The Willard Family Reunion was a tremendous success, thanks to the
efforts of Debbie Martin White, Laurel Aubrey, Lettie Aubrey and Marilyn Berry,
who all organized it. All those who attended had a great time, many meeting
some relatives for the first time, or seeing them again after many years.
This reunion brought together the descendants of Wilhelmina Willard
(1873-1947), who married, first, Joseph Martin and, second, Archie Cochrane, so
there were many descendants present from the Cochrane and Martin lines. This reunion
followed a similar gathering in New Mexico in 1998. If you have any photos
or memories you'd like to add to this page, please let me know. Help with
identifying people greatly appreciated! Email me
here.
Day 1 (Saturday 21 June): We met at the Casco Bay Lines terminal in
Portland, Maine for a guided tour and cruise of Casco Bay. We all wore
color-coded name tags, enjoyed a breakfast brunch, sought out people we
recognized, wondered at those we didn't, and enjoyed the fantastic scenery while
talking non-stop to each other. The children raced around happily,
marvelling at all those cousins. The captain of our ferry was Eugene
Willard, another Willard descendant! We passed Peaks Island where Joseph
Martin had lived as a boy and then on to Great Diamond Island, where Archie
Cochrane was stationed at Fort McKinley and lived with Wilhelmina and their
children. And of course, we passed the landmark Portland Head Light.
The weather was perfect.
Day 2 (Sunday 22 June): We met at Southern Maine Technical College
(SMTC) in So. Portland, just above Willard Beach. It has spectacular views of
the water. This is very near where the Willards lived and Mt. Pleasant
Cemetery, where Wilhelmina (and many other Willards) are buried. There
were photo albums, histories and family charts to share, terrific food, a piñata
for the children, non-stop talking and lots of cameras in use. The beach
was just a few feet away and again, the weather was ideal. Events such as
this are priceless and will no doubt remain in our memories for as long as we
live.
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Tom Martin III and dau Jeanne Martin Chown on Willard Reunion cruise 21 July 2001
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Debbie Martin White, Alan Chown and Debbie's dau. Launa
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Martin "Bondie" Farrington with 1st cousin Thomas Martin III
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Enjoying the view from the bow
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Portland waterfront from the ferry
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Great Diamond Island, where Archie and Wilhelmina lived while he was stationed at Fort McKinley
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Jill Pridham Stallcup and daughter up from Alabama
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Laurel Aubrey, Rowena and dau Peggy and ?
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Lots of young cousins! (help with names, here, please)
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Joshua Chown having a go at the pinata
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From a photo album at the reunion: Sherman Willard (Wilhelmina's brother,
Susan Hutchins (Wilhelmina's grandmother), George Washington Willard (Wilhelmina's father) |
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Thomas Martin III with his aunt Rowena Martin Farrington (great grandson and granddaughter of Wilhemina and Joseph Martin)
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Pete and Maryhelen Pridham - all the way from New Mexico! (Pete is a great grandson of Wilhelmina and Archie Cochrane)
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