Name/Title
109th Bull Family Annual PicnicEntry/Object ID
000579Tags
William Bull and Sarah Wells Stone House AssociationScope and Content
Event Overview
What: The 109th Annual Bull Family reunion and picnic.
When: Held on a Saturday in late August 1976.
Where: The 120-acre family estate at Hamptonburgh, New York, featuring the 254-year-old Bull Stone House.
Attendance: An exceptionally large turnout of about 600 descendants attended the event, though typical annual turnouts range from 400 to 500 people.
Key Highlights & Activities
Bicentennial Celebration: Because 1976 marked the U.S. Bicentennial, attendees were invited to dress in colonial costumes. A Bicentennial Pageant and a Bicentennial Play were performed by the family's children, depicting historic milestones like Betsy Ross making the flag, the signing of the Declaration of Independence, and early American life (such as butter making and commercial tanning).
Honored Members:
Oldest Present: William Bull Cocks of Cornwall-on-Hudson, who was 91 years old.
Youngest Present: Rebecca Maney, born on April 11, 1976 (held by her mother).
Special Guest: Amy Bull Crist, a well-known educator in the Orange County area, served as the chairman of the Bicentennial festivities.
Entertainment & Recreation: The reunion featured group singing with the Bull Family Middletown band, pony rides, sports, games, and an artist sketching guests. Children also enjoyed horseback riding and games.
Museum Tour: About 200 descendants toured the Hill Hold museum after its recent renovations, following an introductory talk by Hill Hold Curator Robert Eurich.