(Provided courtesy of Mary Lou Inwood.)

230 attend picnic

     Saturday's 111th annual Collett-McKay family picnic at the Gurneyville Rd. picnic grounds was attended by 230, with thanks for the dinner offered by the Rev. John Beers Jr. of Toledo.
     Among those in attendance were family members from Virginia, New York, Pennsylvania, Kansas, Illinois, Michigan, Indiana, West Virginia, Colorado and Massachusetts.

(Provided courtesy of Mary Lou Inwood.)

Collett-McKay picnic No. 111 draws 230 from far and near

By RUTH PIDGEON

     To the numerous members of the pioneer families--the Colletts and the McKays--"The PICNIC" is always said with capital letters, and no one says, "What picnic?"
     Varying newspaper accounts of the annual gatherings since 1867 of these two families which were united by four marriages between the years 1823 and 1830 state a tradition that it always rains on the second Saturday in August, and that it never rains on Picnic Day.
     Saturday, August 13, seemed a day undecided between the two ideas, for all morning the sky was threatening and at times rain seemed imminent. Pleasant weather and temperatures prevailed, however, and another happy day of family reunion occurred with 230 present at the Picnic grounds on the Gurneyville Road. Thanks for dinner were offered by the Rev. John Beers, Jr. of Toledo.
     The one hundred and eleventh was number 74 for Emily Inwood Kester, who has missed only two picnics in her lifetime, one (foolishly she now says) for a date, and the other because of a family funeral.
     Eugene (Gener) Miller greeted Barbara (Mrs. Howard) Doster, saying "We appreciate your devotion to this event." with the mock formality of the words covering sincere sentiment, a very generally shared feeling of the loyalty expressed in many ways besides regular attendance.
     Relatives living nearby have mowed the grass during the summer. Some gather to prepare the site and set up the antique tables. Trees, given in memory of Lila Inwood Wallace are growing well. Maple saplings given by William Doster from land owned by Colletts since 1815 show steady growth as do the two on either side of the entrance gate, one taken from Collett and the other from McKay lands. These are expressions of family solidarity.
     Several people remarked about the future of the Picnic appearing secure with the attendance of so many young people, from several 1977 babies on up.
     Those present from out of state are: Mr. Daniel McKay Collette, Virginia Beach, Virginia; Miss Cora Jane Collette, Lancaster, Pennsylvania; Mr. and Mrs. James Eugene Miller, Jennifer Lee, and Jeffrey, Chalfont, Pennsylvania; Mrs. Jane Collett Moeller, Seth and Ethan, Towanda, Pennsylvania; Mr. Jonathan Howard Collett, Sarah and Joshua, Brooklyn, New York; Mr. and Mrs. David Ames, Rob and Jennifer, Manhattan, Kansas.
     Mr. and Mrs. Donald L. Ames, Chicago, Illinois; Mr. and Mrs. Kent Ames, Lansing, Michigan; Mr. McKay Collette, Westbury, New York; Mr. and Mrs. Gregg Lafferty, Kim, Gregg, Dianne, and Holly, Valparaiso, Indiana; Miss Jeanette Rowsey, Ona, West Virginia; Mr. and Mrs. Ellis Rowsey, Huntington, West Virginia; Mr. and Mrs. D. Howard Doster, Dan and Susan, West La Fayette, Indiana.
     Mrs. Charles Fabian, Des Plains, Illinois; Miss Rachel L. Pidgeon, Denver, Colorado; Virginia Kirby Collette, Boston Massachusetts; Mrs. Mary Elizabeth Browning, Vandenberg and Collette, Grand Rapids, Michigan.

(Provided courtesy of Mary Lou Inwood.)

Collett-McKay picnic

     The 111th annual Collett-McKay picnic will be held Saturday at the old picnic grounds on Gurneyville Road at noon. The annual affair is much anticipated by the families and draws a huge attendance at the beautiful, storied, old grounds.