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Written by: Alan Junkins with Kathleen Wheeler

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• Cemeteries
• Archaeological report
• NL #10 - July 1995
• Three Trees Burial Ground

In the October 1994 newsletter on pages 6 & 7 I talked about The Three Trees burial ground at Rankins' field in York, Maine. Early in May of this year (1995) Kathleen Wheeler, Archaeologist, informed us that she had indeed received a grant from the state of Maine and would be able to spend a day at The Three Trees burial site on Cider Hill Road. She said that she had the 15th or 16th available, depending on the weather. We obtained written permission from Jon Levy, owner of the property, to do an archaeological examination of the area.

Monday the 15th it rained all day so no work was done but on Tuesday the sun came out and Kathleen Wheeler and three of her assistants arrived at our house at 8:30 AM. We all drove down the road lo the location and by 9:00 all were fast at work uncovering what will now be officially recorded as the Junkins Family Burial Ground #8 "The Three Trees" burial ground. As you will see by the report made by Kathy to the Maine Historical Society and the Old York Historical Society, there were three adult graves uncovered and one infant grave. Unfortunately none of these graves can be identified but we do have written evidence that they certainly were Junkins family members. We also uncovered two areas where it was evident  that a total of at least five bodies had been removed lo another site. This coincides with John C. Junkins' letter (1940) "You probably know that some of the more immediate ancestors were removed from Rankin's lot to the new cemetery on the farm of my uncle Albert B. Junkins."  In the right hand section of the Elijah Burial Ground on the Albert B. Junkins farm there are five bodies all from this 1855 to 1899 period. The following is Kathleen Wheeler's report:

Kathleen Wheeler

Historical Archaeologist June, 1995 Junkins Family Burying Yard

On private property along Cider Hill Road, a Junkins family cemetery was unearthed during the Phase 1 survey in 1995. Methods included raking and cleaning of ground cover and shovel scraping to determine the outline of grave features.  The burying yard was marked by three rock maple trees making a triangular  area where four graves were found (see Figure 1). Three sets of headstones and foot stones delineated  adult graves, while a fourth set of bead- and footstones marked a child's burial. Two narrow, linear depressions were noted north of the four burial features, and a single unmarked fieldstone laid nearby. It is believed that some of the graves were moved to another, larger family cemetery in the early twentieth century, and the single fieldstone may represent an old abandoned marker stone. (From a letter by John C. Junkins to Frank Parsons -18 March 1940... "The Rankins field (so called), owned by Junkins for a long time, is located on the north side of #91, now set out with Spruce trees. In the North West corner, adjacent to Christopher Simonds's house is the location of the old cemetery mentioned by Charles Wisdom Junkins. Three Rock Maple trees around it. Chas. W. says some of the old bodies of Junkins were moved to the new lot opposite Ruth and John Nowells house... You probably know that some of the more immediate ancestors were removed from the Rankins lot to the new cemetery on the farm of my uncle, Albert B. Junkins. My Father and Mother, Sister and Brother are buried there also in this new lot"). A much larger depression - approximately 3.5 m by 1.5 m - was detected to the northwest of the undisturbed burials, as if a group of graves was disinterred.

None of the headstones or footstones were inscribed, so the identity and dates of burial of the individuals are not known. Some members of the Junkins family believe that this may be the place where RoberL Junkins was buried, near his garrison homestead. This burial site is only about three tenths of a mile from the Junkins garrison and well within the bounds of Junkins' extensive landhold­ing.

Our thanks go to Jon and Mimi Levy who agreed to testing on their property to define the outlines of the Junkins burying  yard.

Kathleen  Wheeler, Historical  Archaeologist

Is Robert Junkins buried here?

