Posted on: McDowell Co. NC Query Forum Reply Here: http://cgi.rootsweb.com/~genbbs/genbbs.cgi/USA/NC/McDowell/645 Surname: Allison ------------------------- Members of the Allison family are currently searching for all of our lost family members! Please contact us immediately so that we can invite you to attend the very special family reunion detailed below. The weekend of October 21 and brilliant fall color will bring over 400 (possibly 450!) Allison family members from across the western counties of North Carolina and from all across America to Brevard, NC for the huge annual gathering of this early English-American pioneer family. Elaborate main reunion events celebrating the family's ancient English heritage will be held at Brevard College on Saturday, October 21. Brevard Holiday Inn, the reunion host hotel, will be the site of all evening reunion events. A host of talented entertainers will perform during main reunion events at Brevard College, including the very popular Weasel Creek String Band, the Brevard Firt Baptist Church hand bell choir, an impressive brass ensemble formed just for the occasion from local and regional talent, vocalists Rev. Morris Davis of Brevard and Christopher Guest of Atlanta, a soloist with the Atlanta Boys choir who performed for the Pope in the Vatican earlier this year. Special afternoon youth activities include Smokey the Bear, live and in person, courtesy the National Forest Service, and an entertaining and educational wild animal program presented by the Western North Carolina Nature Center in Asheville. This early pioneer family was founded in America in 1658 by Thomas, Lord of Christian Temple Manor, the immigrant ancestor. From the first New World home in Maryland, the family soon spread to other colonial settlements, especially western North Carolina in a huge incremental move beginning in circa 1780 to the area surrouning modern day Old Fort in McDowell County. By the early years of the 1800's, almost every western county of the state was well populated by the family. McDowell County holds a huge population of this family today and under many surnames. Michael Allison, a family historian and president of the 475 member National Allison (Allanson) Family Association, will present a special program featuring the ancient English history. In addition, Allison will present a large display of photographs of the family's historic sites in England. The display will include photos of the oldest documented surviving family home in England, begun in the early 1400's, and the ancient Church, built in the 1390's that holds the last remains of centuries of family members entombed within the historic stone structure's chancel and in the surrounding churchyard. In comparison, family members will be able to tour the oldest surviving family home in America, the ca. 1815 Allison-Deaver House, immediately following main reunion events. Evening reunion events at Holiday Inn over the weekend include family history workshops and several evening parties. A centerpiece of the family's largest gathering ever will be the Allison Family Feast, a massive catered meal for over 400 family members and special guests. The National Allison Family Reunion is an annual private event of the 475 member National Allison (Allanson) Family Association. Attendance is STRICTLY BY ADVANCE RESERVATION ONLY. Sorry, no walkin without reservations will be admitted. For more information about the reunion, a schedule of events with starting times and specific location, and how to make reservations, please contact Association President Michael Allison at . Reservations accepted only through October 13 and only until the 450 person maximum attendance is met. All family members and kin, regardless of surname today, are cordially invited to attend as guest of the dues-paying association members who hold the event. We remind you that no one will be admitted to this private event without an advance, CONFIRMED reservation. When you call for reservations, you will be provided with arrival times and details for registration and check-in.