FamilySearch Center News Release • August 8, 2023 • A. Fish
(Rockingham County, NC) – After a nearly two-year break, the FamilySearch Center at Rockingham County’s Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints has reopened to the public.
The hours are from 1-4 p.m. Tuesdays and 4-7 p.m. Wednesdays. Trained consultants will be on hand during those hours to help interested individuals search for their ancestors. There is no charge for this service.
The facility is located at 4751 N. C. Highway 14 just south of Eden.
“Although we hoped to reopen after COVID 19, our computer equipment and access to the Internet were incompatible, forcing us to remain closed while technicians worked to resolve those problems,” said Center Director Dustan Martin.
“Everything is up-to-date now and we have two new computers available for our patrons to use,” he noted. However, he encouraged individuals with lap tops and/or tablets to bring those in case someone already is using both computers. Services are on a first-come, first-served basis.
FamilySearch.org is a genealogical research site offered free to anyone who wishes to use it, Martin explained. “It is available to anyone by simply registering on the site on any device and from any location.
“There are no in-App purchases or charges, it is free to use,” he said.
While in the Family Search center at the church, other research sites which require registration and charge a fee can be accessed and used for free.
“Our volunteer consultants can assist newcomers to genealogy in setting up their own family history sites and teach them how to find information by searching birth, marriage and death certificates as well as newspaper obituaries and/or articles and other printed materials,” Martin said.
Of special interest to people whose ancestors were slaves are special sites such as old slave records, including sales and purchase information.
Once individuals are registered with Family Search, they also can upload photos, family materials such as personal letters, etc. to their sites to give an even more detailed insight into their ancestors, the director noted.
In the past our consultants also have helped adoptees locate their birth records and the names of their birth parents.
“We invite anyone with an interest in finding their families to join us at the Center during our regular hours,” Martin said.
Additional information can be obtained by calling 336-623-7154 during the hours the Center is open.
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