The O'Neal Genealogy Association Newsletter

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TOGA NEWS Volume IV, Issue 02, February, 2004

Never one to be bashful I jumped out of my truck and walked up to the lady of the house and explained to her the purpose of the convoy of vehicles that had just pulled into her driveway. I explained that we were members of the O'Neal Genealogy Association and we were on expedition and searching out the haunts of our ancestors. I told her that my Great x 3 Grandfather's Brother had built this hotel in 1850 and
 asked if she would mind, since we had traveled so far, if we took a couple of photos. She replied that if it was her ancestors house she would not be happy to just take a couple of pictures, that she'd want to look inside, too. And then she asked if we'd like to come inside and look around. I thanked her and I could barely contain my excitement as I rushed back to the driveway to tell the others the good news. We all began grabbing our gear up and proceeding into the cabin. None of us were prepared, however, for the treat that lay inside.
    
    The original "Bar Room" of the Inn was still intact with a large oak bar spanning almost the entire length of the Bar Room. The Bar Room itself was incredible. It had to be a commodious 20 x 20 ft. square. (I still haven't figured out how they got such a large room into such a small cabin.)
    But the real treat, what astonished us most of all were the photos. Almost every inch of wall space in the Bar Room was filled with old photos. There were photos of old Chaneyville residents, homes, maps, you name it. We found a photo of Edward O'Neal's old household. It's gone now, but the family gave us directions to the site and told us that Edward's barn was still standing. By this time the residents had to think we were crazy. We were running around, babbling with excitement like little kids in a candy store, and all the while snapping photos like there was no tomorrow.
     After finishing inside we went back to the front porch and talked with the residents awhile and played with their "ferocious" beagle puppy before departing on to our next adventure. 

The Barroom with old bottles displayed     A wall showing the timber construction     Close up of a window