The Forksville Fairgrounds in Forksville, PA was the scene at the end of July 2000
for the first Great Reunion of several related families that helped found and build Sullivan County 170 years ago. This Reunion was not the first
for these or other Sullivan County families (see Old Reunions of Yesteryear),
but surely it was one of the largest. Over 150 descendants of Peter McDonald and Catherine Waters, Michael Sweeney and Catherine Sweeney, and Patrick
McDonald and Catherine Burns, all related by blood and/or marriage, came together from July 28-30 at the Fairgrounds
and in the communities of Dushore, Laporte, Cherry Mills, Mildred, and others. The event list included guided bus tours of the old
original family foundations * , a visit to the Sullivan County Historical Museum under the direction of local historian Nedra Snyder, story-telling
and genealogy with family historians, oral history interviews, a ticket raffle, three honest meals per day, a special Mass at St. Basil's in the name of the ancestors, music by
the Phil Sweeney Band, games and conversations, picture-taking and more. We even had an unplanned medical emergency that was ably managed by Denise Hayes,
RN and the Shunk Fire Department paramedics. The next Reunion is scheduled for 2003 somewhere in Sullivan County
* Editor's Note: Here are Driving Directions created
for this Reunion that locate each of the respective homesteads of
Michael, Owen and Martin Sweeney. Here are Driving Directions that locate
both the Peter and Michael McDonald homesteads. Finally, here are Driving Directions that locate the Patrick McDonald homestead. The starting point in each case is the Fairgrounds in Forksville, PA.
The following is a pictorial record of the Reunion. Additional pictures and memories are invited and will be posted as submitted. The Families are
indebted to Lynn Franklin, Margie Long, and Pat Dehart for picture contributions (initials with each picture contribution), and to Becca Sweeney, David Metzger, Kris Scott and Tom McDonald of Buffalo for
tape-recorded events. A special note of gratitude is also extended to Ray and Linda McDonald for arranging all the local details including food and the use of
the Fairgrounds. Finally, the event could not have been possible without the assistance and efforts of several accomplished family
genealogists: John L. Laughlin, Mary Scott, Bettyann Sick Goodyear, Bob Sweeney, Pat DeHart, Bart Cavanaugh, Clare Carey and Violet Thomas Frawley.
THE GREAT REUNION PICTURE TROVE
John O'Donnell as William Wallace (LF)
Hugh and Mary Ann (McDonald) Montpetit, Bob McDonald,
Tom McDonald (Buffalo), Tom McDonald (Detroit), Kevin Moriarty
Grandchildren of Michael McDonald and Annie Sweeney
Great-grandchildren of Peter McDonald and Catherine Waters
Great-great-grandchildren of Michael and Catherine Sweeney (ML)
Ann Saxe, Rose Drummond, Margie Long, Mary Denise Yonkin,
Mike McDonald, Ann McAvoy, and Tom McDonald
Cousins at McDonald Road, Cherry Mills, PA (ML)
Robert Emmett Sweeney and Becca Ariella Sweeney
Husband and Daughter of Lynn Franklin
(PD)
Teresa Alva (Hughes) Sweeney and son Phillip Peter Sweeney (Band Leader)
Mother and Brother of Bob Sweeney, Event Coordinator (LF)
Joe Lupchak, Rose Marie Sweeney and Teresa
Sweeney
Rose is Youngest Surviving Daughter of Peter Francis Sweeney and Aunt to
Bob Sweeney (LF)
The Phil Sweeney Band
Dave Brown, Bob Giblin and Phil Sweeney
(PD)
Becca Sweeney and David Metzger, "Laser Dave" Brown and
Bob "Gibbie" Giblin (Band Members), and John O'Donnell (LF)
Fred Sperduti and Kate (Murphy) Sperduti
She is a grand-daughter of John W. Sweeney and Bob Sweeney's Second Cousin (LF)
Charles Saxe, Bob Sweeney and Teresa Sperduti (daughter of Fred and Kate) (LF)
Jerry McDonald Meets Jerry McDonald
Left, Descended from Patrick McDonald
Right, Descended from Peter McDonald (PD)
Stella (Lech) McDonald, Widow of John Francis McDonald, at Center
With Ann (McDonald) Saxe, Rose (McDonlad) Drummond, Ann (McDonlad) McAvoy and Tom McDonald (Stella's youngest son)
McDonald Homestead, Jacks Road,
Cherry Mills, PA (ML)
Homestead of Michael McDonald (1862-1910) and Annie Sweeney
McDonald (1862-1950) (ML)
Seated: Sister Ella Mae McDonald, Joanne McDonald
L to R, Behnd Swing: Rose Sbardella, Lorraine Perry, Kitty Maximiak *, Pat DeHart
Back, Joan Crooks, Jerry McDonald
Grandchildren of Patrick Francis McDonald and Martha Daly
Great-great-grandchildren of Patrick McDonald and Catherine Burns (PD)
On October 17, 2010, Catherine Teresa "Kitty" Maximiak passed away at her home in Lopez, PA. Here is a link to
her Obituary.
Front: Pat DeHart, Mary Scott, Catherine "Kitty" Maximiak
Back: Jerry McDonald and Joan Crooks
Descendants of Patrick McDonald (LF)
Seated: Ann Saxe and Rose Drummond
Standing:
Mary Denise Yonkin, Bob McDonald, Unknown, and Charles Saxe (LF)
Bart and Reggie Cavanaugh and Bart's Sister Bridget (LF)
Ray and Janet Knorr
Ray is related to the Sweeneys by marriage (LF)
Dave Jones and Kristin Scott (daughter of Mary Scott) (LF)
The Carey Clan Meets the Sweeneys
Adults: L to R: Cindy (Carey) Lalone, Ann McAvoy, Denise (Drummond) Hayes, Gary Hayes
Linda (Karge) McDonald, Ray McDonald, Rose (McDonald) Drummond, Clare (McDonald) Carey,
Unknown (Behind) David Metzger, Becca Sweeney, Lynn Franklin (Bob's wife) and Bob Sweeney
ChildreN L to R: Cristin Lalone, Nicholas Lalone, Kim Hayes, Sean Meyer (LF)
We Left out DJ and Denis!!!!
Same picture with Denis (Clare's Husband) at Far
Right in Back and DJ Carey (Clare's son) in Front
Actually, DJ was taking the Previous Picture
(LF)
Unknowns!!
What Reunion of 150 People Would be Complete Without a
Picture of Folks We Cannot Identify
Help Requested! (LF)
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Robert E. Sweeney and individual contributors. All Rights Reserved. This is a FREE genealogy site sponsored through PAGenWeb
and can be reached directly at Sullivan County Genealogy Project