H. Woodruff (Woody) Turner provided excellent historical narrative of the Mahers in Blairsville, pointing out locations of many homes and places of businesses of family members. This former bank remains virtually unchanged from when it was originally built in the 19th century.
The family continued their tour through town hearing many stories, getting a sense for life in 19th century Blairsville.
The walking tour concluded at the Blairsville Historical Society, a three story house dedicated to preserving the history of Blairsville.
From the downtown area, family members drove their cars a few miles to the SS Simon & Jude cemetery to see the burial spots of their ancestors.
The group later enjoyed a delicious lunch including vegetable quiche and fresh fruit in the White Swan Tea Room of Pie Cucina Restaurant in downtown Blairsville. They celebrated June birthdays with cake and song. After lunch, Andrea Maloney Schara (from the Patrick line) gave an inspiring speech about family.
Around 2 pm, many gathered in the Fountain Room of the Chestnut Inn Resort. For hours, they shared stories, passed around old and new photos and compared genealogy lines. Each line's descendants chose a family historian/contact. Later, everyone assembled on the front steps of the inn for a group photo of the 60 or so attendees.
A buffet dinner was served in the Parma Room. Reunion organizers spoke and gave special recognition to several, including the person who came the farthest - Mary Maher Murphy who flew in on a red-eye flight from Arizona to attend. Cameras flashed as more group photos were taken. Relatives shared stories and many, not wanting the reunion to end, talked late into the evening.
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