From JFA newsletter no. 9, October 1994
Friday, August 12
Friday evening at 5:00, guests began arriving at the Highland Farm for a cocktail reception on the patio. About 35 Junkins gathered and received their reunion packages, which contained their name badges, schedule of events and other promotional materials about the area and the events of the next two days. Wine, beer and soft drinks were served along with a fantastic array of hors d'oeuvres prepared by Carla Rollins of the Boatyard Caterers. The weather was a perfect 76° with bright sunshine and not too many mosquitos considering how bad it had been the previous week.
Shortly after 6:00, some of the guests realized there was a strange sound off in the distance and as a hush came over the crowd, they realized it was the sound of bag pipes. Everyone stood in awe as piper Eric Dofen, in full highland attire, marched up the long tree-lined drive to the farm. For the next hour, the group was entertained and entranced with the pipe music of Scotland, which must have pleased the souls of our many Scot ancestors that roam the grounds of Cider Hill, the Highland Farm and the Junkins Garrison. It also brought tears to the eyes of the guests attending the reception.
At 7:00, Gary and Gail Merrill of Maine Family Lobster Bakes began serving a dinner of lobster and everything else you could possibly eat at one sitting, including dessert. When everyone was full, the family adjourned to another dining room where guest speaker Robert McIntire, Selectman of York, welcomed the group to the Yorks and talked of the close bond between the Junkins and the McIntire families. Over the three hundred and fifty years since Robert Junkins and Micum McIntire settled on Cider Hill in York, Maine, there have been many inter-marriages between the families.
Next, Donald Junkins made the second Biennial "Vice President's Award" to Roland Junkins for his hundreds of hours of work for the Association and the Junkins families. The award was, in fact, a poem written by Don about the experience he and Roland had finding some of the earlier graves and burial grounds many years ago.
During the reception and dinner, raffle tickets were sold to the guests for a beautiful handmade Fisherman's knit afghan, made and donated by Betty Junkins. When the winning ticket was drawn, it was Anna Blease who was the lucky recipient. With many thanks to Betty, the project raised the first $125 to be placed in the memorial fund. After the raffle, it was time for all to retire to their respective motels and homes so as to be bright and ready for Saturday morning's tour.
Saturday, August 13
Saturday morning, a group of 30 Junkins assembled in the parking lot across from the York Commons Inn on Route 1 in York Corners. At 9:30, a bright new Molly Trolley arrived to ferry the group on a four-hour tour of Junkins' properties in the York area. After all were aboard and the bright red and yellow "Junkins Family Association" banner was attached to the trolley, the trolley proceeded south on Rt. 1 to the York River and a place called Goodrich Park, a 50-acre piece of land, on the edge of the York River that is the site of the Grant House. The JFA group was not able to go into the house, but some of the workers there opened the doors so that the party could look inside from several angles.
From the Grant house, the trolley traveled south on Rt. 1 to Beech Ridge Road and west about two miles to the William Junkins House.
The Molly Trolley next traveled northwest on Beech Road to Birch Road, north on Birch Road, crossing Rt. 91, and on to Mill Lane. On the way, it stopped for a moment as it crossed the headwaters of the York River, so the group could look down the valley at the view of the Junkins and McIntire properties and the McIntire Garrison way down the valley. On Mill Lane, the tour guide pointed out the Junkins McIntire Brook as the trolley crossed it and then the group arrived at the Leonard Putnam Junkins House, also known as The Mill Lane House. After looking at the neatly kept Junkins Family burial ground and petting three llamas kept by the present owners, the group reboarded the Molly Trolley, turned south on Rt. 91 (Cider Hill Road) toward York Corners.
Along the way, other landmarks such as the Highland Farm, the McIntire Garrison, the Robert Junkins Garrison site, the Alexander Junkins Burial Ground, and the three rock maples that mark another ancient Junkins Burial Ground, were pointed out.
At Scotland Bridge Road, the trolley turned right, into the drive and under the stone arch at the Albert B. Junkins Farm, site of the Elijah Junkins House. After taking group pictures under the arch, everyone boarded the trolly again and traveled on to York Corners, stopping in the triangle in front of what was once the Junkins Store.
The Molly Trolley next made its way down York St. past some of the Old York Historical Society buildings, the York Country Club and then on to Portsmouth, NH for lunch in a private dining room overlooking the Piscataqua River at Pier II. After lunch, the trolley returned the group to the parking lot at York Corners at 2:00 p.m.
At 6:30 p.m., the family gathered in the Opera Room at the Days Inn, Kittery for cocktails and dinner. During the cocktail hour, everyone looked over the baskets and items that had been donated to the Association for the silent auction. Many bought tickets and placed them in the cups next to each item that they thought they might like. There were baskets of homemade jellies, wines, candies and other items including a giant mystery box. During the next hour, the room was filled with the sounds of Junkins meeting Junkins and a background of lively music from Scotland.
At 7:30, Clifford Junkins said grace and we all sat down to dinner. There were a total of 47 guests, in all, coming from nine states: CT, MA, MD, ME, NH, NY, OH, PA and RI.
After dinner was complete, President Alan Junkins called the business meeting to order. Secretary Ruth Hodgin read the minutes of the previous meeting, a financial report was given and then, the President gave his report. This included the announcement of Philip Junkins of Lusby, MD as a new member of the Board of Directors, continued research of Robert1 Junkins' family in Scotland, the Rankins Field burial ground, and the announcement of the 1996 reunion being planned for Scotland. Thank yous were given to the reunion committee, including Ruth and Tom Kodgin, Ken and Kathy Junkins, and especially Betty Junkins.
The meeting was then turned over to Don Junkins, chairman of the nominating committee, to present the nominees for office for th 1994-1996 term. A slate of officers consisting of all those who had served during the past term, was nominated and approved by the membership present. Russell Blease was then called upon to officiate over the process of discharging the out-going officers and officially installing the new slate of officers.
With the business part of the evening complete, Ken and Kathy took charge of the silent auction. As each item was brought to the auction table, the cup of tickets next to the item was dumped into a plastic bag, thoroughly shaken up and one ticket drawn. The person holding the matching winning ticket was awarded the gift. When the auction was complete, the table centerpieces, consisting of small flag stands with Scottish flags and vases of thistles, were given away to those at each table whose birthday was the closest to August 13 and to the oldest person at each table.
This ended the formal festivities of the evening. All were invited to join Alan and Betty Junkins at their home on Sunday morning for coffee and sweet things and to see some of the artifacts found during the archaeological digs at the garrison site.
Sunday, August 14
About 20 people joined Alan and Betty Junkins and talked over coffee for several hours Sunday morning.