Name/Title
88th Annual Bull Family Picnic - August 31, 1955Entry/Object ID
002184Tags
William Bull and Sarah Wells Stone House Association, Bull PicnicScope and Content
This four-page circular serves as both a formal invitation to the 88th Annual Bull Picnic and an annual report for the William Bull and Sarah Wells Family Association. It is a fascinating mix of family sentiment, historical preservation, and administrative business.
Here is a detailed breakdown of the contents:
1. The Invitation & Philosophical Appeal
The first section is dedicated to drawing family members back to the Bull Stone House (built 1722) in Hamptonburgh, NY.
The Date: Wednesday, August 31, 1955.
Target Audience: The text specifically addresses "cousins" who live nearby but haven't attended recently. It attempts to dispel the "natural human reaction" of staying away to avoid being asked for money.
The Emotional Hook: It frames the Stone House not just as a building, but as a "sense of anchorage" and "historic continuity," inviting descendants to imagine their ancestors living within those walls.
2. Practical Matters & "The Pocketbook"
The Association addresses its financial philosophy directly to ensure no one feels pressured:
No Mandatory Dues: They clarify that no one is required to pay to attend.
The Need for Funds: They do acknowledge that maintenance costs are rising, citing "Hurricane Hazel" as a cause for recent barn roof damage. Taxes, insurance, and repairs are funded solely by voluntary contributions from those who "feel it a privilege."
Logistics: The event features a Basket Luncheon (bring your own food) at noon and a Supper for those who work during the day and can only arrive later.
3. Notable Gifts & Memorials (1954–1955)
Several contributions are highlighted to show the growth of the Association's resources:
A New Flag: Given by Dr. Jennie Dean Beaver.
Literature: A copy of The Hudson Highlands (limited edition of 200 copies) was donated as a memorial to William Thompson Howell.
Endowment Gifts: Significant donations were made in memory of family members like Anna Leeper Jordan and Louis Kernochan.
A Major Bequest: A $500 gift was received from the estate of the late William T. Shearer of Bloomingburgh, NY.
4. The "Saturday" Controversy
A recurring theme in the family’s history is whether to move the picnic from its traditional last Wednesday in August to a Saturday to accommodate working members.
The report notes that a Saturday experiment was tried in 1934, 1935, and 1936, but was voted down because attendance actually decreased.
The board agreed to bring the topic up for discussion again but expressed caution based on past failure.
5. Genealogical & Publication Efforts
The Association is actively working to document its lineage:
Seriation: They plan to publish family data serially in the Independent Republican of Goshen.
Call for Data: The historian, Miss Dolly W. Booth, requested that members submit data specifically regarding the first five generations of the family to fill existing gaps in the record.
Subscription Model: They propose that if 200 family members subscribe to the newspaper at $4.00 a year, the serial publication could be sustained.
6. Financial Health & Leadership
The circular concludes with the Treasurer’s Report for the fiscal year ending June 30, 1955:
General Fund: Ended the year with $822.28, having generated income from rent and the sale of gravel to the county.
Endowment Fund: Holds a much larger balance of $7,119.46, largely kept in the Newburgh Savings Bank.
Leadership: The Association was led by Rev. Charles Beattie Thompson (President) and Henry P. Bull (Treasurer).
