HAGGERTY FAMILY REUNION, Houlton Maine, 2007
The Attending Haggerty's (posing & labeled)
|PIX: THE REUNION PARTICIPANTS & FUNSTERS|
The Haggerty Family Reunion of 2007
By Kathleen Corey Rahme
The Haggerty Family Reunion held in Houlton and Littleton, ME on June 29, 30, and 31, 2007 was a huge success. Folks came from all over the United States and Canada to attend. Haggerty descendents from the Donovan family came from Pittsburg, PA. James Haggerty’s children and grandchildren came from Providence, RI and Farmington and Hartford, CT. Augustus Haggerty’s grandchildren and great-grandchildren and great-great-grandchildren were in attendance hailing from Rocky Hill, CT, Methuen, MA, Monticello, ME, Bar Harbor, ME, Manchester, CT and Fredericton, NB, Canada. Others from Augustus’ family came from all over CT. Clyde Haggerty’s grandchildren attended and one came in from New Jersey. A Costello came in from Farmington, CT. About 50 Haggerty descendents gathered at the Elks Club in downtown Houlton.
The weekend began with a spaghetti supper on Friday night being hosted by Marie Corey of Littleton, ME. All I know is everybody ate and ate and we just kept filling the crock pot. About 28 people found their way to the Corey house. It was wonderful and this was a perfect way to have an icebreaker so that by the time Saturday rolled around for the reunion, the cousins were old friends. The young people had a big kick ball game in the back yard.
The reunion began with Mrs. Catherine Bell opening the Aroostook Museum for our family. Normally closed on Saturdays, she gave a private, guided tour to us. There is a poster there bearing the name of Charles Haggerty circa 1883. It was an advertisement for a party at Frisbies Hall in Houlton to celebrate the holidays of New Years, Marti Gras, and St. Patrick’s Day. Everyone was supposed to bring a quarter for the entrance fee. That was really something to see.
The Elks Club is directly across the street and Ann Boutilier was at the reception table. Everyone checked in and they were given a detailed name tag denoting their name, their parent’s name and the connection to Great- Grandfather Charles. Displays of photographs and family trees lined the walls. Wonderful photos and printed materials were made available by Suzie, Ann, and Madolyn Boutilier.
Hot dogs (red and tan), hamburgers, and various salads were served. Chips and soda were also available. There was also a cash bar for beer and wine. The food was delicious and the décor was red, white, and blue.
Elizabeth Haggerty danced an Irish set dance and Kathleen Corey Rahme and Beth Corey Robichaud joined her in a three hand reel. All have studied Irish dance in Connecticut.
Stories were told by family members and friends. There were honored guests for the event. They included Harold Fitzpatrick, Mrs. Catherine Bell who is 88 years old, Paul McGuilicuddy who is a young 95 years old, and Bob Rush. Tall tales, a few lies, and many laughs were very much appreciated by the attendees. Mrs. Bell is a famous, local historian and she shared wonderful stories of the history of the Irish who settled in Houlton and Littleton.
Door prizes were awarded by the Boutilier family to the one who was the oldest and the one who came the farthest. Rosie Donovan came from Pittsburg and she was given a local delicacy of canned fiddleheads. Mr. McGuilicuddy was also given a jar of canned fiddleheads for being the oldest in attendance. On hand was a jar of honey from beehives that Alan Boutilier tends to at the Haggerty Ridge.
The day was very enjoyable. We were all pleased to take a formal photo of the group on the steps of the Elks Club. It is remarkable the way you can see family resemblances and certain features and characteristics that are shared among us.
The next day was also filled with activities. We went to the 8:00 a.m. Mass at St. Mary’s and it was posted in the bulletin that the Mass was requested in honor of the living and deceased members of the Haggerty family. It was well attended and we took about four double long pews. All the grandchildren and great-grandchildren brought up the gifts. There were members of the James Haggerty clan and the Augustus Haggerty clan. About eight young people participated. It was beautiful.
After Mass, the group went to the cemetery and noted that wild strawberries are growing on the grass near the graves. Photos were taken and dates of birth and death were noted.
There was a group breakfast held at the Governor’s Restaurant because they offer a nice buffet.
The Madolyn Boutilier family hosted an open house and tour of the Haggerty Homestead after breakfast. Young girls were given linen handkerchiefs to mark the occasion as a souvenir. The house boasts a two- seater outhouse. More photos were taken.
The Haggery family reunion was a great success. This is the first time in a long time the Haggerty family outnumbered the Fitzpatrick’s in Houlton and Littleton, Maine. It was duly noted by Mr. Harold Fitzpatrick.
The Invitation:
HAGGERTY FAMILY REUNION, 2007:
WHERE: Elks Club, in downtown Houlton ME USA, Name tags will be provided at the door.
WHEN: Saturday June 30, 2007, From Early PM to Late PM. Come early & stay late.
