2004

2004

National Allison Family Reunion

A celebration of heritage marking a wandering old British family’s

346^th year as an American pioneer family!

NOTE: see full reunion details and contact information below

Presented by

The National Allison (Allanson) Family Association

Founded 1996 Brevard, North Carolina

The descendants of Thomas Allanson/Allison, Lord of Christian Temple Manor (1639-1684)

A Gentleman of London, England and Charles County, Maryland

Historical background

Thomas Allanson/Allison departed London in 1658 for Charles County, Maryland where he founded the American branch of the old English family. The Allisons remained in the new Maryland home until the American Revolution and the years just following the war, at which time a great exodus from Maryland began.

Wandering pioneer Allisons looking for new homes traveled in many directions, including Brooke County, Virginia (today Hancock County, West Virginia), Bullitt County, Kentucky, and in great numbers to the area of Burke County, North Carolina that eventually became McDowell County, the area surrounding the tiny wilderness settlement that became the town of Old Fort. A huge colony of transplanted Maryland-born Allisons was formed there in the late 1700’s.

From the first new homes established, other family members continued migrations to such locales as Indiana, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Georgia, numerous areas of the Midwest, and eventually across much of the Sunbelt.

Western North Carolina Allisons eventually settled across the entire mountain region of the state, with heavy population density in McDowell, Buncombe, Henderson, Transylvania, Jackson, and Haywood Counties. Smaller settlements formed in almost all of the other western counties. Through marriage with the Cherokee, the family was also established on the Qualla Boundary.

An especially large Allison colony was formed in northeast Georgia, in the area of Habersham County that is today White County. Upper South Carolina and extreme eastern Tennessee also provided new homes for the family.

Allison cousins from all of these locales, as well as from up to 40 states, will reunite for the huge annual celebration of heritage.

Weekend of October 15-16

Brevard, North Carolina

During the peak of fall color in the beautiful Blue Ridge Mountains!

Main reunion events on the campus of Brevard College

Our very distinguished and honored guests

Officially representing our family's ancestral homeland

Her Britannic Majesty’s Consul General Michael Bates OBE & Janice Bates

Congressman Charles Taylor & Betty Taylor

Chief Leon Jones, former Principal Chief of the Eastern Band of the Cherokee

& Janice Allison Jones

plus other special guests to be announced closer to date

Presenting the very best of heritage entertainment

The best talent in the mountains will gather for a weekend of top quality heritage entertainment. 100's of cousins from up to 40 states and Great Britain will enjoy an incredible heritage entertainment lineup with almost 90 entertainers taking the stage all across the event packed weekend.

Your 2004 reunion entertainment

● Ben Allison's Oscar winning film TWO SOLDIERS!

Special film event featuring a private theatre screening of the Academy Award winning movie Two Soldiers (2004 Oscar winner for Best Short Film, Live Action) starring family member Ben Allison, your host for the evening (also performed in Cold Mountain).

● Steep Canyon Rangers

North Carolina's hottest young bluegrass band, recently signed with Rebel
Records, just released their 3rd album, and now performing on stage across
the nation. Steep Canyon Rangers have performed on stage with the legendary greats of bluegrass, including Earl Scruggs and Doc Watson, et al! In concert at Brevard College as the closing act for the 2004 reunion. The Rangers will be joining Southern Mountain Fire Cloggers for the reunion grand finale.

● Southern Mountain Fire Cloggers

Western North Carolina's hottest and most popular clogging team — Southern Mountain Fire Cloggers. A fast-paced show that always brings the house down. Third reunion show for this fabulous group of precision dancers. The rafters get rattled when Southern Mountain Fire takes the stage! Southern Mountain fire will join Steep Canyon Rangers for the reunion grand finale!

● Eddie Bushyhead – Cherokee river cane flutist

Renowned Cherokee Indian musician, master of the Cherokee
river cane flute. Performing during the reunion memorial service. Eddie
will both play and sing in the traditional "Amazing Grace", performed in
Cherokee with the tribe's version of this old hymn. Also, Eddie
will perform on the flute as well as sing in Cherokee "Guide Me Jehovah", as
sung on the Trail of Tears.

● Benny Allison’s Blue Creek Bluegrass Band

Benny Allison's eight member band from the Blue Ridge Mountains of nearby White
County, Georgia will feature a champion dulcimer player presenting wonderful
old mountain music.

● Roy Chapman and True Blue Grass Band

Legendary mountain fiddler, Fiddlin' Roy Chapman and his five member True Blue Grass Band returning for their second reunion show during main reunion events at Brevard College. Roy's band was one of the highlights of the 2003 National Allison Family Reunion, performing at the 345th Anniversary Heritage Hoedown that marked the 345th anniversary of the family's arrival in the New World from London, England in 1658.

● Monica Deaver-Noland

Talented mountain vocalist Monica Deaver-Noland performing "Wayfaring
Stranger" and other selections from the soundtrack of the film Cold Mountain during the reunion memorial service.

● Old-time shape note singers!

Presenting a huge group of authentic Christian Harmony and Sacred Harp singers from around western North Carolina, both performing and teaching the huge audience to participate in this ancient musical singing style during the evening event. A Power Point presentation on a large screen with a master instructor of shape note singing will quickly get the massive audience singing along in this hauntingly beautiful musical tradition that was born in our ancestral English homeland in ancient psalm singing.

