1995 Reunion

  • The first Christenot Reunion
  • June 29 – July 2, 1995
  • Bozeman, Montana (Bozeman Hot Springs KOA)
  • 152 Attendees

First Christenot Reunion

The family who descended from Charles & Martha’s son, George Christenot, had been holding reunions in Montana. Gwen (Christenot) Henderson, Gale Christenot, George Christenot and Nick Shrauger met to plan the reunion. In early 1995, they invited cousins from other Christenot lines to gather for a larger reunion with this invitation, information sheet, and registration form. The logo was designed by Angela Morkrid. About 150 people met at the Bozeman Hot Springs KOA from June 29 – July 2, 1995.

On Friday evening, June 30th, family researcher H. George Christenot introduced family groups and presented his current genealogical findings. Nick Shrauger spoke about Christenot family history and the Christenot Gold Mill.

On Saturday, July 1, Nick Shrauger led a tour to Alder Gulch and Madison County. The group traveled one hour west to tour Virginia City and Nevada City. Some drove up to the rediscovered Christenot Mill and heard about the history of the Mill from Nick. Then cousins headed to Puller Springs in the Upper Ruby Valley where George and Martha Christenot lived after the Mill failed. In later years it was confirmed that Charles Christenot was buried nearby. Continuing with the tour of Madison County, they went north about 60 miles to the South Boulder Cemetery to the grave site of Martha Christenot and back to Bozeman. Here’s the Alder Gulch Tour Agenda that they followed.

Throughout the weekend, there were games, a sing-along, catered meals, and the first Silent Auction. Old photos were collected that became the cornerstone of the Christenot archives. Family bonds were strengthened that continue today.

Pictures from 1995

Gwen (Christenot) Henderson with brothers Gale and George, planned the Reunion with Nick Shrauger.
Dick Brooking, Alene & Bill Thurber, Georgie & Jack Thurber, Janet Brooking in the Hattie line.
Ella Morkrid, Gwen Henderson, Helen Christenot of the George line.
Marion Graves, from the Rudolph Christenat line, with George Christenot.
Alene Thurber and Margie Leon share memories. Their grandmothers, Hattie and Anna, were sisters.
Tyler Shrauger, youngest baby, sleeps near Abby Henderson, second youngest baby, with her dad, Mark Henderson.
Fred line: Front
Some from the George line: Kelly Christenot, Ella Morkrid, Ken R. Christenot, Helen Christenot, Gale Christenot, George Christenot, Gwen Henderson
Hattie line:

Tour to Virginia City, the Christenot Mill, Upper Ruby Valley, and South Boulder Cemetery on Saturday, July 1, 1995

Caravan of Christenot descendents get ready for the last rocky mile from Summit City to the site of the Christenot Mill. July 1, 1995.
Interior of the two-story Mill with trees and brush growing in the first floor area.
Nick Shrauger provided an historical narrative as Georgie Thurber looks on.
Wayne Stevens with his mother, Audrey (Christenot) Stevens, of the Fred line.
Alene and Bill Thurber. Martha Christenot arrived at the Mill in 1866 via the Bozeman Trail pregnant with Alene’s grandmother, Hattie.
50 cousins toured the remains of the Christenot Mill. Note Christi Henderson with baby Abby above, as Christi is not shown in the picture below.
1. Eric Christenot, 2. Erica Christenot, 3. Heidi Christenot, 4. Michael Christenot, 5. Lareesa Davis, 6. Jud Davis, 7. Cliff Christenot, 8. Linda Christenot, 9. Ken R. Christenot, 10. Gale Christenot, 11. Andrea Christenot, 12. Nettie Mae Grantham, 13. Ken Christenot, 14. Gwen Henderson, 15. Denise Christenot, 16. Jesica Henderson, 17. Jessica Christenot, 18. Jessica Means, 19. Tara Heald, 20. Teri Means, 21. Myrna Christenot, 22. Tami Heald, 23. Rodney Christenot, 24. Jeremiah Christenot, 25. Cody Christenot, 26. Jared Christenot, 27. Tonya Heald, 28. Angela Morkrid, 29. Kelly Christenot, 30. Janet Christenot, 31. Ella Morkrid, 32. Aline Christenot, 33. Bill Morkrid, 34. Audrey Henderson, 35. Mark Henderson, 36. ?, 37. Gail Morkrid, 38. Georgie Thurber, 39. Nick Shrauger, 40. Pete Henderson, 41. Bill Thurber, 42. Alene Thurber 43. Janet Brooking, 44. Dick Brooking.
Another group view with the addition of Henry Christenot in red jacket, Betty McCoy at right in white shirt and Jack Thurber at back right in black hat, vest. On site, but not pictured: Mike Henderson.
The Tour Continued to the Upper Ruby Valley
Overlooking the Puller Springs area in the Upper Ruby Valley. Charles and Martha Christenot settled nearby with their children after the Mill failed in 1869.
Nick Shrauger shares Christenot history in the Upper Ruby Valley.

Documents from 1995 Reunion


1995 Reunion Invitation
1995 Reunion Information – Sent in April
1995 Reunion Registration Form
Alder Gulch Tour Agenda – from Nick Shrauger

Videos from 1995 Reunion

Genealogy and History Talks plus scans of crowd, Friday, June 30th, 1995.
Short scan of crowd – 1
Short scan of Crowd – 2
Short scan of crowd – 3
Short scan of crowd – 4
Short scan of crowd – 5
Short scan of crowd – 6
Short scan of crowd – 7
History of the Christenot Mill as of 1995 by Nick Shrauger
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