Name/Title
59th Annual Bull Family Picnic, August 22, 1936Entry/Object ID
002165Tags
William Bull and Sarah Wells Stone House AssociationScope and Content
These documents outline the details for the 69th Annual Bull Picnic in 1936, held by the William Bull & Sarah Wells Family Association. The materials include an invitation, a treasurer's report, and a call for organizational support during the Great Depression.
Event Details
Date: Saturday, August 22, 1936.
Location: The Stone House (Hamptonburgh, NY), located on "Sarah Wells Trail."
Schedule: Business meeting at 12:00 PM, followed by a basket luncheon at 1:00 PM.
Activities: An antique show benefit for the Stone House and the First Presbyterian Church of Hamptonburgh was also scheduled for August 13–15.
Financial Status & Management
The Association was facing a "crisis" due to a decline in subscriptions during the Depression.
Treasurer’s Report: Total receipts for 1935–1936 were $606.53, while disbursements totaled $1,356.02. Major expenses included plumbing/bathroom installation ($590.00) and redecorating the Stone House ($207.12).
Membership Concerns: Treasurer Ernest M. Bull noted that only 37 out of 400 members had contributed financially. He warned that without increased participation, the Association would fall into debt and might be forced to sell the Stone House.
Endowment: A small endowment existed ($2,989.36), but by rule, it could not be spent.
Operational Changes
Caretakers: Charles B. Howell, who had managed the Stone House since 1933, was vacating the property. The Board was actively searching for a successor to live there rent-free in exchange for maintenance.
Officers: * Vice-President: Amy Bull Crist
Treasurer: Ernest M. Bull
Secretary: Robert McLeod Jackson
Gifts: The Association received three shares of bank stock from the late President Albert C. Bull and a $100 bequest for the Endowment Fund from Theodore DeWitt Moore.
Community Focus
The documents emphasize family continuity, specifically encouraging "the older ones" to pass on traditions to the youth. Provisions were made for children's entertainment at the picnic, arranged by librarians from Columbia University.
