Since we were already delayed for our fall trip because of jury duty, The Great Driveway Project and our yard sale, we had decided to stay home long enough to attend the annual Franklin Reunion in Linville Falls. The reunion is always held the 2nd Saturday in August and is a gathering of the descendants of Samuel and Dorcas Franklin. Samuel Franklin is my great, great, great, great 
grandfather. Samuel Franklin's father was James Franklin, Ben Franklin's older brother. It is ironic that granddaddy Sam and I both hooked up with gals named Dorcas. As far as I know there are no direct descendants named Dorcas. I have always been thanked by the clan for bringing another Dorcas back into the family.
We took the motor home up on Friday and parked at the Linville Falls Campground on the Blue Ridge Parkway. Ironically the Franklin family used to own the land where the campground and the Falls are. Many of my kin still live and own much of the land around the community of Linville Falls.
My brother Ran had been waffling all week about coming to the reunion. It is about 4 hours for him to drive one way, no one else in his family wanted to come, and he had to be back for church service Sunday morning. I told him that if he came he could sleep in the coach (a rare honor; we have never before let anyone else sleep in the coach!), we would grill him a rib eye and he could have all the beer, wine, whiskey and rum he wanted. He doesn't often have a chance to drink and carry on with none of his family present, so maybe that's what hooked him. He came on up arriving Friday evening just in time for dinner. We built a fire and enjoyed some refreshing cool mountain air. It was a stark contrast from the weather we have seen in Winston-Salem the last 2 months.
The next morning we gathered at the Linville Falls Community Church for programs, singing, entertainment and finally ... great food. We talked with cousins and uncles and others that were related in other unknown ways. Many said how they missed my mother, who had attended the reunion last year. I told them she was here in spirit
this year. Mom had willed a very nice hand carved wooden Franklin coat of arms to the family, and it was on display along with many family artifacts. The coat of arms contained the Franklin family motto: "Our humility is surpassed only by our beauty and our intelligence". Or at least that's the way I translate it. I did earn a "C" in high school Latin, you know. After the reunion ended we visited with some immediate family at my Aunt Ruth's house at Land Harbor. This photo is of some first cousins. Note the family resemblance.
This reunion actually represents the beginning of our annual summer/fall trip to the upper Midwest and to Minnesota and the BWCAW. We will not be returning home until about the 2nd week in October. Bon voyage.
grandfather. Samuel Franklin's father was James Franklin, Ben Franklin's older brother. It is ironic that granddaddy Sam and I both hooked up with gals named Dorcas. As far as I know there are no direct descendants named Dorcas. I have always been thanked by the clan for bringing another Dorcas back into the family.We took the motor home up on Friday and parked at the Linville Falls Campground on the Blue Ridge Parkway. Ironically the Franklin family used to own the land where the campground and the Falls are. Many of my kin still live and own much of the land around the community of Linville Falls.
My brother Ran had been waffling all week about coming to the reunion. It is about 4 hours for him to drive one way, no one else in his family wanted to come, and he had to be back for church service Sunday morning. I told him that if he came he could sleep in the coach (a rare honor; we have never before let anyone else sleep in the coach!), we would grill him a rib eye and he could have all the beer, wine, whiskey and rum he wanted. He doesn't often have a chance to drink and carry on with none of his family present, so maybe that's what hooked him. He came on up arriving Friday evening just in time for dinner. We built a fire and enjoyed some refreshing cool mountain air. It was a stark contrast from the weather we have seen in Winston-Salem the last 2 months.
The next morning we gathered at the Linville Falls Community Church for programs, singing, entertainment and finally ... great food. We talked with cousins and uncles and others that were related in other unknown ways. Many said how they missed my mother, who had attended the reunion last year. I told them she was here in spirit
this year. Mom had willed a very nice hand carved wooden Franklin coat of arms to the family, and it was on display along with many family artifacts. The coat of arms contained the Franklin family motto: "Our humility is surpassed only by our beauty and our intelligence". Or at least that's the way I translate it. I did earn a "C" in high school Latin, you know. After the reunion ended we visited with some immediate family at my Aunt Ruth's house at Land Harbor. This photo is of some first cousins. Note the family resemblance.This reunion actually represents the beginning of our annual summer/fall trip to the upper Midwest and to Minnesota and the BWCAW. We will not be returning home until about the 2nd week in October. Bon voyage.
1 comment:
Nice story. It's all about family and your story says that.
dave & audrey
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