July 9 through 14, 2003 Lunenburg, Nova Scotia celebrated the 250th anniversary of the landing of the founding families. My brother, Fred R. Lantz, my husband and I attended the celebration. Thursday and Saturday Fred and I set up a table with our computers. Fred had set up family trees for the following families: Lantz, Awalt/Ewalt, Corkum, Knickle, Hiltz and Swinamer. Lots of "cousins" visited our table and we exchanged family information that we had in our computer.

Below are some pictures we took of the celebration and of the picturesque Town of Lunenburg.

After the Reunion the three of us visited Windsor, Head High Cemetery, Truro and Halifax.

• 10 Jane Margaret Bailly (96 KB)
  Jane was the first baby born in the new settlement in 1753. Liesha Wagner is portraying Jane as she explains what Lunenburg was like at the time.
• 01 Lunenburg Town Sign (120 KB)
  Picturesque Lunenburg was designated by UNESCO as a World Heritage Site in 1995. It was founded in 1753 by German, Swiss and French Protestant settlers. This historic town has long been known for its shipbuilding, seafaring expertise, its natural beauty and warm hospitality.
• 11 Unveiling the Monuments (91 KB)
  The new monuments are being unveiled
• 02 Lunenburg Academy (105 KB)
  The Academy is where the 250th Reunion of the Founding Families was held. It is currently a grade school.
• 12 Dedication of the New Monument (98 KB)
  Inscribed, "These monuments are dedicated to the Founders of Lunenburg who settled here in 1753 under the protection of the British government. They came to Nova Scotia in consequence of a proclamation published in Europe. The majority were from various German states and smaller groups from Switzerland, Montbeliard, Holland and other areas. Erected by descendants and friends of the Founders. Dedicated July 12, 2003
• 03 Our Family Table (88 KB)
  We were given a table where we could set up our computers and share information with the many cousins that visited our table. About 60 families were represented the three days that were set aside for the reunion. About 1450 people settled in Lunenburg in 1753 and ironically, about 1423 people attended the reunion 250 years later.
• 04 Our Table With More Cousins (68 KB)
  We set up the table for two days and we had surnames: Lantz, Swinamer, Knickle, Hiltz, Corkum, Awalt/Ewald
• 05 German and Colonial costumes (69 KB)
  Muriel is dressed in a German traditional costume and one of the members of the Committee dressed in a colonial dress. Many of the attendees were dressed in colonial clothes in keeping with the 250th anniversary theme.
• 06 Bill Lantz and Family (80 KB)
  Bill and Fred are fourth cousins. They are comparing notes on family dates.
• 07 Bill Lantz (75 KB)
  Bill and his sister Ann White.
• 08 Dedication Ceremonies (69 KB)
  Dedication of the Founders Memorials took place on Blockhouse Hill on Saturday, July 12th at 2 pm. The memorials are about to be unveiled.
• 09 The Lunenburg Kinderchor (116 KB)
  The choir sang German folk songs

Muriel Lantz Fitzsimmons
genfitzmh@aol.com

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