Meet the Bishop family outside their home near the Norfolk-North Goshen town line. There’s Ernest and Sadie to the left of their father, George; Jennie in the center behind Elsie; Martha and Mabel in front of their mother, Rose, who holds the baby. Although the children aren’t particularly bundled up, it must be cold: a light dusting of snow covers the ground, icicles hang from the roof, and mud is banked along the foundation of the house to keep out the chill. It is hard to imagine a family of seven living in such a modest dwelling. We know the names of the Bishops from the 1910 federal census records. Taken every ten years beginning in 1790, the census provides valuable information about the changing population of towns such as Norfolk. Be sure to check your mailboxes this month for the 2020 census questionnaire. Remember that historians of the 22nd century may turn to these records to paint their own picture of Norfolk Then.

— Ann Havemeyer
Photo courtesy of The Norfolk Historical Society