“Old Colony...my family!” he murmured.

The “Finding Your Roots,” “Who do You Think You Are” moment for the Fork, when I showed him the results of the genealogical research I’d done for him, and this eBay listing showing a distant cousin. Jackie @30pics4jackiesdiamond had suggested I look into his family history—knowing how hooked I am on genealogy. So I proceeded to do just that. One of the photo edit leftovers from Fork Week I entitled Fork Genealogy. I’m posting it now in my Alternates album. https://365project.org/mcsiegle/alternates/2021-08-28
With a little online searching, I was able to identify his pattern as “Old Colony” — first produced in 1911, and with a related lineage going back into the 19th century.

The Fork doesn’t have a good idea how old he is. But his pattern was discontinued in 1973 (the year I graduated from KSU). So he’s at least 48 years old and possibly as old as 110–though I doubt he’s near that age, as fit and active as he is.

He seemed really touched by the family history information I was able to find, and eager to know more—or even to meet others in his family. We’ll see...no promises there.

[Mary Siegle]

@ 30pics4jackiesdiamond Thought you ought to know the results of my research. Thanks for the suggestion!

[katy]

Fun narrative to go with the photo! I feel like there may have been some relatives in my family at one time! Spectacular detail of his markings!

[Kathy]

Very clever Mary.

[Mary Siegle]

@grammyn I should have been more clear that the photo on the screen is not mine. The Fork is looking at an eBay listing with four vintage forks for sale that are just like him. I also had shots of him looking at the screen that showed the specifics including the name of the pattern, but they weren’t very well composed — kind of crooked and I was too lazy to go back and do it again. I’m editing the text above to make that more clear.