Megan Smolenyak Smolenyak to Tell the Real Story of the First Ellis Island Immigrant
The true story of Annie Moore, the first immigrant to enter our country via Ellis Island, will be shared by Megan Smolenyak Smolenyak, Brian G. Andersson (Commissioner, NYC Department of Records), and family members of the real Ellis Island Annie at 3:00 p.m. on September 15, 2006 at The New York Genealogical & Biographical Society.
New York, NY, September 08, 2006 --(PR.com)-- For years, we’ve chosen to believe an oft-told myth about Ellis Island when the truth was readily available. But on September 15th at The New York Genealogical & Biographical Society, that will change.
Irked by discovering that the much-touted Annie Moore, the first immigrant to enter our country, was actually born in Illinois, genealogist Megan Smolenyak Smolenyak (her real name) was determined to learn the truth. She launched an online contest with a $1,000 prize for the first proof of what became of the right Annie. It took only six weeks and an eager gang of amateur, history-mystery detectives to uncover the truth.
The long-believed story says that 13-year-old Annie Moore was the first immigrant to enter our country via Ellis Island. She tripped down the gangplank on January 1, 1892 along with a pair of younger brothers, and was greeted with much fanfare. Officials welcomed her arrival and presented her with a $10 gold coin in commemoration of the special event.
Her statue stands both at Ellis Island and the Cobh Heritage Centre, the Irish emigration counterpart in Co. Cork. Everything from Irish-American cultural awards to pubs has been named after her, but she remained a mystery until the 1990s when Ellis Island was refurbished and opened to the public. Then we learned what happened to Annie after Ellis Island -- how she ventured to New Mexico, married a descendant of an Irish patriot, had a handful of children, was widowed, became a businesswoman, and died in an accident.
It was a terrific go-West-young-woman tale tinged with tragedy. Just one problem. It was wrong.
The true story has been uncovered and will be shared by Smolenyak, Brian G. Andersson (Commissioner, NYC Department of Records), and family members of the real Ellis Island Annie at 3:00 p.m. on September 15, 2006 at The New York Genealogical & Biographical Society (http://www.newyorkfamilyhistory.org/) .
Note: Announcement to be made at 3:00 p.m. on September 15, 2006 at The New York Genealogical & Biographical Society, 122 East 58th Street, New York, NY 10022-1939.
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Irked by discovering that the much-touted Annie Moore, the first immigrant to enter our country, was actually born in Illinois, genealogist Megan Smolenyak Smolenyak (her real name) was determined to learn the truth. She launched an online contest with a $1,000 prize for the first proof of what became of the right Annie. It took only six weeks and an eager gang of amateur, history-mystery detectives to uncover the truth.
The long-believed story says that 13-year-old Annie Moore was the first immigrant to enter our country via Ellis Island. She tripped down the gangplank on January 1, 1892 along with a pair of younger brothers, and was greeted with much fanfare. Officials welcomed her arrival and presented her with a $10 gold coin in commemoration of the special event.
Her statue stands both at Ellis Island and the Cobh Heritage Centre, the Irish emigration counterpart in Co. Cork. Everything from Irish-American cultural awards to pubs has been named after her, but she remained a mystery until the 1990s when Ellis Island was refurbished and opened to the public. Then we learned what happened to Annie after Ellis Island -- how she ventured to New Mexico, married a descendant of an Irish patriot, had a handful of children, was widowed, became a businesswoman, and died in an accident.
It was a terrific go-West-young-woman tale tinged with tragedy. Just one problem. It was wrong.
The true story has been uncovered and will be shared by Smolenyak, Brian G. Andersson (Commissioner, NYC Department of Records), and family members of the real Ellis Island Annie at 3:00 p.m. on September 15, 2006 at The New York Genealogical & Biographical Society (http://www.newyorkfamilyhistory.org/) .
Note: Announcement to be made at 3:00 p.m. on September 15, 2006 at The New York Genealogical & Biographical Society, 122 East 58th Street, New York, NY 10022-1939.
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www.honoringourancestors.com
Merry Brickley
949-235-3171
www.honoringourancestors.com
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