Greater Dover Historical Society
March 15, 2007

 The regular meeting of the Greater Dover Historical Society was called to order at 7:07pm by President Madelyn Shermeyer.  Members in attendance were:  Lori Koch, Mel Miller, Norma Botterbusch, Ron Botterbusch, Jo Ott, Judy Worley, Randy Worley, Jeff Koch, Lucia Hrinyak, Carol Leathery, Doris Burger, Lois Slothower, June Kinsey, Melanie Green, Marty Green, Ted Ziegler, Larry Law, Joyce Law, Madelyn Shermeyer, Constance Miller, Bill Zech, Gayle Heagy, Kay Stitley, Phyllis Wolgamuth, Cindy Snyder, Grace Trimmer, Bob Kehr and Zee Kehr.

 The January 2007 meeting minutes were presented.  A motion was made by Lois Slothower, second by June Kinsey, to approve the minutes as presented.  Motion passed.

 TREASURER’S REPORT

 Joyce Law presented the report for January and February since our February meeting was cancelled due to bad weather.  Motion to approve report by Larry Law and seconded by Jeff Koch.  Motion passed.

 December 31 balance = $4897.61

 January income = $1156.32

January expenses = $518.11

January 31 balance = $5353.17

 February income = $237.32

February expenses = $118.39

February 28 balance = $5502.10

 The Capital Self Storage bill is due April 1st for $23.00.  It was decided to pay the bill for April as we hope to have the items out of there by the end of the month. 

 Joyce reported that we had 4271 volunteer hours to report for 2006 on the Federal 990 form.   We still need to file this form in 2007 so all members are to keep track of their hours on the volunteer hour sheets provided.  It was thought we would not have to file but we do especially in order to qualify for grants.

 BOARD OF DIRECTORS REPORT

 Marty Green reported on the March 1st BOD meeting.  There was discussion on various upgraded changes to the GDHS website.  Members can visit the website to view the updates.  A permanent address for the Society was discussed and Mr. Botterbusch gave permission to use 2 S. Main Street as the mailing address for the GDHS.   It was decided when members speak at our meetings, it is requested they stand up and come forward so everyone can hear clearly.   The purchase of a portable wireless microphone was discussed and prices will be checked at various stores like Radio Shack and Circuit City.   The meeting dates for the Board of Directors has been changed to the first Thursday of January, March, May, July and September at 7:00pm. 

 ARCHIVIST REPORT

Dr. Drawbaugh was absent at the March meeting.  Assistant Archivist Gayle Heagy reported that she had finished the minute books from Dover Borough Hall.  Her transcript is approximately 15 pages for the 7 years of records from 1900-1907.  Gayle suggested this information be posted to our website.  She is also giving a copy of her transcript to Calvary Lutheran Church council for their archives regarding the town clock.  Borough Council had agreed to pay $13 per year to wind, clean and grease the clock.  Carol Leathery said her dad used to clean the church and knew they used grease instead of oil.

 Gayle said as far as the archives, she has cleaned out the storage area at the Dover Township building so she will now take some more items from her home to the Township building for storage, as well as take some items to the archive storage building at Ketterman Park. There are a total of 200 donations. 

WEBPAGE REPORT

 As per Joyce, Brett took care of adding the membership list for 2007, volunteers for 2006 and will remove 2005 information. 

HISTORIAN REPORT

 None

COMMITTEE REPORTS

 President Shermeyer reminded members who want to speak to please come forward and stand up front so everyone can hear the speaker’s report.  We will look at purchasing a small portable microphone to use at meeting for those members who wish to speak. 

 Kay Stitley reported on the June 2 dedication.  Madelyn was not at the last committee meeting but stated the Dover Women of Today will take care of running the games for kids and they will also send a donation.  She talked to Miriam Lamparter and she will be happy to participate in the ceremony and is shocked but thrilled the park is named after her mother.   The committee is working on coordinating the park dedication and blacksmith shop dedication to happen back to back.   Time schedule is 10am – 3pm. 

 Kay has lined up several food vendors including Brickers of Lewisberry, Altlands with sandwiches and drinks, Innerst for cotton candy and candy apples and a kettle corn vendor.   Phyllis Wolgamuth will check with the Dover Lady Lions about doing an ice cream stand.  There will be games for the kids, Ted working in the Blacksmith Shop, a puppet show and the band, Crossroads, performing in the afternoon.  Kay is still waiting to hear from the Tall Cedars clowns.  We plan to advertise the event on TV, radio and in the newspapers.   We will have notice published in the elementary school newsletters, Township newsletter, Borough newsletter, and the sign on the square.   Kay asks everyone to spread the word.  Kay spoke to Claudia Shermeyer, whose daughter’s class did the very first historical walk, about having these students attend the ceremony.   She is also contacting Mrs. Brown and Mrs. McDowell about having the students read a poem under the chestnut tree.  Kay talked to Joe Sabold regarding getting some scouts to participate.  Joe suggested having the 3 Eagle scouts who did projects in the park present the flag.

