Name/Title
127th Annual Bull Family Picnic - August 20, 1994Entry/Object ID
002224Tags
William Bull and Sarah Wells Stone House Association, Bull PicnicScope and Content
This newsletter the "Bull"-E-Tins details the 127th Annual Bull Picnic and Reunion, scheduled for August 20, 1994, at the historic William Bull and Sarah Wells Stone House in Hamptonburgh, New York.
The event was particularly significant as it celebrated the 300th anniversary of Sarah Wells' birth (born April 6, 1694), who was the first settler of the Wawayanda Patent.
Key Event Highlights
Location & Schedule: The picnic took place at the ancestral homestead. Registration began at 10:00 AM, followed by house tours, a family basket lunch at noon, and an annual business meeting at 1:00 PM.
Activities: The day included organized games for children, pony rides, horse-drawn wagon rides, and music by the Ramapo Fault String Band.
Kitchen Renovation: A major focus was the completion of a modern kitchen renovation in the basement level, designed to correlate with the 1722 architecture. This project uncovered historical artifacts and a cupboard dating back to 1790–1815.
Organization & Leadership
The William Bull and Sarah Wells Stone House Association, Inc. was led by the following officers in 1994:
President: Mary Jane Bull Sorrell
Vice President: Michael K. Brown
Secretary: Donald C. Bruyn
Treasurer: Frank Ebenezer Schuerholz
Genealogist: Jean Gaebe (who was actively digitizing family genealogy at the time)
Financial Summary (Fiscal Year 1992–1993)
The association reported a healthy financial standing, bolstered by significant bequests and contributions.
Total Income: $54,275.20 (Major sources: $25,840 in bequests and $13,218 in general contributions).
Total Expenses: $30,391.27 (Major costs: $14,621 for restoration and $8,210 for operations).
Heritage & Community
The newsletter emphasizes the family's deep roots in Orange County, noting that there were over 20,000 living members of the lineage at the time. It includes a section for memorial contributions honoring deceased family members and provides a map for "cousins" traveling to the site from nearby towns like Goshen and Middletown.
