Name/Title
78th Annual Bull Family Picnic - August 29, 1945Entry/Object ID
002174Tags
William Bull and Sarah Wells Stone House Association, Bull PicnicScope and Content
This document is a formal announcement and financial report for the 78th Annual Bull Picnic, a reunion of the William Bull and Sarah Wells Family Association. Held on August 29, 1945, at the historic Stone House in Hamptonburgh, New York, the circular reflects a family transitioning from the hardships of World War II.
Here is a summary of the key sections:
Military Honors and Memorials
The 1945 meeting was heavily marked by the toll of the war. The Association honored three specific family members:
Pvt. Arthur P. Barton: Killed in action in France (August 1944).
2d Lieut. John B. Kernochan: Died in May 1945 due to conditions following 18 months in a Nazi prison camp (Stalag Luft Three).
2d Lieut. Peter Clinch: Reported missing in action in the Pacific (December 1944).
Organizational Governance
The Association proposed several amendments to their By-laws, focusing on:
Expanding the eligibility of officers (allowing the election of more Vice-Presidents and Assistant Treasurers).
Establishing a Nominating Committee to manage the selection of managers.
Implementing term limits (prohibiting managers from being re-elected to an "immediately successive term").
Financial Status
The Acting Treasurer, E. Myron Bull, provided a detailed account of the Association's finances:
Operating Funds: The Association held $676.25 in the Citizens Bank of Monroe. Major expenses included taxes ($142.33) and maintenance like "bulldozing [the] pond" ($100.00).
Endowment Fund: Valued at $4,543.25, supported by bank dividends, mortgage interest, and legacies left by deceased members.
Fundraising: There was an urgent call for donations to cover "pointing and gutter repair" for the Stone House, as early 1945 subscriptions were lower than previous years.
Event Logistics & Leadership
Activities: The day included a business meeting at 2:00 PM, "basket luncheons" at noon, and a shared supper.
Leadership: Henry P. Bull served as President, with Robert McLeod Jackson as Secretary. The document also notes that Mr. and Mrs. Louis E. Brown were the residents living at the Stone House at the time.
Call for Information: The Secretary requested updates on any family marriages, births, or deaths, as well as the names of any members currently serving in the armed forces.
