The letter was aimed at the descendants of Lothar and Florence Shields Fieg, probably because there were enough of them to fill the picnic shelter to overflowing! The enthusiasm of all Fiegs leading up to this seminal get-together is quite evident in these one-page journals and an attendance by 80 family members is a testament to the persistence and persuasiveness of "Old Unk P."
After the reunion, The Fieg Reunion News became the Fieg Family News. Dad writes, "I guess I promised I would start said newsletter," and it survives to this day, cementing our family connections.
With your indulgence, your editor, over the course of a few days, would like to reprint some of the articles and anecdotes from the Fieg Reunion News. They are amusing and heartwarming (and you will see similarities to the Fieg reunion of 2009!) and might give us more meaningful reasons for continuing our wonderful reunions.
Sept. 4, 1985
FRY'S IS NO LONGER FRY'S
Fry's -- now renamed Aalsmeer -- is the bunch of cottages where some of us have stayed before.... [Fry's was where Lothar and Florence Fieg, Dad's parents, hosted family gatherings in the summer for their grown children and their families. The cabins are still red!]
HOW COME AALSMEER?
Somebody told me it's because the spelling puts them first in the directory of cottages.
Jan. 21, 1986
ANOTHER FIEG IS HEARD FROM
Bud sends a copy of a letter from Cousin Henry Fieg, who says he would like to attend.... Henry and Carolyn celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary a while ago. [Ed. note: Henry was the grandson of Carl and Emilie Fieg who immigrated to the U.S. in 1899. He is Doris Fieg Holm's half-brother. Their dad was Max Fieg.]
Feb. 24, 1986
IT WILL BE A 100-PLUS ANNIVERSARY
Just confirmed that Aug. 11, 1986 will be Dad's 100th birthday.... Oh, well, in 1987 it'll be a 100-plus celebration.
YOU CAN'T TELL THE PLAYERS . . .
In a way, you hate to think of it, but I guess we got to think about name tags at this shindig. Keyed to the appropriate sibling.
For the uninitiated, the short (and so easy to read) names of all of us are: (in descending order)
EM
FLO
BUD
FRANK
PHID
MAC
DOC
I will see what I can do about stealing tags from Ciba-Geigy [where Dad worked], next time I'm at the office. [What a joker -- Dad was about the most honest guy you ever met.]
WHAT ARE WE GOING TO EAT?
That question, of course, is addressed to the women.... So [do] I hear a volunteer who will chair the food committee?
THE SHOEMAKER'S CHILDREN . . .
Frank ought to conduct a tour of Oneonta, showing people the house we lived in, and the houses Dad built. (Remember Woodchuck Knoll, Frank?) Maybe some of you young kids don't know what an artisan your grandfather -- or great-grandfather -- was. Hired only by the rich people, because his prices were so high. High because he would only build what he thought was correct.
While our porch roof leaked....
May 1, 1986
WHO'LL COOK? WHY, THE COOK!
Ouch! My daughters all attacked me for the comment in the last newsletter, saying that the question of food was addressed "to the women." You can guess the names they put on me.
Rightfully.
Because the volunteer is Brian Clancy. He is: 1) a chef; 2) a Cooperstown resident.
Kathy (Mrs. Brian) ((and I ain't going to say "Ms.")) notes that he makes a wicked sauce for BBQ chicken....
AND PLEASE EXAMINE THE MUSEUM
If you haven't, visit the Farmers' Museum. the buildings that Dad took down, stone by stone, and re-re-erected on the site are: 1) the store; 2) the school; 3) the blacksmith shop. I worked on the school; Frank on all 3, I think. Right, Frank?
Have a nice summer.
That's it for right now. I'm going to work on the family tree!
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