WHEN PICNICS WERE PICNICS!

     The other day I ran into a newspaper clipping about a family picnic gathering of years ago. As a youngster, I remember going to family summer picnics and  ones like the Federated Club picnic, and my sister, Doris, remembers the Irish picnics that were held many years ago. These picnics were a big deal. Some like the Gummert family picnics are still quite popular.

       Most just fade away as families grow apart in distance and interest. Things just change. The following clipping is from the late 1940's and was held northeast of Laurel, Iowa.

     Families Gather At Smith Park

       The annual Smith-Cooper-Ferguson reunion was held Sunday at Smith park near Laurel. L. Wayne Smith of Marshalltown was named president of the group with other officers as follows: Mrs. John Laverty, Laurel, vice president, and Mrs. Harry Ferguson, Laurel, secretary.
     The next reunion will be June 18, 1950,at Smith park, it was announced. Nancy Smith, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Vernon Smith of Marshalltown, was the youngest member present, and the eldest was D. E. Bruch of Ferguson.
     Those coming the greatest distance were Mr. and Mrs. Richard Smith and Mr. and Mrs. Howard Scott of Valley Springs, S. D

     **Worth noting is that the treed park and the Smith Museum that I remember as a youngster are no longer there.