(Provided courtesy of Mary Lou Inwood.)

82nd Annual Collett-McKay Picnic Is Held at Family Picnic Grounds

230 Register for Gathering in Chester Township, Saturday

     The annual Collett-McKay picnic, held Saturday, is one of the largest of family reunions in the community and one that has very much of tradition and interest. The picnic grounds, near New Burlington, in a setting of immense old trees, have been set aside for this annual gathering of two of the oldest pioneer families in Clinton, Greene and other nearby counties. The four acres set aside for this purpose is a part of a large beautiful sugar camp. Some of these trees were growing old and every few years one will fall to the ground. In 1924 Harry Nickerson took 20 young trees from his sugar camp woods and set them on the picnic grounds and at different times for several years would haul water from quite a distance to these young trees and then there were posts and boards placed about them for protection. Fifteen wonderful trees have survived and each year, now, the gathering is under these trees which are a memorial to Mr. Nickerson, who died April 1, 1947.
     Each year, members of these families come from far and near to enjoy a long day together and the proverbially large picnic dinner is served on three tables each 50 feet long.
     One tradition of the picnic is that it always commands perfect weather, and Saturday was another perfect day. No programs are given; no election of officers, or selecting a place for the following year takes place. The day is spent in visits with relatives and friends, who, because of the long distance which they live are perhaps only seen at these gatherings.
     Many attended from Dayton, Springfield, Cincinnati, Columbus and other places in the state as well as from greater distances.
     In all 230 registered. Among those from outside the state were William Dixson, Oklahoma; Mr. and Mrs. Richard E. Koeler and children, Dorothy and twins, Richard Jr., and Helen, of St. Albans, Long Island; Jacob Rowsey, Huntington, W. Va.; Jarianna R. Goodman, Virginia Beach, Va.; Janie, Sue, and Elma Franklin, Oklahoma.
     William Collett Tichenor, who died July 28, 1947, near Harveysburg, and for many years attended the picnics, in 1936, wrote the following poem:

"We meet again to tell of the Col-
          letts and McKays.
     The stories of our birth and blood,
          and tales of long past days.
A list of noble forebears stand out
          along the line
     From Bonny rugged Scotland and
          France's warmer clime;
For look in English History for An-
          drew McKay.
     The general of William of Orange on
          many victorious day.
And the Colletts, brave Huguenots,
          staid English refugees,
     Feared not for sake of principle to
          cross the narrow seas.
For, settled once in England, pledged
          to the Union Jack,
     They fought the papist foement and
          drove the Frenchmen back.
In many a bloody conflict they fought
          for what was right
     And drove from out of Ireland the
          papish Jacobite.
How boldly they fought them in water
          to the loin,
     Against their persecutors at the bat-
          tle of the Boyne.
How bravely they fought them his-
          torians proclaim
     For their fiercest enemies they
          gained a dreaded name.
And pioneers they came to Jonathan's
          welcoming shore
     To war 'gainst Britain's tyranny
          and tell their story o'er.
And when the war clouds gathered
          between the several States
     A Colonel McKay was ready our
          history relates.
A near-by shaft bears witness to loy-
          alty, courage too:
     The shaft tells half the story, in-
          spiring yet to you.
And yet in poring over the tales of
          Collett and McKay
     We find so much that's peaceful, all
          war thoughts pass away;
There are homely cheerful firesides
          where love and peace abound,
     Where welcoming hospitality was
          ever to be found.
No vain or false ambition strained
          them ever into strife
     Nor wrecked the quiet flowing of
          their peaceful, quiet life.
Their churches were the centers of the
          family life as well.
     And many a strange attendant did
          of their piety tell:
And jolly social gatherings, like one
          big family met.
     Became at times historic, today they
          they are so yet.
With all their pastoral living let me
          pause to state,
          They sent one son to honor the
          Supreme Court of the State.
And this descendant's name appears,
          with honor to be sure
     As author of "Highroad to English
          Literature."
So worthy this occasion to tell them
          o'er and o'er
     The stories of our fathers who came
          from foreign shore.
To reminisce of times long past, of
          hardy pioneer
     To trace the good example of sages
          and of seer."

Family * School

REUNIONS

in

Warren County

WHITENACK REUNION

     The 30th Whitenack reunion will be held Sunday, August 10 at the home of Mr. and Mrs. Lee Spurling on State Route 48 two miles south of Lebanon. Henry Hagedorn of Blanchester is secretary and Cary Hisey of Dayton is reunion president.

SHERWOOD - JEFFERY

     The 51st annual reunion of the Sherwood-Jeffery families will be held at Fort Ancient on Sunday, August 10. A basket dinner will be served at noon. Roy E. Dodd is reunion president and Mrs. Mabel S. Hollingsworth, secretary.

MORRIS-LEWES REUNION

     The annual reunion of the Morris-Lewis families will be held on Sunday, August 10, at the country home of A. B. Morris northeast of Lebanon, with a basket dinner at the noon hour.

COLLETT - MCKAY

     The 82nd annual Collett-McKay picnic will be held at the picnic grounds on Saturday, August 9.

GRAHAM REUNION

     The home of Mrs. Cassie Collette and Mrs. Laura Shidaker in Harveysburg will be the scene of the 50th annual Graham reunion to be held Sunday, August 17 with a basket dinner at the noon hour. William Graham is reunion president and Esther Davis, secretary.

HATHWAY REUNION

     The annual reunion of the Hathway Family will be held at the home of Mr. and Mrs. Everett Runyan, Sunday August 17, with Basket dinner at noon.

J. B. Campbell, Pres.  
Susie A. Davis, Sec'y.  

WHITE FAMILY REUNION

     On Sunday, August 24, the annual reunion of the White family will be held at the Warren County Fairgrounds under the grandstand. A basket dinner will be served at the noon hour. Eugene White is president and Doris W. Stroud, secretary and treasurer.

COLLETT-MCKAY
PICNIC AUG. 9

     The 82nd Annual Collett-McKay Picnic will be held at the picnic grounds on Saturday, August 9, according to Howard Collett, Wilmington.

Collett-McKay Picnic

     The 82nd annual Collett-McKay picnic and family reunion will be held at the usual place, Collett-McKay picnic grounds, near Gurneyville, Saturday, August 9.