The Watts Reunion

A car ride and a long talk.
A game of horseshoes or a short walk.
Kids swinging, sliding, and swimming.
A sumptuous feast prepared by the Watts women.
Chicken and dumplings, green beans, potato
Salad, baked ham,
Baked beans, cornbread, fried
Chicken and homemade jam.
For dessert there is watermelon, cake, and pies,
But you might have to wage war for them with
The flies.
Yes, dinnertime is so good, it might inspire a race,
But there is no eating to be had till after
We’ve said grace.
After dinner, it’s time for the auction to start.
All the items donated are examples of love
Found in a Watts heart.
Coins, quilts, pictures and blankets...
The bidders don’t care if it’s treasures or trinkets,
For all of the money benefits a great cause;
a scholarship is awarded to much applause.
Precious memories never to be forgotten are told,
For stories of hard work and adventure never
Grow old.
Memories of Mom and Dad and tales of yesteryear,
There will always be love and admiration for those
No longer here.
The day closes with singing and more sharing,
For time hasn’t stood still for this day of caring.

HAPPY FIFTIETH WATTS REUNION

                                                       -- Don Watts


A Description of the Old Home Place


          There were two big rooms with a fireplace in each room. One room Mom and Dad slept. There were two full-size beds and a small bed called the wooden bed, which I slept in on the other side of the room beside the fireplace. The other room had two beds, a dresser and a large shelf that they stacked their quilts in. There was a long hallway at the side of the house. The hall was open at the end leading to the kitchen and dining room with a wood burning stove, a table where the water bucket set and a shelf built on the wall to put dishes in. There was a cabinet with four doors where they kept butter and cold breads. There was a long table with a long bench and chairs. Nails were on the wall behind the stove to hang skillets, pots and pans on. The stove had six caps where six pots could be cooked at one time. Just off the dining room was a small bedroom I used when I got older.
          Across the road and down the hill was the wash house. There was a big black kettle handing on the side of the wash house, which was used to heat water in. There were two large tubs with wash boards and batting stick and a batting block, where the clothes were laid on then the batting stick was used to beat the clothes.
          Over top of the wash house there was a coalhouse and a smokehouse. They would store their meat in the smokehouse when they killed their hogs. They dug their own coal from the hill. They took a large olker, drilled a large hole in the ground then put a keg of powder in the hole with a long fuse leading a distance away from the hole. They would then light the fuse. The powder would blow open the dirt and blow the coal out.
          There was a door at the back of the kitchen that opened to a path that led to another smokehouse with a cellar dug back in the hill with shelves where they stored the vegetables and fruits that they would can.
          There was a lane leading from the house to the barn. In the barn, they kept two mules. In the barn loft, fodder was stored along with apples stored in barrels of sawdust. At the end of the lane, across the creek and up the hill a short distance was the cow barn where they kept the cows. This is also where mom did her milking.
          Near the cow barn and up the hill a short distance was the garden where mom planted anything she could get her hands on. At the side of the garden, a large hole was dug. In this hole, they would store their Irish potatoes. They would put straw or grass over the potatoes and would then cover the straw or grass with dirt. Outside the kitchen to the right was the well house. A house was built around the well where they stored molasses in 50-pound lard cans.
          At the back of the house was a lane that led to the pasture where the cows and horses fed on grass. Inside the pasture there was a hog pen with a roof on it. They would keep the hogs in the pen during the winter, and during the summer they were kept in a large hog lot. A short distance from the hog pen was the chicken house. I would gather the eggs every night. At the bottom of the hill that the chicken house was on was the outhouse. There was a front porch all the way across the house with a swing hanging from the ceiling off the porch with a few cane bottom chairs setting on the porch.

                                                                                                                        -- Opal Watts


Ode to the Mountains

The noise of the city, the cry of despair.
Oh, Lord how I miss that clean mountain air
And the mocking birds singing high up in
The trees.
The whip-poor-will calling, and the wild
Honey bees.

An old mountain preacher bringing joy to
My soul.
And the green willow trees near the old
Swimming hole.
The cities are full of people like me;
Their hearts aching to be set free.

From life in the city and the cry of
Despair,
And the factories that blech black smoke
In the air.
They long for the mountains, their home
Land to see.
And the peaceful life they once knew,
They know can never again be.

