Collett-McKays' 61st Picnic

     The 61st annual picnic of the Collett-McKay families, which occurred Saturday, August 13, at the Collett-McKay picnic grounds near New Burlington, goes recorded as a very delightful and pleasurable social event with 235 in attendance. The term "picnic" applied always to this event, implies the fact that the program of the day is purely social, no business matters to take the attention of the families-represented, a day of visiting, of feasting and a happy meeting with relatives.
     Each of the 61 reunions has been favored by the Weather Man and the 1927 picnic was no departure from this rule, as it passed into history with clear skies although rain threatened in the morning, discouraging a number from attending.
     A bounteous dinner was spread on the rustic tables provided in this beautiful location, a pretty sugar camp, in a space of four acres, the property of the family, set apart for the annual reunion, and located in the northwest corner of Clinton County, in close proximity of Warren, Greene and Clinton Counties, where the family connections are largely in residence, Always on the same date, always at the same location, the Collett-McKay picnic is one of the most largely attended reunions and attracts the most interest of any of the large number of family reunions scheduled in this vicinity each year.
     Presiding in his usual position, at the coffee pot, at noon was, the well-known colored man, Hiram Poor, of Harveysburg. He was greeted by his many friends, and was among the first to arrive at the grounds to arrange for the welcome of the family, in which he served, during the younger years of his life. For 38 years, Mr. Poor has had the steady job of making the coffee for the picnic dinner, and although employed at present on a railroad, the faithful servant was given this day off duty, and was at his post beside the coffee pot, one of the most interested guests at the family reunion.
     A large number was in attendance from out of the State and many miles distant. There are those who plan annual visits at this season, that they may be in this vicinity at the time for the picnic.
     Among those registering from at distance were Louis Magee, Mr. Clapper, Mr and Mrs. Rcbert Collett, Mr. and Mrs. Guy Collett, all of Dayton; Plez Maurice Gastineau and family, of Sidney; Dr. Harvey Collett of Toledo; John Browning and family, Fanny Browning, Charles McCoy and family, of Washington C. H.; Mrs. W. C. McCune and daughter, Virginia, of Kokomo, Ind.: Bessie McCune and Helen Collett, of Wichita. Kans.;

(Provided courtesy of Mary Lou Inwood.)

EXPECT OVER 300 TO COME TO COLLETT-MCKAY ANNUAL PICNIC

EVENT NEXT SATURDAY IS 61ST REUNION OF MEMBERS OF TWO FAMILIES

     More than 300 persons are expected at the Collett-McKay picnic grounds near New Burlington Saturday, August 13, for the 61st annual reunion of members of these two pioneer families in Clinton County, who have assembled annually on that spot the second Saturday in August for nearly three-quarters of a century.
     Two members of the family connection, Mrs. Mary Frances Nickerson McKay, widow of Robert Collett; and Frank Collett, of New Burlington, are expected to be accorded high honors at this year's reunion, providing they attend, inasmuch as they are the only surviving members of the family connection who have not missed an annual reunion since the custom was inaugurated 61 years ago.
     The late B. Y. Collett, who died at his home near Harveysburg last year had not missed a single reunion until last year, when ill health presaging death kept him away. The late Ben Collett, brother of Miss Bertha Collett, of Wilmington, who died some years ago, had the unique distinction of having attended the first picnic of the Collett-McKay series the year of his birth, and of not having missed one of the annual events throughout the length of his life.
     The Collett-Mckay picnic annually brings together members of these two families from all points of the compass, from the northern and southern parts of the United States, as far west as Kansas, and as far east as New York City.
     No invitations are sent out to the affair, no plans are made, there are no committees. The families, as with a homing instinct, turn in August of each year toward Clinton County and their annual picnic, and each year finds the same families represented. The ranks of attendants are thinned only by death, and replenished only by births and marriages, since the picnic is reserved almost exclusively to members of the family. Rare exceptions are occasionally made, however, in the case of family friends of such long and affectionate standing that they are regarded as being affiliated in spirit with the Collett-McKay families.
     The gigantic old family record book will again be in place on its particular stump at the picnic ground Saturday, to receive the personally affixed signature of the picnic attendants; Hiram Poor, Harveysburg colored man, and long-time employee of the Collett family, will be there presiding over the great coffee pot which is a fixture at the picnic dinners; it is assured that the families will be there; and all that is needed, it is said, is the splendid weather with which the Collett-McKay picnics are usually favored, to make the 61st annual meeting the most enjoyable of the entire series to date.

     The sixty-first annual Collett-McKay picnic will be held at the usual place, Saturday, Aug. 13, it is announced.