Members of the present generation of the Collett-McKay families were united once again when they gathered in large numbers at the picnic grounds near New Burlington, designed for the annual reunions and kept for that purpose by the families, for their 87th annual picnic Saturday.

Marking this historical setting where pioneers of the family settled, is a rail fence along the north side of the grounds, along a side road, which is in splendid repair, the walnut rails being more than 100 years old. The gateposts on the main road bear handsome bronze plates on which the history of the picnic and the families are sketched. A grove of magnificent young and stately old sugar maple trees shelter the green of this site, which has become a beautiful park, kept mowed by Mr. Howard Magee, and giving way on two sides to the forest primeval.

One of the regular attendants at the picnic, Mr. Howard Collett of Wilmington, said "This year more than ever before, we thought of those lines of Longfellow's 'Hiawatha,': 'We who love the haunts of nature, Love the shadow of the forest, Love the wind among the branches,'"

In this setting, it has become tradition for three 50-foot tables to be set up, on the second Saturday of August, on which the many delicious dishes taken from well-filled baskets can be arranged; and for a negro to arrive early to tend the fire and make the coffee in two large kettles. First, Hiram Poor attended 34 consecutive times in this capacity, and was followed by John Simpson, who assisted at the coffee making for the first time in 1888, and was present for the 72nd consecutive time this year.

Soon after the bountiful dinner was served, a rain storm interrupted the reunion many assembling in family groups at homes in the vicinity, including that of Mrs. Abbie Haydock. The registry of names was not completed when the storm interrupted the picnic and it is not known how many were present, although there were several from a distance.

This page hosted by Get your own Free Home Page