Cahoon Reunion

Last weekend we had a reunion with my dad's family. My cousin Jann Cahoon, along with the expertise of my Uncle Harvey, has spent countless hours researching our family history. She put together a tour around the Salt Lake Valley that took us to the grave sites of many of our ancestors, some of the homes that they lived in, and also to historical sites of Interstate Brick, which is a company that has a special significance to our family.

We started out the reunion last Thursday with a tour to the current headquarters of Interstate Brick. This company was founded by my great-great-grandfather, John P. Cahoon, back in 1890 (originally called The Salt Lake Pressed Brick Company). My great-grandfather, grandfather, and uncle all served as president's of the company and my dad worked there before we moved to Seattle. Although the Cahoon family no longer has direct ties to Interstate Brick it still has a special place in our hearts. We were able to take a tour of the brick plant, which was very cool. I always love seeing how things are made.

Here I am after ripping a brick in half!!! It hadn't been fired yet so it was still clay :)

Me and my cousin Alissa standing in front of what Interstate Brick boasts to be the world's largest kiln. In the hottest part of the kiln it can reach temperatures of 2100 degrees Fahrenheit!!! Needless to say we were happy to go back outside into the 90 degree weather :)

Me and Jann in Grandpa Cahoon's old office.

Grandma relaxing in Grandpa's old office. It brought back a lot of memories for her. We sure miss Grandpa!

On Saturday we got together again for our tour of grave sites and homes.

Me, Jayson, and dad at the grave of Reynolds Cahoon, my great-great-great-great-grandpa. He was the first Cahoon to join The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints and he made the trek from Nauvoo to Utah.

Just across the way from Reynolds I found the grave of another one of my pioneer ancestors (from my mom's side of the family), it was kind of cool that they were so close to each other! Here I am in front of the grave of my great-great-great-great-grandma, Mary Fielding Smith.

Now back to the Cahoon Tour
Here is the home of John P. Cahoon (the founder of Interstate Brick). I put it in sepia tones for authenticity!

Across the street from John P.'s home is the home that he built for his mother Margaret Carruth Cahoon. It is now a little flower shop :)

We ended the day back at my Aunt Wendy's house where we had a BBQ dinner. My Aunt Marion also arranged for a Scottish Bagpiper to come and play for us since the Cahoon family is originally from Scotland. His last name is McFarland and apparently the McFarland and Cahoon Clans have been rivals for quite some time; so this was a historical occasion for the Cahoon's to be asking the McFarland's to come and play for them!