Name/Title
Bull Picnic August 29, 1952Entry/Object ID
000506Tags
Bull PicnicScope and Content
The Port Jervis Union-Gazette, Friday, August 29, 1952.
SARAH WELLS BULL FAMILY REUNION
HELD AT STONE HOUSE ON WEDNESDAY
Once a year, on August's last Wednesday, members of the William Bull and Sarah Wells Family Association, Inc., meet at the "Old Stone Bull House" (on the Sarah Wells Trail, just beyond the Hamptonburgh Grange Hall
and the Hamptonburgh Cemetery) which William Bull finished
building in 1722. Little knew William and Sarah as Sarah gathered stones in her flaxen apron to help build those wide walls of her new home that
hundreds of their children of the 7 and 8 generations would come
each year now to the "Old Stone Bull House" to hold a family business session, eat dinner together on the green lawn under the tall
old trees, between the "Stone House" and the barn on the hill,
which William Bull and his sons built even before the house, and
spend the rest of the day telling each other from which of the
twelve children of William and Sarah they came.
The twelve were John, William II, Sarah, Thomas, Isaac,
Esther, Mary, Margaret, Catherine, Ann, Richard and Eleanor.
About 300 of their descendants were at the reunion and picnic
this year; 30 were there for the first time. Mrs. Samuel Bull Green of
Stony Ford, who will be 89 years old on September 12, received
the blue ribbon as the oldest member present. The youngest
was 4 1/2 months and the farthest away came from Hawaii.
From Oakville, Calif., came a gift of a box that belonged to
Sarah Wells, a mahogany box which she brought from England.
It is displayed in a glass case in the "Stone House". So are her
wedding dress and many other precious gifts. The picture of Sarah and
William's great grandson, Sam. W. Eager, the writer of Eager's History of Orange County, and a cup and saucer which belonged
to his wife, Catherine MacAuley, of Newburgh, and which has the
MacAuley Coats of Arms in beautiful colors painted on the saucer,
are also in the same case. Other gifts of money were given this year and much loving care has been taken of the old home by the Board of Managers
and Louis Brown, his wife, Corinne Bull Brown, their sons, who
live in the Stone House, which has been always in the family,
and always lived in by the family since 1722. The family secretary, Robert
McLeod Jackson, Miss Dolly Booth, of Warwick, who keeps
the data of several thousand names recorded in our family
genealogy, and many other members do very much to make the
day always a thrill.
[Top Right Photo Caption]
HONORED BY GRANGE - Mrs. Charles Thew (left) and Harry
Bull are shown with Mrs. Ruth B. Thew, master of Hampton-
burgh Grange, after being recognized for their long years of
Grange membership during the Hamptonburgh group's 50th
anniversary celebration in the Grange Hall last night. Mrs. Thew,
mother-in-law of the Hamptonburgh Grange master, has been in
the Grange 51 years, the first 11 of them in the Washingtonville
Grange. Mr. Bull was the only charter member of Hamptonburgh
Grange attending the celebration.
[Right Article]
Hamptonburgh Grange
Marks 50th Birthday
HAMPTONBURGH-The Grange under has "done more for farm folk than
anything else," including the invention of new farm machinery and
the electrification of rural areas, Edwin H. Miner of Goshen, president of the Orange County Community College, told 250 members and guests of Hamptonburgh Grange at the group's 50th anniversary celebration in Grange Hall last night. Mr. Miner, principal speaker on the program, said that while technical and scientific improvements have made farming easier, the
Grange has provided the social environment which made it attractive as an occupation and has thus contributed to the growth of the farm population.
The college president observed that the Grange has lasted over
the years because its purpose has been primarily social, and not political, particularly in recent years. Pointing out that the Grange emphasized the importance of the family unit, he said it was one of the first organizations to admit women to membership on equal status with men, and one of the
few to which "young people" can belong on the same basis as adults.
Mr. Miner was introduced to the gathering by Allan J. Zabriskie,
supervisor of the Town of Hamptonburgh and chairman of the
Board of Supervisors. Earlier in the program, Mrs. Ruth B. Thew, master of Hamptonburgh Grange, observed that four charter members of the group
were still living, and that two of them were still active in Grange
activities. Those who are still active are Harry Bull of Campbell
Hall and Mrs. Carrie Coleman of Goshen. The other charter members, neither of whom is in the Grange any longer, are Clarence Howell of Boston and Jesse Brown. The only charter member attending last night's program was
Mr. Bull, a past master. Mrs. Thew noted that Mrs. Coleman was
confined to St. Luke's Hospital, Newburgh. Fifty-year sheaves were presented to Mr. Bull and to Mrs. Elise Thompson of Goshen, representing her sister, Mrs. Coleman, by Edward Hasbrouck of Goshen, deputy state master of the Grange. Also recognized for long years of Grange membership last night was
Mrs. Charles Thew, mother-in-law of the present Hamptonburgh master, who has been in the Grange for 51 years, starting her membership in the Washingtonville unit. The anniversary program got way after the opening
prayer by the chaplain, J. K. Egbertson of Campbell Hall, and
the singing of the national anthem and salute to the flag. Mrs. Thew
welcomed the gathering and introduced special guests. Among
those in attendance were G. Elmer Gregory of Goshen, master of
Pomona Grange, and Albin Karsten of Montgomery, past master
of Pomona. A number of past masters of Hamptonburgh Grange and
visiting Grange masters were also in attendance.
The history of the Grange was read by Miss Eleanor Farley.
Another message of commendation for the Hamptonburgh unit was
presented by Mr. Gregory, the Pomona master. Interspersed in
the program were musical selections by a three-piece orchestra
including David Hulle, Joanne Overton and Lewis Obolkovits;
duets by Mrs. Ruth Thew and Mrs. Hilda Russell, and duets by Mr.
and Mrs. Robert Tremper.