I've been focusing on my Montomgery County PA roots lately, working on the burials from the Limerick graveyard (also known as St. James Union, which caused me to spend some time reviewing records from the other St. James (the Episcopal one over in Evansburg). Since some of the Evans family from Limerick are tired to the Lanes in Evansburg, I took some time exploring the Lane family again, and found some new information on Edward Lane's family back in jolly old England. 

The USGenWeb Project is celebrating its 20th anniversary this year, so I've been thinking a bit about how much change has taken place in the way we reseach our familiy histories. The changes that have taken place over the years make it hard to even remember how we used to conduct research back then, though it's safe to say that the emergence of the internet has had the largest impact. 

Even though I grew up in Baltimore County, I never knew that there used to be a bear kept in a bar in Pikesville! An article appearing in the Bedford Gazette from February 6, 1947 notes a young girl was mauled by the bear.  Here's the story:

Mauled by Bear

A four-year-old girl, mauled and bitten by a full-grown black bear, was taken to the University Hospital, Baltimore in a serious condition Thursday.

The bear was the delight of childen and a neighborhood attraction for several years at Seven Mile House, historic tavern at nearby Pikesville.