Page 17 of Home Town

“So,” Marie said a bit louder. “It turns out they had a compass that belonged to Reverend William Johnston, the founder of our very own town of Sidney, New York. Isn’t that amazing?”

“Wow. How did they know it was his?” Josie asked.

“It was engraved with his name. And it fit the time period of the early 1770s,” Marie supplied.

“That’s when the reverend first explored the Susquehanna River Valley in a canoe with an Indian guide,” Sadie supplied.

“Native American,” Marie whispered the correction to the older woman.

Sadie either didn’t hear or ignored her as she continued, “He then purchased the land and settled here with his family and others. They had to flee for a few years, of course, during the Revolutionary War and all that unrest but they came back in 1784.”

“The expert said a similar compass was recently sold for six thousand dollars at auction but of course that one didn’t belong to the founder of our town. Given what it means to us, the value of this object can’t be overestimated. And can you believe it, the Foresters donated it to the historical society,” Marie said with awe.

“The library in Mudville is keeping it for us. They have a secure, humidity-controlled private area for their rare book and papers collection. But we plan to display it publicly for the celebration,” Sadie added.

Some actual excitement. Josie was grateful to discover there was good fodder to base her publicity on. Things were starting to look up. She scratched down a quick note on the pad of paper.

Priceless town founder’s compass!!

“My daughter works for the local paper. She can write an article about the compass and the plans for the celebration, if you wanted,” Peggy offered.

“Yes! Please. That would be amazing,” Josie jumped to say.

Peggy smiled. “Good. I’m glad I could help.”

“I bet the local radio station would mention it since it’s a community event. I could call them,” Marie suggested.

“And the Binghamton TV station has the community blotter segment. We can submit to that too,” a woman Josie didn’t know suggested.

Thank God. Some solid suggestions that would actually be helpful.

Hope bloomed brighter—in spite of her having to be under the same roof as Corey Jacobs.

“Definitely. Yes, to both.” Josie nodded as the ladies came to life with suggestions and offers of help.

Sadie clapped her hands together once. “Well, that all sounds wonderful. I think we’re off to a good start.”

“We really are. Who wants more coffee? There’s still plenty. Or I can make more tea,” Marie said as she stood.

Apparently the business portion of the meeting had come to a close but Josie couldn’t complain.

They really were off to a good start. This event might not be a flop after all.

Just one more thing needed to be accomplished before she lost the attention of the women in the room. She realized she didn’t have a specific date pinned down.

“When were you thinking of having the event?” she asked.

“Saturday the twenty-seventh,” Marie announced.

Josie’s eyes widened. “Of this month?”

“Yes. The reverend actually first discovered Sidney in July,” Peggy informed her.

“But we didn’t want to have it too close to the fourth—people travel for that,” Sadie continued.

“And your parents said they can be back from their road trip in time,” Marie concluded.

A noise coming from the direction of the kitchen reenforced for her that there were more than the committee ladies present. Corey was definitely still there, in the house, in this town, and for the duration of his stay and hers and the length of this project, back in her life, even if peripherally.

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