Friday, the 12th of July, was a beautiful day in Clinton, Connecticut. A perfect way to start our three-day, 75th anniversary celebration. A total of 106 adults and children attended the Weekend festivities.

The Friday night registration and get acquainted night was held in the Clinton Town Hall Rose Room (our headquarters for the weekend). A number of members brought show and tell items to share, which added to the evening's enjoyment. We welcomed the following fist time attendees, Jennifer and John Desmond, Jimmy Van Hooser, Joslyn Kelsey, Eric Brodsky, Andrea, Griffin and Lilyanna Bowman, Craig and Sally Woods, Fred Hoffman, Mary Palmer, Charles Breckinridge, Beth Jackson, Bill Lough, Judith Kelsey Allen, Robert F. Bowman, Linda Mosher, Darryl Mosher, Elizabeth Mosher, Clinton Mosher, and Jennifer Kelsey.

The business meeting was held on Saturday morning at 9:00am. A discussion of the next reunion location and date were held. Gettysburg, PA was chosen as our destination. Paula Carter our genealogist discussed book sales, the web site and our data base. Changes need to be made to our data storage methods and it's availability to members and others. The Executive Board has been researching these issues and trying to make the best decision for the organization. The slate of officers was re-elected and the meeting adjourned.

At 11:00 am Lynn Gorecki (tour guide) loaded the bus for all historic sites that are Kelsey related in the Clinton area. We passed numerous Kelsey properties and businesses. We visited the Clinton Town Beach for out lunch break and then continued our trip to the Clinton Historical Society and the Indian River Cemetery. Lori Stein and Sue Hall were busy making notes for the trivia contest to be held at the banquet!

Saturday evening we met back at the Town Hall for our New England style clam bake. Members were treated to a traditional clambake and lobster or chicken dinner with clam chowder and boiled potatoes. The food was excellent! The weather, which had turned to rain, only mildly disturbed the festivities. The biggest challenge of the night was to get everyone in position for the group photograph. Following the delicious dinner the Kindred held its first baking contest. The winner of the contest was Samuel Hall (11yrs) with his Mocha Chocolate Roulade! The desserts were then served as well as a Special 75th anniversary cake! After the food we moved on to more serious business, the presentation of the Robert F. Gaber Scholarship. This year's recipient, Jonathan Noel, (note; picture to your right) was present to receive the award. Due to the generous donation of Mr. Van Kelsey of California, Jonathan received a $400.00 award.

The second annual trivia contest was once again a success. Those who paid close attention on the bus trip earned the most points. Prizes were awarded to the highest scores!

The Clinton Town beach was the location for the Sunday picnic. The rains from Saturday night had passed and Sunday was a lovely day. All present enjoyed hot dogs and hamburgers, salads and desserts. Some members played volleyball, kayaked, played in the sand, or just enjoyed each other's company. The 75th reunion was a success. It was one of the largest we have had in recent years. Thank you to Van Kelsey for his donation to the reunion, to all of the Reunion committee members and officers who made this all happen!

Join us as we travel to Gettysburg Pennsylvania for our reunion this year. Mark your calendars for September 10-12, 2004. Gettysburg holds an incredible amount of historical sites. If you haven't been, or even if you have, you will find this a fascinating and educational experience for both young and old. The weekend activities will include our Friday night get together, annual meeting, a battlefield tour, buffet dinner, free time for you to explore, entertainment including our famous Trivia contest and more! Arrangements are still being made. Look for details in the June Bulletin Lets all gather at Gettysburg!

Note: Do you have a Civil War ancestor? Did they fight at Gettysburg? If so please contact Sue Hall Membership Secretary or our Genealogist Paula Carter with any information you can provide. We would like to see how many of our brave ancestors served their country during the war that divided our nation.

The Robert F. Gaber Scholarship was awarded to Jonathan Noel at our 2003 reunion. Jon sent us a thank you note stating his intent to attend the University of Connecticut and his pleasure at receiving this award especially because it was one of the few where your personal words meant something. Congrats!

