The Willis Reunion (Mother's side of the family) takes place every two years in the Culpeper, Virginia area. This summer it started out that there would be five of us from Grandmother Freeman's family going but, due to various reasons (excuses? LOL), I ended up going all by my little lonesome self.
Saturday evening was the traditional picnic, which was held at Fox Neck, the plantation where Great-grandmother Bessie Hiter Willis and Great-grandfather Eugene Harrison Willis raised their nine children. Grandmother Bessie Willis Freeman was one of the children who grew up there.
The house burned years ago but the farm is still in the family.
On Sunday, the reunion was held at the plantation called Presqu'lle. I drove through some long country roads, over a scary bridge with no side rails, and through long fields but the place was magnificent. It was worth a bit of dust on my car.
It is about 15 miles out.
Presqu'Isle
means "almost an island" in French. It can also be translated to "a peninsula." This beautiful property sits in-between
the Hazel and Rappahannock rivers.
Here is an interesting 3 minute video about Presqu'lle: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=icKGKiyRsxo
As you drive in, you pass the blacksmith shop which has the original forge.
The brickwork is original and rather fascinating.
Here are links for 2 articles about Presqu'lle:
All of a sudden this lovely plantation home appeared. It was built in 1812.
The brickwork is a Flemish bond and the walls are 2 feet thick. People traveled from miles around to see its construction. The nails were forged at Monticello.
The thick walls explain why it was comfortable inside, without an air conditioner being on. The entry way is lovely and spacious.
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| The ceilings featured ornate ceiling medallions and chandeliers. |
The grounds provided a charming setting for our reunion meeting and Carry-In meal. The Willis family is known to be good cooks and it is proven every two years at our reunions.
Cousin Mark Ballard, who lives in Chicago, is one of our family history experts. He is full of knowledge and I enjoy his postings on Facebook, too. He's a ginger (redhead) like our Great-grandmother Bessie Hiter Willis and me!
This is one of my favorite photos
showing my cousins
Jan Lu, Kat Stoneman, and Talia Moser
THEN
and NOW!
I spent my Saturday afternoon at The Museum of Culpeper History. My cousin, Bill Freeman, donated the dress from my Great-Grandmother
Bessie Hiter Willis. It was made in the 1860s. I'm pleased that it properly preserved and stored to be sure it doesn't deteriorate.
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| This dress was made for Bessie Hiter Willis. Photo shows Mary May Angelil, great-grandaughter of Bessie Hiter Willis, and Pam Stewart, the director of the Culpeper Museum. 2014 |
You might like to review my 2012 Reunion posts:
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