Annual Collett/McKay Picnic Draws 255 from 18 States

     It was not quite perfect weather. Rain seemed a possibility. In fact a light morning drizzle might have warned off some of the participants. But the stalwart groundskeepers were not deterred. They proceeded under the old adage: "It never rains on a Collett McKay picnic." They set up the 156 feet of walnut tables that hold the food. They connected the water wagon to the restroom facility. And they touched up the lawn of the 4 acre picnic site that has been owned by the two families since the picnic began 133 years ago.
     Wilbur McKay, Picnic Trustee, called the assemblage to order promptly at 12:30, on the traditional Second Saturday in August. Don Collett, prominent hardware and propane dealer, raised the subject of funding for taxes and maintenance, and pointed to the collection box near the register books, in case anyone felt moved to contribute. Then his brother Gene, retired preacher, asked the blessing. And the picnic began.
     Almost immediately proceedings were interrupted by screams from a youngster who had stepped on a hole in the ground filled with Digger Bees, common name for a group of robust, fast-flying, ground-nesting bees with velvety fur. Without stopping to admire the fur, the child's mother whisked her to the safety of their nearby, air-conditioned car. A barricade was placed around the bee nest, and the picnic went on.
     For some, the outrageously beautiful display of food was the attraction. An abundance of staples like, deviled eggs, baked beans, fried chicken and potato salad provided a satisfying foundation. For the true picnicker there was the additional pleasure of exploring all 156 feet of delicacies including not one but two whole salmon, lightly herbed, fresh from the sea. Someone had brought an unusual mixture of wild rice, walnuts, and tasty little curries, peppers and spicy whatevers. Then there were the desserts: 16 kinds of pie, plus cakes, brownies, and all kinds of fruit from apples to watermelon.
     Others at the picnic were the hard core genealogists. Just about everyone present was related, by blood, marriage, or at least friendship and love. And the genealogists with their laptop computers and fan shaped descendency charts, were sorting it all out. One chart began with one of the Inwoods, and seemed to go back some huge number of generations, like 16. Of course that may not be possible because the complete history would have included over 65,000 names and covered almost 500 years. Such is the mathematics of genealogy.
     Still others were there for the fun of it. Silas Magee, 14 year old frequent trekker from Illinois, demonstrated his skill on the unicycle. Without having to prove it at the picnic, he commented, "I can go down stairs and am learning to go up."
     One picnic custom is to seek out the youngest person in the group. This year it was Phil and Mary Bogan's daughter Betsy, born in January. "Mine was the youngest child in 1966 also", crowed Phil. The other end of the age scale is not so coveted. Esther Doster at 97 achieved the honor this year, on the passing of her lifelong friend Helen Feike. Such, also, is the mathematics of genealogy. The Lee Murray family drove 11 hours from Wisconsin to be at the picnic. Marie-Helene Simon came all the way from Switzerland as Seth Thacker's exchange student.
     Of the 255 present, 58 people came from 17 states outside Ohio.