Thursday, June 6, 2013

Stroup Reunions

I wanted everyone to be aware of a "special, one-time history project and event" that Linda, Mike, Nancy, Cindy and myself will begin the Fall of this year and carrying on into 2014.

We'd love to have all of you (regardless of Alexis ties or Cherryville ties) join us in this endeavor, as we move forward with all the work that lies ahead!

March 2014 marks the 200th anniversary of the Stroup(e) family settling Cherryville NC.

Daniel Stroup, a son of Jacob, sold his 110 acres (part of his father Jacob's Stroup settlement in Alexis) and bought 130 acres of "frontier" land (lol) on the west side of current day Cherryville.

We assume Daniel was looking to "make his claim", of his own accord, as he moved his wife Mary Polly Goodson Stroup and their 5 young children from Alexis to the "wilds of western Lincoln County".

So ... in honor of this momentus occasion, we will work on developing a one-time exhibit on the "Stroup Family of Cherryville", to display at the CHerryville Historical Museum, perhaps as early as March 2014.

In addition, we also will have a one-time "special" reunion of the Cherryville Stroups in Cherryville --- perhaps on the Saturday, the day before the Alexis Reunion in 2014 (again, next year).

This reunion will not replace in any way the Alexis Reunion in 2014 ... it will supplement and hopefully ignite some interest in the CHerryville Stroups that havent' found their way to the Alexis Reunion.

I know this seems like a long time away, but time flies ... I wanted all of us to be aware of the anniversary and to be able to 'squelch' any rumors and/or grumblings that the "Cherryville Stroup(e)s are doing their own thing in 2014".

Simply not true! Again, we will not disturb the tradition of the family gathering in Alexis.

We'll formally announce the 'kick-off" of the Cherryville Anniversary at this year's Alexis reunion.

As for the Alexis Reunion this year (August 4th), I don't have any new historical things to bring myself, but i'm aware that Mike Stroupe has a 300 page court document, dealing with the Stroup family of Alexis, dated 1800s. Mike says it gives some great insight in the family in Alexis. he has asked someone to transcribe it and hopefully the transcription will be ready by the reunion time.

DO any of you have any ideas for something that we could do, from a history perspective, for this year's Alexis reunion?

Is there a better way to share photos, documents?

IDEAS are welcome!

Thanks everyone and have a great weekend.

Cousin Sid Stroupe

Durham, NC