2008 REUNION AND ANNUAL MEETING

PORTLAND MAINE

 

Our 2008 Annual Meeting and Reunion will be held in Portland, Maine, on Friday 20 June and Saturday 21 June 2008 at the Holiday Inn Hotel and Convention Center By The Bay located near the harbor and the older historic port district (called “Old Port”); a district known for its cobblestone streets, 19th century brick buildings and fishing piers. The district is filled with boutiques, restaurants and bars.

            Portland was originally called "Machigonne" by the Indians who first lived there. It was settled by the English in 1632 as a fishing and trading settlement and renamed Casco. In 1658 its name was changed again, this time to "Falmouth." A monument at the end of Congress Street where it meets the Eastern Promenade is a tribute to the four historical names for Portland.

Portland has been destroyed many times.  In 1675, the village was completely destroyed by the Wampanoag Indians during King Philip's War. It was rebuilt, only to be destroyed by the same tribe again several years later. On October 18, 1775, the community was destroyed yet again, bombarded by the Royal Navy during the American Revolutionary War.

            Following the war, a section of Falmouth called "The Neck" developed as a commercial port and began to grow rapidly as a shipping center. In 1786, the citizens of Falmouth formed a separate town in Falmouth Neck and named it "Portland." Portland's economy was greatly stressed by the Embargo Act of 1807 (prohibition of trade with the British) and the War of 1812. In 1820 Maine became a state and Portland was selected as its capital. By this time both the Embargo Act and the war had ended and Portland's economy began to recover. In 1832 the capital was moved to Augusta.

            Today Portland is Maine’s largest city and has won many accolades.  It has been rated as the number one city for small business vitality, sixth as the best town in which to relocate, and twelfth in Fromer’s list of “top travel locations”   It has one of the northeast’s finest Art Museums and has been rated as the 7^th best “Art Town” in the United States.

            The Museum's collection contains more than 18,000 fine and decorative works of art dating from the 18th century to the present. The collection includes paintings, sculpture, prints, photography, glass and ceramics, artists' books, furniture, and much more. Works by artists such as Frederic Edwin Church, Winslow Homer, Rockwell Kent, John Singer Sargent, Andrew Wyeth, are among the works of the artistic heritage of the United States. An excellent collection of Maine artists are also included as well as paintings of the major European impressionists and surrealists including Mary Cassatt, Edgar Degas, René Magritte, Claude Monet, Edvard Munch, Pablo Picasso, and Pierre-Auguste Renoir.

            Before statehood Maine was the “Northern District” of Massachusetts and later the “District of Maine”.  Many DELANOs moved to Maine and settled there in the 1700’s.  DELANOs of note in the Portland area include two Keepers of the Portland Head Light completed in 1791.  The third keeper of the Light, from 1796 to 1820, was Barzillai Delano (GHAAHD p. 182) and the ninth keeper from 1854 to 1861, was James Delano (GHAAHD p. 186), a grandson of Barzillai.  Portland Head Light is mentioned in two Bonnes Nouvelles  articles—one in NL3 28 (.Sep. 1998) and one in NL # 43 (June 2003).

Getting There:

By car:

Portland is located on I-95 so those traveling either from the north or south can easily find their way to this city.   From the north take I-95 to I-295 to Exit 7 (Franklin St.).  Stay on Franklin Street for five lights.  Take a right onto Middle Street (which changes into Spring Street), travel about 1 mile and you will find the Holiday Inn by the Bay on the left. From the south: Take I-95 Exit 44 to I-195, to Exit 7 (Franklin Street) and follow the route above.

By air: Seven Airlines serve Portland.  Non-stop service is available from Chicago, Detroit, Cinncinati and as well as the major East coast airports from Washington D.C. to Boston.  The Portland Jetport is located south of the city and is also about 10 minutes from the Holiday Inn.  Courtesy vans to the hotel are available.

By Rail:  Portland has daily Amtrak Service from Boston’s North Station with five trains called the Downeaster.  The trip takes about 2 hours and 25 minutes and the Portland Amtrak station is about 10 minutes from the Holiday Inn.  Courtesy vans to the hotel are available.

 

Reunion Advance Registration and Reservations:

To adequately plan and support the meals and other reunion events, we must have advance notice of those who plan to participate in each event.  Registration and Reservations should be made by 12 June 2008.

