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There’s a new Webmaster in town.
Mary Ann Lubinsky took over as county coordinator of the Luzerne County Genweb in August, succeeding Judy Banja.
The Luzerne County Genweb is part of a national network of genealogy-related Web sites. It includes information on local history and a query board on which local and out-of-area family researchers can post questions and communicate with one another.
Cemetery records: The once-inaccessible records of the venerable Shawnee Cemetery of Plymouth are kept at the Plymouth Historical Society, according to society volunteer Mary Langdon. The downside, however, is that budget constraints are putting severe limits on the group.
“Our winter hours are in effect, and we are not open to the public until April,” writes Langdon. “Lack of funding and volunteers limits our operational hours.”
The cemetery, opened in the 19th century, was once a showplace for local families. A few years ago, a volunteer group did a long-term cleanup and tried to restore the old burial ground to something like its early splendor.
Family histories: A highly detailed genealogy on the Ellis name has been donated to the Northeast Pennsylvania Genealogical Society. The society’s library in the Shavertown section of Kingston Township is open Thursdays from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Appointments may be scheduled at other times by calling (570) 674-7648 or by e-mailing [email protected].
Tip: A wealth of information on local events and personalities, along with reams of photos, may be found in a publication once handed out free by the Times Leader to its subscribers. “Wyoming Valley in…” is archived at the Luzerne County Historical Society, in Wilkes-Barre.
The booklet, published from 1917 to 1963, offered a pictorial review of the year’s events throughout the area. A day-by-day news summary listed the top news stories as well. A researcher can go from the dates of the photos to microfilm backfiles of the newspaper.
Genealogy classes: “I am interested in learning more and was wondering how often you hold sessions,” writes “Wendy,” by e-mail.
Wendy, I offer four free two-hour classes called “Getting Started in Genealogy” every year at Boscov’s Department Store in Wilkes-Barre. The store holds its “Campus of Courses” twice a year, in January-February and September-October. Watch your Times Leader the month before for a complete list. I also mention my upcoming classes in this column.

The Web: “I have just discovered that I can read the Times Leader on the Internet here in Santa Maria, Calif., and find your column fascinating,” writes Ashley native William R. Glace.
William, thanks for the vote of confidence. Yes, “Out on a Limb,” which runs every other week, is carried on the newspaper’s Web site of timesleader.com. Look under “columnists.” Recent columns are archived there as well.
The proliferation of Web sites means that former local residents, no matter where they live, can do genealogy of their Wyoming Valley ancestors these days.

Clarification: The list of local street name changes I mentioned in September is not, strictly speaking, just a list of changes. Various editions of the Wilkes-Barre City Directory give starting and stopping points of all the city’s streets, noting which ones have had name changes over the years. The biggest single batch of name changes occurred in Wilkes-Barre in the 1930s, when the numbering system for buildings was reformed as well. I’ve located this list and will soon give copies to whatever local organizations want it.
For street name changes in other area communities, consult materials on those communities at the Luzerne County Historical Society.