SIGHTS ARE SET ON
Chattanooga
Tennessee
July 20-21, 2012
Chenault Family National Reunions
A Brief History
A "national" reunion of Chenault/Chennault family cousins was first held the Sunday, September 30, 1950 in Dallas, Texas. The site of the reunion was Glendale Park. Arrangements were handled by W. R. "Bill" Chenault and Ancil D. Chennault, both of Dallas. Registration began at 11 a.m., and lunch was served at 12:30 p.m. The program, presided over by David Chenault, included allowing every attendee to introduce themselves followed by a presentation by W. S. "Bill" Chennault, brother of General Claire Chennault and former "Bronco Busting" Sweetwater, Texas, mayor. Entertainment was provided by the Morton's Potato Chip Magicians. It must have been an enjoyable afternoon, for they all agreed to do it again in 1951.
The second reunion was held Sunday, September 2, 1951, at the picnic grounds at Dallas' Fair Park. Lunch was furnished by the local family members, who brought plenty of fried chicken to feed the large crowd that gathered for the afternoon festivities. Arrangements were again handled by W. R. Chenault and Ancil Chennault. Cousins from Maryland, Arkansas, Mississippi, Kentucky, Alabama, and Texas shared history on their branches of the family. Dr. Frank Chenault, longtime historian who had amassed a remarkable collection of information about the family, was one of the featured speakers.
The first printed program of the reunion was available at the third reunion, Sunday, August 31, 1952 at the Texas State Fair Grounds in Dallas. Although Gen. Claire Chennault had planned to attend, a last minute emergency in the Far East demanded his attention. In addition to lunch and introductions of guests, a musical program was directed by David Chenault, and all cousins joined in an old-fashioned family sing song. Following the third reunion in Dallas, there were three reunions held in Memphis, Tennessee before the site began to be moved to a new location each year. Following the 33rd reunion in 1982, the date of the reunion began to change moving into the summer months, and finally being set to the third weekend of July after about four reunions.
The Golden Anniversary (50th) of the annual reunion was celebrated in Jackson, Mississippi, July 16-18, 1999. Although attendance has fluctuated through the years, interest in the annual gatherings has remained high among family members scattered across the country. One of the most popular reunions was the 2001 reunion held in Williamsburg, Virginia, when the program centered around the 300th anniversary of Estienne Cheneau's arrival in America aboard the Nassau.
However, whether attendance is high or low, the attendees seem to thoroughly enjoy the fellowship with their cousins, recounting the history and stories from their branch of the family, and a chance to meet newly-found family.
A Family Treasure
.jpg)
In
the early 1990's, a new feature made its first appearance at the annual
reunions. Alma Deurene Oates Morgan (RB# 11142.31751) brought
a large round tablecloth with the Chenault coat of arms in the center and spread
it out on one of the tables. Attendees signed the cloth while at the reunion.
Following the reunion, she embroidered each signature to preserve it. The cloth
was displayed at subsequent reunions for those who had not previously signed it
to add their signature, which was then embroidered to preserve it. This practice
continued for a few years, but when Deurene passed away the cloth was
temporarily mislaid.
In 2000, at the reunion in Dallas, it was once again made available for signing, and a volunteer was solicited to embroider the names that had been added but not stitched after several reunions. Ovie "Granny" Chenault volunteered and took the cloth with her. Prior to the next reunion in 2001 in Williamsburg, VA, Granny embroidered more than 300 names to complete the cloth. She continued to do the embroidering for about five years when she was forced to give it up due to her failing eyesight. During the time Granny was responsible for embroidering the cloth, her daughter, Carolyn Sue, re-touched the painting of the coat of arms which was beginning to fade. Peggy Shinault Miller stepped in for a couple of years to assume the embroidering task before passing it to Susan Farmer Wachter.
The cloth has become a Chenault Family treasure among reunion attendees and will continue to be displayed for additional signatures of attendees as long as there is space to sign.
2012 NATIONAL REUNION INFORMATION
The most current information regarding the 2012 national reunion will be published below as it becomes available. Details concerning the site, travel information, registration, schedule of events, the silent auction, and memorabilia are reflected below. Also, do not overlook the Things To See On Your Reunion Visit that is included at the end of this page. Mark your calendars now and plan to attend! Information about state reunions may be found on the "What's Up" page of this site.
DATE
- Friday,20 Jul through Sunday, 22 Jul, 2012
PLACE - Chattanooga, Tennessee
REGISTRATION INFORMATION - Hotel reservation
information is covered below and is the responsibility of the individual
attendees. Registration for the reunion is to be handled separately and
can be done by email or by completing a registration form and forwarding it to
Barbara Chenault MacManus (address included on form).
Click here for a PDF version of the
2012 Registration Form. (not available at this time). Registration
fees and other details are still being arranged, but will be posted here as soon
as possible. The registration fee covers the banquet meal, meeting space,
refreshments served during meetings, and other miscellaneous reunion-related
expenses.
