Washington, D.C. Redux (1932 & 1996)


WILLARD FAMILY MEETS IN CAPITAL 1996

Washington, D.C. saw us arriving on Friday, August 2 at the Willard InterContinental for our gala weekend reunion and annual meeting. The board of officers and directors extend their humble 'thanks' to member Juanita Creighton for outlining the weekend and being our official hostess. Some visitors spent Friday afternoon sight-seeing on their own, and it is certain all were inspired by the elegance of the hotel which had been renovated within recent years and restored to its 19th c. beauty. We all met in the lobby at dinner time to enjoy a walk to Les Halles restaurant. The evening was a little humid, but not overwhelming and the restaurant was air-conditioned. We enjoyed our meals and the companionship. Saturday morning, August 3, after breakfast in the Cafe Expresso (at the Willard) we boarded a sight-seeing bus. Off to the Capitol building, an awe-inspiring edifice. Our excellent tour guide led us to the many sections of this seat of government, and we viewed the statue of Frances Willard (WCTU fame, dau. of #1233) in Statuary Hall and the clock which contains the mechanical workings built by our Simon Willard #226) We also toured the House of Representatives and the Senate. From the Capitol we visited the Vietnam War Memorial, the Korean War Memorial and the Lincoln Memorial. The Vietnam and Korean Memorials are indeed interesting and affect visitors in very different and special ways. The long engraved black marble wall of the Vietnam memorial is engraved also in your mind, never to be forgotten. The Korean Memorial is composed of soldiers in rain gear appearing to be walking through a rice paddy, and one side is a wall with ghostly pictures of servicemen lost in the war. It is a solemn occasion to visit either memorial. Our tour stopped at the Lincoln Memorial and then we had a slow ride-by to see the Marine Corps War Memorial sculpture of the flag raising on Mt. Suribachi. Back at the hotel, we had a quick lunch and then gathered in the Franklin Pierce Room for the annual meeting. Our historian, Ruth Willard, gave a wonderful detailed account of the life of Willard Hotel founder, #1119 Henry Augustus Willard, and the history of this landmark building. We were also treated to a video showing the renovation, completed in 1986, of the hotel after years of decay. Our special guest was Henry Kellogg Willard II, the great-grandson of the founder. Mr. Willard gave us some insight regarding the family and the hotel. A special booklet entitled Willards Who Helped Build Our Nation, put together by Elizabeth (Betty) Jones with help from Ruth Willard, was distributed to members for this special reunion. Later in the day we had dinner at the Occidental restaurant, next door to the hotel. We enjoyed delightful meals and another evening of friendship. Sunday saw most of us leaving this memorable and rewarding weekend behind. There is so much to learn of the Willard family. This was another chapter to enlighten our history.

WILLARD FAMILY MEETS IN CAPITAL 1934


Sessions Held in Famous Hostelry Founded by Member
Representatives of the Willard family of America from 10 States attended the twenty-fifth annual meeting of the Willard Family Association yesterday [October 1, 1932] at the Willard Hotel, meeting for the first time in the famous hostelry established here in 1847 by Henry Augustus Willard, who was prominently identified with the life of the Capital during the second half of the nineteenth century
Spent Day Sight-seeing
Today they are spending their time in further sight-seeing and visiting with relatives and friends in the Capital. Tonight they will leave for their homes.
Determination of the next meeting place for the association was left in the hands of a committee which will weigh all suggestions and report later.
At last night's meeting letters were read from Daniel Willard and Elihu Root, the latter an honorary member of the association, both of which expressed regret at not being able to attend the meeting because of ill health. Among those present on the occasion of the 25th Anniversary of The Willard Family Association were, left to right, W. Frank Phillips, Lunenburg, Mass., Stephen F. Willard, Jr., Wollaston, Mass., Mrs. Walter L. Tougas, Waban, Mass., (two unidentified), Miss Eleanor Willard Hudson, Still River, Mass., William Abbott Willard, Hartford, Conn., President Herbert Hoover, Henry Augustus Willard, II, Washington, D. C., Edward W. Willard, Wethersfield, Conn. At the White House Reception, Washington, D. C. Oct. 1, 1932, 64 years ago, WFA met at Washington, D.C. for the first time.