The Clan gathered in the 'Cottages' at Caswell Beach on Saturday afternoonMay 13, on the eve of Mother's Day, 2006. Jenny had done the planning with great care during the past year. In fact, I had made the trip from Arizona over to the Beach to check out the 'cottage' availability. "Cottage" is not a word that is easy to use when you are looking at a massive, three floor house with elevator and circular drives. And you know that inside are six bedrooms and four baths along with enough space to have a basketball game! We had the House with the Red Roof and the one next door to the west!
We selected Surviving Stress, the house with the red roof, as the headquarters house. It had six bedrooms and four baths plus 'powder room' and elevator. It also had plenty of room for eating and talking and singing, and sort of separate areas where the kids could do their playing. It is a beautiful place with lots of usable porches and balconies and with good access to the beach for those young ones who still like get their toes in the sand and a little 'Tar on the heels! Jenny and her family, and Frances & Vic, Diane & Richard and a few others stayed in these quarters along with the young children who were there for the week. Many of the local families came down during the day,but did not take the entire week off. After all, going to the Beach is not something very exciting if you live in Wilmington,
Changing Tides was the other half of the accommodations and this was set aside for the older more sedate members of the Clan. This smaller 'cottage' was only 5 bedrooms, three and a half baths and two beautiful common areas. It also had a nice elevator! I have to admit that they gave me the choicest of the rooms. I had a private King with bath opening onto the second floor, south facing deck. This was the quiet house where I retreated froom the hustle and bustle of the crowd under the red roof. Caswell Beach is one of the few Beaches along the coast with an East to West shoreline. The breeze is usually from the Southwest and at this particular time of year was a little cool and breezy for sitting on decks! In fact we had one day of strong winds that really stirred up the water. But, none of the waves reached the size of those I remember - or maybe I was just not as tall back in those days.
We had the usual good times, mostly centered around the kitchens, Jenny had stocked the Kitchens and refrigerators with almost anything that anyone could want to eat or drink. (But it was strictly BYOB for some of us!)
Frances fixed a plate, first in line, while Janis directed traffic. In the back was David Johnson, Lorraine & Robin Hood behind Diane. Then Harriet & Rick Settle and Daphne Morris. The two houses were great for sitiing around, talking, playing cards and doing whatever one wants to do while on vacation at the Beach!
There was even a little time spent in the water for some. Bryce enjoyed the tube with GrandPa, Herbie! But the quintessential ingredient of a Wettig Reunion - Singing - was also present!
Above - Lorraine, Daphne, Rick in Back and Frances holding Amelia, Rick in back with Harriet and others.
Below - Harriet, Rick and David at the Keyboard. (David goes with Beth!)
Above - Lorrainem Janis, Frances and Jenny played Hand & Foot while Beth coached!
Below - David on the Keyboard with Beth and Janis - "How Great Thou Art!"
The other essential ingrediants of a Wettig Family Reunion are the beautiful children! It was great to be around these kids who could participate wih joy, play with each other in good spirit and not portray the obnoxious part that is presented to us on TV as the next American generaton.
Bryce, Keegan and Richard Gunnels. Every family should have a Richard! The kids loved him and he loved being a kid with them!
Above - Bryce, Jasmine, Cara, Meghan & Keegan
We had a real treat on Sunday afternoon when Heather and Chris Shuppert brought their 5 beautiful children down for the afternoon. Just click on the blue lines for a better view of each of the kids.What a beautiful family!
It was a great week and I think everyone agreed that we should do it again soon. Here are some other pictures from the week, and if anyone has pictures they would like to add to this story, just send them to me and I will add them. Anyone can visit this web site so invite your friends to drop in to see what a beautiful family you are a part of and how much fun we have when we get together. Drop me a note to tell me that you have visited, just click on the blue line below and write a message to
Caswell West
Above - A picture of the Clan! Well, not all of them! We never could get all together at one time! Click on the picture for a larger image and a Roll Call of those present.
Below - Nancy & Herbie Walker in the kitchen with Jenny and Frances. We had two great kitchens but no Seafood Dinner this year!
Richard Gunnels used my Mac when he wasn't practicing for his role in that rerun of Riders of the Purple Sage or his Shirley Temple role!
Above - Bryan & David
Left - The Morris Girls
Thanks for visiting my Web Site. I hope you will come back again to enjoy the Story of the Wettig Clan as seen through the eyes of this Clan member. The Wettig Family of Wilmington, NC, was always a fun place to be! We welcomed all who wished to join in the things that we enjoyed and those who wished to bring something new to the table for all to enjoy. I hope that those who make up the descendency of these Wettig lines will always keep track of the history and keep the future on track with the past.
I will appreciate your comments, sugestions and contributions to this Page and to the Web Site.
Harry Wettig