HEADQUARTERS HOTEL - Chattanooga Marriott Hotel at the Convention Center
LOCATION - Two Carter Plaza, Chattanooga, TN
HOTEL INFORMATION - The Chenault Family National Reunion special
rate is $109 plus tax for a room with two double beds or one king bed. The
rate does not include any meals or shuttle service. However, shuttle
service from the hotel to and from downtown Chattanooga is free. Shuttle
service to and from the airport is $15 per person and may be charged to the
guest's room. The special rate is good for extended stay covering Jul
18-19, preceding the reunion, and Jul 22-24 following the reunion. When
making your reservations, be sure to indicate that the reservation is for the
Chenault Family reunion. A credit card is necessary to guarantee the room.
RESERVATION CUTOFF DATE FOR THE GUARANTEED CHENAULT REUNION RATE IS JUNE 27, 2012.
Reservations may be arranged by telephone: Toll Free: 1-800-266-9432 or Local Phone: 1-506-474-2009 (NOTE: Please do not call the hotel's main number to make reservations.)
or email at the following address:
GETTING THERE – Directions and other details will be posted here shortly.
PROGRAM – (Following is the typical schedule for the reunion. However, it
is subject to change as details of the reunion program are confirmed.
Changes will be posted here. )
Registration will begin at 1:00 p.m., Friday, July 20 at a specified
location to be announced. The hospitality room will be open for visiting and
display of silent auction items and memorabilia after 6 p.m. It will remain open
until 11:00 p.m. Friday night and Saturday night except during the Friday night
activities, the Saturday meeting, and the Saturday evening banquet.
Friday night from 7:00 to 9:30 p.m., our customary get-acquainted gathering will include the children’s program, refreshments, and an informal program.
Saturday’s activities will include special interest programs with guest speakers and the annual business meeting. Following the business meeting, attendees will be free to select their afternoon activities, go site seeing, or relax in the hotel. The hospitality room will be open during the afternoon following lunch. Lunch is not provided as part of the reunion package. SPECIAL TOUR OFFERING AVAILABLE: To be announced
Saturday evening at 7:00 p.m., the customary "dress-up" banquet will be held in the ballroom at the hotel. A special program is planned including officer induction and a guest speaker/entertainer.
Sunday morning is the traditional Memorial Service at which we gather to honor and celebrate the lives of those who have passed on to their Heavenly reward.
SILENT AUCTION -
Items donated by family members will be auctioned to help defray association
expenses. Handmade crafts are especially welcome, as are artifacts, books,
copies of photos, news articles, etc., especially those having historical and/or
Chenault connections. These are displayed in the hospitality room. The auction
will close at 6:00 p.m., with the winning bids to be announced at the banquet.
MEMORABILIA -
Members are invited to bring photos, books, and other family mementos to share
with others. These items are not for sale. Place a descriptive label and
owner’s name on the items before leaving them on display. Also, on display will
be mementos from previous reunions and several collections of correspondence,
news clippings, and other items from the Association’s historical files.
ENTERTAINMENT -
Volunteers are encouraged to participate. Vocalists, especially light music
like Broadway, Country, Oldies, guitar, banjo, violin, barbershop, or yodeling
are always welcome. And, if you prefer to have company on stage when you
perform, join the Chenault Family National Choir. Their performances at recent
reunions have been wonderful.
THINGS TO SEE ON YOUR REUNION VISIT
As you are planning your trip to Chattanooga for the reunion, you may want to consider a little extra time to visit the wonderful attractions that the city offers. A few of those attractions are briefly described below, but there are many more that visitors to the city may find interesting and entertaining. Although websites are provided for the individual attractions listed, more information about other attractions in Chattanooga and the surrounding area can be found at the Chattanooga TN Visitors Bureau attractions website, www.chattanoogafun.com/attractions/. There are many museums, caverns, wineries, distilleries, and Civil War battlefield sites in the area.
Chattanooga Choo Choo Hotel
Considered to be one of Chattanooga’s first historic preservation projects,
the hotel opened in the Spring of 1973, offering unique hotel accommodations,
restaurants, shops, and entertainment features. It was listed on the National
Register of Historic Places in 1974. More information can be found at
www.choochoo.com.
1400 Market Street, Chattanooga, TN 37402
Phone: (423) 308-2445 or Toll-Free: (800) 872-2529
Chattanooga Ducks
Visitors in the mood for a little adventure can
find it by boarding the Chattanooga Ducks at the corner of 5th and Market. The
authentic WWII amphibious landing craft built specifically for the D-Day
invasion provides an historic tour through downtown Chattanooga, and just when
you think you have seen it all, splash into the Tennessee River at Ross' Landing
for an historical and ecological tour of the river and the Chattanooga
Waterfront. The tour lasts about 1 hour. It is a FUN tour. More information can
be found at www.chattanoogaducks.com.
