Frostburg mining journal. [volume] (Frostburg, Md.) 1871-1913, 1909-09-04
First Annual Re-UniOn.

AS olltlly Sldtt' ldSJ WEEK lIlS llltul-
beers of the John +. Lewis Social Club
held their first reunion and picnic in
the Y. M. |. Park, a short distance east
of town Thursday, August 26, 1909, as
scheduled several weeks before.
The day was all that could be desired
for an occasion so unique. During
the morning shower fell, cooling the
atmosphere to just the most enjoyable
outdoor temperature.
The members of the Club met in the
Park at 10 o'clock a. m, and, when it
seemed that all We're present, they sang
and gladdens-
Blest be the tie that binds.
A fine dinner, prepared by the ladies',
was then served to the POI partakers
seated at the tables, and it is needless to
state it was fully enjoyed.
After dinner dancing and other diver
sions filled the time until o'clock D.
M. when the same good ladies', like
mlnlstering spirits, served supper to
220 mutual guests. AS the provision
made for the edible functions was most
bountiful in variety and supply, "no
one went away hungry
Again amusements until p. m, when
all were calledand joined i'll singing
God be with you till we meet again.
The lines which compose this beauti-
full hymn were sung in faultless concert
and with vim that seemed to fill the
horizon.
Then the occasion closed upon an oc
casion wherein all enjoyed themselves
to the utmost temporal extent.
For which," writes the Secretary
Thomas J. Thomas, "all present are
thanked, and we will continue to be
same as ever-The John +. Lewis Social
Club"
AS a contribution for the information
of the Club and it's friends Mr.. Thomas
prepared the following paper for the
OCCASION:
The descendants of the late John f. Lewis,
in his day prominent and useful citizen of
Frostburg, having organized a social club
for the promotion of family pride and bet
ter unity of family ties, are met here to-day
for the first time in furtherance of those
objects.
We have adopted, III part the plan of
holding at least annually reunions or pic
mics, in order that all may get together for
mally and by close social contact commence
rate the lives of our grandparents, whose
life and work we all delight to honor.
Hence, may this, the first day of meeting.
be one of pleasant intercourse and of great
rejoicing by all the descendants of one of
the oldest families of this great industrial
section
John +. Lewis was born in Merthyr
Tydwil, South Wales, October 81, 1900, and
died in Frostburg, Md, November I, 1856
one week past his S5th birthday.
In lS37-tive years before the Baltimore
and Ohio railroad was completed to Cumber-
land. John +. Lewis and family arrived in
Baltimore from Wales. Thence by wagon
they came to Homecoming, where he at once
assumed management of the first blast fur
mace built in Mary land, and from which the
first pig iron flowed into beds of Sand-prob-
ably the first ever seen on this side of the
great Atlantic.
Leaving Homecoming, he went to Mount
Savage, directed furnace operations, and
made the first pig-irOn there. Here it was,
too, that the first steam-rOad rail was made
i'll the United States-an operation in which
he bore a conspicuous part.
We are, therefore, descendants of one of
the States oldest industrial familieS-a fact
of which we all should feel proud
Ot his immediate family only two remain
with us to enjoy this day. One is nearing
four-sCOre years and beginning to think life
a burden, as she is sightless.
The other is nearing the three-score-and-
ten Scriptural climacteric. retaining his
sight and enjoying the affeCtIonate inter
course which prevails i'll his family.
1t is especially hoped, therefore, that we
can make this a day of great Joy to both
these good members of the parent family
While brother Oder, of the great paper,
has been commenting very generously upon
our organization for several weeks, he says
in his last issue that while there will be no
Marathon races between Lewis descendants
on this occasion, there will be all kinds
of innocent amusements, including a race to
get prize for furnishing the most humor.
So it is up to- all and each of US to compete
for this prize and thus make it one of the
days of our hves.'
! May God richly bless all. present and
absent, is the sincere prayer of The John f.
Lewis club,