Spring 2011

selected articles from the Spring 2011 Newsletter

Stauffer-Will Farm Barn Fundraising Campaign

by Reg Keddie
The board has established a goal of $75,000 to complete the restoration project on the Stauffer-Will Barn.  At the March meeting, the board accepted the bid presented by Silver Creek Timberworks, LLC of Silverton to repair the barn. Jim DeSantis, owner of Silver Creek Timberworks, expects to start work in mid-July and have the repairs completed by the first part of September.
We are well on our way to raising the necessary funds to complete the project and preserve this very important part of our heritage.  Donations, pledges and grants totaling $32,000 have already been received.  A blue ribbon committee is now being formed to help raise the balance required.
Project repairs include taking down the dairy end of the barn and replacing it, removing and replacing the roof, stabilizing the existing timber frame structure and applying a borate solution to treat the wood to prevent any further damage.  A more complete description of the project is available at the museum.

Eugene Snyder Bequest

by Patrick Harris
In February ACHS received a bequest in the amount of $244,800 from the estate of Eugene Snyder, descendant of Henry Snyder and Catherine Forstner, and the author of many books about Portland as well as the popular “Aurora, Their Last Utopia.”  Eugene stipulated that the funds be placed into a restricted account and that only the interest be made available to ACHS for general operations.  Eugene’s gift is the latest of several such bequests made to the historical society during the last twelve years.  We thank Eugene for including us in his estate planning and we encourage our other friends and descendants to do the same thing.

Introductory Video Gets An Update

It has been over twenty five years since the ACHS introductory slide show was produced.  Originally a state-of-the-art three projector slide show, it was later transferred to video tape and has been shown in that format ever since.
Funding from a grant through Trust Management Services, LLC, has allowed us to produce a new program with updated content, images, and technology.
The new DVD will be shown to visitors, will be available to groups planning a tour to the museum, and for sale in our gift shop.

Another Successful Year on Tap for the Stauffer-Will Farm Program

by Elizabeth Corley
The Stauffer-Will Farm program is off to great start for another year.  The tours are fully booked at both the farm and the Aurora Village.  We expect to see over 3,000 students and 550 parents / teachers attend during the 11 weeks of the program.  It also takes a minimum of 5 volunteers each day for the program to run smoothly.
Before the program begins, the buildings have to be cleaned, set-up, and ready for the students to arrive.  A wonderful volunteer crew made this possible in February and early March.  There was also a day of training set aside for new volunteers to learn about the program and returning volunteers to reacquaint and themselves with the material and for everyone to get excited to see the smiling faces of the children.
The weather hasn’t dampened the enthusiasm of the students.  “Thank you for letting us be here today.  I really like how volunteers were really nice to children.”  “I love when I whent to Staffer farm because it was fun.  It was raining but it was steal FUN.”  “The bread was so good it made my tastebuds dance.”  “I had the best time on the fieldtrip today!  I think it was the best one I’ve had!”