Wednesday, August 15, 1990
The following account was written by Alan Junkins and published in JFA Newsletter no. 3, Winter 1990.
"On Wednesday August 15th, Karl and Joanne Junkins hosted a Junkins reunion at their home in Maumee, Ohio. My wife, Betty, and I had been in Cleveland, Ohio for a high school class reunion the weekend before and were staying with Betty's brother and his wife in Solon, Ohio for the week. We left mid-morning and drove the 127 miles to Maumee arriving about noon. Karl and Joanne had assembled thirteen other Junkins and their spouses. We had never met any of them although I have corresponded with several from time to time. My brother Phillip and I were born and raised in Cleveland and never had any idea that there were other Junkins in the state of Ohio.
"All those present had many questions about the Junkins Family Association and especially Robert Junkins and his life in York, Maine. After the first few questions, I realized that they all knew that they were descended from Robert but they knew very little about him. But putting first things first, Karl and Joanne prepared a delicious lunch including a special sausage made famous by Jamie Faar, as Clinger, in the well-known TV program 'MASH'. Clinger always wanted to get home to Toledo, OH for another taste of this sausage. After our fill of a beautiful Barb-B-Q on the deck, some home made pie and a bright 80 degree Ohio sun, we retired to the living room where everyone sat in a large circle while I answered questions about Robert, how and why he came to America and about his life here. After almost two hours of questions and answers we once again went out on the deck and to the back yard where photos were taken of the various groups, husbands and wives, brothers and sisters and all the cousins together. After the photo session Betty and I left to make our way back to Cleveland for the night. The results of the day being that we met some of the nicest cousins and friends that we never knew existed and I am sure that we will be long time friends.
"Our cousins in Ohio have expressed a strong desire to come east to meet the rest of their cousins at the next Junkins Family Association reunion in York, Maine."