A tale of two clans

[Doug Kerr]

In the late 1800s in the Indian Territory (eventually to become part of Oklahoma), many of the male Scots settlers found the Cherokee girls quite irresistible.

So it was in Texas in 1999. The rest is history.

Here we see Doug (Scots, clan Kerr) and Carla (Cherokee, Wolf clan*) kitted out for their gig as docents (a fancy name for "exhibit guides") during the 2011 Weatherford Candlelight Tour of Homes conducted by the Parker County Heritage Society:

Douglas A. Kerr: Doug and Carla, docents​

* To be precise, Carla is descended from the Wolf Clan, but is not of it, as her descent from a member of the clan is via the male line and clanhood passes only through the women. Her Wolf Clan ancestor is Malinda (Linnie) Tickaneesky, her paternal great-great grandmother.

Tickaneesky is the Latinized form of a Cherokee word meaning "catcher", originally referring to a Cherokee "marshal". Many descendants use the Anglicized surname "Catcher", which is often (especially in the Southeastern US) rusticated to "Ketcher".​

You'll note in my right hand the remote for my Zap-Shot radio trigger. I meant to put my hand behind me in the real shot; that was supposed to be a test shot, but the shoot was truncated when we discovered that we were late for our docent assignment owing to a schedule misunderstanding. So, "this was picture".

Yes, there is a screwdriver and a pocket knife in the sporran.

Best regards,

Doug

 

[Helene Anderson]

Nice photo.
I like an image that has a story behind it. I hope your candlelght tour went well.

 

[Doug Kerr]

Hi, Hélène,

Nice photo.
I like an image that has a story behind it.

Thanks.

I hope your candlelght tour went well.

Yes, it was very nice. We arrived late at our post, owing to a schedule misunderstanding, but there were sufficient docents to cover the home. Carla took over as "welcomer" once we arrived, and I was stationed in a former guest bedroom, now the home office of the present owner (the man of the couple).

It is a beautiful home, built in 1904 for the owner of the lumber yard in town. Fortunately, most of the home has the original oak floors, which have been beautifully restored. They show the typical layout of the period, with frequent small pieces, so that none of the wood would be wasted. I told the visitors that "certainly Mr. Chew (the original owner) didn't make his fortune by wasting wood".

The present owners had a lot of antique furniture and collections of historic artifacts when the moved in six years ago, which well match the home. There had six substantial Christmas trees on view, all decorated in a variety of motifs.

There was an after party for the docents and organizers at a nearby venue (part of a historical estate garden) but as Carla and I were both recovering from some illnesses and disabilities, we opted out and came home.

It was a lovely event.

Best regards,

Doug