Collett-McKay 125th picnic held

     A 125-year-old family picnic is not just another picnic. It's more serious, more awesome.
     You drive onto the hallowed picnic grounds with great respect. After all, these four acres on Gurneyville Road have not been used for any purpose but this picnic for well over a century.
     You notice the cars lined up behind you, all with their turn signals blinking, are also coming to the picnic. You probably know a few people in the cars, but most of them you don't know and many you have never seen. The difference is: these are your family. You know it and they know it. That's why you are all here on this beautiful second Saturday in August.
     By the end of the afternoon, 244 people have signed the guest register -- the register that goes back, in several volumes, to 1866, when the first picnic, commemorating four marriages of Colletts and McKays, took place.
     It was the Colletts' turn to open the ceremonies, and Wallace Collett called the group to order with a ceremonial clap of the hands. He reminded the parents to be sure their children knew the history of this occasion, remarking that he had just returned from Little Gidding, England, where the Collett family roots are embedded. McKay roots go back to Scotland. Steve Collett led a stirring prayer of thanks. And the eating began. Even the eating is special.
     At a 125-year-old family picnic like this, you are encouraged to sample specialty dishes from all along the 158 feet of picnic table. If you are careful not to neglect anyone, you end up extremely well fed. Then you should walk around and greet your family.
     Four acres gives plenty of room for people to spread out. The cars are parked around the perimeter, and people arrange themselves in clumps of 15 or 20. The children run and play and the older folks reminisce.
     As you walk around you overhear snatches:
     A man tells a little girl, "All these people here are your cousins."
     How could that be, Grandfather?" she asks, "They all have different last names."
     "Well...," and the explanation begins.
     George Pidgeon remembers years ago when Paul Beam and Maynard McKay proudly arrived at the picnic in their Cadillacs. There happened to be a light rainshower that afternoon, turning the grass parking area "pretty greasy". The younger, stronger picnickers were helping to push cars out onto the paved road. Things were noisy with shouted instructions, spinning tires, flying mud and finally a crunch of bending metal and broken glass. Sure enough, the two Cadillacs had collided.
     A search is underway for the youngest child at the picnic. Daniel Doster, born last May is a definite contender. But Megan Kelly was born June 27, only 44 days ago. Sixteen years from now they will be here, looking at each other with great interest.
     The search for the oldest person peters out when there is no clear-cut winner. Who wants to pursue the questions: "Are you the oldest one here? or is she?"
     One thing is clear. At a picnic like this there are lots of babies and young marrieds and dogs and kittens and plenty of people over 65, even over 75. And they come from all over the world, to the 125-year-old family picnic to have a look at each other and to say to themselves, "Hmmm. Not perfect, but not bad either."
     Fifty-three people attended from outside Ohio, from 12 states and two foreign countries. They are:
     Lorraine Price of Kurrajong Heights, Australia; Carolyn Collett of Farsund, Norway; Dorothy and Stanley Walker of Foley, Ala.; Emma, Lydia, Rebecca and James Godfrey of McIntosh, Ala.; Mary, Marilyn, Timothy and Carina Talmage of Mesa, Ariz.; Eugene Collett of Escondido, Calif.; Rachel Pidgeon of Denver, Colo.; Craig, Karen, Jenna and Ed Wengler of Stuart, Fla.; Caroline and Ed Powell of Venice, Fla.; Joshua Collett of Chicago; Bart, Chad, Charles, Karen and Robin Fabian of Des Plaines, Ill.; Patricia, James and John Giesting of Schaumburg, Ill.; Ann Collett Greengus, Kieran Greengus and George Varna of Skokie, Ill.; Adam, Drew, Cynthia, David and Ashlee Doster of Richmond, Ind.; Barbara and Howard Doster of West Lafayette, Ind.; Byron and Hattie Leaser of Westfield, Ind.; Ann and Dick Baugh of Bowling Green, Ky.; Susan Doster of New York; Nathan Gibson and Allen and Karla Inwood of Pittsburgh; Clark and Jane Moeller of Towanda, Pa.; Ann and Travis Glaze of Carrollton, Va.; Roger Magee of Buckley Wash.

Social Calendar

SATURDAY, AUG. 10

• Annual Collett-McKay Picnic, family grounds on Gurneyville Road, noon; in case of rain meet at Wilbur and Ada McKay's on Gurneyville Road and take table and chairs.