We also have had problems with yellow jackets this summer.  The first we
knew of it was when two girls came into the museum screaming that their
mother had been stung by "bees" and that she was "real allergic." Those of
you familiar with the Rankin House may know that there is a path through the
woods which tradition says fugitive slaves used to get to the hosue; this is
where the nest was.   I went to locate it so that I could tell our caretaker
where it was, and was stung myself.  I experienced the worst allergic
reaction of my life!  I was covered with hives, even my tongue swelled, and
my hand and arm where I'd been stung swelled up to above the elbow.  It took
a week for the swelling to go down.  I was amazed at how quickly the
reaction set in; I started experiencing burning and itching all over my body
only minutes after I'd been stung!   Although I don't know what our
caretaker used, I assume that it was a spray for hornets and wasps; when I
went the next day to check out the nest, I could still smell the insecticide
and found several dead yellow jackets lying around.  We have posted warning
signs and have had no more problems.   I have discovered another nest but I
think that the signs are deterring people from walking the woods path.

Susannah West
John Rankin House
Ripley, Ohio

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