Name/Title
75th Annual Bull Family Picnic - August 26, 1942Entry/Object ID
002171Tags
William Bull and Sarah Wells Stone House Association, Bull PicnicScope and Content
This document is the official program and report for the 75th Anniversary of the Bull Picnic, held on August 26, 1942, at the historic Stone House in Hamptonburgh, New York.
The meeting served as an annual gathering for the William Bull and Sarah Wells Family Association, a group dedicated to preserving the history and property of their pioneering ancestors.
Key Highlights and Anniversary Plans
War Impact: The circular notes that World War II forced a scale-back of celebrations. A planned historical pageant was canceled due to young men being in service, gasoline shortages, and the prohibition of rehearsals.
The Picnic: Despite the war, the family maintained the tradition of meeting at the Stone House. Attendees were asked to bring their own food ("enough for supper"), while coffee was provided by Mrs. Brown of the Stone House.
Service Recognition: A significant portion of the meeting was dedicated to documenting family members serving in the Armed Forces. Members were asked to send names and details to Miss Jean S. Hoeffler.
Association Business and Property
Property Report: The Stone House farm was reported to be in good repair, with recent improvements including a new porch floor and a new platform for the well and cistern.
Financials: The Treasurer’s Report (submitted by Ernest M. Bull) shows a total balance of $3,876.15 in the Endowment Fund. The Association also encouraged members to buy War Bonds to support both the country and the future care of the Stone House.
Leadership: * President: Amy Bull Crist
Secretary: Robert McLeod Jackson
Genealogist: Miss Dolly W. Booth
"Certain Introductions"
The document features a "Who’s Who" of prominent family members at the time, highlighting their literary and professional achievements:
Edmund Wilson: Noted critic and author of To the Finland Station.
Imogene Wolcott: Radio broadcaster of the program "Dear Imogene."
Craig Thompson: A correspondent for the New York Times.
Mary McCarthy: Novelist and wife of Edmund Wilson, who had just published The Company She Keeps.
Literary Inclusion
The back page includes a poem titled "Trainer" by Inez Barclay Kirby, which had been previously published in the Washington Post and New York Tribune. The poem uses the metaphor of taming wild beasts to describe the power and discipline of using words.
