for their school picnic. Picnics always boasted plenty to eat, games and fun for everyone. Sometimes surrounding communities would come. The ladies would all pack picnic baskets and they would spread table cloths on the grass to place the food on. This was a great way to socialize with people you knew, meet new neighbors, and swap gossip and tall tales. Church picnics, better known as tea parties, were an annual event enjoyed by all. They were usually held at or near the church grounds. Gertie MacKenzie (nee MacKay) recalls one such church picnic held at Poplar Point . She re¬ membered her husband, Alec going to the woods for maple branches to make an arch over the truck wagon. This was to keep the sun off. Someone at Poplar Point , probably the ferryman who ran the ferry between Poplar Point and St. Georges , took them for a boat ride before they spread the table cloth on the grass and ate lunch. Later they went swimming and had a singsong. Tea parties were usually advertised in the newspaper. The ad for the July 25th picnic of 1868 read: Tea At The ladies of the Presbyterian church of Dundas (DV) having a tea at the New Church on Wed. 22nd July for funds towards com¬ pleting of Manse now in course of erection. Tea on table at 12 noon. A tea party in on July 25,1905 was advertised like this: Grand Tea Party at on Tuesday, July 26 is already set down as a general outing day by the whole country, far and near. An energetic up to date committee are making suitable pre¬ parations for the entertainment of the thousands who are coming. There will be bountifully supplied tables, dancing booths, ice cream treats, a well stocked temperate saloon, a swing operated by "Electricity" and various other attractions usually found at such gatherings. Should the day prove unfavorable tea will be held on the first fine day following. Tea on tables at noon. Ticket .25$ each. BY ORDER OF COMMITTEE. Although this party was in 1905 we learned of one held ten years before on September 24, 1895 at which was quite successful. They realized the amount of $700.00 which meant that there must have been crowds numbering in the thousands attending. Pius Blackett recalled them making the bowling alleys for one such tea in later years and he said he could still see them covering the tops of the saloons with boughs where they sold various items and had games set up. Church picnics were also held in Annandale in a field which at that time was clear land between the United Church and the Baptist Cemetery . 89