The Nilsen family of Hilmar, California, have had yearly reunions for many years. I am not sure of the date of the first of the yearly picnics, but they started probably in the 1950s or 60s. The Nilsen Family historian has a photo album depicting most of the reunions.
The reunions likely started with the grandchildren generation of the Nilsen ancestor, Rev. Nils Malkom Nilsen, who had settled in Hilmar in 1905. Besides farming, he was the pastor of the Swedish Mission Church in Hilmar.
Nils Malkom and his wife, Hulda, had six children. Four of them continued living in Northern California and two lived in Southern California, having turned adult while Nils Malkom was serving as pastor at a church in San Pedro.
In the beginning, the reunions alternated between a location in Northern California and a location in Southern California. However, in the last twenty years, the reunions have been held in Northern California locations, as the majority who attend live up north.
The picnics are potluck, with each family bringing something to share. Typical fare is fried chicken, deviled eggs, cold cuts to make sandwiches, potato and other salads, and a variety of desserts, including when my mother-in-law was alive, berry cobbler. There is always a big bin of homemade peanut butter cookies.
Up to the more recent past, the picnic area had to have a
softball diamond as that was a major activity after lunch. However, the third
generation is currently in the 70s and 80s and their children do not come as
often. Now it is easier to find locations without the need for a field. Now
board and card games might be played. If children are present, there is a piñata.
Mostly, we just have lots of great conversations. There is always a meeting,
where a new president and secretary are selected, and announcements are made,
such as new births, marriages, engagements, deaths, graduations, and other news.
In our last meeting this year at Samuel P. Taylor State Park among the cool redwoods, we discussed what to do with the photo albums. I suggested finding an online photo share site such as Flickr, where the photos from each of the reunions could be posted for everyone to enjoy. If we had one already, I could share the first photos in the album.
Some group photos taken of earlier reunions are below. We haven't had group photos taken in years.
#52 Ancestors: Week 32: Reunion
This is my sixth year working on this year-long prompt,
hosted by Amy Johnson Crow (https://www.amyjohnsoncrow.com/)
at Generations Cafe. I write each week in one of my two blogs, either Mam-ma’s Southern Family or My Trails into the Past.
I have enjoyed writing about my children’s ancestors in new and exciting ways.
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