Chapter Thirty Three - The Original Kinsman Hall The Website

One sleepless night in September 2002, I started typing names into a search engine just to see what results I would get.  You know how sleepless nights are! Nothing significant came up for "Kinsman Hall," but when I typed the name "Dean Hepper," the #1 result was a link to a genealogy message board where Dean Jr. had left a message searching for relatives.  The message was written in 2000 two years earlier, so I figured the email address associated with his message was probably an invalid one by the time I found his message. I, however, did try to send him an email which immediately was returned as being undeliverable.

My next move was to go back to the message board to leave a message asking anyone if they had a current email address for Dean Jr. The very next day I got an email from a stranger, who like me had found their way to the message board in hopes of maybe locating old friends through Dean Jr.  This person was Ned, a former resident of Hillsdale and although we were complete strangers, we shared a very unique bond.  Without knowing it, Ned inspired me to create the Kinsman Hall website and to put my fears aside. He made me believe if you build it, they will come. Field of dreams, baby! Field of dreams!

Over the years, I have thought of my time at Kinsman Hall. Names and faces ran through my head.  I have often wondered how and where people were, but was fearful of actually finding out.  Each time I thought of trying to contact old friends, I found it easier to talk myself out of trying than to have the strength and courage to face the results of an actual search.

The happiness and excitement I felt each time someone new found their way to the Kinsman Hall website is something I will always cherish.  The heart felt welcome and feeling of acceptance I got each time I talked to an old friend or made a new one, made me realize that creating the website was truly the right thing to do. I think Dean Hepper himself would have given my endeavor a nod of approval.  My only regret is that I didn't do it long before I actually did. Yes, we all have mixed feelings about our time at Kinsman Hall, but the bond each one of us shares with each other truly transcends time and distance making each one of us forever young and always connected.

Taken from the original Kinsman Hall website homepage:

As we journey through life, we experience many things that leave an everlasting impression upon us. For many of us, Kinsman Hall is exactly one of those experiences in which our memories will remain forever bittersweet.

This website is dedicated to all the survivors of Kinsman Hall wherever they may be and to those of us who live on in memory only. They may be gone, but they will never be forgotten!

A special thanks to Ned for being my inspiration while creating this site. He helped me believe "where there is one, there are others," to Bruce for selecting the perfect song that says it all and to Bernie for being forever young.