Page 2 - Hobe Sound Reflections - February '21
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Page 2, Hobe Sound

                                                             Club News



       Finding Ancestors Carved                          executive and 30-year Florida resident, he divides his time   driving them on the track,

       In Stone With The Martin                          between Port St. Lucie and Kalamazoo, Mich.       which evolved into a
                                                                                                           teaching job and teaching
                                                           Due to the ongoing pandemic, MCGS will continue

       County Genealogical Society                       meeting via webinar until further notice. Future monthly   high performance driving
                                                         topics, presented by local and national experts, include   at different race tracks. He
          If tombstones could                            analyzing period photos, family tree surprises and   has taught at professional
       talk, what would they tell                        archival research.                                driving  schools,  qualified
       us? Plenty, according to                             In addition to its free monthly webinars, MCGS offers   by Motorsports Safety
       local genealogist Gary                            a variety of services at the Genealogy Room in the Blake   Foundation, level 1. He
       Swain, the Martin County                          Library in Stuart including an extensive research library   teaches at all of the tracks in
       Genealogical Society’s                            and access to several genealogy websites. Adherence   Florida; National Corvette
       (MCGS) February webinar                           to the library’s COVID-19 protocols is required for   Museum Track in Bowling
       speaker. Presenting “Carved                       those who wish to use the Genealogy Room. For more   Green, Kentucky; Virginia
       in Stone: Genealogy in                            information about MCGS membership, activities and   International Raceway;
       the Cemetery,” Swain will                         services go to mcgsfl.org or call MCGS President Lisa   Barbar Motorsports Park in Birmingham, Alabama; and
       discuss tombstones as a                           Tompson, (772) 888-2422.                          Roebling Rode in Georgia.
       source of information about                                                                            “I’ve always had an interest in cars … actually raced
       our ancestors including                           Historical Society Welcomes                       motorcycles when I was younger, but I moved away
       how the types and styles of  Presenter, Gary Swain, a                                               from that and started doing the tracks with cars, which is
       gravestones, the symbols on  resident of Port St. Lucie  New Car Curator                            significantly safer,” said Ferrare.
       them and the materials from                                                                            His personal car collection features a 1966 Corvette
       which they are made can tell a story.                The Historical Society of Martin County is welcoming   Coupe, a 2018 McLaren, a 2020 McLaren 600LT Spider,
          “Gravestones serve as a direct link to our ancestors,”   Jim Ferrare as the new car curator of the Elliott Museum,   and a 2017 Audi R8.
       Swain says. “They trace the lives of a community’s founders,   one of two museums that the nonprofit organization      Ferrare’s career spans 35 years working for FPL at
       record major events and provide details including spelling of   oversees.                           its Turkey Point Nuclear Generating Station where he
       names, dates of birth and death, military service and religious      Ferrare’s responsibilities include managing the   served as an engineering supervisor for 25 years and a
       affiliations.”                                    Elliott’s antique car collection of some 100 cars dating   maintenance department head for five years. He also spent
          Swain will also cover a variety of related topics including   back to the early 1900s and utilizing the museum’s car   10 years in the United States Navy on a nuclear submarine.
       how to locate cemeteries and gravestones, how to read faded or   assets to involve the community by participating in car      Since 1955, the Historical Society of Martin County
       eroded gravestones and how to clean, repair and preserve them.   shows and other car-related activities.  has served as a guardian of local history and a cultural
          The free webinar will be from 2 to 3 p.m., Friday, Feb. 19.      “This will allow us to bring membership and donors   center by operating the Elliott Museum and the House
       To participate go to mcgsfl.org and register before Feb. 18.  into the museum forefront, and to let the community know   of Refuge Museum at Gilbert’s Bar, which opened in
          An active genealogist for decades, Gary Swain has   we have an excellent car collection and other activities so   1876 and served as a haven for shipwrecked survivors.
       added 2,900 ancestors to his family tree. He combines his   we can grow the museum and participate in community   The Elliott Museum seeks to preserve and celebrate the
       passion for genealogy, history and preservation through   activities,” said Ferrare.                region’s colorful history by presenting an eclectic mix
       membership in the Sons of Union Veterans of the Civil      Ferrare has had a lifelong interest in cars and   of  traveling  and  rotating  permanent  exhibits,  lectures
       War. He has researched the genealogy of dozens of U.S.   motorcycles and has volunteered as a docent at the Elliott   and experiential events. The House of Refuge’s mission
       military veterans, placing gravestones on unmarked graves   Museum for over five years.             is to educate the public about the historical significance
       of veterans from the Civil War through World War II;      “I specialize in high end supercars but I’m learning   of Martin County’s iconic landmark and to ensure
       during the past two years, he led efforts to clean, repair   all the details about the Model A’s and older cars, such   its historical integrity and preservation. For more
       and preserve over 700 veteran gravestones. In addition, he   as Model T’s,” said Ferrare.           information, go online to www.elliottmuseum.org or call
       regularly conducts preservation workshops for numerous      His  interest  in  high  performance cars  has  included   (772) 225-1961.
       organizations. Swain serves on the boards of the Kalamazoo
       Abraham Lincoln Institute, Western Michigan University
       Foundation, Michigan Civil War Institute and the 13th
       Michigan Memorial Association. A retired plastics industry
                                                                                                                      ‘Exquisite and well worth touring.’
                                                                                                                           ‘Beautifully restored.’
                                                                   Featuring Flagler’s Railcar No. 91
                                                                     and Gilded Age collections                                
                                                                                                                          ‘Absolutely great place ...
                                                                                                                        you should see this Museum.’
                                                                             Experience





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