(Provided courtesy of Mary Lou Inwood.)

Collett and McKay Picnic.

     Saturday, August 14, was the 54th annual Collett-McKay picnic.
     In all the 54 gatherings rain has never materially interfered with the occasion. The dinner has always been spread at the annual hour. Last Saturday, perhaps was as nearly being a time when the people were more concerned about the weather than any previous time in the existence of the picnics.
     At 3 o'clock it thundered and looked like rain and about half started for home. The cloud divided and the people drove right into the rain while it was clear at the picnic grounds.
     These gatherings are called picnics because they began years ago before the term family reunion was used, and they are still picnics because they are conducted in the same way in which they started--no program, no speeches, no election of officers, no setting of date or choosing a place, but merely going to the same woods, on the second Saturday of August of each year.
     The picnic woods is on Buck Run, not far from New Burlington, in the neighborhood where many of the Colletts and McKays live, being halfway between Andersons Fork, where the McKays live, and Jonahs Run, where the Colletts have their homes.
     It is in the northwestern part of Clinton County, in close proximity to Warren and Clinton Counties, where many of the name are found. The woods is a beautiful sugar camp on the farm of the late Daniel McKay Collett, a gift to him from his father and mother, who were the second ones to unite by marriage the Collett and McKay families. D. M. Collett was for many years the leading spirit of these occasions being a fine combination of the best characteristics of the two families.
     The usual number was present last Saturday--about 360. A large book in which every one registers each year is always present and was started in 1885. Horace W. Collett, Edwin S. Collett, B. Y. Collett and Mary Frances McKay were there last Saturday, as they never missed a picnic in the 54 years. Hiram Poor, a colored man, has been making the coffee for 30 years and he was at his post last Saturday. The coffee is made in two large kettles hung on poles over a blazing fire as in "ye olden time."
     There is an air of freeness about the occasions as there is no particular host or hostess as it is in a big woods instead of at a home, everybody feels at home and no one has to do the honors.
     Among some of those present from a distance, that is outside of the above mentioned counties were: Robert Collett, Dayton; Charles Clapper and family, Dayton; Louie Magee and family, Springfield; John Browning and sister, Washington C. H.; Charles McCoy and wife, Washington C. H.; Frank McKay, Logan, Martha, Grace and Ellen McCune, Granville; Elston McCune, Columbus; Joshua Collett and wife and daughter, Elizabeth, Columbus; Daniel Collett and family, of Middletown; Mrs. Jennie McCune and daughter, Virginia, of Kokomo, Ind.; Mrs. Daniel Wood, Missouri; Myra Wood, Greeley, Colo.; Bessie McCune, Wichita, Kan.; Joshua Inwood, South Bend, Ind.; Mrs. George Collett, Chicago; Mr. and Mrs. Hugh Collett, Ottawa, Kan.; Willard Yeo, San Diego, Calif.

     The 54th annual Collett-McKay picnic will be held at the usual place Saturday, August 14. The picnic is always held the second Saturday in August. Already several members of the families from a distance have arrived and will attend the picnic.

     The 54th annual Collett-McKay picnic will be held at the usual place and the usual time, the second Saturday in August--the 14th.