Two hundred and fifty persons were in attendance at the 84th annual Collett-McKay picnic, held as usual on the second Saturday of August at the picnic grounds belonging to the families, a setting suitable in point of beauty and convenience for the purpose for which it was set aside and dedicated.

Large posts at the entrance of these grounds bear these inscriptions: "Collett and McKay picnic grounds. These families were united by marriages between 1823 and 1830. The first picnic was held in 1866."

"In memory of our immigrant and pioneer ancestors, Stephen Collett from France, Robert and Margaret McKay from Scotland. Daniel and and Mary Haines Collett emmigrated from Jefferson county, Va., to Clinton county, Ohio in 1812; Moses and Abigail Shinn McKay from Frederick county, Va., to Warren county, Ohio, in 1818."

The Collett family tree, containing 650 names of 11 generations, and covering a period of 200 years, and the McKay family tree were on exhibit on the "souvenir and keepsake table."

As always, there were three long tables for the dinner, their combined length of 158 feet and three feet wide making 474 square feet. The boards used in these tables were purchased 70 years ago and are stored each year in the Howard Magee barn near the grounds. The group depended upon Hiram Poor, a colored man, to make the same delicious coffee each year for 30 years, and since his death in 1932, John Simpson has been attending for that purpose and does not need to be notified of the date. Two large iron kettles hung over a wood fire as in "ye olden times," are used to make the coffee, and like the tables are kept in storage for this purpose.

Three young men were introduced as studying for the ministry: Eugene Collett, Robert McKay and Edwin Lane, and Mr. Lane was asked the blessing at the table.

In addition to delegations of Colletts and McKays from Clinton county, Dayton, Columbus, Cincinnati, and many other places in Ohio, those from other states were Mrs. Richard Kohler and children, Lee, Dorothy, Helen and Richard, of New York City, and Mrs. Mayme Riley and son and daughter, John and Florence, of Washington, D. C.

This page hosted by Get your own Free Home Page