Patrick Senior Center August events

9-10am.

125th Ormand Family “Old Furnace” Reunion July 29

By Loretta Cozart

The 125th Ormand Family Reunion is planned for Saturday, July 29, the Last Saturday in July, at Old Furnace Picnic Grounds, 517 Long Creek Rd, Bessemer City. The picnic starts at noon, so bring your favorite food to share.

To save money, they will use email for invitations where they can. To be added to the email list, just send an email to reunion@ Ormand.org. They will still send a card to those not on the list. Feel free to add your relatives to the list, or to report any changes of name or address. Or you can send Mail to: Old Furnace Foundation, P.O. Box 35. Bessemer City, NC

28016. All Ormonds/Ormands/ Ormons/Ormans are welcome. Donations for supplies and upkeep of the grounds and furnace are always appreciated! Please observe any COVID-19 precautions you feel are necessary: distancing or masks.

The following information regarding the Old Furnace was taken from history regarding the founding of Bessemer City, NC.

“In the year 1754, King George II of England granted land to James Ormand. That land was in what then was known as Tryon County, Carolina. Mr. Ormand established the Ormand Mining Company, and that company helped in the establishment of Bessemer City.”

“The Old Ormand Furnace is the oldest stack of its kind in America. This is where they processed some of the iron ore that was mined in this area. It has an elusive history, but one story is that it was built to make cannon balls for use in the Revolutionary War.”

“Tryon County was split in 1846, and part of it became Gaston County. In 1893 Bessemer City was chartered as a city in Gaston County. The Old Ormand Furnace still exists but is used as a picnic ground and gathering place for the Ormand Family Reunion, one of the oldest family reunions in America, it has been held annually ever since 1897.”