[GLLUG] Interesting Story

[Julie Code]

Hi Guys,
         This will be off-topic but makes a very interesting story.  I found 
some info about the guy that made my violin! I know Mary Lawton, and Brian 
etc and many others may find this interesting.  I ended up calling the 
Argus-Press-- a newspaper that services Owosso and Shiawassee County.  I 
asked them if they knew of any websites that I could search for an obituary 
on G.W. Palmer.  The argus ended up sending me to the story writer. I told 
her some information, she got really excited and really wanted me to come in 
with the violin to get pics taken and have my own article in the paper.  The 
county fair was last week, so it took a little while to get me in so I ended 
up in the paper just this last sunday on the front page! The shiawassee 
historical society found record of him as a violin maker, a curio dealer, 
and worked at two furniture factories.  But really what makes the story even 
more interesting, is they left a number to call just in case if anyone knew 
about him etc.  I ended up going to the argus-press building yesturday to 
pick up some more copies of my article, and the lady at the front desk told 
me that her mom wanted to talk to me.  She called her mom and I talked to 
her on the phone.  She told me that G.W. Palmer was her grandmother's best 
friend.  She told me that she called him "uncle" and had many fun times with 
him.  She also told me that he was a 4 ft tall dwarf, that was just a very 
very talented artist.  I think that is really cool that G.W. Palmer was a 
dwarf, just a really special and talented person.  His first name is Guy.  I 
think I have a real gem in my posession! She, her name is Velma (and 77 
years old) told me that when she was really little, she would go over to 
Guy's house and paint ceramics, then they would go and sell them in the 
neighborhood.  She does know of one person that may still have one of the 
ceramics--- a 18 inch tall painted parrot.  She also says she may have a 
picture of him in her ma's or gma's photo album.  And she also knows where 
he is buried.  He is buried next to her grandmother, and she was going to 
see when he was born -- probably around 1890 or something I am thinking.  
The historical society doesn't have any more directories of him after 1953, 
so he lived a long time for someone growing up in that time period.  But 
anyways, the argus is interested in making a follow-up story.  I guess we 
are going to have a big get-together of people who knew Guy and write a 
second story.  Isn't that neat?! I am really excited about it, and I hope 
she finds the picture and I think I made a good purchase! lol =)

Julie