Name/Title
127th Bull Family Annual PicnicEntry/Object ID
000627Tags
William Bull and Sarah Wells Stone House AssociationScope and Content
Overview of the Reunion
Event: The 127th annual Bull Family Reunion, which also celebrated the 300th birthday of family matriarch Sarah Wells.
Attendance: More than 350 descendants of William Bull and Sarah Wells (who were among the area's first settlers) gathered on August 20th. Attendees traveled from across the local region and as far away as Quebec, California, Florida, and Oklahoma.
Location: The historic Bull Stone House, built by William Bull in the early 1720s (1722).
The Association: A non-profit association of about 5,000 descendants maintains the historic homestead, organizes the annual reunions, and preserves the family's history.
Special Ribbons & Honors
Several attendees received special recognition at the reunion:
Oldest Man: Capt. William H. Hallock (93) of Washingtonville, NY.
Oldest Woman: Isabelle W. Taylor (99) of Ridgebury, NY.
Longest Married: Raymond and Doris Bruyn of Thompson Ridge, NY (married 64 years).
First Arrival: Rodney and Shelley Zachary of Hutchinson, Canada.
Youngest Boy: Laverne Sessler III (16 days old) of Geneva, NY.
Youngest Girl: Sarah Becker (10 days old) of Rensselaer, NY.
Furthest Traveled: Jim, Pierson, and Emily Brownell of Menlo Park, CA (traveled over 3,000 miles).
Homestead Updates & Key People
Chairperson: Sarah Wells Bement Luongo (a 9th-generation descendant) served as the chairperson for the reunion.
Homestead Residents: Betty and Mike Brown reside in the 272-year-old Bull Homestead.
Renovations: The historic home recently underwent renovations, including a remodeled kitchen and refinished floors. The updated kitchen blends modern appliances and cabinets with the home's original fireplace and floorboards.
Notable Guest: Amy Crist, a beloved local teacher of over 50 years, made a special effort to attend despite having been ill since June.
Page 2 of the Orange County Post, published on Tuesday, August 18, 1992. It is a photo-journalistic feature covering the Sarah Wells and William Bull Family Reunion.
The page highlights key moments and notable attendees of the historic Orange County family reunion:
A large group photo depicting "The entire Bull family" gathered outdoors.
William Hallock (age 92 1/2), recognized with a ribbon as the oldest male family member.
Christine Marie Pallassino (age 5 weeks), awarded a ribbon for being the youngest family member present.
Josephine Royce (age 91), receiving a ribbon for being the oldest female family member.
Mildred Parker Seese, receiving a Certificate of Membership in the Bull Family Association (shown in a partially cut-off bottom-right photo).
