Annual Reunions of the Sergeant William Harlow Family Association
Join Us for This Year's Reunion August 23-25, 2024
Each year a weekend is devoted to renewing our family fellowship. A Saturday Annual Business Meeting is followed by a supper open to all "cousins." A Sunday Morning Ecumenical Service is conducted on the lawn of Harlow Old Fort House; luncheon is served there also; a prominent speaker with a timely message is featured and officers for the coming year are elected. Meetings are held on the Saturday and Sunday preceding the last Monday in August every year. Prospective members are cordially invited to attend; please use the contact form at the bottom of this page for more information.
Our featured guest speaker this year will be Kevin Allen, Senior Planner, Rehabilitation and Adaptive Reuse, Office of Cultural Resources, Massachusetts Department of Conservation and Recreation. He'll give an update on the Ellisville Harlow Farm property. Increased public interest after last year's Zoom meeting about the property has resulted in some funding for materials, and the much-needed exterior work on the house is to begin this summer. We'll have two additional guest speakers as well: Sheila White, Harlow descendant and author of The Letters: Postmark Prejudice in Black and White, and Larry Newey, whose family was one of the last to farm on the Ellisville Harlow Farm property. See below for details.
Here is the schedule for the 2024 Reunion:
Friday, August 23: No planned event. Cousins may contact Captain John Boats (www.captjohn.com) about harbor cruises. The evening cruise is very enjoyable. Pre-registration is required as there is limited space.
Saturday, August 24: Day 1 Activities will be at the Beal House, 222 Main Street, Kingston
2:00 pm: Beal House will be open for visiting and relaxing prior to the meeting. Sheila White will have a display of Harlow memorabilia for people to see before the meeting.
4:00 pm: Annual Meeting. Please come to be part of maintaining and strengthening the family organization. We are always open to new ideas and views to be explored and discussed. The meeting follows an agenda and includes recent findings by our genealogist, updates on family-related projects, and the budget. Following the meeting, Sheila White will give a brief talk.
6:00 pm: Family Reunion with Supper and Auction. Please bring an item or two (especially if it's a "Harlow" item or from a hometown) for spirited bidding that will help to offset the costs of the Association. Advance registration and payment is required - click HERE for the registration form. NOTE: The Deadline for registrations was August 1, but we can usually accommodate last-minute attendees. Use the contact information on the form to let us know if you'd like to attend but haven't already mailed in your reservation.
Sunday, August 25: Day 2 Activities will be at the Harlow Old Fort House, 119 Sandwich Street, Plymouth
(If the weather is inclement, instructions about alternate arrangements will be posted here.)
9:30 am: Choir Rehearsal in Preparation for Worship Service (all are welcome to sing).
9:45am: Chair Set Up (all are welcome to help).
10:00 am: Ecumenical Worship Service.
11:30 am: Group Picture and Completion of the Annual Meeting and Reunion.
12:00 pm: Lunch. Please indicated your preferences on the registration form.
12:30 pm: Completion of the Business Meeting including nomination of officers.
1:00 pm: Guest Speaker: Kevin M. Allen, Senior Planner, Rehabilitation and Adaptive Reuse, Office of Cultural Resources, Massachusetts Department of Conservation and Recreation. Following Ken's talk, Larry Newey will share stories of growing up on the farm in the 1950s.
1:45 pm: Family Reunion continues until 3:00 pm. Bring and share photos and stories! Talk to the genealogist! Explore Burial Hill!
6:00 pm: Various Dinner Outings (normally organized at the reunion)
