Name/Title
63rd Annual Bull Family Picnic, August 30. 1930Entry/Object ID
002768Tags
William Bull and Sarah Wells Stone House AssociationScope and Content
Event Highlights & Venue Updates
The Old Barn: The highlight of the 1930 picnic was holding the dance in the historic family barn (built around 1724 by William Bull and Sarah Wells). After a previous attempt to dance at the Stone House divided the party, the managers reroofed the barn and laid a new walnut floor over the original planks for this event.
The "Slippery" Floor: Amusingly, before the musicians arrived, several young boys waxed the floor so thoroughly that it became a hazard, requiring it to be partially covered in sawdust to make it usable.
Grounds & Comfort: The grounds were highly praised, featuring four new, long tables and benches built at no cost to the association. Thanks to the generosity of Messrs. W. D. Van Vliet & Son, 100 comfortable chairs were provided, ensuring everyone had a seat.
š¶ The "Baby Show" & Family Traditions
A major feature of the day was the presentation of several newborn babies named "Bull."
Harry Culver Bull: The young son of Harry Bull of Hamptonburgh was presented in person to the assembly.
Other infants presented to the crowd included June Bull Carpenter, Dixia Anne Booth, Franklin Fish, Jr., Marianna Millie Mulford, Mary Rae Johnson, William Eager Burnett, and Margaret Ringiahan.
The Long-Distance Ribbon: The president awarded the long-distance blue ribbon to Robin Hasluck Campbell, who traveled all the way from Hong Kong, China.
Historic Quilt: A red and white feathered star quilt, made in 1853 by Elizabeth Bull, was exhibited by Misses Sarah M. and Mary Jordan of Thompson Ridge.
š„ Association Business & Greetings
Elections: Hamlet S. Roe and Frances A. Roe were re-elected as managers, and Jesse F. Zabriskie was chosen as a new board member. The board re-elected its officers: Hamlet S. Roe (President), Lillian Bull Wait (Vice-President), Ernest M. Bull (Treasurer), and Robert McLeod Jackson (Secretary).
Distinguished Attendees: Notable mentions included Mrs. Gardiner of Middletown, who at 92 years old joyfully witnessed the festivities from her car, and the Misses Sarah M. and Mary Jordan, who had never missed a picnic.
Greetings Sent: Messages were received from family members across the country and beyond, including South Carolina, New Brunswick (Canada), Buffalo, Phoenix, and New York City.
š Vital Statistics (Family Registry)
The article meticulously records the family's births, marriages, and deaths since the previous picnic (and adds a few missing from prior years):
š¶ Births
Prior to Last Picnic (1927ā1929): Records include births to the Matthews, Clarke, Franks, Eldred, Davis, Campbell, Belknap, Helme, and Hulse families.
Since 1929 Picnic: Births recorded for the Bull, Wilkin, Campbell, Beyea, Adams, Eager, Roe, Van Alst, Mould, Taylor, Smith, Vandervort, Brooks, and Wright families.
š Marriages
Prior to 1929 Picnic: Marriages dating from 1923 to early 1929, including Jenkins-Shuffer, Taber-Gladys, Hawkins-Clewell, Hewitt-Cann, Whitaker-Wagner, Smith-Smith, Jenkins-Drummond, Crist-Kimmerle, and Greer-Periseine.
Since 1929 Picnic: Marriages including Zabriskie-Quackenbush, Bull-Blandy, Miller-Watson, Clarke-Decker, Farnham-Allaby, Ivory-Taylor, Long-Ethel, Hill-Hill, Warner-Taber, Smith-Smith, Smith-Smith, Vandervort-Bull, Courter-Brooks, Wright-Wright, and several others.
ā±ļø Deaths
Prior to 1929 Picnic: Valentine (1927), Saunders (1928), Milliken (1929), and Bull (1929).
Since 1929 Picnic: Deaths recorded for Noyes, Beyea, Beyea, Landon, Eager, Roe, Van Alst, Miller, Bowne, Milliken, Rogers, Bull, Beyea, Moore, Perley, Kierstead, Andrews, Sweet, Eager, Chamberlain, and Jackson.
šµ Conclusion of the Day: The reunion concluded with Mrs. Alfred Booth Roe leading the crowd in singing "My Country, 'Tis of Thee" for the opening, and "Auld Lang Syne" to close the historic gathering.