The Ridge Historical Society
Just a little research project …. the kind we love.
By Carol Flynn
An unfortunate gentleman reported he lost his wedding ring in the snow over the week-end and is trying hard to find it.
This prompted Sarah Batka to post that she found a wedding ring about 6-8 years ago while gardening at her house on Artesian Ave. There were initials and a date inside the ring. But she had no luck in finding the owner. She held onto the ring.
Clare Duggan tagged me at the Ridge Historical Society, wondering if we could help find the person to whom that ring belonged. I said sure, this is the kind of research project we love, let’s see what we can find.
So Linda Lamberty, RHS Historian, and I got on this Sunday night. We started with our usual sources – government and building records, newspaper archives, genealogy sites, etc. And we found the likely owner of the ring. She was the granddaughter of the couple who had lived in the house at one time. She now lives in San Antonio, Texas.
The woman was on Facebook, and around 2:30 a.m., I sent an enthusiastic if somewhat disjointed message to her. Was this ring by chance hers?
She replied later Monday morning – it was hers! She lost it 50 years ago in the snow at her grandmother's house! She was amazed that it had been found all these years later. We got together by phone and had a teary-eyed conversation.
The ring belongs to Karen Berk Autenrieth, who married Robert Autenrieth on April 16, 1966. The inscription inside the ring reads “R.A. to K. B. 4-16-66.” It’s a beautiful ring – heavy gold, and in surprisingly good condition for being in the dirt for 50 years – a little scratched up, but not bad at all. Pictures of the ring and inscription are attached.
I now have THE RING in my possession, and it is my duty to get it to San Antonio before February 14, when Karen’s family is gathering, and want to witness her open the package with the ring in it. I have a new appreciation for Frodo Baggins. I'll be nervous until I know it arrives there safely. (I’m feeling like maybe I should drive down there in person to deliver the ring – and crash the party ….)
We’d love to have Karen and Sarah share their parts of the story.
And to the gentleman who lost his ring this week-end: We hope you find it – it has to be there. Don’t give up hope! Maybe we can stage a “walk the grid” community search party when the snow melts.
@Sarah Batka, @Karen Autenrieth