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By KOLLEEN TAYLOR
It was a picture perfect day for any type of celebration, but for the site of the Old Settler's Reunion at the Bell Mill park, the weather made it even better.
According to Hamilton County Conservation department's Executive Director, Brian Lammers, they estimated a crowd of around 500 people attended the festivities during the day. Every camping site was also full.
This was exceptional according to Park Ranger Zack Schaffer, who manages both the Bell Mill Park and Little Wall Lake Park. He said that the normal attendance for Bell's Bash held annually on this day was between 100 and 200 people.
The park, which will handle about 40 camp sites, was completely full. Schaffer said they usually have 20-25 units during the weekend.
Lammers conducted tours starting at 2 p.m. He said they had three different groups who took the tours of the grounds at the park throughout the afternoon.
Three descendants of the Bell family who ran the mill as early settlers also attended the reunion.
Linda Neperney, who attended the event with her daughter Melinda Oster and her niece, Tammy Bell,is a descendent of Benjamin Bell.
"We went this year because it was the hundredth year, and it wasn't hot," Neperney said, "If it was 100 degrees, I probably wouldn't have gone."
But she did attend, and she said she was pleased to see so many people at the park.
"Benjamin Bell was my great-great-great grandfather," she said, "All I remember about him was that he was in the revolutionary war, and he moved here when he was 90 years old," she said, "But he lived until he was 102." Neperney said it was Benjamin's son who moved here first, and probably was the first owner of the mill.
The earliest relative Neperney remembered personally was her great grandfather.
"My great-grandfather was Albert Bell," she said, "Albert was the president of the Old Settler’s Reunion.
Her memories of him were limited, but she remembered he always wore a suit and tie.
"I went when I was awfully little," she said, "My great grandad was always the president," She remembered attending the Old Settler's reunion when she was about six years of age.
"I don't remember going after that, but they had big crowds in those early days," she said. Neperney attended with her parents, who were Ronald and Cleo Bell and her grandparents, who were Lloyd and Florence Bell.
Her niece, Tammy Bell, is the daughter of Bob and Nancy Bell. Bob was Neperney's brother but both are deceased now.
They women all still live in Stratford. Neperney's son Patrick lives south of Webster City but did not attend the reunion.
Fund raising
The Old Settler's Reunion has not been held for many years, but more recently, the Bell's Bash, which began as a fundraiser, has continued to meet on August 1, the date of the Old Settler's Reunion each year. Funds raised from this event will be used to replace playground equipment at the park.
Other projects are also needed, according to Lammers, with work on the Cabin on a wish list. "The initial quote to repair the cabin was $95,000," he said. That is one of the projects to work on in the future. The log cabin was originally located in the Bellville community of Webster County. This cabin was built in 1867 by Charlie and Sara Smith and was donated by Frances Smith Lynde in 1937 to be placed at the Bell's Mill park.
This year the reunion wasn't about Old Settlers, it was a reunion of friends and family, and strangers who were exploring the second oldest park in Hamilton County. And with proper care and continual usage, it will be enjoyed by friends and families for another 100 years.