Two hundred and twenty-five persons attended the sixtieth annual reunion of the Collett-McKay families at the Collett-McKay picnic grounds near New Burlington last Saturday.

COLLETT---MCKAY
REUNION SATURDAY

     Members of the Collett-McKay family enjoyed the sixtieth annual reunion at the Collett-McKay picnic grounds, near New Burlington, Saturday. More than 225 persons, a number of whom were from out of the state, assembled in the morning for the picnic dinner.
     Hiram Poor, Harveysburg, who has been a servant in the Collett family for forty-five years, presided at the coffee urn. The afternoon was spent informally, renewing acquaintances and recalling pleasant memories.

(Provided courtesy of Kim Becker Price.)

Collett-McKays' 60th Picnic

     Basking, as it were, in the special favor of the Weather Man, whose cooperation has not failed them in 60 years, members of the Collett-McKay family enjoyed their 60th annual reunion at the Collett-McKay picnic grounds near New Burlington last Saturday. Although the sky looked threatening at 2:30 o'clock in the afternoon, so much so that the majority bade hasty farewell to one another and departed for their homes or to nearby towns, the threatened storm passed over with scarcely a trace of rain falling on the picnic grounds.
     More than 225 persons, a number of whom were from out of the State, had assembled at the grounds at 11 o'clock in the morning for the picnic dinner, served, as usual, on the substantial rustic tables that remain at the picnic grounds year after year.
     As usual, Hiram Poor, of Harveysburg, the well known colored man who has been a loyal servant of the Collett family for 45 years--since the time, when, as a young man, he entered the employ of the late Robert Collett--presided authoritatively at the great coffee pot, and served the delicious amber liquid of his own concoction to the hundreds for the picnic dinner. In the early days of the Collett-McKay picnics, it was Hiram's self-imposed duty to unhitch the teams of horses as they arrived with family groups, and to hitch them again as the groups prepared to depart. This year, however, there was but one horse-drawn conveyance at the picnic--and that was Hiram's own.
     Scarcely had the company finished signing the great family register which is annually brought forth for the inscription of names of those attending of the annual reunion, when threatening clouds obscured the sun, and sent the less courageous scurrying to cover, thus precluding the leisurely enjoyment of visiting which ever marks the afternoon hours of the Collett-McKays' annual reunions.
     Among those from out of the State who had arranged to be in Wilmington and vicinity the past week in anticipation of the picnic, and who attended the reunion on Saturday, were Mr. and Mrs. Joshua Collett and daughter, Miss Elizabeth, of Pittsburgh, Pa.; Mr. and Mrs. Daniel Collett, of Winnebago, Minn.; Mrs. Rebecca Nickerson, of Wichita, Kas.; and Ernest Collett of Chicago, III,
     Mrs. Mary Frances McKay and Horace W. Collett, of Harveysburg, were distinguished among the company as being the only members present who have never missed an annual Collett-McKay picnic.
     General regret was expressed at the absence from the reunion of B. Y. Collett, of Chester Township, who this year missed attending a Collett-McKay annual reunion for the first time. He is confined to his home by illness.

(Provided courtesy of Mary Lou Inwood.)

Collett-McKay Picnic Saturday

     So firmly established in the calendar of things is the Collett-McKay families' annual picnic, held the past 59 successive years at what has become known as the Collett-McKay picnic grounds near New Burlington, that it needs no proclaiming as the day approaches.
     As all concerned know, the picnic is held the second Saturday of August each year, and those privileged to attend arrange to do so without the formality of an invitation. Plans are already in the making for this year's picnic, and Colletts and McKays are expected here from far distant States and cities to visit with relatives before and after the picnic date--coming, however, especially for the family reunion.

     The sixtieth annual Collett-McKay picnic will be held at the usual place, Saturday, August 14, it is announced.