Episode 396 - “Mr. Genealogist, Tear Down This Wall!”

Host Scott Fisher opens the show with David Allen Lambert, Chief Genealogist of the New England Historic Genealogical Society and AmericanAncestors.org. The guys begin with Fisher’s strange tale of finding a DNA match to his wife’s family… a man who, along with his brother, murdered his grandmother and her boyfriend in the late 1980s when they were teens. Yes, this guy is doing family history now! Then David opens Family Histoire News talking about the 150th anniversary of the Great Chicago Fire, and how the O’Leary descendants are still dealing with the misdirected blame on their ancestor, Elizabeth, and her cow. Next, a rare piece of 19th century “hair art” is again being displayed. It features hair from Abraham Lincoln, his Vice President and others from his Cabinet. Hear all about it. Finally, imagine finding hidden steps below your rented place that leads to an entire network of underground rooms! It has happened. David has the details with speculation as to what the purpose of this complex once was over a century ago.

In segment two, Fisher talks with Helena Bouchez of Ohio. Helena struggled for twenty years to break through her Belgian “brick wall,” only to have it smashed by others in just 45 minutes! Hear how it was done and how far back it has taken her. Helena also talks about the near murder-suicide in her family from 1916 and how what took place that night entirely changed the trajectory of her family members’ lives. Here’s the link to the site of her Belgian heroes!

Next, Fisher chats with Kate Eakman of sponsor Legacy Tree Genealogists about a bizarre genealogical puzzle where two women appear to be rolled up into one. As her client was not inclined to use DNA to help with the problem, Kate was left to sort through the very few clues she was given to come up with the answer and break down a strange brick wall.

Then David returns with Fisher for Ask Us Anything answering questions about researching an ancestral circus performer and tracking down the living for reunions.

That’s all this week on Extreme Genes, America’s Family History Show!