There were stories told of family events, with a presentation of family history by family historian, Jude Lamb. Featured was an update of the “Smith Family Mystery.” The puzzle pieces of the life and ancestry of Albert Newton Smith are falling into place. He was born in 1863 and is remembered by many in attendance, since he lived to be 97. The names of his mother and step-father are now known.

A new display of photos showed the Rangeley Lambs and Tibbetts, and featured Joseph Ellery Lamb, with recently discovered photographs from his days as a Maine Guide. The story of the day was also set in Rangeley, as Jude Lamb recounted the tale of the journey taken by pioneers Luther and Eunice Hoar and their family of young children. They traveled by foot, over hard-crusted snow of late winter, from the area of Madrid and Avon to what is now Rangeley. This story used to be read annually at family reunion, and is worthy of that tradition.

Professor Jay Sherman Hoar related to the gathering his remarkable research and recounting of the lives of Civil War veterans from both North and South. His passion for gathering their life stories began when he was a teenager. A Life magazine article on the final living veterans inspired him to travel to New Hampshire to meet and interview a 101-year-old Civil War veteran. This encounter started a life-long pursuit to find out about the soldiers and nurses involved in the war, gathering thousands of letters and tales from those who knew them. Hoar displayed a collection of the 12 books he has written since retiring.

Sisters Barbara Lamb Therrien, Margaret Lamb Hunt and Louise Lamb Falt joined the gathering for the first time in many years. They grew up in Rangeley with cousin, Jay Hoar. Since Margaret learned to read before Jay, he shared that he took great pleasure in presenting her with his final, and largest, volume of the Civil War series.

Those joining in the festivities from Maine were Ruth and Gordon Sherman, Andrew, Aurora and Connor Sherman, Richmond; Prudy and David Brown, Pittston; Peggy Lamb, Augusta; Jeanne Lamb Whittemore, Norway; Kathy Lamb, Farmingdale; Joyce Lamb, West Paris; Jude Lamb, Lamoine; Cynthia Lamb, Greenwood; Barbara Lamb Therrien, Madrid; Louise Falt, Scarborough; and Jay Sherman Hoar, Temple.

From out of state: Margaret Lamb Hunt, Peabody, Mass.; traveling the farthest, Elaine Lamb Blossom, Marcia Duenkel and Lennie Bryant, North Branford, Conn.

The extended family shared a potluck lunch, photos and stories, and a date was set for another reunion next August.