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The Nunda Historical Society is hosting a Nunda Area Homecoming on Aug. 13 at Nunda Historical Society Museum and Rose Shave Gallery, 24 Portage St., Nunda.
In the past, this annual gathering has been known as the Nunda Reunionists and was founded in 1939 by six members of the Class of 1896 of the Nunda Union School anc Academy. By 1956 the gathering was attracting 23 Nunda folks who enjoyed getting together. That year the group organized by electing officers and adopting Nunda Reunionists as their name.
In the 1960s through the mid-1980s this event routinely attracted more than 100 people with 146 in attendance in 1985. Usually activities lasted for one day, but in the early 1960s three days of programming kept the attendees busy. They enjoyed sharing old photos, displays of historic Nunda artifacts, lunches, picnics, music, concerts and tours of the area. However, many considered this event a Festival of Conversation — a “gabfest,” for people with a common interest, a love of Nunda.
This group stimulated an interest in the history of Nunda which resulted in the formation of the Nunda Historical Society in 1983. The society received a provisional charter in 1985, a permanent charter in 1995, and started providing historical displays for Reunionists gatherings as the society’s collection grew. Many society members were also active in the annual Reuionists events.
During the mid-1980s through the mid-1990s, Reunionists attendance gradually reduced to about 60 each year and by 1997 the organization was badly in need of people to serve in leadership positions. At this point, the Nunda Historical Society offered to provide the needed assistance and assumed leadership responsibility for the Reunionists.
For each of the next 10 years, the Reunionists met on their usual second Saturday in August to enjoy historic displays on Nunda, lunch, a concert, sometimes a program and always a “gabfest.” Attendance varied between 60 and 40 each year.
In 2008, Nunda’s Bicentennial year, the Reunionists and Nunda Alumni Association met together for a very well attended event in July. However, when the Society scheduled three days of activities in August 2009, the poor response resulted in canceling all but a Friday Letchworth Park Tour guided by Tom Cook with lunch at the Glen Iris Inn. Those who didn’t attend missed a rare opportunity to learn fascinating facts as we enjoyed our tour of this most scenic gem of a park.
After the poor response in 2009, the Society decided to skip 2010 and hold the next Reunionists event in 2011. People were asked to save the second weekend in August, but we have scaled back the Reunionists event to one half day on Aug. 13. Two interesting programs and a Civil War Tour of Oakwood Cemetery are planned and, of course, there will be the usual opportunity for a “gabfest.” We have also changed the name to Nunda Area Homecoming since, even after more than 50 years, some people still think that the Reunionists is a special organization whose membership is restricted — definitely not so; everyone is invited.
This is a critical year for this event. For the society to continue sponsoring the Nunda Area Homecoming, we need to have a reasonable attendance this year and ideas and support for the future. Those who are unable to attend on Aug. 13, but are interested in having this event continue in future years and hopefully grow, are asked to return a homecoming response form. The form is available on the Internet at nundahistory.org/homecoming.html. This form may be sent by mail or emailed to nundahs@localnet.com.
The Nunda Historical Society is hosting a Nunda Area Homecoming on Aug. 13 at Nunda Historical Society Museum and Rose Shave Gallery, 24 Portage St., Nunda.
In the past, this annual gathering has been known as the Nunda Reunionists and was founded in 1939 by six members of the Class of 1896 of the Nunda Union School anc Academy. By 1956 the gathering was attracting 23 Nunda folks who enjoyed getting together. That year the group organized by electing officers and adopting Nunda Reunionists as their name.
In the 1960s through the mid-1980s this event routinely attracted more than 100 people with 146 in attendance in 1985. Usually activities lasted for one day, but in the early 1960s three days of programming kept the attendees busy. They enjoyed sharing old photos, displays of historic Nunda artifacts, lunches, picnics, music, concerts and tours of the area. However, many considered this event a Festival of Conversation — a “gabfest,” for people with a common interest, a love of Nunda.
This group stimulated an interest in the history of Nunda which resulted in the formation of the Nunda Historical Society in 1983. The society received a provisional charter in 1985, a permanent charter in 1995, and started providing historical displays for Reunionists gatherings as the society’s collection grew. Many society members were also active in the annual Reuionists events.
During the mid-1980s through the mid-1990s, Reunionists attendance gradually reduced to about 60 each year and by 1997 the organization was badly in need of people to serve in leadership positions. At this point, the Nunda Historical Society offered to provide the needed assistance and assumed leadership responsibility for the Reunionists.
For each of the next 10 years, the Reunionists met on their usual second Saturday in August to enjoy historic displays on Nunda, lunch, a concert, sometimes a program and always a “gabfest.” Attendance varied between 60 and 40 each year.
In 2008, Nunda’s Bicentennial year, the Reunionists and Nunda Alumni Association met together for a very well attended event in July. However, when the Society scheduled three days of activities in August 2009, the poor response resulted in canceling all but a Friday Letchworth Park Tour guided by Tom Cook with lunch at the Glen Iris Inn. Those who didn’t attend missed a rare opportunity to learn fascinating facts as we enjoyed our tour of this most scenic gem of a park.
After the poor response in 2009, the Society decided to skip 2010 and hold the next Reunionists event in 2011. People were asked to save the second weekend in August, but we have scaled back the Reunionists event to one half day on Aug. 13. Two interesting programs and a Civil War Tour of Oakwood Cemetery are planned and, of course, there will be the usual opportunity for a “gabfest.” We have also changed the name to Nunda Area Homecoming since, even after more than 50 years, some people still think that the Reunionists is a special organization whose membership is restricted — definitely not so; everyone is invited.
This is a critical year for this event. For the society to continue sponsoring the Nunda Area Homecoming, we need to have a reasonable attendance this year and ideas and support for the future. Those who are unable to attend on Aug. 13, but are interested in having this event continue in future years and hopefully grow, are asked to return a homecoming response form. The form is available on the Internet at nundahistory.org/homecoming.html. This form may be sent by mail or emailed to nundahs@localnet.com.
