New Britain herald., 1923-08-10

tomorrow at the Worthington COM
munity house on Berlin street, 1t
being expected that about 100 people
will be present
| The present members of the fam
lily are descended from Branabus
Durham, who settled in America
about $50 years ago, according to
William Durham of Hudson street.
For many years past the family has
| lived either in Berlin or in this vi
cinity, some of the settlers in this
section being Gideon Durham, Cor
nelius Durham, Alonzo Durham,
Norris Durham, Henry Durham and
Dennis Durham, the father@of Will
liam Durham. -
The first reunion was held in 1900
and lao people were present. The re-
| union last year was the first ever held
In Berlin, about so people attending
the affair at the community house on
August IL. At this time the present
officers were elected. They are,
Henry Durham of Middletown, presi-
dent RoIlin Morse of Berlin, vice.
president; Miss Rena Wilcox of West
field, secretary and treasurer.
William Durham recalls the fact
that Alonzo Durham at one time kept
a restaurant in Kensington. This was
at the time of the building of the
New York, New Haven and Hartford
railroad and the workmen on the
road used to come to the restaurant
to eat their meals and to get a drink,
for liquid refreshments were not for
hidden in those days.
Mr.. Durham estimates that about
35 have dropped out since the first
reunion of the family in 1900. The
affair tomorrow will start some time
in the morning and the formal gath
ering will begin with the dinner at
IL o'clock. The cooks of the family
are reported to be excellent and all,
from latest reports all are looking
forward to a hearty and delicious
meal. In the afternoon the business
meeting of the association will be
held and the activities will end at
about s o'clock.
The members are looking forward
to as good a time as was had last
year, when young and old pitched In
and made the event one of the most
enjoyable since the first reunion.
Guests are expected from New
York city, Hartford, South Windsor,
Meriden. Westfeld and East Berlin.
William Durham was born more
than so years ago near Lamentation
Mountain in this town. He told yes
terday of interesting experiences dur
ing Civil War days. His story. of how
the men used to hire substitutes to
take their places in the army was in
teresting.
Mr.. Durham said that at the time
of the breaking out of the Civil War
he was the only one of his immedi-
ate family that was not married and
the care of his mother rested upon
him. His number was called In the
draft and, realizing that he was his
mothers sole support, he knew that
he could not go to war. He went to
his uncle In Newington and borrowed |
enough money to pay a substitute and |
then went to take his examinations |
before the army surgeons. When he
told them that he was the only one |
at home the officers would not allow |
him to join the army, telling him to |
stay at home and care for his |
mother.
Work is Progressing
Masons have been busy for the past |
few days on the new memorial to |
veterans of the World War from Ber-
lin and the stone. shaft is now nearly |
1t is constructed of the
same stone used to build the wall west
of the monument and stands just east
of the trellis halfway between the I
north and south boundaries of the
plot of land upon which the soldiers
stands.
The shaft stands about seven feet
high and space is left for the bronze
tablet which will be inserted as soon
as IL is finished.
American Legion Meeting
The next meeting OF Bolton-K ssica
post of the American Legion will be
held on Thursday evening, August is,
at o'clock in the 7. A. B. hall,
Kensington. The main business Of
the meeting will be the election Of
delegates to the state convention of
III organization IN New Britain this
TALL. Berlin post has been asked TO