We will probably never know, but certainly his two boys, Alexander and Daniel, and his grandchildren knew where he was buried. Did they plant three Rock Maple trees around the grave site of their father, the founder of the Junkins family in the new world? Could Robert be in the center of the burial ground with his wife Sarah next to him? Could the third adult grave possibly be Joseph, who was killed by indians in 1711? The three trees are easily 250 to 275 years old.   One has been struck by lightning and may someday soon have to be removed.    When it is removed it is hoped that we will be able to count the rings on a cross section of the trunk to determine the age of the trees. This can help to date the exact age of the burial ground and the bodies interred there. Three trees... why not four? The Trinity... Father, Son, and Holy Ghost.

Archaeological team starts to remove brush, leaves and undergrowth from the burial ground area. 

Three unmarked headstones and footstones (circled) reveal the position of three adult graves.

Careful measurements are taken and recorded to map the entire area
and the exact positions of the burial pits.

After all measurements were recorded the entire area was returned to its natural state
with all dirt, leaves and brush back in place.

Details

Written by: Alan Junkins

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• NL #10 - July 1995
• Mini-Reunion

Fifteen Junkins' got together at the home of Warren and Evelyn Schuster in Osprey, Florida for a mini-reunion on March 8th. After a lunch at a local restaurant they were again treated to strawberry shortcake made by Evelyn Schuster and Betty Junkins. Chet and Pricilla Junkins reported "We all enjoyed the day together with lots of laughs and lots of fun".

Those attending were: Betty and Loy Junkins, Rossford, OH; Louise and Carleton Junkins, Winterport, ME; Pricilla and Chester Junkins, Hampden, ME; Virginia  Junkins, Lady Lake, FL; Paul F. Junkins, Sr., Lady Lake, FL; Irene Trumbull, Weston, OH; Joanne and Karl Junkins, Maumee, OH; Alice and Richard Pugh, Englewood, FL; Warren and Evelyn Schuster, Osprey, FL. Earlier, six Junkins wintering in Florida in Zephyrhills, visited with Alton and Clara Junkins of Hudson, FL.

Junkins - (front I. to r.) Evelyn Schuster, Virginia Junkins, Irene Trumbull,
Karl Junkins (back I. to r.) Richard Pugh, Loy Junkins,
Paul F. Junkins, Carleton Junkins, Chester Junkins

Spouses - (I. to r.) Alice Pugh, Joanne Junkins, Warren Schuster,
Louise Junkins, Betty Junkins, Pricilla Junkins

Details

Written by: Alan Junkins

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• Board of Directors meeting
• NL #10 - July 1995

On the weekend of June 10, 1995 the board of directors of the Junkins Family Association held their annual meeting at the home of Walter and Jean Junkins in Camp Hill, Pennsylvania.

Officers and Directors visit the Pennsylvania State Police Academy. (I tor) Joanne Junkins, Anna Blease,
Ken Junkins, Logan Junkins Kathy Junkins, Alan Junkins, Roland Junkins, Jeffrey Wright,
Philip Junkins, Russ Blease, Walter Junkins, Clifford Junkins, Karl Junkins.

Walter and Jean had made arrangements for those directors coming from out of town to stay at the Hampton Inn not too far from their home. Most arrived on Friday afternoon and had a chance to talk and some had dinner together at various restaurants in the area. Roland  Junkins drove to Alan and Betty Junkins  home in York, ME on Thursday, stayed over night, and then Roland and Alan drove to Boston Friday morning and flew to Harrisburg. Walter and Jean met them at the airport and took them to the Inn. Russ and Anna Blease arrived that afternoon from Rhode Island, as did Karl and Joanne Junkins from Ohio, Cliff and Mary Jo Junkins from Holyoke, MA., Ken and Kathy Junkins and two of their son's, Jeffrey and  Logan  from  Morrisville,  PA, and Philip  Junkins  and  his son Matthew came from Lusby, MD. Ruth Hodgin, Secretary and David Junkins, Treasurer were both excused from the meeting because of other pressing matters.