Philander Kelsey (#10G7240) asked that we include the following as a tribute to his uncle, after whom Phil was named. The story goes (information excerpted from an article printed in The Farmville (VA) Herald dated 29 Sept 1999).

Lt. Philander Kelsey Jr. (our Kelsey #9G7181) was killed in action on 29 Feb 1944, a leap year. The Purple Heart the young soldier was awarded after his death came back to his family in Farmville, VA the summer of 1999, and it took a giant leap in technology, unheard of in WWII, to bring together the pieces of a half-century-old puzzle. "No one in our family ever knew a Purple Heart existed" stated Philander Kelsey (#10G7240), Lt. Kelsey's nephew and namesake; that is, until a letter arrived that July. The young soldier and his wife were married in August of 1942. Like countless of other newlyweds of that time, their life together was changed by war - especially with the pivotal event that occurred on a battlefield in Italy in 1944. "After my uncle died, no one ever heard from his wife again", noted Phil. "His body came back and [he] was buried at Appomattox P.E. Presbyterian Church". The July letter began: "I am trying to locate a relative of Philander Kelsey, Jr. who was killed during WWII. My mother, whose maiden name was Joyce Smith, was married to Philander at the time of his death. She has recently passed away, and I am in possession of one of her most treasured items, the Purple Heart awarded to Philander Kelsey, after his death". Phil immediately called Joyce's daughter, who at first was a bit wary until Phil told her "[his] uncle was killed in action in Italy in WWII" and was pleased when he heard her say "Oh my gosh! I've found the right one!" During the lengthy telephone conversation, Phil learned that his aunt had remarried and that the daughter was a teenager before she knew about her mother's first marriage. In fact, it was while the two waited while the second husband purchased movie tickets to see the film 'The Longest Day'. Joyce had kept a box of mementoes: old photographs of a handsome young soldier and his bride and the Purple Heart. Joyce's daughter had used an internet computer program hoping to find a Kelsey; but, was surprised after she typed in 'Philander Kelsey' and got an exact match! Since Phil's address was there, she sent the July letter. A few days after their telephone call Phil received the Purple Heart and inside was a note that read, in part: "I had no idea it would be so difficult to part with something my mother cherished for so many years. But after talking to you, I have no doubt that I am doing the right thing". Lt. Kelsey's brother, Raymond (3937i) remembers his brother's bride from the perspective of a young boy. He recalls "She was a city girl" and Raymond recalls when he heard of his brother's death "I was age 13 and I was getting the cows...it was raining, mud was everywhere. I still had doubts, until they sent his ring". Raymond still has a letter from his brother, yellowed by time, dated August 1942. Phil, with the medal he recently received, visited at the gravesite of his uncle, Lt. Philander Kelsey, Jr.; and, after 55 years, the Purple Heart had come home. It might be of additional interest to note that one of Lt. Philander Kelsey's long-time friends (meeting during the summer of 1939 and being part of the same National Guard Unit), Retired General Sam Wilson (also a President of Hampden-Sydney College), was a guest speaker at a past Kelsey reunion in Farmville, Va.

Now here's another 'Medallion' mystery the Kindred's current membership can help me solve!

