We eagerly anticipate this second opportunity for our Farrar Clan to gather on Farrars Island where our New World history began and where we all are from. We are working diligently so all may have a rewarding experi-ence of discovery and a lifetime of memories.

Many on our Reunion Mailing List (200 plus families) have already responded with excitement and words of encouragement. Some have already made their motel reservations.

Information of this Rendezvous is on our Reunion Internet HomePage, http://home.pacbell.net/rfarrar/. We are receiving many hits, messages, and emails. Unknown cousins plan to particpate and are notifying their near kin.

This should be the GRANDEST gathering of  Farrars  ever!!  History is being made.

Remember: Our primary reason for Rendezvous II is to ceremoniously dedicate our newly installed Virginia Historical Highway Farrars Island Marker.

Mr. John Salmon, Virginia Department of  Historic Resources, Historian and Manager of  the Historical High-way Marker Program, is in full cooperation to and with our needs.

Mr. Walter K. Heyer, Henricus Historic Park Executive Director, and his crew, are eagerly standing by to ren-der all assistance and to host our Park visit.

Ms Julia-Meade Ferguson, co-owner of  Malvern Hill Farm, steeped in the lore, will greet us with a bit of  his-tory during our visit to this prominent site so conspicuous in much of Virginias history.  Mr. Richard H. Fer-guson, co-owner and Manager of this working, 900 acre farm, may also, barring no conflicting schedules and/-or responsibilities, honor our enthusiastic searchers for their roots with his presence and his in-put.

Cousins Deane Mills, with the assistance of  Margaret Bargatze, will provide and host our Lawn Party at her lovely home and grounds in Newport News, VA.

Mr. Michael Simons, Manager, Fairfield Inn, Chester, VA, 804-778-7500, will be our reliable Innkeeper.

Cousin Doug Farrar, Chester, VA, with his two sons, Joey and Ben, will have the Marker grounds neat and trim for our Dedication Ceremonies.

Cousins Gil and Louise Shockley, Richmond, VA, indispensable helpers in our Marker Project, will continue in their help and follow-up coordinating and finalizing Rendezvous II.

With the help of these wonderful, sharing people and the encouragement of the many we are all truly blessed. Our heartfelt, Thank You, goes out to each and every one of you.

Why the change of dates? Answer: Chesterfield County, celebrating a centennial, and Henricus Historic Park, celebrating Public Days, had a conflict of interests; they both chose theL same weekend. Consequently, Henri-cus moved their Public Days up one week and reduced it to only one day this year; Sunday. Because we want to include Public Day  in our itinerary we, therefore, had to move our schedule up one week also. Our firm dates are as indicated in the bold type above.
 

Motel: We had a very good experience with the Fairfield Inn during Rendezvous I in 1998. Consulting personal-ly with them last Fall we have again selected this Inn as our homebase for Rendezvous II. Of course, there are many other motels along the Strip, Rt. 10,  in Chester (nearest to Farrars Island) and in the general area. If you choose the Fairfield Inn they have a block of rooms reserved for us. Call them directly, 804-778-7500, early, before 1 Aug, to reserve your accommadations. Mention Farrar Rendezvous II for your group rate: $69.00.

There is no smoking anywhere in the motel except in your private smoking room. The good woman that does such an excellent job preparing the Continental Breakfast is still there baking and making all those goodies ... Yummy! Also, this room, just off the lobby, is great for our evening socializing.

Along the Strip there are numerous restaurants, from fast foods on up, gas stations, shopping areas and malls. Dennys and the Cracker Barrel are only steps away from the Inn.

It is recommended you purchase a good road map of the area when you arrive; to include Richmond, Yorktown, and Newport News.

Marker Dedication Ceremonies (Saturday morning, 9:00 AM): The local media, as well as the local police, will be notified of this activity. You will park on the west side of highway 1/301 in a large parking area of a shop-ping complex. The Marker is across the highway. Please ... do not jay-walk. This is a high traffic area. We dont want any mishap s. Go to the corner and cross with the light.

Henricus Historic Park (Saturday afternoon, 1:oo PM): Here you may wish to proceed directly to the Park or to the boat launch parking area and take the 1 1/4 mile nature trail to the Park. We will gather at the rustic stage in the Park or, in case of inclement weather, in the new Visitor Center Annex where Dr. Dennis A. J. Morey, Executive Chairman of the Henricus Historical Research Committee, will  present a history of Farrars Island. Tour guides will conduct walking group tours to show and explain the progress in the ongoing developement of the Park. Van tours will take us to the outer reaches of the Island. The Visitor Center and Gift Shop will be open. Ms Holmes two books, The Farrars Island Family and its Engli
sh Ancestry and Some Farrars Island Des-cendants, are available through the Gift Shop.

Public Day  (all day Sunday): This is your day to participate in all the activities of the Park on this special day of the year. Costumed impersonators demonstrating days of long ago; living history re-enactments; his-torical demonstrations; music. An exciting and fun learning experience. You will be directed to park in the Virginia Power parking area. Free shuttle bus service readily available. No waiting to and from the Park. Come and go as you please. This year there is no entry fee.

Tour Day (Monday; caravan forms at 8:00 AM): Please top-off your fuel tank before the tour. You are free to pro-ceed on your own or join our caravan. We will visit, first, Malvern Hill Farm. Situated off  SR 5, lying high above the James just across from Farrars Island, Ms Julia-Meade Ferguson, current occupant, will share her knowledge of this historic site with us. At the top of the entry lane turn left and park along the field road. Walk to the house. Upon departure we will proceed along the field road to exit at a back gate on our way to Lees last stand during the Seven Days Battle of the Civil War. We will then proceed east on SR 5 to travel the full length of the Colonial Parkway; from Jamestown to Yorktown. Yorktown ... site of the British surrender ... is an interesting and quaint little town right on the York River; souvenirs and restaurants aplenty. Yorktown National Park has a highly educational museum; also an audio conducted motor tour of  Gen. Washingtons army enplacements and the battlements. $4.oo fee; Golden Age Pass: no charge.

Lawn Party (Monday evening): We will depart Yorktown for Newport News at 4:00 PM. When we first met this new-found, vivacious cousin, Deane Mills, last summer and she learned of our Rendezvous plans, bubbling with enthusiasm and an eager desire to meet all her Farrar kin, she immediately offered her lovely home and spacious grounds for a gathering of our Clan. To wit: our Lawn Party. Deane will be ably assisted by cousin Margaret Bargatze of Richmond, VA. This party is for you ... enjoy! B

All interested parties who have participated directly or indirectly in the success of our Rendezvous II are cor-dially invited to participate in this Grand Finale. This includes those of the Virginia Department of Historical Resources, The Henricus Foundation, Henricus Historic Park, and Malvern Hill Farm. Come join with us.

Departing Deanes home return to US 17 south. Cross over the wide James on the James River Bridge to Bartlett
(first town, small). Turn right on US 258/SR 32. Proceed to SR 10 (about 3 m). Turn right. Continue on to Ches-ter.

Come one, come all! This is your opportunity to meet kith and kin from all over the country. To seek your roots. To walk where your foreparents walked. To share in the excitement, discoveries, learning, the camaraderie, and the glory of it all.