This is a reminder that you have only 2 weeks until the registration deadline for the 2008 Bush River Quaker Homecoming May 16 -18. We have to have all reservations by April 25th. So far we have registrations from as far away as Texas -- we are hoping and predicting a really wonderful turnout. But we have to have a final count for our food venues by the end of April. And, of course there are other preparations to be made at the last few days, also. I've included a text version of the registration form, below. If you have any questions or if you'd like a .pdf version of the form with formatting, please let me know at: [email protected] Your Homecoming committee and your Wagon Road presentation committee are looking forward to seeing you in Newberry! Regards, Judy Russell %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%% Bush River Quaker Cemetery Descendants and Friends Homecoming Our Quaker Ancestors and the Great Wagon Road May 16 and 17th, 2008 Historic DeWalt House, Newberry, South Carolina, Sharon Shaw, proprietor 1217 Walnut Street at Main 803-276-3954 Our 2008 Bush River Quaker Cemetery Descendants and Friends Homecoming headquarters will be the historic DeWalt House, 1217 Walnut Street, at the corner of Walnut and Main, just a few blocks east of the Historic Downtown District of Newberry, SC. The beautiful public rooms and wonderful porches of the DeWalt House will be available for our group’s use during the weekend. Enjoy southern hospitality at its best! We hope you will use our DeWalt House headquarters house to visit, exchange family information, and get acquainted with your “cousins.” Please make your own individual hotel/motel reservations in Newberry. There are several motels and Bed and Breakfast options from which to choose. See the Newberry website: http://www.sciway.net/hotels/newberry.html Friday, May 16 (DeWalt House common areas open for Homecoming participants today after 4:00 pm) >From 4: 00 to 5:30 pm: Registration at the DeWalt House, Main and Walnut Streets. Day free to do research, explore, and shop. There are walking and driving tours of this historic area. You can inquire about a tour of the restored 1881 Opera House by email to [email protected] or by phone at (803) 276-6264. Lunch on your own. Today or during your other free time you might want to visit the Star Fort at Ninety Six, SC, the Musgrove Mills Revolutionary War site, the SC Archives and the South Caroliniana Collection at the University of South Carolina in Columbia, the Newberry Library and Courthouse, Bush River Baptist Church and Cemetery, Carter and Holmes Orchid Nurseries, the brand new Enoree River Vineyards, or Newberry College. After 4:00 pm The DeWalt House public areas will be open for registration, visiting, and exchanging information. Of course, you could choose to visit the Bush River Quaker Cemetery (and/or the nearby Reagin Cemetery) during your free time today in addition to our group gathering on Saturday. 6:00 – 7:30 pm: Reception, sponsored by the Homecoming Planning Committee, at the Gauntt House, 1503 Nance Street. The Gauntt House is the oldest house in Newberry, built about 1806 by James Gauntt son of Israel Gauntt. Dinner on your own. 8:30 – 9:30 pm: Visiting at Dewalt, light refreshments. Registration packets available. Saturday, May 17 (DeWalt House common areas open for Homecoming participants all day) Morning 8:30 am – Registration at the DeWalt House, Main and Walnut Streets. 8:30 – 9:15: Free continental breakfast at DeWalt House, sponsored by the Homecoming Planning Committee 9:00: Front porch of DeWalt House: Greetings and Family introductions. Local historian Ernest Shealy will speak about Newberry as a destination for our Quaker ancestors. Box lunches available for those who have pre-ordered (see registration form) 9:30 am: Group carpools to the Quaker Cemetery with Bench presentation at 10:15 10:45 am: Group carpools to Wagon Road vista at Molly's Rock Road between Molly's Rock Park and Mt. Bethel-Garmany Road with Ernest Shealy as our guide. Afternoon Lunch at Rose Hill picnic grounds or on your own. Be sure and pick up your pre-ordered box lunch at 9:00 am at the Dewalt House. 2:00 pm: Rose Hill Plantation tour ($3.00 per person) and visit to the Old Quaker Cemetery at Padgett’s Creek near Sedalia. WEAR COMFORTABLE SHOES. Rose Hill is about 30 miles from Newberry; it has picnic areas and walking trails in addition to the beautiful home of South Carolina’s fiery secessionist governor, William H. Gist. Our Quaker relatives undoubtedly knew of him since many of them lived nearby. At Rose Hill, Charles Barreras will be our interpretive guide. He will also join us at the Quaker Cemetery where Barnett Warren, whose Cooper ancestors were early Union County Quakers, will also relate some local history. (Mapquest says allow 50 minutes from Newberry. See map in registration packet. The Padgett’s Creek Quaker Cemetery is about 2 miles from Rose Hill, accessible by 4-wheel drive vehicles or by an easy half mile walk from parking on the Old Buncombe Road.) Evening 5:45 pm: Reception at Steven W’s at 110 W. Main Street. Cash bar for beverages and wine. 6:15 pm: Buffet dinner and program at Steven W’s. Welcome from the Homecoming Committee. Tonight’s topic will be “Getting to Newberry in the 18th Century, Highlights of the Great Wagon Road.” Marsha Moses will speak on the northern part of the road, Nancy Magnuson on its Virginia portions, and Susan Wyatt on the road in North and South Carolina. Report of the Cemetery Project Committee. Adjourn. (Some of us will want to leave about 7:45 pm for the Opera House event.) Sunday, May 18 (DeWalt House common areas open for Homecoming participants until 10 am) 8:30 – 10:00 Continental breakfast at DeWalt House, sponsored by the Homecoming Planning Committee. ******************************************************************************** Please copy for your records. Your check is your receipt. Last date for receipt is April 25, 2008 I/We plan to attend the Homecoming: Name(s): (Please list each attendee’s name as you want it on the nametag.) _______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ Address: _____________________________________________________________________________ Phone:_____________________ Email for confirmation:___________________________________________ Family Names with Bush River connections (use the back of this sheet if you need more room): __________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ ************************************************************************************* Will you be going to Rose Hill Plantation? We need to tell the Rangers how many of us to expect. We will each pay $3.00 at the door, but please let us know Your planned number of Rose Hill visitors: __________ To calculate your costs: $20.00 Registration Fee per person* Non Refundable $20.00 x ( ) =_______ Saturday box lunch (sandwich, fruit, chips, cookie, pasta salad and a bottle of water) available for pickup at DeWalt house 9:00 am Number of Ham Sandwich lunches $6.00 x ( )= _______ Number of Turkey Sandwich lunches $6.00 x ( )= _______ Saturday Buffet Dinner at Steven W’s Restaurant, Main Street $30.00 x ( ) =_______ Optional donation to the Quaker Cemetery Clean Up Fund. Whether or not you will attend this year’s Homecoming, we are always very grateful for donations for our ongoing project of Bush River Cemetery Maintenance. It is only with your help that we can keep the Cemetery accessible every day of the year. Donation __ _____ TOTAL: ________ PLEASE MAKE CHECK for your TOTAL (earmarked for Quaker Homecoming) PAYABLE TO Judith F. Russell AND MAIL WITH YOUR COMPLETED FORM BY 23 APRIL 2008 TO: Judith F. Russell 1051 Forrest Hills Drive Bogart, Georgia 30622-2442 home(706) 543- 2225 cell (706) 340-0350 *Registration fees will be used for the cost of the rental of the DeWalt House public areas for two days, fees for speakers, postage, copying, and other miscellaneous expenses.