Maggie's Story: The Moffets of Wheeling Island

November 17, 2026
12:00pm - 1:00pm

Carole Oshavsky spent two decades traveling across the country to uncover the lives of her great-great-grandmother Maggie Moffet and her family. From New England to Oregon, she over microfilm in libraries, museums, and courthouses, piecing together the journeys of Maggie, her nine siblings, and many cousins. “Maggie’s Story” follows the Moffet family from Maggie’s birth in Wheeling in 1850. Through the eyes of Maggie and her siblings, readers witness the challenges and triumphs of Irish immigrants as they adapt to a changing America, offering a compelling window into the hopes, hardships, and resilience that define the immigrant experience.

Rooted in a lifelong passion for history and sparked by her mother’s interest in genealogy, Carole Olshavsky offers a deeply personal connection to the past. By weaving her ancestors’ stories into the sweeping historical events that shaped their lives, she brings an authentic and heartfelt perspective to the narrative.

Born and raised in Columbus, Ohio, Carole retired from a successful career in architecture in 2019. She is a former State Architect of Ohio, a Fellow in the American Institute of Architects, and a recipient of the AIA Thomas Jefferson Award for her contributions to public architecture. Carole and her husband Don live in Dublin, Ohio and have a son, daughter and two grandsons.