When Leslie Harper and Ida Broadhead married, they were on the threshold of the Roaring Twenties and everything looked good for the future. Nine children were born over the next fifteen years; Blaine, Darrell, Wendell, Melba, Shirley (AJ's mother), Clyde, the twins Lila and Lois, and Larry. They thrived on their loving relationships with each other. When Ida passed away in l943, the family had started to leave the farm. Each in turn established their own families. Even as they scattered, they wanted to join their father periodically to recapture the fun, love and laughter they had shared under one household.
Thus was born the "Reunion" in l953. It required everyone to journey to the Sawtooth Mountains in Idaho to Camp Manapus, an LDS Church camp. It was at the end of a long, winding road, set amid pines and quakies. It was so exciting to be the first family there and watch for the others to come. There were only four sleeping cabins, a cookhouse (wood burning stove), a storehouse, and some necessary outhouses. Memories of Manapus include volleyball games, softball, riding a saddled bucking barrel, riding real horses, Grandpa wittling whistles for his grandchildren, playing on the old steam engine, lashing towers with Uncle Owen, laughing at Darrell and Wendell's jokes, hiking and getting lost, a visit from Chief Running Nose, the aunts cooking great meals on the old stove, the hotdog and marshmellow roast and swimming at Baldy or Easley Hot Springs. Our evening campfie program included the story of Grandpa and Grandma's courtship and marriage. Grandpa always spoke of his love for Ida, her sweet disposition, and her love for her family. He then ended the evening with his testimony of the gospel and a beautiful prayer on his posterity.
By 1968, there were eighty family members and we had outgrown Camp Manapus. We tried a camp at Lake Alturas for two years, but settled on a large 4-H camp down the road in 1971. This camp was spacious and the large dining/meeting hall served our growing family well. We continued to gather yearly, talk a lot, eat at the ringing of the dinner bell, have races and games, take a plunge in the dunking machine, do some line dancing, play volleyball and basketball, throw some ringers with horseshoes, swimming, golf and hiking. The Saturday program always included our singing "Columbia the Gem of the Ocean" and "I Love the Mountains", lead by Aunt Joyce with enthusiasm. Sunday church meeting often included return missionary reports and ended with "God Be With You Till We Meet Again". It was definitely a great extended family experience.
It has been decided that this reunion will end on its sixtieth consecutive gathering in 2012. It is presumed that new generations will establish their own gathering traditions. We wish them well. Grandpa and Grandma's posterity has grown to over fourteen hundred at this date. A number of loved ones have passed away but still live in our hearts and our life experiences. As we close this chapter, there are only four original family members remaining; Blaine, Lila, Lois, and Larry. This is part of the eternal life and love we share in the Harper Family. Reunion has been an annual opportunity for caring. (Copied from the new book that was just published and distributed entitled"Our Family Heritage" Descendants of Leslie Thomas and Ida Broadhead Harper)
Harper Reunion 2012
Getting Ready for the Saturday Morning Races
