Summer 09

selected articles from Summer 2009 Newsletter

ACHS Joins with Cresendo

by Reg Keddie
The ACHS board has agreed to partner with the fund raising organization, Crescendo Interactive and their service called GiftLegacy to facilitate our electronic marketing of planned giving. The addition of GiftLegacy to our web site will help educate and encourage potential donors about planned giving.
See the link to GiftLegacy under the heading “Support the Colony”, Planned Giving section of this website.  GiftLegacy features motivating gift stories, updates on topics of interest to seniors, personal gift illustrations and much more. It offers ACHS royalty-free literature which we can publish from time to time to help us inform our donor base about the importance of estate planning. The GiftLegacy service includes Crescendo’s Calculator which allows a donor or potential donor to obtain a personalized, color illustrated ”web proposal” of different gift options directly from the ACHS web site.
Board member Reg Keddie has been appointed ACHS donor advisor so should you have questions or concerns about your estate planning, please feel free to contact him for a discussion about the opportunities that are available through GiftLegacy. As with all estate planning, it is always recommended to consult ones own attorney or financial planner for specific details.

Strawberry Social Provides Opening for Will Exhibit

by Patrick Harris
Sixty five members of the Will Family attended a Strawberry and Champagne reception for the new exhibit: “The Will Family: Commitment to Community” on the morning of the Strawberry Social on June 28th.
Eighteen members of the family originally joined Dr. Keil’s colony at Bethel in 1845 and descendants who attended the opening ranged across the family tree.  Curator, Patrick Harris gave an introduction to the exhibit while Roberta Hutton and her great crew of volunteers served the goodies to the Will’s.  As always, Roberta’s attention to detail made all of the difference with the event.  Janus Childs must be recognized for her hard work preparing signage, and as always, Annette James helped with the exhibit design.
The exhibit, which utilizes artifacts donated and loaned by the descendants of the Colony Will’s continues through the Communal Studies Conference ending on October 4, 2009.
Once again you will also be able to take home a flyer that introduces some of the new cutting edge research that can only occur when this kind of exhibit is undertaken.  Most significantly is a previously unrealized relationship between the Will’s and several families who had belonged to George Rapp’s Harmony Society.  This insight provides much to our understanding of some of the struggles that the Will’s faced within the colony.  Despite this, however,  Leonard Will always told his relatives to remember the colony communal and community ideals, for these were the most important legacy to be taken from the colony.

It Just Keeps Getting Better!

By Jessie E. Turner
In 2009, the Many Hands program flourished under the direction of Coral Hammond.  This year was the year of gratitude.  Students and chaperones expressed heartfelt appreciation throughout the season.  They seemed to realize more than ever before what a privilege it is to be on this historic site engaged in very authentic activities.
Improvements to the facilities such as the new floor in the chicken coop took away an element of stress so the volunteers and staff didn’t have to worry about somebody falling through the floor!  We could relax and concentrate on what we do best; providing a connection to the rich legacy of the Aurora Colony.
Volunteers spruced up the place, providing a new cord of wood, and cleaning up limbs stacked against the barn.  A lock on the cellar door provided added security for the displays in the cellar.  Jars containing samples of grain now show children what was stored in the granary.  Many new labels and pictures help to tell the Aurora Colony story.
One new artifact, a rocking chair, donated by Ray Will elicited great excitement with one of our groups this season. “Is the house haunted?” they wanted to know.“What do you mean by ‘haunted’?” I began in my most serious calm-the-children-down voice.  They didn’t buy it.“That’s when there are ghosts!“Before I could respond, another blurted out, “The rocking chair would rock all by itself!“Well, here was my chance to reassure them.  “I have never seen the rocking chair rock all by itself.”“Just look on You-Tube!  You can see it there!”
The best way to find out the importance of the Stauffer-Will Farm is to listen to the children:
“When you showed me how they lived, I thought they were just like heroes.” - Ali
“I will always treasure the things I made and learned.” - Joanna
“Thank you for that wonderful adventure.” - Veronica
“It was the best field trip EVER!” - Taylor
“My family loved the bread I made.  I’m going to start cooking more often.” - Jela
“I loved this field trip more than any other!  Thank you for an outstanding field trip.  This was the best trip ever.” - Zach
“Thanks for making that field trip awesome!” - Jessica
“I also learned some gross stuff about outhouses.” - ?
“This is probley the best field trip I have ever been on.” - Bella
“To be honest, I can’t believe you trust us with a cross saw!” - Your fellow colonist in training, Sammy
“I really need help at the saw but I think I am getting better because you guys taught me how!” - Alicia
“I liked showing my manliness.” - Jillian
“Next time I complain about simple chores like doing the dishes, I will remember what chores kids did in the 1800s”. - Joe
“I had an awesome time!” - Kian