Name/Title
77th Annual Bull Family Picnic - August 30, 1944Entry/Object ID
002173Tags
William Bull and Sarah Wells Stone House Association, Bull PicnicScope and Content
This document is a program and annual report for the 77th Annual Bull Picnic, held on August 30, 1944, at the historic Stone House in Hamptonburgh, New York. It serves as a record for the William Bull and Sarah Wells Family Association during the height of World War II.
Below is a summary of the key sections and reports:
Event Details & Logistics
Location: The Stone House on the Sarah Wells Trail, approximately four miles from Goshen.
Atmosphere: The text reflects a somber, wartime tone, noting that "simplest occasions fare best in times of war" and expressing hope that family members currently in service might return by the following year.
Schedule: Basket luncheons began at noon, followed by an official business meeting at 2:00 PM and a communal supper.
Wartime Service & Memorials
A significant portion of the report honors family members affected by the war:
Killed in Action: Includes Samuel Bull Stone (North Africa, 1942), Lieut. Wilfred J. Funk, Jr. (North American area, 1943), Ensign Butler Whiting, Jr. (Florida, 1943), Lieut. Col. William L. Nave (France, 1944), and Robert Romanelli (died of injuries during training, 1944).
Missing in Action: Clifford F. Bull, a Distinguished Flying Cross recipient with the RAF, was reported missing in February 1944.
In Memoriam: A special tribute is paid to Ernest M. Bull, the association's first and only Treasurer until his death in 1943, credited with the association's stable financial condition.
Property & Family Reports
The Stone House: The property committee reported that the farm was rented out and the house was in "immaculate condition" thanks to custodians Mr. and Mrs. Louis E. Brown.
Genealogy: Dolly W. Booth served as the family genealogist, collecting data on births, marriages, and deaths to maintain family records.
Suggestions: Family members proposed creating a library shelf for books written by relatives and striving to acquire more colonial-era furniture for the Stone House.
Financial Standing
The association maintained a healthy financial position despite the war:
General Fund: Ended the year with a balance of $647.26 after disbursements for taxes and significant furniture repairs ($600.19).
Endowment Fund: Held a balance of $4,155.66, consisting of bank deposits, bank stock, and a U.S. Savings Bond.
Leadership (1944)
President: Henry P. Bull
Vice President: Hamlet S. Roe
Secretary: Robert McLeod Jackson
Assistant Secretary: Margaret McClung Wilcox
