September 1, 2000 Millennium year abounds with reunions

The new millennium, according to recent estimates, has generated close to half a million family reunions in North America this year. 

For those who believe the new millennium starts on January 1st, 2001, there will be many more.

Family reunions can involve the immediate family, one family line, extended family, or even the new trend of Family Name Societies, where all you need is the same last name.

There are also, of course, the endless possibilities of school reunions, homecomings, sports team reunions, etc., where the past can be cherished and relived. 

Family history big hobby

In early July my family attended the reunion of my wife's family in Midland, Ontario. Her mother was one of twelve children (Dusome-all deceased) that have four generations of offspring. We have met every five years for forty years, except this year when it was adjusted to be a millennium reunion.
 

The Dusome reunion was held at Little Lake Park, Midland. July 8

The big change I have noticed over the years is that the new technology is evident everywhere, making planning and communication much easier than in the past.

The computer now generates newsletters, guest lists, signage, photographs and family histories much more efficiently.

There were numerous video cameras at the reunion in Midland.

Powassan reunion

On August 19th, the former residents of Kiosk, the largest community to ever exist in Algonquin Park (now a ghost town) met for their annual reunion in Mattawa.

The Staniforth Lumber Company at Kiosk burned in 1973, but many of the several hundred people who worked and lived there still get together each year to share memories and update their lives.

My son and I are currently working on a book about Kiosk and have attended several of these reunions to collect photos and record oral histories.

We are always impressed by the warmth and enthusiasm of the people as they talked endlessly, play golf, share prizes, eat a good meal and dance until all hours.
 

Lionel Martin, Sudbury, seated left and Lucille Gagnon, Ottawa; look on while my son, Paul, examines a photo with Roger Bergeron of North Bay at last years Kiosk reunion.

A contingent of Weiler relatives from the Powassan area attended the 500 strong Weiler reunion in Maryhill, near Guelph, on August 6th.

My neighbours, Bernie Kerr and her husband Gord, attended and shared their experience, photographs, and family history with me.

The reunion came about when the Internet linked several lines of the family, and facilitated its organization.

A remarkable fifty page family history was desktop published and circulated at the event (The Weilers of Maryhill Ontario: Three Related Clans, by John J.A. Weiler 2000. For more information call 705 724-6368).

To help with the complexity of the family tree, the Kerr line was called the "statue" Weilers because their earliest descendant carved a beautiful wooden statue of the Virgin Mary to be brought to Canada from Germany in the 1830s.

The statue came to Trout Creek in 1888 with at least eight "statue" descendants.

The statue was returned to Mayhill in 1967 where it was repainted and encased in glass and is now in the St. Boniface Roman Catholic Church there, and was admired by all who attended the reunion.

The Weilers in the Trout Creek area had many children, and today there are dozens of extended family (Hummels, Aultmans, Schlossers, Kunkels, Ricks and Geislers, etc.) who are a part of the hundreds of Weiler descendants across Canada and the United States, many of whom came great distances to attend the reunion.
 

The Weiler reunion, held August 6th, saw many of its 500 Guests visiting the St. Boniface Cemetery, Maryhill, Ontario.  B. Kerr photo.

One of the favourites

There is plenty of help available for anyone planning a reunion, regardless of size or type. There is a Reunions magazine and web site, with a resource guide and archival material (www.reunionsmag.com).

Another web site is www.family-reunion.com. The Family Reunion Source Book (Lowell House 1999) by Edith Wagner is available at the North Bay Public Library.

Good luck and happy heritage!