2014 Hollingsworth Reunion

Prior Year Reunions Hits: 3672

DVHSS 21st Annual Reunion

June 12–15, 2014, Salt Lake City, Utah

 

 

The 2014 Reunion was held in Salt Lake City and highlighted the prominent role played by Hollingsworth descendants in the early Mormon community and  provided an outstanding opportunity for genealogy research at the world leading LDS Family History library facilities.

 

Day 1 - Thursday, June 12

 

Thursday was arrival day and several members gathered that evening at Gracies restaurant for dinner.

 

Day 2 - Friday, June 13th

 

LDS Family History LibraryLDS Family History LibraryOur destination Friday morning was Temple Square. Some of our group spent time researching in the Family History Library, while others explored the historic buildings and houses across the street from the library or shopped at City Creek Mall.

A favorite spot for lunch was the Garden Restaurant on the 10th floor of the Joseph Smith Memorial Building.

Friday afternoon’s guided bus tour of the city began with a stop at the magnificent Utah State Capitol Building. Unfortunately, our itinerary allowed our guide, Michael, just over a half -hour to tour us through the three floors. He did an amazing job, but everyone wished we could have spent much more time there.

Our next stop was historic Trolley Square, composed of barns built in 1908 to house the city’s streetcars. The streetcar system was dismantled in 1945, and in 1972 the barns were converted into a two-story shopping center. Noted for its unusual architecture, the center consists of winding hallways, brick and wooden floors, fountains, old trees, and wrought-iron balconies.

Then it was on to Wheeler Historic Farm, a real working farm, established in 1887. We toured the two-story farmhouse and enjoyed a very informative blacksmithing demonstration.

Dinner was enjoyed by all at Chuck-A-Rama Buffet before Michael returned us to Crystal Inn, our headquarters hotel.

 

Day 3 - Saturday, June 14th

 

Saturday morning after breakfast at Crystal Inn, we boarded our bus and headed to Pioneer Park to stroll through the Farmer’s Market. More than 250 vendors —farmers, crafters, musicians, cooks, and bakers— offered locally-grown fruits and vegetables, fresh-baked bread and pastries, cheese, meat and seafood, jam, honey, house and garden plants, art, gifts, and jewelry.

Our next destination was Salt Lake City Cemetery to visit the grave of Spencer Woolley Kimball, a 7th great-grandson of Valentine, Sr. and the 12th LDS President.

Our 2014 DVHSS Reunion was scheduled to coincide with the Heber Chase Kimball Family Reunion which is always held on the Saturday closest to Heber’s birthdayThis is the Place Park (June 14) at "This Is the Place" Heritage Park in Salt Lake City. The park has something for everyone—food and shopping; pony rides, a livery stable and  blacksmith shop, a petting corral, a Native American village, gold panning at the Mountain Man Camp,  self-guided tours of historic buildings, homes, cabins, and a pioneer cemetery; and much more—and transportation  through the park is provided by two replica trains.

DVHSS President Jo Hollingsworth conducted the annual meeting on Saturday afternoon.  
After dinner, we met again and were joined by Arlene Eakle who has the genealogy papers of the late Harry Hollingsworth, publisher of the Hollingsworth Register.  Arlene, a professional genealogist, is director of the Genealogical Institute and Genealogy Library Center in Trementon, Utah.

 

Day 4 - Sunday, June 15th

 

The culminating event of the 2014 Reunion was an inspiring, special  Father’s Day performance by the world-famous Mormon Tabernacle Choir.

 

The Salt Lake City Reunion was a great blend of touring historic sites and genealogy research opportunities. Members came away with a much greater appreciation for the struggles endured by the Hollingsworth descendants that were LDS members and impressed with the Salt Lake City area and all it had to offer. Many expressed a desire to return in the future to be able to more fully utilize the unique research facilities and to explore more of the fascinating history of the area.