The Republican journal., 1900-11-08
The Hatch Family Reunion.

The Hatch reunion for 1900, held at the
old homestead in Montville, differed from
the ten previous, because of its longitudinal
dimensions. In former years there had
been reunion day, but this year it was re-
union week. Dame Nature was not very
kind to us this year, but still none should
complain if only once in a decade the
weather is not proptiOus. The first stranger
to arrive came on Tuesday, and Wednesday,
Thursday and Friday brought different re-
unionists. The old legend, whether true or
not, that Friday will be the fairest OF the
foulest of the week, surely proved the
fairest this time. The threatening weather
and rain began Monday and continued until
Friday morning, when the clerk. OF the
weather changed the order and placed upon
the calendar a perfect day.
AS usual the dinner was eaten under the
spreading naples, and though the tables
were not so long as in former years they
were laden as heavily with delicious boun-
ties. Perhaps the only article of diet worth
special mention was the beans, which were
pronounced by both voice and appetite as
the best in the history of the reunion din
ners. They nearly equalled the bean por-
ridge of nine days old fame. AS this in
stance is so remarkable, The Journal read
ers are given the benefit of their prepara-
ton. Monday night the host carefully
picked over and put in soak five quarts of
beans. Thursday forenoon these were par
boiled, and, with a liberal amount of pork j,
put into two good sized iron kettles During
this time the bean hole that has served faith
fully for 50 many years was carefully
cleaned out and as carefully heated, and
. shortly after dinner these kettles of beans,
all hot from the kitchen stove, We're placed
therein and covered with hot Goals and
ashes. Wednesday proved stormy, and as
| all hoped for fair day Thursday the beans
were not disturbed, but saved for the hoped
| for reunion. Alas, Thursday dawned UNI
| prOptiOuS for a reunion. A council was
| held and it was decided to sample those
| beans, consequently one kettle was I'M
tarthed, OF unashed, for breakfast. They
came out smoking hot and done to turn,
having been in the ground forty-two hours.
| That kettle served for breakfast for those
| neSday night and also for dinner for them
and for the new guests who came on that
stormy Thursday. The next chapter in
the bean story came Friday, when the re-
union proper was held and the out-of-door
dinner eaten. The dinner committee thought
the remaining kettle of beans must be cold,
and made ready to remove them from the
4l,o I, l..
up for dinner. Not being cautious, one of
the committee burned his fingers, and the
/ beans were left in the ground until dinner
was ready, and when taken out and put on
the table We're as hot as desirable, and that
after being in the ground II hours, OF from
a little after noon Tuesday until noon Fri
! day. The beans taken out Thursday morn
ing were pronounced good, but those of
| Friday We're declared chest of all
| When the president called the association
) to order for business, there were SO few
present it was voted to re-elect the whole
/ list of officers for another year, and to hold
the reunion next year at the Hatch home
stead in Montville the third Wednesday in
August, and if stormy the next fair day.
Following is a copy of the register: 7. S.
| Hatch, Martha A. Hatch, f. Judson Hatch
Nellie E. Hatch, Agatha NJ. Hatch and
Marion S. Hatch, Centre Montville; Allen
Goodwin and Cora A. Goodwin, North Pa
lermo; Rebecca Hatch Day, Pasadena, Cal.
Mary Ann Shuman, Winslow's Mills; Hat
tie A. Clough, Liberty; Herbert S. Hatch
and Edgar E. Hatch, Lynn, Mass. Chas f
Owen, Mrs c. +. Owen and Marguerite
Owen, Belfast.