Name/Title
Bull Picnic Aug 28, 1965 "The Times Herald" & Sept 1, 1954 "The Evening News"Entry/Object ID
000534Tags
Bull PicnicScope and Content
Aug 28-1965 THE TIMES RECORD
[Newspaper Header in the top-right clipping:]
THE EVENING NEWS 3B-
Wed., Sept. 1, 1965
Clipping 1: Main Article (The Times Herald Record)
Fried chicken, ripe, red August tomatoes, potato salad, and dozens of other truly American foods load down the table at the annual Bull family picnic. Mr. and Mrs. Louis Brown and their son, Bill, look over the variety. The Browns live in the Stone House where the picnic was held. --TH-Record photo by Chris Farlekas.
Orange family picnic draws 300 relatives By CHRIS FARLEKAS
HAMPTONBURGH
More than 300 descendants of William Bull and Sarah Wells -- forebearers of one of Orange County's oldest families -- gathered Saturday for their 98th annual reunion.
To the famed Bull stone house in Hamptonburgh streamed relatives from Arizona, California, Vermont, Indiana, and other points of the compass, including Saudi Arabia.
Vacations by members of the Bull clan are planned to allow them to attend this annual affair. The reunion dates back to the time the clan met to dedicate a monument at the grave sites of William and Sarah, whose marriage in 1718 was the first between white settlers in this area.
The stone house at Hamptonburgh was one of several constructed in this area by William Bull and his sons. Probably the most famous building they constructed however, is Hasbrouck House used by George Washington as his headquarters from 1782-83.
The mind easily flicks back images of history when a tour is taken of the stone house. The lives of the people in the Bull family are revealed in the mementos left behind. A fan tells of a bit of beauty in the pioneer land. Artificial flowers that are still fresh-looking after a century denote brightness in a Victorian era.
The two most poignant remains, however, are a wedding dress and a scarlet soldier's tunic.
The wedding dress is the one worn by Sarah. The white has faded to the color of twilight gold, but the flowers and other embroidered decorations in the gown are distinct. The dress may have been the only luxury the young girl had in the wilderness. She lived to be 102 and had 12 children, 98 grandchildren, 212 great-grandchildren, and 13 great-great-grandchildren.
During the War of Independence there was a family split. One son left for Canada to remain a British subject. He was shot during one of the battles with his neighbors. The scarlet coat he wore with the bullet hole still frayed is part of the family collection.
The history of Orange County would be different without Sarah and William. This hard-working couple were God-fearing people who literally believed that "by the sweat of your brows shall bread be brought forth, and by the labors of your hands shall the land prosper."
The wild land needed the Bulls. The dangers they faced by wars and Indian attacks required stout hearts. All of this lively history was recalled Saturday.
In the afternoon officers for the coming year were elected. Chester Roe of New Windsor was named president. He will be assisted by Andrew Wilson, III, of Scarsdale, vice president; Henry P. Bull of Middletown, treasurer; and Mrs. Emma McWhorter of Highland Mills, secretary.
Clipping 2: Side Column (The Evening News)
300 Attend Picnic of Bull Family
HAMPTONBURGH -- About 300 persons attended the annual picnic and business meeting Saturday of the Bull Family at the Stone House here, according to Mrs. Emma McWhorter of Highland Mills, secretary.
The family is descended from William and Sarah Wells Bull, early settlers of Orange County. More than 2,600 families received invitations, Mrs. McWhorter said.
Elected to office on the board of managers were Chester Roe, New Windsor, president; Andrew Wilson Jr., Scarsdale, vice president; Mrs. McWhorter, secretary, and Henry P. Bull, Middletown, treasurer.
Elected trustees for three-year terms were Mrs. Genevieve Decker Nave, Montgomery; Mrs. Charles Radzinsky, Middletown; James W. Link, Elsmere, N.Y. and Louis E. Brown of the Stone House. Mr. Bull was elected a trustee for two years.
Ribbons were awarded to Linda Loeb of Saudi Arabia for coming the greatest distance; Melanie Joy Brown of Warwick, born Oct. 23, 1964, as the youngest member, and Silas B. Patterson, 92, of Monroe, oldest member.