MENU: Hot Dogs, Hamburgers, Salads & Soft Drinks, lots of chit-chat & family presentations by indivual family members. This is a requirement; I'll pass out assignments later. Maybe someone will want to offer a cookbook containing favorite Haggerty recipes.
PRICE: For food, use of the premises & indoor lavatory/plumbing: $15.00 per person. Money arrangements: The total cost for all of us, excluding the "cash bar", will be $600-$800 depending on how many people show up. I am committed to pay the Elks club the money in total up front on Saturday.
CASH BAR: Beer & wine only, 6-10pm, maybe longer hours.
("Cash Bar"for those of you who dont know, it means if you want a beer or glass of wine, you get up on your feet, walk to the bar, place an order & the bar-tender will serve you his beer/wine product in exchange for additional cash, thus "Cash Bar").
ATTENDEES: An estimated 50-75 assorted man, woman & child Haggerty's and/or their derivatives/soul-mates/ lovers/in-laws/old pals/current sqeeze's/etc.
What ever your point of geographical origin, be sure to bring a USA or Canadian PassPort, that is, if you expect to cross the USA/Canada border. Some of you may wish to seek out the many & unknown members of the Laverty, Fitzpatrick, Day, O'Donnell & Abernethy families in the Houlton-ME-USA/Woodstock-NB-Canada area. They're mainly family members of Louisa Laverty Haggerty who is grand mother/great grand mother to many of us. Or the Abernethy's with their Frank Haggerty line. Or the decendants of Peter Haggerty Jr, our ship captain relative. At this point in time, I've been able to contact a few of them. Please spread the word to whomever may be interested.
T-SHIRTS: 100% good quality cotton, labeled HAGGERTY FAMILY REUNION, 2007 (front) & HOULTON MAINE (rear), in Kelly green lettering, sizes: small, medium or large will be available if ordered early. I have to give the vendor a fixed order; an order for 12 will price at $12.00 each, while an order for 25 shirts will cost $9.00 each. Send me your orders & I'll get 'em. Evelyn & I have already signed up.
RESERVE: Sunday July 1 (the next day after Saturday) should be reserved for a Catholic Mass (no T-shirts) at Saint Mary's in Houlton, (time to be announced), in honor of all Haggerty members from the beginning til the end of time. Cousin Kathleen Corey Rahme graciously made the arrangements.
HOW-TO-GET-THERE: Houlton ME, for you outlanders, is at the northern tip of north-south Interstate Hiway I#95, which starts in southern FL USA & ends in Houlton ME USA. So if you are driving, pick up I#95 someplace along the way & drive north to the very northern end, the very last exit. To go futher, you'll fall off of the earth. Otherwise you may fly into Boston MA, Manchester NH or Bangor ME. From Boston MA its a 300 mile drive to Houlton ME; Manchester NH is about the same; from Bangor ME to Houlton ME it's 100 miles, so at some point enroute you'll have to rent a "jack-ass" of some sort to get you all the way to Houlton.
STAY-OVERS: Dont go near the SCOTTISH INN, it has a good/bad reputation. Its problem is caused by the usual things: wine, women, song, assaults, & lust; it has nothing to do with the good God fearing Scots.
Otherwise, there's the STARDUST MOTEL, THE SHIRETOWN MOTOR INN, IVEY'S (all recommended by the Elks Club management). I suppose that there are some good B&B's about, or a relative with an vacant barn w/straw bed & cow or an extra warm bed in the house. "Houlton Net"should have some B&B's listed. You'll have to make with a "relative" bed on your own. Make your reservations ASAP, the "Future Farmers of America" are having a convention that week in Houlton, as well. Come early & stay through the week. Enjoy what the region has to offer. There's the 4th of July parade, relatives to visit in the Woodstock Canada area, one of the original Peter Haggerty & Nancy McGuire homesteads (the Littleton Ridge Rd farmhouse is still in the family, visits arranged by cousin Madolyn Haggerty Boutilier) & there's the monument to the Battle of Houlton (you'll have to do an internet search to discover the cause, participants & winner, I dont happen to know).
Other "tree" members associated with Peter & Nancy's kids are: Frank Haggerty & Catherine Abernethy, Sophia Haggerty & Jeremiah Spencer, Nancy Haggerty & Thomas Lynch, Peter Haggerty Jr & Jane Haskell, Margaret Haggerty & John Kiley, John Haggerty & Margaret Grey, Thomas Haggerty & Elizabeth Curtis and Charles Haggerty & Louisa Laverty.
Ed Costello 1009 Blenheim Dr Raleigh NC 27612; tel num: 919.782.6058; e-mail: Costello13@juno.com.
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Ed Costello
1009 Blenhein Dr
Raleigh NC 27612
tel: 919-782-6058
e-mail: costello13@juno.com