Accommodations:

We have blocked 25 guestrooms for Friday night 20 June, and Saturday night 21 June, at a rate of $149.00 plus 7% tax or about $159.43 per night.  We have also blocked five guestrooms for early arrivals on Thursday 19 June at the same rate.  There will be an extra charge for additional adults in these rooms.  Individual guestroom reservations must be made prior to Monday 19 May, 2008 to secure these rates.  We strongly suggest you call at your earliest convenience to assure obtaining a room at the blocked rate.  Please call the Holiday Inn By the Bay at (800) 345-5050 or (207) 775-2311.  All guests should identify themselves as members of the DELANO KINDRED Reunion Group.  You will receive a confirmation number for your room reservation.  Room reservations can be cancelled up to 6:00 PM on the date of arrival without penalty.

Reunion Registration:

Registration will be held near the Connecticut / Rhode Island Room from 4:00 PM to 6:00 PM.  Registrants will receive a  “Welcome Envelope” containing Reunion information and nametags.  Late registration will be held from 8:30 AM to 9:00 AM Saturday in the Connecticut / Rhode Island Room prior to the Annual Meeting.

Events:          

The Friday night Welcome Light Buffet Dinner, will be held in the Connecticut / Rhode Island Room at 6:00 PM.  The Buffet will be served at 7:00 PM with a cash bar available starting at 6:00 PM. It will be a night of fellowship and pleasantries where one can meet and greet new members as well as visit with old acquaintances.  Genealogical consultations will also be available.  Other events may also be scheduled that evening.  The buffet menu will include: Soup Du Jour, Assorted Sliced Deli Meats, Assorted Sliced Cheeses, Salads, Stir-Fry Maine Shrimp and Marinated London Broil, Assorted Vegetables, Breads and Rolls, Desert and Beverage.

On Saturday at 9:00 AM, the 2008 Annual Membership Meeting will be held in the Vermont Room.  We plan to have the minutes and the committee reports available in advance at registration to reduce the overall time of the Annual Meeting as we did last year.  We plan to have the group photograph after this meeting.

Lunch and Tour will be at each individual’s option to increase everyone’s flexibility.  A choice of either a narrated trolley tour of historic Portland (with a stop at Portland Head Light) or a narrated boat tour of the Portland Harbor, passing nearby islands and lighthouses in Casco Bay is planned. Each tour is expected to cost $15.00 per person. If you wish to take one of these tours please so indicate on the Reunion Reservation form enclosed with this newsletter.  Those wishing to take these tours may pay when they register at the Reunion.  It is planned that the trolley tour will stop at Wadsworth - Longfellow house (Henry Wadsworth Longfellow’s home) in time for the last docent escorted tour of his home for the convenience of members that may care to take that tour as well

 The 2008 Banquet Dinner, Saturday, will be served at 7:00 PM in order to give those on tour time to freshen up after returning to their guestroom.   A cash bar will again be available starting at 6:00 PM. The Banquet Dinner includes an entrée choice of Roast Prime Rib of Beef Au Jus or Baked Crabmeat Stuffed Haddock with Tarragon Sauce, Baked Potato, Mixed Baby Green Salad, Seasonal Vegetable, Rolls and Butter, Desert and Beverage.

We are very fortunate to have Earle G. Shettleworth, Jr. as our 2008 Banquet Speaker.  He will tell us about Portland two centuries ago. He is a native of Portland and attended Colby College, and Boston University.  At the age of thirteen, Shettleworth became interested in historic preservation through the destruction of Portland’s Union Station in 1961.  A year later he joined the Sills Committee which founded Greater Portland Landmarks in 1964.  In 1971 he was appointed by Governor Curtis to serve on the first board of the Maine Historic Preservation Commission, for which he became architectural historian in 1973 and director in 1976.  Shettleworth has lectured and written extensively on Maine history and architecture, his most recent publication being Portland in the Arcadia post card series.    He currently serves as chair of the Capitol Planning Commission, the Blaine House Commission, and the State House and Capitol Park Commission.  In March, 2004, Governor Baldacci appointed Mr. Shettleworth as State Historian.  

Cousins Margaret Delano and Jane Avery are our on-the-scene Reunion contacts. They have been very helpful with the planning of this Reunion. Thanks Margaret and Jane!