The Hewitt-Matheny-Cooper Family Association annual Family Reunion will take place Sunday, August 6, 2023. It is always on the first Sunday in August.
WHERE: Maud Williamson State Recreation Area, 22500 Wallace Rd., NW, Salem, Oregon (between Salem and Dayton
ONLINE by ZOOM at https://us06web.zoom.us/j/7330119657 Link will also be available on our Facebook.com HMC Family page.
Duration: 7 hours. Folks in person can drop by and say hello to Zoom attendees ahead of the meeting.
SCHEDULE:
9:00 Visiting, family albums available to view, storytelling, kids games, The Daniel Matheny Hewitt Two-Hops-and-a-Jump Challenge, and the Country Store.
11:00 Wheatland Ferry Marker Dedication presented by J. Elaine Warmington Wagner (Daniel Matheny descendent), Regent of the Oregon State Society, Daughters of American Colonists. The ceremony will be at the marker on the right side of the road, immediately before you reach the ferry as you come from Maud Williamson Park. The address is 18270 Wheatland Road.
The president of the Daughters of American Colonists will not be able to attend due to illness but a vice president will be here to represent her. She will be accompanied by the Washington State regent and the honorary national president, also from the state of Washington. The current western section marker chairman and honorary national president is attending from Colorado. Many Oregon DAC members will be there, as well.
The McMinnville News-Register, the Salem Statesman Journal, and the Oregonian will be sending reporters to cover the event.
The marker dedication ceremony will be included in the ZOOM. The video may be choppy due to the reception in the area, but we should be able to hear the audio.
12:00 noon Potluck picnic back at Maud Williamson Park.
Annual family meeting We will start the meeting at 1pm, but you may join the ZOOM ahead of the meeting to visit.
Local Native American Lifeways presentation by Stephanie (Wood) Craig, Thomas Cooper, Sr. descendent and member and archivist of the Confederated Tribes of Grand Ronde. Stephanie will present local Native history and Willamette Valley and Coastal tribal history. She will display local and regional family belongings (heirlooms).
Stephanie will be joined by her husband, Joe Craig. Joe is an enrolled Umatilla tribal member and the 4th great-grandson of Chief Joseph of the Nez Perce tribe. His grandparents met locally.
Joe and Stephanie live on one of the Cooper Donation Land Claims next to Stephanie’s parents. Stephanie is a Cooper on her father’s side and an enrolled member of The Confederate Tribes of Grand Ronde. She is Santiam and Yoncalla Kalapuya, Cow Creek Umpqua, Takelma Rogue River, Clackamas Chinook, Mohawk, Metis on her mother’s side. She is also the HMC archivist.
WHAT TO BRING:
A potluck dish to share. Plates, utensils, water, and lemonade will be provided. Please help with cleanup.
Donations for the Country Store – items large or small that may be of interest to family members, including produce, plants, services, books, household goods, etc.
FOR MORE INFORMATION contact Merrilee, HMC President, at
email: merrilee.s.johnson@gmail.com or by phone 503-550-9339