps there is a story in all of this? And I suspect Roy and Albert Ward and perhaps William White would have some input, but I do not have email addresses for them.
Feel free to pass this on to other 'historians'—I took the liberty of sending this to all of the Historical Society.  Sorry if I absconded with the email list' I thought their enquiry worthy. I put you all in Bcc so as not to release the list or your personal emails.
Thank you for all of your assistance on their behalf.  
Dave at Ashford Manor Bed and Breakfast
706-769-2633

From: peter skandera [mailto:peterskandera@yahoo.com] 
Sent: Thursday, May 06, 2010 12:42 AM
To: ashfordmanor@charter.net
Cc: Paul.Skandera@mci.edu
Subject: Fw: AW: Ashford Manor
Hi Dave.
Please find enclosed photos from David Jones, Michael Dooley and Jo Anne. 
I am 53, born 1956. My brother is 45. He was born in Watkinsville. Michael would be 53. David would be probably between 55 and 56. Michael's mother would be in her late seventies. Jo Anne, at a guess, in her early sixties.  My father was a visiting economics professor at Athens 1962 and then again 64/65. We lived in 3 houses, every time on Hardenhill road. 62 with Mr Henry.  64 in the house in the photo, from memory half way up the road on the left. Then we moved into the next house, next door, one further up on the left again.
I will call you on the weekend.
 Greetings from New Zealand. Peter
----- Forwarded Message ----
From: peter skandera peterskandera@yahoo.com
To: ashfordmanor@charter.net
Sent: Tue, 4 May, 2010 6:40:50 PM
Subject: Re: AW: Ashford Manor
Thank you Dave.
I am just in the process of having some old photos put into digital format which I will send to you by the end of the week with more information and credit card details. 
Kind regards, Peter.
I am very excited

----- Forwarded Message ----
From: Ashford Manor-Dave Shearon <ashfordmanor@charter.net>
To: peter skandera <peterskandera@yahoo.com>
Sent: Thu, 29 April, 2010 4:17:44 AM
Subject: Ashford Manor

We can book you into the English Room for October 3rd and 4th  The house you are speaking of is undoubtedly our B and B.  Or perhaps the house we live in, smaller but adjacent to the church as well.  And I assume you are speaking of Henry and Bob Ashford. We can give you some thoughts about music as time gets closer.  We are well connected with the music scene in Athens .  You may have noticed on our website that we have an on-site concert program.  That Monday night we have a great bluegrass group.  But we can help you find other places for music.  And we will help you look up your connections with the area.  How old are you?  What are the approximate ages of Michael Dooley and David Jones.  We know a Barbara Dooley.  What age might she be?  There is an African American family (last name Skilling I believe who worked for the Ashford Family).  Anyway, we can do a little research for you. Any other clues or info?  We also have a logo 'historian, documentarian' that we would love to have you chat with.  Our history of this property in that time-frame is none existent.
In the meantime, we need a credit card to reserve the room.  Our rates are $89 no breakfast, $109 room service Continental Breakfast, $129 full breakfast.  You can select a different breakfast plan for each morning.
We look forward to communicating more with you.
Dave at Ashford Manor B&B
706-769-2633
www.ambedandbreakfast.com http://www.ambedandbreakfast.com


________________________________
From: peter skandera [mailto:peterskandera@yahoo.com]
Sent: Wednesday, April 28, 2010 4:54 AM
To: Ashford Manor
Subject: Re:

