Old-Timers To Gather For Local Reunion

Thursday, September 23, 2010

The Williamsburg of 1970 and earlier is a far cry from the Williamsburg of today.

For one thing, Winthrop Rockefeller had just recently convinced August Busch III to buy 3,900 acres of land, on which the family planned to build a theme park and a brewery, which opened in 1970. Another biggie: Colonial Williamsburg, Inc., and Williamsburg Restoration, Inc., merged in 1970 to form the Colonial Williamsburg Foundation.

From fewer schools to a vastly different business and political scene, the folks who lived in Williamsburg 40 years ago or more have a lot of “good ole’ days” to reminisce about – which is exactly what they’ll be doing at the bi-annual Williamsburg Reunion coming up in October (often fondly called the Old-Timers Reunion).

Begun in the fall of 1968 for residents of the 1930s and earlier, the original reunion began with a tour for attendees of the new Earl Gregg Swem Library at William and Mary and a stroll through Colonial Williamsburg. Afterwards the more than 200 guests had afternoon tea at the St. George Tucker House and dinner (along with storytelling and reminiscing) at the Williamsburg Lodge. The weekend ended with a church service at Wren Chapel.

Since then, the reunion has brought together Williamsburgers from 40-plus years ago every two years for festivities and strolls down memory lane, but some parts of the get-together have changed over the years, according to this year’s co-chair Sharon Scruggs.

The goal of this year’s reunion committee “is to bridge the generation gap,” says Scruggs, and get some of the younger old-timers involved.

The event has broadened its guest list to include not only people who graduated high school 40-plus years ago, but also people who just happened to be living in Williamsburg or James City County at that time. That means a whole host of younger people are on the 2010 invite list, which had about 1,500 names of people on the rosters of schools in the area at the time (that’s 1970 or before, for those who don’t want to do the math).

Scruggs says the committee has also created a Facebook page to reach out to those whippersnappers who are internet savvy.

Some changes have been made in the event lineup, too. This year, attendees can still visit Swem Library to see their early 20th century Williamsburg exhibit, but afterwards the main party will be held at Carlton Farms Barn in Drummonds Field in James City County.

The plan is to get folks to bring their own chairs and food and spend time reminiscing and having fun.

For those who don’t want to or can’t bring food, Whiskey Hill BBQ will be providing food sponsored by Patriot Buick. There is a cost for the food, but the entire amount will be donated to the Williamsburg and James City County volunteer fire departments.

“We wanted to do something to include Williamsbrug and James City County,” says Scruggs, “and the volunteer fire departments were hugely important in the area before there was a professional fire department.”

There will also be the traditional service at Wren Chapel, and a special Sunday dinner at the Williamsburg Inn for only $35.

Scruggs has been on the reunion committee for eight years and has attended several reunions, and she says each one has been lots of fun. Her favorite part, though, aside from the various events, is the booklet the committee produces.

“The last one was 64 pages,” she says, “And it was just full of interesting stories.”

One of the stories this year will be about a temporary railroad laid along Duke of Gloucester Street in 1881 to prepare for the Centennial Celebration of the victory at Yorktown. (You’ll have to pick up a booklet to read the full story).

The Williamsburg Reunion will be held on October 9 and 10, and the committee is still looking for people who lived in the area on or before 1970. For anyone interested in attending who may fit the criteria, visit the reunion website for details and a schedule of events.