Name/Title
90th Annual Bull Family Picnic - August 24, 1957Entry/Object ID
002186Tags
William Bull and Sarah Wells Stone House Association, Bull PicnicScope and Content
This 1957 newsletter and invitation for the 90th Annual Bull Picnic serves as a fascinating snapshot of the William Bull and Sarah Wells Family Association.
The synopsis can be broken down into four main pillars:
1. The Event and Tradition
The picnic was held on August 24, 1957, at the Bull Stone House (built 1722) in Hamptonburgh, NY. A major point of discussion was the permanent shift of the picnic from Wednesday to Saturday. While the Wednesday tradition dated back to 1873, the board decided to prioritize modern work schedules so more family members could attend.
2. Family Achievements
The document highlights the "success stories" of specific members to foster family pride:
Mrs. Edward J. Bull: Celebrated as the 1957 Maine Mother of the Year, having raised a massive family of 13 children.
Frances Wyatt: A professional lyric soprano and actress who appeared on national television (The Voice of Firestone) and off-Broadway.
International Ties: Recognition of the "Canadian branch" of the family in New Brunswick, descendants of a Loyalist captain.
3. Genealogical Preservation
A primary mission of the Association was the documentation of their lineage.
The Genealogy Project: The Treasurer was actively raising a $2,000 fund to publish the family history in installments in the local newspaper.
Graveyard Conservation: The text recounts the 1938 effort to move ancestral headstones from a farm—where they were being damaged by cattle—to the protected Neelytown Graveyard.
4. Financial Stewardship
The final pages provide a transparent look at the Association’s "corporate" health:
Endowment & Bequests: The family was well-funded, reporting over $8,100 in savings (a significant sum in 1957). This was bolstered by large memorial gifts, including a $3,000 bequest.
Maintenance: Funds were used for the practical upkeep of the historic Stone House, including paying school taxes and a $500 repair bill for the chimney.
Summary of Officers
The Association was a formal operation led by Rev. Charles Beattie Thompson (President) and Henry P. Bull (Treasurer), supported by a board of managers from various towns across Orange County, NY.
