Name/Title
1943? Bull Picnic "MIDDLETOWN TIMES HERALD"Entry/Object ID
000497Tags
Bull PicnicScope and Content
Seaman Back from Sicily
For Bull Family Reunion
HAMPTONBURGH-Nearly 150 dads, mothers, cousins, aunts,
grandparents, uncles and other relatives including Henry G. Perry, Jr., of Highland Falls, a Motor Machinist, second class in the
Navy who just returned from Sicily and Bizerte, attended the Seventy-
sixth Bull Family reunion at the Old Stone House yesterday.
In relating some of his experiences to the family Seaman Perry
told how the fleet mine sweeper on which he was stationed was
bombed by German planes the morning of the invasion of Sicily.
After a three-hour soaking in Mediterranean waters, he was picked
up by a U. S. PT boat. From his ship there were nine dead, one
missing and twenty-seven wounded.
The old homestead, now the residence of Mr. and Mrs. Louis
Brown, with its wide plank floors, its thick stone walls and its quaint
kitchen was built in 1722 and has been the scene of this Orange
County family's reunions for twenty-five years.
Picnic Luncheon
An all-day affair, the gathering began with a big picnic luncheon
on tables under the trees surrounding the homestead. This was
followed by a business meeting at which new officers for the family
association were elected. Henry Bull, Middletown lawyer, was elected president; Hamlet S. Roe of Chester, vice president and Robert
Jackson of Campbell Hall, secretary. Ernest Bull of Washingtonville who has been treasurer for twenty-three years was unable to attend. He was reelected, however as a member of the Board of Directors along with Henry P. Bull. Alfred Booth of Campbell Hall was elected to succeed Charles W.
Slaughter of Warwick on the same board. Mrs. Amy Bull Crist of
Montgomery, past president of the association is also a board member.
Perry told how the Italians were waiting to greet American soldiers
on invasion day. He said the Italians were on hand with their suitcases packed, their accordions slung over their shoulders and their
bottles of wine ready for celebration. He told of the German and
Italian prisoners. Italians were friendly and docile while Germans
were stiff and sullen. The German prisoners, he said, pleaded with
authorities to change their French guards. It seems the French would
give food and water to the German prisoners last. German prisoners
preferred American guards.
Nothing to Buy
He said that the people on the African coast had money but
nothing to buy with it. The young sailor who has managed to see a
good share of the Mediterranean war in his eighteen months service is the son of Henry G. Perry of Highland Falls. He is home on a thirty-day furlough.
During the meeting communications were read from various
members of the family who were unable
to attend. Mrs. Elizabeth Bull Green of Stony Ford and Sydney
received a book in recognition of the fact that she had attended
every Bull picnic since the custom started.
Children of the family spent the afternoon waiting in line in the
old barn for rides on the pony, Billy Burke, a twelve-year-old
belonging to Dixie Anne Booth of Warwick. Billy has won many blue
ribbons as Grand Champion Pony at the Orange County Fair and she
and her one-year-old colt, Burke's Victory were the popular attraction
for the children.
Many guests stayed for supper. One group, organized by Robert
Jackson of Campbell Hall rode to the reunion and back again to
Goshen on a hay wagon with a horse team.
[Clipping 2: Right Image & Caption]
MIDDLETOWN TIMES HERALD, MIDDLETOWN, N. Y., THURS
New Officers of Bull Family Association
[Photograph of six adults standing and one infant sitting on the grass in the foreground]
New officers of the Bull Family Association, elected at the seventy-sixth annual reunion yesterday at the old Stone House, the Bull family home at Campbell Hall, are, left to right, Henry Bull, Middletown lawyer, president; Mrs. Amy Bull Crist of Montgomery, past president and member of the board
of managers; Alfred Booth of Campbell Hall, new Board member; Hamlet S. Roe of Chester, vice president; and Robert Jackson of Campbell Hall, secretary. In the foreground sits Mrs. King David Bull,
of Monroe, ninety-three, oldest member at the gathering holding the youngest member of the family, Diane Elizabeth Gregory, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. G. Elmer Gregory of Goshen.- Photo by Chorley.