From JFA newsletter no. 6, Summer 1992
The 1992 reunion committee has been hard at work this past year preparing a reunion that you won't want to miss. You have all received your reunion package and if you have not made your reservations yet, you need to call Ken and Kathy Junkins immediately. The Sheraton, Portsmouth has set aside 45 rooms for our group at a special off-season rate for August 13, 14 and 15th. After a great deal of searching and writing letters to over thirty-five hotels and motels in the Ogunquit, York, Kittery and Portsmouth areas, the Sheraton, Portsmouth was the only one that could provide breakfasts, dinners, meeting rooms, and a hospitality room all in the facility and was able to hold a block of rooms during the high season, just for our group. The hotel has beautiful guest rooms and suites. It also offers an indoor pool and health spa, lively entertainment at Enticements Night Club, or the relaxing atmosphere of the Riverwatch Lounge on the mezzanine and ample complimentary parking. There are certainly cheaper hotels in the area, but none that could accommodate as large a group as we expect.
Many of the reunion attendees who have signed up so far, are not staying at the Sheraton and have made their own arrangements at other nearby accommodations. We especially encourage those who cannot spend the full three days with us to consider attending one of the dinners, such as the Thursday evening welcome reception and dinner, or the gala Saturday evening family dinner, or going on one or both of the morning tours. We would love to see you at any one of the events.
The hotel has provided a hospitality suite for the Association, which will be open for your spare time browsing to see displays from the archives of the Junkins Family Association, photo albums with pictures from our past reunions and archaeological digs, genealogical records of the Association including our computer, on which you can see the genealogical history of the family and get Pedigree Charts and Family Group Records printed out while you wait.
All our breakfasts and dinners will be held in a private dining room at the hotel and each evening there will be entertainment after dinner for everyone, including some special entertainment for the children.
Check-in and registration will begin at the Sheraton, Portsmouth at 3:00 p.m. Thursday afternoon, August 13th. At that time, you will receive your official reunion package containing your schedule of events, tickets for your tours and dinners, brochures and maps of the area and discount coupon books for the shopping outlet stores.
At 5:00 p.m., there will be a cocktail reception in the Ballroom Lobby, with time for everyone to get acquainted. At six, we will move into the dining room to the sounds of surprise entertainment and enjoy a complete buffet dinner. After dinner, there will be an opening review and orientation by our reunion committee chairpersons, with a welcome to the city of Portsmouth, and then a surprise presentation by Alan Junkins concerning new-found information about Robert Junkins. Then, after-dinner entertainment that is guaranteed to keep you awake.
Friday morning, at seven-thirty, a breakfast buffet of assorted juices, fresh fruit, assorted cereals, scrambled eggs, bacon, sausage, breakfast potatoes, Danish pastry, and assorted muffins will be served in our private dining room. After an introduction to the day's events by the reunion chairpersons, those taking the tour will board our motor coaches for an eight-thirty departure. One of the major events of this morning's tour will be at the York County Court House in Alfred, Maine where there will be a court room set aside for the members of the Association to view the original three hundred year old will of Robert Junkins, with his mark at the bottom. There will also be the wills of several of Robert's grandsons available for viewing and photographing. The court house in Alfred, Maine holds the oldest records still in existence in the United States and it is amazing that they will still allow us to come in and see and touch (very gently) some of these documents.
During the morning, we will travel around some of the countryside where the Junkins have lived for over three hundred and fifty years, working our way to the sea, past the President's house at Walker Point in Kennebunkport and then a lobster lunch. We will arrive back at the Sheraton about one-thirty, with plenty of time to rest up for the evening's events. sightsee on your own, shop the outlet stores in Kittery, visit Strawberry Banke just four blocks from the hotel, visit some of the Junkins burial grounds, wander the interesting shops a block from the hotel, or spend time in the hospitality room.
At six o'clock, we will assemble again in the dining room for dinner. The after-dinner events will start with a short business meeting. At that time, we will vote on the new by-laws of the Association, which can be found published elsewhere in this newsletter. The nominating committee, with Donald A. Junkins, Deerfield, MA as chairman and assisted by Albert and Madelaine Junkins, Lisbon Falls, ME; Karl and Joanne Junkins, Maumee, OH; Clifford and Mary Jo Junkins, Holyoke, MA; and Roland W. Junkins, Franklin, NH, will present a slate of officers for the next two years, for election.
During the business meeting, there will be some special entertainment for the younger Junkins attending and at the end of our business meeting, there will be an evening of entertainment for all.
Saturday morning, starting at seven-thirty, breakfast will be served in the private dining room at the Sheraton and an introduction to the day's events will be made at about eight o'clock. At eight-thirty, we will board the motor coaches once again for the start of a tour of the areas where Robert Junkins first lived when he arrived in the colonies. Portsmouth, York, York Village, Cider Hill, Scotland, South Berwick, and Durham, New Hampshire. A lunch overlooking the Piscataqua River and then a return to the hotel. An afternoon of free time with many activities for both young and old within walking distance of the hotel, including rier cruises or just relaxing by the hotel swimming pool.
At six o'clock in the evening, we will assemble for the final dinner of the reunion, once again in the dining room. After the installation of officers for the 1992-1994 term, there will be an evening of entertainment.
Sunday morning, starting at eight o'clock, breakfast will be served in the dining room and we will have a chance to say our good-byes until the next reunion.