APRIL 27, 2012 MEETING MINUTES
The Roots group met for lunch at Michael’s in downtown Bloomington for a buffet lunch. After lunch we crossed the street to the McLean County Museum of History (the old courthouse).
At the courthouse we were able to meet in the former courtroom. Several members enjoyed trying out the judge’s seat.
The group toured the new Irish exhibit and we were delighted to see that the exhibit contained several placards that relate stories of immigration of both the Murphy family and Cleary family.
We held a short meeting at which it was motioned and approved that the yearly subscription rate to maintain a family website will be paid for by the Roots group. Mary Stack will reinstate her former website and has agreed to maintain and update it. It is up to Roots members to submit photos, documents, stories, etc.
A motion was made to give the McLean County Museum of History a $100 donation for its Irish Exhibit.
It was noted that since our last meeting, three Roots members have passed away: Ruth Cleary Bean, Mary Ann Cleary Berwick, and Joe Brown. Dan McNertney also.
Greg Koos, direction of the museum, spoke to our group about the museum’s new Irish Exhibit.
Our next lunch/meeting will be held on October 26, 2012. Place to be determined.
30TH ANNIVERSARY ROOTS REUNION A GREAT SUCCESS!!!!!
Ninety-five Murphy/Cleary descendants gathered in Bloomington IL on October 28-29, 2010.
The display room was full of many wonderful photos and memories from the past. Photos, bibles, quilts, high button shoes and more filled the room.
Thursday we carpooled to Merna/Bentown area. Both the Clearys and the Murphy put down their roots and began to flourish in America near Bentown. We stopped in Merna, IL first where we gathered on the site of the old train tracks going thru town to hear Patty Kelley describe the past in Merna. Second stop was the Quaker Friends Meeting House and cemetery near Bentown. We were allowed inside the Meeting House to hear Gerald Bedell, local farmer and historian, talk about the historic site. Next we gathered at the gravesite of Bridget Murphy Blair. Patty Spencer read a memorial to Bridget.
Family homesteads and other sites of interest were driven by on the way to Holy Cross Cemetery in Merna. Here Peggi Evans Pech read a memorial to Mary Murphy Evans.
The tour wound up at Merna Tap where we socialized and enjoyed hot cups of coffee and cocoa as it had been a very chilly day.
Thursday evening groups split up to enjoy dinner together. My group ended up at Normal’s Maggie Miley Irish Pub to enjoy Irish fare.
Friday we loaded up two buses (one donated by Larry Wallace and the Quinlan cousins) for a trip to El Paso. There we visisted St. Mary’s cemetery and church and saw the homesteads of the five Cleary immigrant sons.
Friday evening was the banquet. John Brown did a wonderful job as our master of ceremonies. There were drawings for door prizes, an Irish storyteller, and Jim Dearey presented the story of the Philip Murphy family. Patty Spencer donated the cake. Jeanne and Terry Donahue raised shamrocks for our centerpieces. Tammy and Tom Stack presented awards including one for Joan Cleary for beginning and continuing Roots over 30 years.
The raffle winners were:
Quilt by Joan Cleary: Mary Boudreau
Quilt by John Duffin: Patricia Robertson
Ivory tusk donated by Larry Wallace: John Duffin
Gun or $300 donated by Jim Quinlan: Mary M. Graham
The award for youngest went to Kain Carnahan
The award for the most descendants went to Ruth Cleary Fredrickson
The award for the wisest- Laverne Leary Evans
Thanks to everyone that donated their time or money to help make this event a huge success.
If you have photos to share, please email to mastack@ilstu.edu and they will be put on this site.
Mary Stack