503 Market Street, Chattanooga, TN 37402
Phone: (423) 756-3825
Houston Museum of Decorative Arts
Visitors to this museum, which is locating in a beautifully restored Victorian
house, are treated to a guided tour of what have been called the world's finest
collections of antique glass and ceramics, as well as valuable antique furniture
and music boxes. They will hear the story of Anna Safley Houston, who
accumulated the collections and left them in trust for the people of Chattanooga
when she died in 1951. The colorful but eccentric Mrs. Houston had at least nine
husbands and lived her last years in poverty, refusing to sell her priceless
antiques to pay for food or medical care. The museum contains a gift shop which
is open to the public. More information can be found at
www.thehoustonmuseum.com.
201 High Street, Chattanooga, TN 37403
Phone: (423) 267-7176
Hunter Museum of American Art
Built on a ninety-foot limestone bluff overlooking the Tennessee River and
comprised of a 1905 classical revival mansion, a low-slung 1970s building and a
2005 contemporary structure, the Hunter Museum of American Art showcases 100
years of architecture and houses the finest collection of American art in the
Southeast. The collection of the Hunter Museum spans the history of American art
from the colonial period to the present-day, and covers a wide variety of media
including painting, sculpture, contemporary studio glass, and crafts. More
information can be found at
www.huntermuseum.org.
10 Bluff View, Chattanooga, TN 37403
Phone: (423) 267-0968
Lake Winnepesaukah Amusement Park
Named for a Native American word meaning
"bountiful waters" or "beautiful lake of the highlands," the park, known as the
South's favorite family amusement park, offers almost forty rides, including the
Cannon Ball Roller Coaster, a 14-story free fall, an antique carousel and many
others for those seeking a thrill. Also, there are games, food concessions,
paddleboats, miniature golf, an interactive water play area, and a shaded picnic
area. Guests may purchase individual ride tickets or an unlimited ride pass.
Gate admission is $5.00. Unlimited Rides $21.00. Children under 2 are admitted
free with paying adult but must pay to ride. Plenty of free parking! More
information can be found at
www.lakewinnie.com.
1730 Lakeview Drive, Chattanooga, TN 30741
Phone: (706) 866-5681, ext. 226 or Toll-Free: (877) 525-3946
Lookout Mountain
Located within minutes of downtown Chattanooga,
Lookout Mountain offers visitors three outstanding attractions that showcase the
natural beauty of the area and the beautiful views of the Chattanooga Valley.
Visitors can choose to trek through Rock City's natural wonders and "see seven
states" views, tour Ruby Falls, America's deepest cave and largest underground
waterfall accessible to the public, and ride the Incline Railway the world's
steepest passenger railway. More information about the Incline Railway follows.
Lookout Mountain Incline Railway
Said to be "America’s Most Amazing Mile," the ride
is unlike any other. As riders in the trolley-style railcars are carried up the
mountain, they are treated to views of the surrounding mountains and valleys
that are memorable. Near the top, the 72.7 % grade of the track is responsible
for the Incline being named the world's steepest passenger railway. Other
not-to-be-missed experiences include Lookout Mountain Station, the free
observation deck, which is the highest overlook on Lookout Mountain, and the
Incline Centennial Exhibits, which depict the history of one of Chattanooga's
most unusual landmarks, featuring rare photographs of the Incline and points of
interest on Lookout Mountain from the late 1800s to the present. More
information can be found at
www.ridetheincline.com.
827 East Brow Road, Lookout Mountain, TN 37350
Phone: (423) 821-4224
River Gorge Explorer
This 2-hour cruise allows passengers to see and
experience "Tennessee’s Grand Canyon" in a fascinating and memorable way. The
Tennessee Aquarium's sleek new boat, the River Gorge Explorer, is a 70-passenger
high-speed catamaran, unique in the Southeast. An Aquarium naturalist will point
out wildlife and historic points of interest along the way. Passengers board the
River Gorge Explorer at the Chattanooga Pier next to the Tennessee Aquarium.
Four water jets propel this catamaran-style watercraft smoothly and swiftly
downstream. Angled seating allows each guest to relax in the climate-controlled
cabin and enjoy the scenic beauty and wildlife through oversized windows and
overhead sky panes. Adult $29 / Child $21.50 (3 -12) / Toddler $18 All children
under 3 riding the River Gorge Explorer will be charged $18. They are counted as
a passenger according to Coast Guard regulations. More information can be found
at www.tnaqua.org.
1 Broad Street, Chattanooga, TN 37402
Phone: (423) 785-4135 or Toll-Free: (800) 262-0695
Tennessee Aquarium
The Aquarium is a magnificent site that houses
three living forests under its six glass peaks where visitors can view amazing
creatures that swim, fly, and crawl in their natural habitats. These include
giant catfish, entertaining otters, sturgeon, enormous snapping turtles and even
baby alligators. Also, there are creatures from the sea that include sharks,
stingrays, jellyfish, penguins, and other colorful fish that live in the amazing
coral formations at the aquarium. In the rainforest, visitors are surrounded by
hundreds of free-flying butterflies. A visit to this attraction will be
memorable. More information can be found at
www.tnaqua.org.
1 Broad Street, Chattanooga, TN 37402
Phone: (423) 265-0695 or Toll-Free: (800) 262-0695