Volunteers

You are invited to join the Carpenter Volunteers in Kentucky in June.. "Many hands make light work" is the perfect adage for getting things done so that everyone can participate in Reunion activities. We will be adding a list of volunteer jobs at a later time so be thinking about how you might like to help. Let us know if you are interested in helping out.

Distances from Hustonville

I have been provided some information about relative distances between places and towns in relation to Hustonville, KY. I do not have time to pretty this up now, but it is useful information. I will repost what was given me as a quickie FlashPaper link, and dress it up when I get back from vacation: Hustonville Distances to other cities. -- Joseph Carpenter, Webmaster

Where to stay

Lodging in either Danville or Pleasant Hill, near Harrodsburg, KY. Wherever you choose to stay, the sooner you make reservations the better. June is a busy time of year, so we urge you to go ahead as soon as possible with your reservations.

Why Danville? Danville, Kentucky, is located just a little over 13 miles from Hustonville, Kentucky—the area where our ancestors settled over 200 years ago.

Hampton Inn Danville
A block of rooms has been reserved at the Hampton Inn, 100 Montgomery Way (US 150 Bypass) in Danville, Kentucky at (859) 236-6200. (You need to call them directly in Danville to get the special rate.) The price per night will be $69. + 10.24 tax for 1 to 4 people in the room with double queen or king-sized beds.  This special price also includes a nice breakfast.  Rooms booked after May 15, 2006, will be at a higher rate. Web site: Hampton Inn Danville

Smoking and non-smoking rooms are available. Hampton Inn is six years old and has many things to recommend it, including free local calls, indoor heated swimming pool and whirlpool, a fitness center, guest laundry, coffee-maker, iron and ironing board, hair dryer and coffee maker in each room. You also have the choice to upgrade your room to one with a refrigerator and microwave, Jacuzzi and other very nice amenities.
 
Shaker Village of Pleasant Hill
A block of rooms has also been reserved at Shaker Village for June 15 through June 17. This was our headquarters for the 2001 Carpenter Reunion, and it was charming. Although we have outgrown this space, and needed a larger gathering place this time around, you may want to block out some time to visit this interesting place.

There is a very nice restaurant at this site. The food here is worth a special visit if you only make time for an early breakfast one day. Also remember that for dinner Thursday and Sunday night, and lunch on Friday, you will be on your own.

Shaker Village is a premier living history museum where costumed interpreters chronicle Shaker life. The self-guided walking tour includes 14 restored buildings. The Centre Family Dwelling houses an extensive collection of original Shaker furniture and household items from the nineteenth century. Within the restored community, skilled artisans work at 19th-century trades and historic farming brings the past to life. The Shaker Life Exhibit in the East Family Dwelling has changing exhibits, a video viewing area, and hands-on room.

Breakfast is not included with the cost of the room. For reservations at a special rate, call Ann Voris at 800-734-5611 or Email info@shakervillageky.org. The Shaker Village web site is: http://www.shakervillageky.org/.

Other accommodations in the Danville area include:
 
Best Western/Danville Inn, 210 Brenda Avenue (off 150 Bypass) at 866-485-0229
Comfort Suites, 864 Ben-Ali Drive at US 150 & Bypass 127 at (800) 228-5150
Country Hearth Inn, US 127/150 Bypass at 1-888-4HEARTH
Holiday Inn Express, 96 Daniel Drive off US 150 Bypass at (800) HOLIDAY
Super 8 Motel, US 150 Bypass at (800) 800-8000
 
Danville also has a number of Bed and Breakfasts which can be located online at http://www.danville-ky.com. You will find a fairly detailed map of Danville at this site.

Local Homes In addition to the above accommodations, several members of the Hustonville Christian Church have offered lodging and breakfast in their homes for a minimal charge. If you are interested in staying with families in Hustonville, contact Kathleen Griffin at 828-258-2105 or send Email to Kathleen via this web site.

Restaurants

When you are in Hustonville for the 2006 Carpenter Family Reunion, be sure to try lunch or dinner at McKinney Depot Restaurant. They have the best fried green tomatoes in the world. The restaurant is located about five miles from Hustonville. To get to the restaurant, turn left out of Hustonville and go about 2 1/4 to 2 1/2 miles; turn right on Murphy's miles and go about three miles right to the restaurant. They open at 10:30 am and stay open until 8pm on Monday through Thursday, 8:30pm on Friday and Saturday.

Mr. Fred Martin is the owner and invites all the Carpenters to come to the restaurant. He will need to get extra help if 30 or so Carpenter cousins choose to go for the same meal. We will have a sign-up sheet at Hustonville School or make your own arrangements and let him know you are coming. The phone number is 606-346-2222.

