Potomac, MD 20854
June 17, 2004
Well, the two Northridge family reunions are less than a month away. I'm excited about the two events. Personally, I plan to attend both, starting with the July 10th picnic being hosted by Jack & Judy Northridge in Boydton, Virginia. It sounds like there'll be a lot of fun down there at Buggs Lake, amid a strong dose of Southern hospitality. Again, if you'd like more information about that particular event, please contact Jack and Judy directly, at 434-738-9695.
I want to pass along some more information about the event that I'm helping Joy Schoenfeldt organize for the July 16-17 weekend in Sturbridge, Massachusetts. The turnout looks great: more than sixty folks have already paid, and another 40-50 or so have RSVPed that they will either "definitely" attend or "probably" attend. If you're in the latter group, then I strongly encourage you to decide soon and send your checks to Joy (508-829-6175, at 31 Crestview Drive, Holden, MA 01520). To help us nail down final plans, we'd appreciate it if you could make final RSVPs no later than July 6th.
We're planning several activities for the weekend. First, starting at 9 am Friday morning, July 16th, a small group of us who are obsessed (!) with genealogy plans to meet in the hotel's Southbridge Room. (My sister Cindy suggested that we Northridges re-name it the "South-ridge Room" for the weekend!) We will compare notes, share information, and make plans for future research. Anyone interested in joining us is welcome. Later that day, probably around mid-afternoon, we plan to start setting up some family-history displays in the room. Again, this entire July 16-17 event is intended to not only be a gathering of relatives, but also a gathering of information and family memorabilia. You are strongly encouraged to bring family photos, especially old photos (we plan to have a digital photo scanner there), as well as any old family bibles, newspaper clippings, etc... This is a very rare opportunity to share information, and we'd dearly love to take full advantage of it. Even if you only plan to attend on Saturday, you are strongly encouraged to bring such materials along, to share with others.
Late Friday afternoon, some of us plan to leave the Sturbridge hotel and drive to Worcester and visit some Northridge-related sites there (e.g., several houses where our ancestors lived, a few businesses where our ancestors worked, the Northridge chapel at Wesley United Methodist Church). The tour will include a stop at Worcester's Hope Cemetary where numerous ancestors of ours are buried. We plan to leave the hotel at 4 pm and return by around 7 pm, with stops for photo oppourtunities, on-site reminisces, etc. (Depending on our level of interest, late arrivals, etc..., we may repeat this tour Saturday morning.)
Saturday morning, July 17th, starting at 9 am, all are encouraged to visit the hotel's Southbridge Room and peruse the family-tree displays. Leslie Brown and I and others plan to be there and try to answer any family-tree questions you may have. But be forewarned (especially you senior citizens): we might whip out a camcorder and start interviewing you!
Even if you're not interested in checking out the displays, feel free to arrive sometime Saturday morning. We have the tent area beginning at 10 am, and I expect we'll be setting up there by late morning. My sister Cindy (Northridge) Mendoza has offered to take 'welcome photos' as you arrive and receive your nametag. Remember that you have complete access to the hotel's recreational facilities for the entire day for a $5 fee, payable at the front desk (miniature golf, swimming in the lake or indoor pool, volleyball, paddleboats, pontoon boats, etc...).
I expect that the 'action' will move from the Southbridge Room to the tent area around noontime. Our hope is that enough of you will have arrived by then that we can have an icebreaker or two, before starting to serve the hamburgers, hotdogs, etc... around 12:45. Following lunch, we'll play a few more games (we still need volunteers and ideas!) and, in true Northridge fashion, talk, talk and then talk some more. We expect also to videotape some reminisces by several of our seniors. Trish Northridge Lindberg has volunteered to lead us in some singing, but unfortunately she won't arrive until late that afternoon. (I'm still hoping to coax Emily Northridge into using her considerable musical talents to lead us in some songs earlier that afternoon!) My sister Cindy has agreed to organize a large group photo, which will occur in late afternoon (tentative target: 4 pm) after the late-arriving guests have arrived. Throughout the afternoon, the Southbridge Room will remain open for anyone who's interested in going back there and viewing the displays in more detail. Our group has the tent area reserved until 10 pm.
Several of you have indicated that you have other commitments and won't be able to arrive until late Saturday afternoon, well after lunch. Instead of charging the previously specified fee ($25 per grownup and children 12 and up; $16 for children aged 4 years to eleven), we've decided to charge a smaller sum ($10 adult, $5 child) for late arrivals, since the hotel catering staff will have finished serving the lunch and dismantled the food station by mid-afternoon (although they promised to leave the desserts and beverages out 'til ~6 pm or so).
As to weekend plans generally, there's lots to do in Sturbridge and the surrounding area (e.g., antique shopping, camoeing and hiking, the Friday evening concert by "The Love Dogs"(!) at the Worcester Ecotarium). Please note that the hotel is offering us discounted tickets to nearby Old Sturbridge Village (e.g., $16 for non-senior grownups, rather than the usual $20; tickets cover admission for two days). It is only a minute's drive from the hotel to this living history museum, which recreates 1830s New England. If you're interested in any of their special programs (e.g., their Friday night dinners where literary characters from history mingle with patrons at the tavern (where museum admission is not required)), then please consider checking their website (www.osv.org) amd making reservations on your own.
Finally, please make it a habit to check our reunion website from time to time. We'll try to post updates there. Of course, feel free to contact me directly too, via phone (work: 202-564-4263) or email (northridge.michael@epa.gov).
Mike Northridge
Home: 301/762-7013 Email
Work: 202/564-4263 Email
This page maintained by Jere Northridge