Martin tracks down alumna from photos
Casey Cheney
Issue date: 11/5/09 Section: News
A small cardboard box full of photographs, memories wrapped in colorful hearts, lay on House Director of McIntyre Hall Teri Martin's coffee table. Whose memories?
Well, that was the problem. Martin didn't know - but she was going to find out.
About 2 1/2 months before this, Martin first came across this mysterious box. The box was stowed away in the dean of women's office for as many as seven years and discovered by Diane Watkins, executive secretary to the dean of women.
Watkins said she had first received the box after the Benzing Residence house director at that time, Gudrun Wittgen, who had found the box in storage.
Martin said she heard about the box from Watkins, who was planning to discard the photos - Watkins said she had no clue to whom they belonged or how long ago that student had attended Hillsdale. She had tried to solve the mystery herself, but couldn't invest the amount time necessary for such a task.
This was where Martin stepped in.
"Here, give them to me and I'll try to find her," Martin told Watkins.
This kind of thing, Martin said, is her specialty. She's found about 600 people from her high school, and holds a barbecue every year for whoever from the group will show up.
Martin spent the next two months filtering through the pictures, finding other paraphernalia scat-tered throughout. One nameless girl appeared in picture after picture, a brunette with shoulder-length hair. Martin decided this must be the girl.
Over the weeks, the clues began to surface: wearing a shirt saying "Mt. Shasta" or playing a clarinet. But still no name. She emailed house moms and Residence Assistant's, asking if anyone recognized this girl. No one recognized her.
"It's like 'Aah!' she said with an exasperated sigh. "I've gotta find out who it is."
Martin refused to give up.
"This is how I work," she said. "I'm on an obsessive-compulsive mission."
Finally, she made a breakthrough, a Christmas card made out to Leah thanking her for her work at Mt. Shasta. It was something, but still not enough to solve the mystery. After a couple of weeks, Martin was still no closer to finding Leah's last name.
Well, that was the problem. Martin didn't know - but she was going to find out.
About 2 1/2 months before this, Martin first came across this mysterious box. The box was stowed away in the dean of women's office for as many as seven years and discovered by Diane Watkins, executive secretary to the dean of women.
Watkins said she had first received the box after the Benzing Residence house director at that time, Gudrun Wittgen, who had found the box in storage.
Martin said she heard about the box from Watkins, who was planning to discard the photos - Watkins said she had no clue to whom they belonged or how long ago that student had attended Hillsdale. She had tried to solve the mystery herself, but couldn't invest the amount time necessary for such a task.
This was where Martin stepped in.
"Here, give them to me and I'll try to find her," Martin told Watkins.
This kind of thing, Martin said, is her specialty. She's found about 600 people from her high school, and holds a barbecue every year for whoever from the group will show up.
Martin spent the next two months filtering through the pictures, finding other paraphernalia scat-tered throughout. One nameless girl appeared in picture after picture, a brunette with shoulder-length hair. Martin decided this must be the girl.
Over the weeks, the clues began to surface: wearing a shirt saying "Mt. Shasta" or playing a clarinet. But still no name. She emailed house moms and Residence Assistant's, asking if anyone recognized this girl. No one recognized her.
"It's like 'Aah!' she said with an exasperated sigh. "I've gotta find out who it is."
Martin refused to give up.
"This is how I work," she said. "I'm on an obsessive-compulsive mission."
Finally, she made a breakthrough, a Christmas card made out to Leah thanking her for her work at Mt. Shasta. It was something, but still not enough to solve the mystery. After a couple of weeks, Martin was still no closer to finding Leah's last name.
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