There are other area restaurants in nearby towns. We will have a list available at the Reunion.

Beaumont Inn. 638 Beaumont Inn Drive / PO Box 158 Harrodsburg, KY 40330 Call for reservations, 8 a.m. to 10 p.m. EST: 1-800-352-3992 or 859-734-3381 http://www.beaumontinn.com The Beaumont Inn is about 23 miles from Hustonville. However, it is a good choice for a place to eat. The Beaumont Inn is the oldest family operated inn in Kentucky, and in 2005 was a close second best non-franchise restaurant in Kentucky.

Musicians Wanted

In the announcement that was Emailed to family, Joe Clarkson mentioned that anyone who plays a musical instrument should bring their instrument with them. We would like to schedule live music for one or two evenings. If you would be interested in participating in this traditional aspect of family gatherings, please let us know on the Reunion Registration Form, or you can Email the Reunion Planners to let them know.

Giant Ancestry Wall Chart

Have you wondered what we have been doing with the genealogy data that has been collected? Joe Clarkson Carpenter has been busy getting it all together in Family Tree Maker. That is how you are able to view it online in the Family Tree GEDCOM page.

At the 2006 Reunion, you will be also have the unique opportunity to see the results of this data spread out on a giant wall chart. The Carpenter-Zimmerman family tree now has more than 7000 names going back to George Zimmerman. One of the exciting benefits of participating in the reunion will be seeing where your name appears on the chart.

Scanning Images and Documents

Arrangements are being made now to scan images and documents that people might bring along. Several things still need to be negotiated before we can tell for sure this will be possible. Check this section of the web site for more information.

If you have a digital camera, we might like to collect the images taken at the reunion so that they can be provided to everyone on a CD or DVD. We will have a laptop and a decent hard disk drive where people can store copies of their digital photos. Otherwise, we might ask to collect some after the fact. One day, finding images will be the last thing genealogists need to worry about. For now, we need to give some thought to documenting events like this reunion as part of the living history of our family.

Proposed Schedule of Events

These events have been scheduled. We may see some changes or additions before June. Keep an eye on this page for current news and pertinent announcements regarding the reunion.

Thursday, June 15

•   2:00pm-6:00pm – Registration at the Hustonville Cafeteria.   Register as soon as you reasonably can after arriving in the area so that you can get your name tag and get in on the fun from the very beginning.

•   Dinner – On your own.  You will receive a listing of area restaurants when you register. 

Note: There are no local restaurants in Hustonville. However, there is a picnic site and several restaurants in nearby towns (within a few miles). You may want to check out the little cafe in McKinney, KY. 

Check back here: Directions to several area restaurants will be added to this web site as we get closer to June so that people can make plans.

Friday, June 16

•   Breakfast on your own

•   10:00am-6:00pm – Registration continues at the Hustonville Cafeteria.

•   Lunch will be on your own. 

•   1:30pm – Kentucky Historical Society Visit the Thomas D. Clark Center for Kentucky History in Frankfort, KY

You can look over the center web site:
http://history.ky.gov/Museums/Kentucky_History_Center.htm

We have arranged a special tour of historical items belonging to the Carpenter Family including Catherine Spears Carpenter’s weaving wheel. There will be a special display of items donated by our family, including: the family bible, Catherine Carpenter's will,
estate inventories, weaving patterns, various legal documents, and other items. There is also the permanent exhibit gallery, A Kentucky Journey. The museum representative also recommends that we may also wish to see the Kentucky Military History Museum, Old State Capitol, and temporary exhibit at the Center (which will be about flags).

The Thomas Clark Center has offered a group discount of $3.00 for adults to be collected on site for the tour. Be sure to sign up for this on the Activities Sign-up page of the Reunion 2006 Registration Form if interested so the Center can count heads. It takes about an hour to drive from Hustonville.

•   6:00pm – Catered meal at Hustonville School Cafeteria.  Program will include remarks by Allan Leach, local historian and Carpenter archivist, who will make remarks previewing the historic tours scheduled for Saturday, and also present other information about Carpenters. Other program participants to be announced.

Saturday, June 17

•   Breakfast on your own

•   9:00-12 noon – Historic tour led by Allan Leach for those scheduled for this tour.

•   11:30am - 1:30pm – Lunch at Hustonville School Cafeteria prepared by Christian Church Ladies. Lunch cost will be $15.00 at the door to be paid to Christian Church Ladies.

•   1:30pm – Historical presentation on the Carpenter Family.  Speakers to be determined. 

