Rained In but not Rained Out!

For most of the 110 years of picnicking the Collett-McKay families have met on their grounds on Gurneyville Road. Because of a rainy morning Saturday, 277 of them met at the Kingman School gymnasium. Elba McKay Rowe recalled her father's saying that once they met in Johnnie Magee's nearby barn because of rain. This was probably before 1900. In 1969 the group met in the Kingman gym because of rain.

Jessie Magee said sometimes a shower would shorten attendance at the grounds and people would go to family homes, such as Hackneys, McKays, or Magees to prolong visiting.

Saturday noon the Reverend Mr. Gene Collette of Chula Vista, Calif., asked the meal blessing. The group does not elect officers but a short series of announcements was heard following the traditional "groaning board" dinner.

During this time it was learned that Emma Swindler, who resides at Friends' Home, Waynesville, was attending her 89th picnic. Eight persons were attending their 70th. It was encouraging to see a number of hands held up to indicate a first time Saturday.

The William Doster family, all 18 members, ate their first meal together since they had met in Yellowstone Park in 1968. Other families made a special effort to attend this year. A plan to photograph the gathering failed due to the rain.

Since the weather faired during the afternoon several drove to the grounds for supper together where the old tables had been set up for the noon hour.

Those attending from out of Ohio were: Dr. and Mrs. Robert Doster, Karen, Diane, Bill and Steve, from Buckeye, Ariz., Miss Ruth Wood Jackson, Mesa, Ariz., The Rev. and Mrs. S. E. (Gene) Collett, Carol and Sue from Chula Vista, Calif., Mrs. Rachel Shambaugh Parker, Monterey Penninsula, Calif., Miss Janie Franklin Penney, of California; Mrs. Fred Ames and Miss Saundra Ames, Arcadia, Fla.; Mr. and Mrs. Charles Fabian, Des Plaines, Ill.

The Rev. and Mrs. Byron Leaser, Westfield, Ind.; Dr. and Mrs. D. Howard Doster, David, Daniel, Susan, Anne of West Lafayette, Ind.; Miss Helen Koehler, Rockville, Md.; Mr. and Mrs. Everett Baugh, Bloomfield Hills, Mich.; Mr. and Mrs. Larry Baugh, Cindy and Rick Jones, and Dennis Baugh and Mr. and Mrs. Richard K. Baugh, Steve, Adele, and James all of Rochester, Mich.

Mr. and Mrs. Edward Terrell, Jonathan, and Susanna of Silver Springs, Md.; Mr. Richard Koehler, Florence, N.J.; Mr. Daniel McKay Collett, New York, N.Y.; Mr. Richard Koehler, New Hartford, N.Y.; Mr. Paul Stoeckl, Ogden, Utah.

Mr. and Mrs. Ellis Rowsey, Huntington, W. Va.; Mr. and Mrs. T. Allen Inwood, Tonya, Brad, Jason, Pittsburgh, Pa.; Mr. and Mrs. Douglas Strecker and Debra, Spokane, Wash.

Seven members of one family, Mrs. Steven Collett, Cosmo, Tina, Shiva, Danny, Caroline, Rachel, came from Farsund, Norway, and are visiting Mr. Collett's parents for the summer.

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