Name/Title
141st Bull Family Annual PicnicEntry/Object ID
000644Tags
William Bull and Sarah Wells Stone House AssociationScope and Content
Event Overview
What: The 141st annual gathering of over 300 descendants of the William Bull and Sarah Wells pioneer family.
When & Where: Saturday, August 16, 2008, held at the historic 1722 William Bull Stone House in Hamptonburgh, New York.
History: What began as a family gathering for the unveiling of an obelisk gravestone marker in 1868 has successfully taken place every year since.
Activities & Highlights
Reunion Traditions: Descendants made a pilgrimage to the homestead to tour the stone house and grounds, socialize with cousins, hold an association business meeting, and enjoy a picnic lunch.
Fundraising: To support the Stone House Association, 154 barbecue chicken plates were sold. Bill Cardone, a cousin by marriage, prepared the chicken using an old Bull family recipe.
Special Guest Speaker: Graham Skea, former Commissioner of Orange County Parks, spoke about his long-standing friendship with the family and his deep respect for them.
State Support: Senator William Larkin was recognized for helping secure a $25,000 state grant to help replace the ailing roof of the property's historic 1718 New World Dutch Barn.
Storytelling: Professional storyteller Eileen Stelljes shared the local legend of Sarah Wells' arrival on the Wawayanda Patent.
Blue Ribbon Award Winners
As is family tradition, blue ribbons were awarded to recognize notable attendees:
Furthest Traveled: A family member traveling from San Diego, California.
Oldest Female: Marion Strebel, a resident of Glen Arden in Goshen, who celebrated her 100th birthday on August 19.
Oldest Male: 92 years old.
Youngest Female: 6 months old.
Youngest Male: 2 months old.