But I'm leaving tonight, I'm going back
Home.
Back to the mountains never, never more
To roam.
Where life is simple and the people are kind
And the noise of the city is far, far behind.

As I enter Powell County I feel my blood
Pressure rise,
And the sight of those mountains brings
Tears to my eyes.
The sun is shining, it's now a new day.
I smell the sweet wildflowers on the Mountain
Parkway.
All is so quiet and peaceful like a dream.

All is so quiet and peaceful like a dream.
I hear the soft gentle flowing of a clear
Mountain stream.
There on my right is Natural Bridge,
The Daniel Boone Forest and lonesome Pine
Ridge.

These beautiful places, I cehrish them dear,
For they bring back the days of sweet
Yesteryear.
I drive past Jackson ten miles or more,
And here is Lost Creek and the old country
Store.

I'm home now and oh, what a thrill
As I see the peaceful little valley and the
Beautiful high hills.
I see the mocking birdsitting in a green
Willow tree
Singing a song especially for me

Now don't misunderstand me, for it's very
Plain to see
That time has changed things, it's just not like it used to be.
But thank God it's still home to me, and I'll
Rest in sweet sleep
In the mountains of Breathitt County near
The Banks of Troublesome Creek

                                                                 -- Pat Watts


A Visit To Grandpa's


         Uncle Joe Watts and Aunt Callie had moved from a house on the North Fork of the Kentucky River to the head of River Caney. Grandpa (John Watts) and Grandma (Arrena Watts) moved into the house where Joe and Callie had lived. Arrena had a set of spoons like Callie's, at the same spot on the wall where Callie had kept hers.
         Not too long after the moves, Joe's son Virgil came to visit Grandpa and Grandma. He was too young to know and use correct grammar, old enough to know how to frankly express his thoughts, and about right to say what he wanted to and not offend anybody. Upon entering the kitchen and seeing the spoons hanging behind the cooking stove, he exclaimed, "Well, there's we're spoons we left!"


                                                                                                                    -- Martha Mayes


50th Watts Reunion Recap


       On Sunday, July 28, 2002 the Watts Clan gathered at Natural Bridge State Park in Slade, Kentucky to celebrate their family as they have done for the last forty-nine years. This 50th Watts reunion was especially memorable both because of the large number of loved ones present and because of some special events.

       It has been estimated that at least 300 people attended the reunion throughout the day. Some had traveled from as far away as the state of New York, while others had just come around the mountain from Beattyville. Other than New York and Kentucky, folks had come from Indiana, Ohio, Tennessee, and Arkansas - that we know of.

       About 75 of these folks also attended a reception at the lodge on Saturday afternoon. The reception featured genealogy information and a display of family memorabilia.

       Sunday’s fellowship began, as usual, with coffee and doughnuts. But, a surprise for the youngsters this year was Cambo the Clown! He entertained them by making animals, hats, and other things with balloons. Some kids even had their picture taken with him! It was hard to say who had the most fun, the kids or Cambo.

       Fellowship continued through the midday meal when a potluck dinner was spread.

       After the meal, family members settled in for the business meeting. After the minutes of last year’s meeting were read, Steve Bowling presented a history of the Watts family. He then unveiled a three-volume set of books detailing the genealogy of the Watts family. Part of the family business this year was presenting Laura McIntosh with a certificate for 50 years of perfect attendance at the Watts Reunion. Other business included recognizing new babies, newly weds, and the person who traveled the farthest to attend for the first time. The business meeting concluded with the election of officers and the presentation of the David Watts Memorial Scholarship.

       The scholarship was presented to Lisa Michelle Watts, daughter of Hershel and Donna Watts of Austin, Indiana. Lisa plans to study Nursing at Indiana University this year. We sure are proud of her and wish her the best!

       The business session is followed by an auction to raise money to support the scholarship fund. Family and friends donate items to be sold. The auction is always lots of fun. This year it raised several hundred dollars for the scholarship fund.

       After the auction, fellowship continues while musical entertainment is provided by some very talented kinfolk. And, at long last, the hotly contested horse shoe tournament is finished and trophy’s awarded.

       After a day full of family, fun and fellowship, the Watts’ clean up all the food, supplies, and equipment in preparation for the trip home. Along with empty dishes, coolers and lawn chairs, each family will take home a day full of memories to treasure and share throughout the year.


                                                                                                                    -- Cinda Sanders