WHEN: The Hewitt-Matheny-Cooper Annual Family Reunion will be on August 2, 2026, It is always on the first Sunday in August.
WHERE
IN PERSON: At Maud Williamson State Recreation Site, 22500 Wallace Rd., NW, Salem, Oregon (also known as the Salem-Dayton Highway, OR-221) between the cities of Salem and Dayton, at the intersection of Oregon Route 221 and Oregon Route 153, near Wheatland.
ONLINE: https://meet.google.com/ufr-yfww-hyb
SCHEDULE
9:00 A.M. VISITING and catching up with cousins. COFFEE AND PASTRIES provided by the HMC Council.
10:30 A.M. BRUNCH POTLUCK Bring any traditional or potluck dishes you would like to share. Pancakes, eggs, and bacon will be served with our Reunion Chairs, Scott and Lindsey Fery, manning the grill, and our archivist, Brian and Michelle Hewitt cooking farm fresh eggs to order. Tea, water, and coffee are provided. Plates, utensils, cups, napkins, and tablecloths also provided.
12:00 noon ANNUAL MEETING We are electing two Cooper council members this year. Adam Hewitt and Melissa Gomez, both Cooper/Hewitt descendents, would like to continue. If anyone else would like to be on the council, nominations will be open and we have the option of co-councilors who share a position with one vote.
In the interest of keeping our meeting more concise, please read last year’s minutes here REUNION 2025! FUN with FAMILY. Paper copies will be posted on the picnic shelter also.
Join the GOOGLE MEET online. The online part of the Reunion will be available only at 12 noon for the meeting.
1:00 P.M. PINATA! After the business meeting there will be a pinata for the kids and adults, starting with the youngest to oldest. It’s a tradition started by Arnie [Charlotte Cooper descendant] and Sue Young’s family.
ONGOING ACTIVITIES THROUGHOUT THE DAY
DANIEL MATHENY HEWITT TWO-HOPS-AND-A-JUMP CHALLENGE The Daniel Matheny Hewitt Two-Hops-and-a-Jump Challenge is for all ages. Family members from toddlers to 84 years old have been joining in for eighteen years. Daniel Matheny Hewitt was known for this event, which is: from a running start, go as far as you can with two hops on one foot followed by a jump from two feet.
With different age categories and lots of support, it’s easy to join in at the picnic, or…
for those attending virtually, try it wherever you are and send your distance to Barbara at kerrclifford@hotmail.com.
See the history and details of the event here Daniel Matheny Hewitt Challenge – Two Hops and a Jump.
ARTS AND CRAFTS TABLE: paper, pens, pencils, and crafts for all ages to share; from doodling to graphic storytelling, and making things to take home.
FOR THE YOUNGER COUSINS: Balls and miscellaneous play equipment for younger kids, and their grownup friends, will be available.
CORNHOLE GAME: Tossing beanbags (originally full of corn) into a hole on a board is a game our ancestors played that has become popular again.
FAMILY VOLLEYBALL: Equipment will be available for families interested in forming volleyball teams.
HORSESHOES
GALLERY WALL Bring your old family photos, charts, family trees, or artifacts to display for the day.
REUNION PHOTO ALBUMS full of photographs taken by Olive Johnson and others at the Reunions througout the years will be available for your enjoyment. Help identify familiy members in the pictures.
FAMILY ALBUMS where you can look up information and pictures of your immediate and distant relations. Please update or add entries for any new members of your family on sticky notes on the appropriate pages.
INTO THE EYE OF THE SETTING SUN Copies will be available for $25.00 at the Reunion. You can also order one by mail for $30.00 by sending a check payable to HMC Family Association to Merrilee Johnson, 3751 NE St. Joseph Road, McMinnville, OR 97128.
COUNTRY STORE Come shop at the family’s Country Store for treasures and yummy things.
DONATIONS for the Country Store: Please bring items large or small that may be of interest to family members, including extra produce or preserved goods from your garden, plants, handcrafts, art, household goods, books, services, etc.
It’s a good way to find homes for family mementos that no longer have a place in your life but you want to go to someone who will value them.
CLEAN UP – IT’S A FAMILY AFFAIR! Join in making sure you have all of your things and helping to tidy up the shelter and grounds.
MAILING LISTS If you or another family member you know do not receive the postcard announcement, please send your email and postal mail addresses to Lindsey at lrlatti2d@aol.com or text to 503-881-1417. You can also put them on the list at the registration table when you sign in at the picnic; or in the sign-in or chat if you are attending online.
FOR MORE INFORMATION ON THE REUNION, contact Merrilee, our HMC president at merrilee.s.johnson@gmail.com or 503-550-9339.