Mr. Jim Reeder of The Palm Beach Post published the article on March 30, 2003 to help Bob Kowalski locate the proper family for a 1892 Chicago World's Fair medallion. Here's the basis of Jim's article captioned: "Bob Kowalski wants to give this 1892 Chicago World's Fair medallion (photo unavailable for reprint), found in the back of a taxi, to heirs of the man whose name is on it" ... One of Bob's childhood treats was to go treasure hunting in his grandfather's cab, rummaging in the back seat for change that might have slipped out of passengers' pockets. But, one weekend he made an unexpected find, a 3-inch medallion from the 1892 Chicago World's Fair, the exposition that gave White City and Midway Road their names. "I think my grandfather put at least some of the coins in the cab for us to find, but I don't think he planted this one" Kowalski said. One side of the medallion shows Christopher Columbus coming ashore in what would become America. The 1892 fair, also known as the Columbian Exposition, marked the 400th anniversary of his voyage. The other side shows a globe with angels and the inscription: 'WORLD COLUMBIAN EXPOSITION IN COMMEMORATION OF THE FOUR HUNDRED ANNIVERSARY OF THE LANDING OF COLUMBUS. DCCCXCII. MDCCXCIII. TO FRED W. KELSEY.' "I would like to find Kelsey's family and return the medallion to them" Bob Kowalski said. "I've been thinking about it for awhile. Finding descendants of the owner will be difficult. Fred W. Kelsey no doubt is dead now. His child would be elderly, if still alive; but a grandchild might be around to claim the treasure". Well, Jim Reeder left us a message on our Kindred's web page (Forum) and I responded to let him know that The Kelsey Kindred does have record of a Fred W. Kelsey (#4668a, Kelsey Volume III page 256) who was born 26 Aug 1870, son of Norman Kelsey (#2631). However, NO additional lineage or descriptive information has been provided on Fred W. Kelsey or his descendants, since Volume III was published in 1947 and reprinted in 1975. Our Fred W. Kelsey just may be one in the same person .... currently, I just can't say for sure. Bob Kowalski wants proper identification for Fred W. Kelsey before turning the medallion over to 'strangers'; and, this I can appreciate. Is there anyone in the Kindred who cares to put this mystery to rest and 'help me bring home the medallion!'? Please let me know.
Thanks - Paula

Doris Kelsey, wife of the late Merton Kelsey, was appointed officially to succeed the late Ernest Burnham as town historian in Clinton, Connecticut. Ernie was also a member of the Kelsey Kindred and spoke at one of our reunion. With his passing the town was at a loss for a replacement. Doris Griffin Kelsey has a "keen historical perspective unavailable to most" and was a natural candidate. Being born on Main Street 85 years ago gives her many years of "perspective". She served in the past as secretary of the Congregational Church and Cemetery Association for 30 years. We are lucky to have her as a member of the Kindred and have used her "perspective" on many occasions.

If you are interested in purchasing any of the items we have on sale at our reunions please contact our Membership Secretary, Mrs. Suzanne Kelsey Hall by e-mail suekelhall@aol.com or call her at (860) 653-8233 or mail your requests to her at 244 Mountain Rd. North Granby, CT 06060

The recent executive board meeting was a productive one but it was mentioned that I am not receiving the tidbits of information from you that I used to. Please feel free to send marriage or birth announcements, graduations or any other accomplishment you think news worthy. Also I have set up a new e-mail address for sending the newsletter out. You can request this by writing to me at kknewsletter@yahoo.com. -- Lynn

The Kelsey Kindred is looking for entrants for the Robert F. Gaber Award. It is open to any child or grandchild of a member who is a high school senior and is planning on entering a program of higher education. They must submit an essay of at least 500 words on the topic of genealogy. Please include a picture of yourself (non returnable) that we might use with the award announcement in the bulletin. The deadline for submissions is June 30, 2004. The award will be announced and or presented at the following reunion. All submissions should be sent to the Membership Secretary (address listed). The award for this year will be $250.00 due to a generous donation by Ms. Jean Proctor in memory of Barbara Kelsey (wife of our past president).

A. Kelsey Chatfield #8104 Vol. IV pg 831
of Orem, Utah died on December 30, 2003. Was born in Salt Lake City to A. Kelsey and Naomi Spencer Chatfield. He served in the Navy and was a veteran of WWII. He is survived by his wife, Lois and their children; Spencer of Aloha, OR; Ruthann Caudill of Arlington, VA; Margaret Dahl of North Las Vegas, NV; Paul of Redlands, CA; Kelsey of Citrus Heights, CA; and Richard of Spanish Fork and by 23 grandchildren and five great grand children. Bill Jr., his wife Pat of West Springfield and three loving grandchildren Bill III, Michael and Elizabeth. She also leaves her sister-in-law and friend Edna Kelsey and many loving nieces and nephews and friends. ...ooOOoo...