Columns

It happens every time I walk into a voting booth.

At those times, when Im preparing to do my civic duty, I always wonder if Ive gotten enough information about the candidates. Do I know all I need to know to cast an informed vote? Am I missing important information about the activities and character of the people for whom Im voting?

Now that were in the middle of all the election excitement, it seems a good time to retell a story of the first election ever held in the Hurricane Precinct near VanBurensburg.

At this early day, Montgomery County and a portion of Fayette County were within the environs of what was then Bond County.

Perrysville, while located in what is known as Seminary Township, Fayette County, was, in those days, the county seat of Bond County. The seat of government was later moved to Greenville, and within a few years the log cabin village of Perrysville was abandoned.

Every fall, we're faced with the question of what to do with an extra hour on the day when we "fall back" at the end of Daylight Savings Time.

Every four years, however, we have an entire extra day. This Friday, Feb. 29 is one of those days.

As youll recall from the old Thirty days has September ditty that you learned in grade school, February normally has 28 except in leap years, when we get a bonus day. Absolutely free. No extra charge.

But what do you do with it?

And, for that matter, where does it come from?

About five miles east of Ramsey stands the crossroads village of Twin Churches. Turning left at the corner by the former Reeds Chapel Church and continuing to the top of the hill, about two miles, brings one to the site of the pioneer village of Bowling Green.

Two little cemeteries mark the site one on either side of the road.

On the left, or west, side of the road is found the McClanahan Cemetery. Only two stones, for John A. McClanahan and his wife, Susan, are standing. Across the road is the McDonald family burial ground.