Spending summers at his grandfather's castle was one of the most memorable parts of Walter Strong's childhood.

"This place has a magical quality for little kids," he told the 50-plus members of his family who gathered at Stronghold for a reunion recently.

Strong, who lives in Dundee, is the namesake of Walter A. Strong, who built Stronghold Castle near Oregon for his family, completing it in 1930.

Strong recounted his grandfather's career as owner of the Chicago Daily News, and the building of the now well-known castle, which is currently owned by the Blackhawk Presbytery and operated as a conference center.

"The family is very gratified that the place is being used for good works," he said. "I think my grandparents would be pleased."

Strong told his extended family that he spent summers in the castle from the time he was 2 years old until he was 22.

He recalled playing crochet and baseball and getting up almost before it was light on summer mornings to explore the castle grounds.

The architect for the structure was Maurice Webster, the brother of the first Walter Strong's wife, Josephine.

Local farmers were hired to build it. The tower is really two silos stacked on top of each other and the castle is essentially a barn, Strong said, stressing the need for frugality.

"Stronghold was built by a man who at the time didn't have personal wealth. He was acquiring personal wealth,"  he said.

Strong's daughter, Sarah, a special education teacher from Brooklyn, N.Y., came to the reunion and saw the castle for the first time.

"I think it's really beautiful," she said. "Now I understand more about the stories and photos. It adds a new dimension."

Ann Hecathorn,  Earlville, chairman of the reunion, said she met her cousin Walter for the first time at the event.

"I googled him and found him on Facebook. I joined just to contact him," she said.

The Strong reunion includes relatives of Elder John Strong, who was born around 1610 in Chard, Somerset, England.

Strong had 17 children and eventually settled in Northampton, Mass. The first Walter Strong was one of his many descendants, who also include Diana, Princess of Wales, Brooke Shields, John D. Rockefeller IV, Nathan Hale, and Franklin D. Roosevelt.

Hecathorn said the people who attended this year's reunion came from 14 states and ranged in age from young children to 90.

"We're all ninth or 10th cousins," she said.

The reunion is held at various locations to give all cousins a chance to attend, Hecathorn said.

Next year's will be held in Northampton, Mass.