Name/Title
153rd Annual Bull Picnic August 1, 2020Entry/Object ID
002250Tags
Bull Picnic, William Bull and Sarah Wells Stone House AssociationScope and Content
This edition of the newsletter, published in May 2020, primarily addresses the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the Bull family’s historic operations.
The 153rd Annual Reunion: Transitioning to a virtual format for the first time in its history (which dates back to 1867) due to New York State lockdown restrictions.
Historical Parallels: The President’s letter notes that the family persevered through the 1918 Spanish Flu pandemic and includes a 100-year-old letter from 1920 regarding the purchase of the Bull Stone House.
New Caretaker: Julie Boyd Cole introduces herself as the new caretaker of the homestead, moving in during November 2019.
Volunteer Spotlight: Sarah Brownell is honored for her extensive work on the family genealogy and the book Sarah, An American Pioneer.
Association Business: Acknowledgment of long-time president Todd Vandervort’s 25 years of service and a list of donors for the fiscal year.
Donations and Memorials: A comprehensive list of contributions made in honor or memory of Bull family descendants.
COVID-19 Response: Trustee Barbara Sylk reflects on the resilience of ancestors during the pandemic and praises the work of caretaker Julie Boyd Cole.
Genealogy and Archiving: Genealogist Judy Wood reports reaching a milestone of 93,000+ names in the family database. Marc Nozell provides an update on the digitization of historical documents, including 19th-century certificates.
Property Maintenance: Chairperson Bice Wilson details extensive restoration work, including electrical grounding, drainage improvements, and the installation of bat boxes by a local Boy Scout.
Financials: The fiscal year 2018-2019 report shows a net operating income of $8,038, though "Other" expenses (repairs and restoration) led to a total net decrease of $10,678.
