The Urban Archeologist: A Pack Rat finds a connection to The Rat Pack.

You don’t have to go looking very far for a good story. I have been through countless garages and attics looking for good storys. I never know where I'm going to uncover the next one, I only know that I have to keep looking until I find it.

This weekend while exploring an unlikely sale, a story found me in a way I didn’t expect. 

The sale was in a modern home on a lake and in beautiful condition. The sale was more of a downsizing of newer items as the home was soon to be sold. I introduced myself and asked about the sale. One of the friendly women in charge told me the home had belonged to her mother who had passed away a year earlier. I wanted to ask, “Who was she? What did she do?” but I hesitated for fear of prying.

A few minutes later, a family friend came up to my side while I was exploring. “Are you the one who writes for Patch?” She was pleased that she’d guessed correctly. “Did you know this was the home of a famous singer?” A story had found me.

Among her years of accomplishments Fran Warren at the age of 63 sang for Frank Sinatra. At the Society of Singers Night in 1990, a celebration held in his Sinatra's honor Fran was among many top names who performed that night. It likely wasn’t the only time she had crossed paths with Ol’ Blue Eyes. Fran Warren was a well known big band singer and song-writer who came into her own in the 40’s and performed throughout the 50’s and 60’s. She performed with and knew many other well-known entertainers and appeared on many TV shows and specials including Johnny Carson (wiki).

This was another good example of why it is a good idea to get to know your neighbors. In December of 2013 I wrote about an animator, Robert Tinfo, that lived nearby and passed. If you can be curious without being nosy, you may find a good story, and if you just have the nerve to be interested you could make a new friend. I now know who Fran Warren was, but I would like to have known her before she passed away in March of 2013, just a ½ mile down the road from my house.