Directors meeting (I. to r.) Russell Blease, Roland Junkins,
Clifford Junkins, Kathy Junkins    

On Walter & Jean Junkins porch (I. to r.) Directors - Joanne Junkins,
Karl Junkins, Anna Blease, Russell Blease, Roland Junkins

Saturday morning at nine o'clock sharp, Walter arrived at the Inn to escort the group to his home for the meeting which started right on time at nine thirty o'clock. The business matters of the Association were attended to for the year and the meeting was concluded at twelve noon. Jean served a lovely lunch on the enclosed back porch of their home and when all were finished, Walter lead a caravan of four cars to the Pennsylvania State Police Academy in Hershey, PA. Walter had arraigned with Colonel Paul Evanko, Commissioner, for a private tour of the academy for the Junkins. The tour guide was Trooper Lucinda Hawkins of the Mounted Unit of the PA State Police. Trooper Hawkins has been on the force for 24 years and was in the first class of women accepted at the academy. After the tour, most returned to the Inn for a period of rest and relaxation.  Some went swimming, some napped, some talked and some toured the State Capital building in Harrisburg.

Promptly at six thirty o'clock Walter arrived back at the Inn to guide the group to the Naval Officers Club for dinner where he had arranged for a special area where the group could enjoy a nice dinner and talk. Sunday morning most had breakfast at the Inn and had time lo talk some more and say their good- byes.

(l. to r.) Directors - Kenneth Junkins, Philip Junkins, Walter Junkins,
and Mary Jo Junkins (in the foreground).

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Written by: Karl & Joanne Junkins

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• NL #8 - Summer 1993
• Junkins Cousins

In a letter to officers and directors, Alan asked for "stories, letters, graduations, births, deaths, mini reunions, awards, arrests, deportations, hallucinations, operations, anything !" for his next newsletter. I write this in hopes the rest of you do likewise. Karl and I are interested in all you cousins.

Directors Karl and Joanne Junkins at the 1992 reunion

Arrests first. Karl's foreparents, Samuel (5) and Olive, haven't been the only Junkinses in jail. Our son, Paul, could report what it's like to study for college exams inside the slammer. This was for one weekend back in his cool, know-it-all, permed hair days. Called his brother, Brian, not his parents. Smart there. Today, he's a 30 year old yuppie with a lovely wife, Edie, who is going to deliver their first Junkins into this world in August. He's redeemed himself.

It's been graduation time in our family. Youngest daughter, Karla Stanton, received a degree in pharmacy in June from the University of Toledo. She was cheered by husband, Ed, daughters, Anne and Colleen, sisters, Mary Beth Gratop and Jeanne Home, and her excited parents. Her youngest brother, Andrew, missed the affair because he was on his way to Germany as a mechanical engineer for Diebold, Inc. of North Canton, Ohio. He graduated from University of Toledo in December. Karla, also, has a job! Eldest, Mary Beth Gratop, is finish­ing her course work this summer at Owens Technical College. She supervises a branch of our local library system.

For those of you who are counting, we also have son, John (Toledo), who has four sons, and daughter, Nancy Sullivan (Tampa). That's four and four, folks.

Operations. On Christmas Eve morning, in Royal Oak, Michigan, Karl had angioplasty with an experimental laser. This made balloon angioplasty possible both then and later in February. What a gift after his October by-passes occluded. 

By March we were in Florida taking part in Junkins mini reunions. The first was at Warren and Evelyn (Junkins) Schuster's in Osprey with Loy and Betty Junkins (Rossford, Ohio) and Chester and Pricilla Junkins (Hampden, Maine). On our way north, we from Hampden and Maumee enjoyed a full day with Paul and Virginia (Junkins) Junkins (Got it, huh?) in Lady Lake, Florida and their house guest, Roland Junkins (Franklin, NH). There was inter­est expressed in an off-year reunion in Camp Hill, Pennsylvania. Are you reading this, Walter and Jean Junkins? 

Hoping to read about the following: Walter and Jean's trip to England, Jean's home; Clifford and Mary Jo's trip to Seniors' Olympics; John and Betty Burkhardt's move to Florida; Donald's China experiences; Alan and Betty's new home on the homestead; and everyone's news, especially arrests, deporta­tions and hallucinations.