Hi David,

Yes we would like to book for two nights.  I will be meeting up with my brother Paul, from Austria .  We will be on a "mission," researching our childhood roots. We lived with Mr. Henry and his brother Mr. Bob in a big old house beside and behind the church at the beginning of Harden hill road back in 1962.  I have the feeling it could be your house.  From 1964 to 1965, we lived further up the road.  I remember going up the road on the right hand side near a stream.  There lived an African-American family, and I used to play with their kids a lot.  One of the older daughters, Joanne (or Jo-Ann?), who was a nurse, used to look after my younger brother. I had two other friends, Michael Dooley (mother's name Barbara) and David Jones (mother Edith and father Herald). Our far fetched goal is to try to find these three individuals.
Furthermore we both are very interested in music. Acoustic and electric Blues , Gospel,  Folk and classical Guitar. Would you have any thoughts where we could catch some good music while we are in the Atlanta , Athens area??
Kind regards, Peter

________________________________
From: Ashford Manor ashfordmanor@charter.net
To: peter skandera peterskandera@yahoo.com
Sent: Sun, 25 April, 2010 5:22:53 AM
Subject: RE:
Pleasure speaking with you last night.
We do have The English Room with two queen beds.  Let us know if we can be of assistance.
Dave at Ashford Manor Bed and Breakfast
www.ambedandbreakfast.com http://www.ambedandbreakfast.com
706-769-2633


________________________________
From: peter skandera [mailto:peterskandera@yahoo.com]
Sent: Friday, April 23, 2010 9:37 PM
To: ashfordmanor@charter.net
Subject:

Dear Sir.
Could I please request a room for my Brother and myself, two individual beds for October 3 and 4 please.
I will write to you with more information tomorrow.
Thank you ,
Kind regards, Peter



 

 

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Jeff Dantzler's arrests may be the best thing that ever happened to him

THis has next to nothing to do with Oconee County with the possible exception of the location of his former office, but a former colleague of mine on the radio got popped today for four counts. Any one who has listened to 960 the Ref AM sports talk radio or heard the UGA Lady Dawgs or men's baseball team has surely heard the encyclopedic knowledge of one Jeff Dantzler. Jeff and I are pretty much diametrically opposed poltically, but today he was arrested on four counts including DUI. I hope he gets the help he needs following his incarceration. I work for a lawyer who could help him out if he does not having someone already representing him. This man is a great broadcaster and I hope this arrest serves as a wake-up call for him and his rock and roll lifestyle. I live a far from perfect life myself but long ago and far away I learned how and when not to drink. Now we will be without he dulcet tones on Lady Bulldog broadcasts as well as on Georgia baseball games and also on the after...
Read more

A deep wound waiting to be healed - restoring order and dignity in the city cemetery

Image
The Watkinsville City Cemetery is an oasis amidst the houses on the east side of the municipality, near the neighborhood once called Sidney. There is a large section of the cemetery that remains a mystery, but perhaps we can work together to dignify the eternal resting spot somewhat better than the current neglected and forgotten (not to mention unmarked) graves of 70 people, more than likely of African-American descent. They deserve to be honored as well. An effort has been undertaken to repair the graves with fill dirt to stop the continued erosion amongst the graves. The most recent grave and bench belong to Larry Sheats,  and as any one who played basketball at Herman C. Michael Park or knew him otherwise  can attest, he was among the best people this county has ever seen. Larry was always ready to help. Now it is our turn to help. Do it for someone you knew there, maybe the Hardens, or the Downs, or any number of other people, but allow me to reminisce about how L...
Read more

Don't dissolve North High Shoals

This is a great small city with a strong local contingent of active parents, homeowners and folks looking for the quiet, secluded, rural life. Seems some people are upset over recent election activity and are not real happy with the new person elected to the city council. Now let me be the first to admit, newest city council member Steve Holzman and I are friends and serve on the Oconee County Democratic Committee together, but this irrational fear of him on the part of some previously elected officials is irrational, unwise and cowardly. I would strongly suggest that Mayor Jeff Thomas need not resign unless he is actually tired of working for the city. I would also suggest that Council member Eddie Cape need not attempt to dissolve the city unless there was some other reason that a little bit of discontent over three registered Democrats being on the city council at the same time. It takes much more than one upset city council member or a resigning Mayor to dissolve a city council. It...
Read more