Please read this...Finding Nemo...and time travel adventures, too

So much history to experience. So many books to read. So little time.

The Journey on the Road through Life took me on a bit of a trip back in time one day last week, thanks to a visit to the new home of a long-standing Union County business. And, I didn't even need one of those souped up DeLoreans for my trip back in time...'cause my car is already equipped with a flux capacitor. 

Union County Abstract Office Inc. had an open house on Wednesday, Oct. 5, to showcase its new building. The office is located on West Market Street. The Union County Courthouse is located right across the street.

A visit to the new office provided an opportunity to do a little bit of time travel. Since it doesn't look like I'll be going on a vacation any time soon, time travel looked like fun.

The folks at the Union County Abstract Office had some very interesting items on display which were related to the history of our community – real estate records and such.

The interior of the office also offers a little bit of history for visitors, including a bit of wood paneling which was moved from a courthouse in Paris. Illinois. Not France.

Four words are inscribed on the paneling: "NEMO INAUDITUS CONDEMNARI DEBET." 

Thanks to my two years of Latin at Alton High School way, way, way back in the day, I thought I knew that the words were in that supposedly dead language. Actually, when I took Latin people were still speaking the language.

If I had been paying even a little bit of attention at any point during those two years in high school, I might have been able to decipher the message. Fortunately, one of the fine folks at the Union County Abstract Office was able to translate the message for me: "No man ought to be condemned unheard." An important message, in any language. 

Not only did I get to travel back in time during my visit to the Union County Abstract Office. I also got a bit of a refresher in "legalese," for lack of a better word. I learned, or, maybe, relearned that an "abstract" was compiling of the history of a piece of property or real estate. In the case of our humble abode, I think the abode would date back to sometime in the 1870s. 

Meanwhile, back in the present, yours truly went to a book sale. Again. The sale was sponsored by the fine folks in the Friends of Stinson Library and was part of last weekend's ColorFest celebration in Union County. The sale was at the landmark Stinson Memorial Library in Anna, which, as you know, is one of my favorite places in Union County.

I went to the sale with the idea of finding Just One Book. I always go to such sales with the idea of finding Just One Book. And, as you know, the road to the Nether World is paved with good intentions.

Anyway, I did find one book. Then another. Then, one more. That would be three, which, obviously, is not one. Thank goodness I can figure out such complicated mathematical challenges.

One of the books was about growing up during colonial times in America. One was about the year 1776. As soon as I read the book, I'll know what happened in 1776. The third addition to our collection was about the history of our nation's Great Plains. All good stuff.

So, three more books have been added to our collection. Someday, maybe, I'll get to read all of them.

The Gazette-Democrat

112 Lafayette St.
Anna, Illinois 62906
Office Number: (618) 833-2158
Email: news@annanews.com

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