● The Bradley Brothers Band

The Bradley Brothers present authentic old-time mountain pickin’, performing outdoors at the opening reunion event, and again before show time at the screening of the Oscar winning movie Two Soldiers.

● Trumpeters

Talented trumpeters George Allison and son Derek Allison of Chester, West
Virginia will perform the echo version of taps to close the reunion memorial service.

● Clogging lessons!

Clogging lessons presented by the Southern Appalachian Preservation Music and Dance Society.

Auction and Raffle

Almost $9,000 worth of beautiful items have already been donated for the exciting reunion auction and raffle, including a magnificent handmade and signed $5,000 rosewood violin, crafted by master violin maker Ed Allison. Also being offered is a selection of autographed movie memorabilia, donated by Ben Allison who played "Rourke" in the movie Cold Mountain, and was the star of the Oscar winning film "Two Soldiers" (2004 Academy Award for Best Short Film, Live Action). There will be a huge selection of original art by regional artists, including matted and framed photography and pen and ink drawings of the Historical 1816 Allison-Deaver House, oldest documented frame house in western NC, as well as several paintings. Handmade original musical instruments offered include a beautiful mountain dulcimer and a lap harp with stand. Three heritage quilts will be offered, as well as other traditional textile art items. Also included in the long list of quality merchandise are authentic Appalachian baskets by two talented mountain basket makers, original gold jewelry with native precious stones by a talented area goldsmith and jewelry maker, exquisite ceramic art, handmade traditional Amish woodcraft from Ohio, rare books, published genealogical sources, rare original Civil War documents, custom embroidered reunion clothing, and a wide variety of mountain folk art. Bring lots of mad money for Christmas and birthday shopping for special family members!

Door Prizes

More than 50 door prizes will be given out all across the day, including one pound jars of 100% sourwood honey, a large Smokey the Bear doll presented by the Cradle of Forestry in America Interpretive Association -- Pisgah National Forest, numerous drawings and other artworks, craftworks, books, potted fall mums, and too much for us to mention here.

Family History

Extensive historical displays from all lines and branches of the family spread across America today, presented in the exhibition area of the reunion. Approximately 90 feet of free-standing family history displays will be offered in the exhibition area of the reunion, including many original artifacts and photographs.

Reunion events

The busy weekend festivities include the following events:

● “Twilight on the River”

An outdoor sunset gathering for pickin', grinnin', eatin' n' socializin' on the banks of the beautiful Davidson River!

The massive crowd will gather around a huge bonfire in early evening on the river banks and be greeted by 100's of torches, the sounds of LIVE down-home bluegrass music provided by the Bradley Brothers Band performing from a flatbed trailer stage, and a BBQ cooker trailer loaded to overflowing with red hot, tangy BBQ and all the fixin's! Cookout dinner presented by Hawg Wild BBQ Restaurant.

Bring a lawn chair, such as a "chair in a bag" type folding chair, or bring blankets to sit on the ground in the huge fire circle around the roaring fire. Dress VERY casual and warm with sweatshirts and jeans for the cool mountain autumn air that will settle in quickly as the sun starts setting.

● Film screening: “Two Soldiers”

Private theater screening of the Academy Award winning movie starring Ben Allison

● Main reunion event and program — The heart of the reunion!

Welcome address by Chief Leon Jones, former Principal Chief of the Eastern Band of the Cherokee.

Memorial address by Her Majesty’s Consul General Michael Bates, OBE

Live music and dancing, historical program, awards and honors, special guests, extensive historical displays, catered luncheon, memorial service, raffle, auction, door prizes and more. Entertainment and musicians include Roy Chapman’s True Blue Grass Band, Monica Deaver-Noland, and Eddie Bushyhead

● Tour historic 1816 Allison-Deaver House

The Allison family’s oldest surviving home in America, as well as the oldest fully documented and scientifically dated frame structure in western North Carolina west of the Blue Ridge.

● Special closing event: “An Old-time Autumn Gathering”

Featuring a catered dinner and an evening of dancing and fabulous entertainment, including Steep Canyon Rangers, old-time shape note singers, Benny Allison’s Blue Creek Bluegrass Band, and Southern Mountain Fire Cloggers . Also raffle and door prizes!

Reunion lodging

178 area hotel rooms are contracted for the reunion and are now being held with extremely good discounts. But rooms are going FAST and will be gone soon!

RESERVATIONS REQUIRED!

Attendance is strictly by advance reservation only, with full payment in advance for catered meals. Sorry, no one can be admitted to any reunion event without an advance reservation. Reservations with payment must be received by no later than Thursday, October 7^th. Seating is limited at all events. Reservations accepted only until seating capacity for each event is met. Many events will no doubt sell out early. To avoid disappointment, reserve EARLY!

For more information…

Please contact us for additional information, including meal prices and how to reserve, a full schedule of activities and events plus specific locations, hotels and other lodging options, maps and directions to all reunion events, and all the exciting details of the 2004 National Allison Family Reunion

Contact:

Michael Allison, President

National Allison (Allanson) Family Association

P.O. Box 12

Sterrett AL 35147

(205) 672-2913

[email protected]