•   5:30pm – Gather at Old Fort Harrod State Park for Family Photograph

Kentucky Department of Parks - Old Fort Harrod State Park
http://parks.ky.gov/stateparks/fh/
"In 1774, James Harrod established the first permanent settlement west of the Alleghenies in what would become Central Kentucky. Preserving Kentucky’s pioneer history, the fort has been reconstructed near the site of the original.

Heavy timbers form stockade walls and enclose the cabins and blockhouses. Costumed craftspeople perform pioneer tasks such as woodworking, weaving, basketry and blacksmithing and tend the farm animals and gardens.

The Lincoln Marriage Temple shelters the original log cabin where Abraham Lincoln’s parents were married in 1806, and the Mansion Museum houses Civil War artifacts, a gun display, Native American artifacts and a collection of Lincoln memorabilia."

•   6:00pm – Catered Barbeque Supper at The Shelter at Old Fort Harrod State Park. Bring your appetites!

•   Social Gathering after dinner – Hustonville School Cafeteria will be open after the evening meal for those interested in gathering.

Sunday, June 18

•   Breakfast on your own

•   11:00am – We have received a special invitation to attend church from Hustonville Christian Church.

•   12:30pm – Picnic at Hustonville picnic area

•   1:30pm – 4:30pm – Historic tour led by Allan Leach for those scheduled for this tour.

•   The reunion is officially ended following the historic tour. We hope you will carry away many fine memories about our ancestors and also new friends.

Activities for the Kids

Children are welcome participants in any family reunion and the Carpenter-Zimmerman Family Reunion 2006 is no exception. Some of us are still brainstorming this part of the reunion, so some of that will also be up to the kids themselves. What we do know so far is that we will have on hand a number of "raw materials" that kids can use to initiate their own fun!

On hand, we will have:

• Soccer balls, frisbees, badminton, croquet and board games
• Possible Activities Include:
• Drawing family tree
• Create family tree using paper dolls and fabric scraps
• Disposable cameras for capturing reunion memories
• Journals for own history recording
• Interview an attendee--could then be placed on the web site
• Family "treasure hunt"--prizes given for most entries filled; all receive prizes

Do YOU have any other ideas? Let us know!

Area Attractions

Kentucky Festivals at KyFestivals.com http://www.kyfestivals.com/index.php
Kentuckians are famous for their spirit of adventure so come join the fun! There are a lot of exciting things happening around Kentucky and this site is dedicated to making your travel planning easier. Start your next trip by using the KyFestivals search tool. Just select a month, county or city that you'd like to visit and you are off.
Click for a filtered view of Kentucky Festivals happening between June 12 and June 19.

Ragged Edge Community Theater and Arts Center http://www.kycom.net/~raggededge/Home.htm
"The Ragged Edge Community Theater is a non-profit organization founded in 1983, with its own facility located on Main Street in downtown Harrodsburg. Its mission is to provide and promote the performing and visual arts and to increase the cultural and educational opportunities for the citizens of Mercer County and all of central Kentucky."

Kentucky Department of Parks - Blue Licks Battlefield State Resort Park http://parks.ky.gov/resortparks/bl/
"Throughout history, the salt springs at Blue Licks State Park have attracted prehistoric animals, Indians and pioneers such as the legendary Daniel Boone. Many 19th-century southerners came to the area seeking the rejuvenation of the therapeutic, bubbling waters.

Blue Licks is more widely known, however, as the site of the last Revolutionary War battle in Kentucky. In 1782, Kentuckians engaged Indians and British soldiers near the Licking River. Outnumbered, Kentucky suffered great losses, including one of Boone's sons. Boone's words, "Enough of honour cannot be paid," are inscribed on the monument dedicated to the fallen soldiers in the Battle of Blue Licks."

Note: Our own relative, John Frye, fought and died at the battle of Blue Licks. Keep an eye on the Genealogy page for more information about Carpenter family history.

More information about The Battle of Blue Licks http://earlyamerica.com/review/winter2000/bluelick.html
Note: Please ignore the advertising link at the top of this web page. Despite the clutter, this page gives a good summary of the history of this battle.

TIP: If you do not have a browser that blocks pop ups, then you may want to consider getting a better web browser like Mozilla Firefox, which works very well. -- JWC

How to reach us

You can post your suggestions about the reunion and the web site by using the Contact Form or you may post your thoughts in the Family Forum. If you already have a browser window open to the forum then just go there now and look for the Forum marked "Suggestions." There is a short registration process to protect your privacy, but after that, you will have access to everything on this site.

We look forward to seeing you
at the reunion in June!