My sister Joan, who lives in Iowa, arrives today. On Thursday morning we (MB too) will drive north about six hours to Madawaska, Maine right near the Canadian border. The occasion - the Gagnon family reunion.Gagnon is a French-Canadian name. My father was born in Ogdensburg, New York right along the St. Lawrence River that separates the U.S. and Canada.
All the Gagnon's in Canada and the U.S. are descendants of three brothers Mathurin, Jean, Pierre, and their cousin Robert. The three young Gagnon brothers emigrated in 1635 from the small village of La Gagnonniere in Northwestern France to Quebec, where they opened a store on St. Pierre St. in the lower city.
We've never been to one of these reunions and won't know anyone there. But it should be an interesting experience for us as we try to learn which of the early Gagnon's we came from.
I hear that the Gagnon name is quite common in northern Maine - potato growing country. It's a large region but not many people live in that part of the state.
I am excited about the trip.
1 comment:
I live here in maine now bruce but I grew up in buffalo and worked for awhile with rene gagnon. My stepbrother married his daughter louise and he spoke "wid de accident" One day i asked him where in canada he was born and he got really,really mad and told me he was born and raised in st agatha maine. I did feel chastised and I really liked the guy-he was a good dude. Anyway enjoy your reunion-john
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