 Gayle Heagy stated she is checking into the virus-free chestnut tree.  Stauffers was no help but she did find a lady from the PennState Extension Office, Sara Fern Fitzsimmons, who stated the tree in the photo of the original blacksmith shop was a horse chestnut tree and there are many nurseries which carry this tree.  The tree needs to be planted soon so it is ready for the June 2 dedication.

 June Kinsey reported on the lottery ticket fundraiser.  There were a total of 23 winners (13 members, 10 non-members and 3 duplicate winners).  Our total profit was $1696.  Top sellers were Madelyn & Harry Shermeyer, 72; Jeff and Lori Koch, 36; and Gayle Heagy, 23.  The fire company does this type of lottery ticket fundraiser every month so we will keep this in mind to do another fundraiser.  Madelyn Shermeyer congratulated June on doing a great job and everyone gave her a round of applause for a job well done.  Thank you to Lucia and Joyce for assisting June in this endeavor.

 Lucia Hrinyak reported that very few members have RSVP’d for the open house event on April 29.  The invitation was included in the February newsletter.  Members can see Lucia after the meeting to RSVP.  The invitations to the craftsmen and donors are done and will be mailed out this week.

Madelyn Shermeyer reported on the Blood Root book project.  She received an email from Joe Marks and he will contact her over the weekend to have an in-depth discussion.  If the books are on a disk, we may need to print them ourselves.  Madelyn stated that certain issues have arisen and she hopes to have it resolved this weekend. 

 OLD BUSINESS

Madelyn brought in a sample replica to show Dr. Drawbaugh as he was under the impression it was a small model of the building, but unfortunately he was not in attendance tonight.

 Madelyn talked to Grace Snelbaker and her sister, Anna Barretts.  There are some discrepancies in the dates for the blacksmith shop.  The Recorder of Deeds as well as other offices with old records no longer has anything prior to 1920.  She may check with York County Historical Society and will make a trip to check out the deed to see when the place was bought by Mr. Neiman.  The photo we have in the frames is Myers & Latchaw which say 1911.  Henry Neiman bought the shop in 1920 from Jacob Hollinger.  So it must have been sold between 1911 and 1920.  The log house at Locust Point is where the Neimans lived and the blacksmith shop was in the rear, not in the village of Davidsburg.  Gayle suggested checking with the county assessment office as they have better records than the Historical Society.

 Regarding the job descriptions for Officers, Madelyn stated she met with Joyce and Lori, made a few changes to them as well as the job description for President.

 Madelyn presented a list of Old Business Updates dating from 2002 to present which she plans to keep track of from month to month.  Discussion on the following:

  1. 2002 – history of Admire will stay on the list until completed.
  2. January 2003 – list of historical properties in Dover.  Maddie talked to Ron about this. Will keep on list as it progresses.
  3. April 2004 – Feed Mill.  Will keep on list for an update from Bob Merkert when he attends next meeting.
  4. June 2004 – trolley track.  Cindy Snyder stated the piece of track is not where it was originally.  It was moved by someone and she will work on finding it.  Ron Botterbusch stated he has 2 pieces at his home from when the storm sewer work was done at the square.  He will be happy to donate them.
  5. 2005 – calendars with pictures of old building/homes in Dover.  Need to search our archives and hopefully get some more donated photos.  Joyce has pictures of old homes in the township; Madelyn would like Borough photos.  We have a photo of the old bank.  Madelyn would like to find a picture of the old church (now the rescue mission on North Main Street).  Gayle may have it. 
  6. 2006 – Gerber Farm.  He asked for another extension.
  7. Safe from Don Baughman.  Maddie talked to him. He has 2 and one he may be interested in donating. 
  8. March 2006 – agreement between Jay Stouch and the Society re: Stouch diaries.  Madelyn indicated we need to keep on top of this issue.  Gayle Heagy stated she had been in touch with an attorney regarding an agreement but the attorney never got back to her.
  9. pen/ink drawing and sign for blacksmith shop.  Kay’s son is working on these and will be ready for June dedication.
  10. May – cook stove – Kay said Bob looked at it, but will need to look again.  Not sure it can be repaired since the bottom fell off.  Gayle says it still looks good even though it fell apart.
  11.  Storage shed at park – May 2004 – even though the Council approved it as temporary, it is ok to stay there.

 Madelyn will have this list of Old Business Updates revised and ready for the April meeting.  

Madelyn has spoken to Mrs. Albreght about the repair and enclosure for the jailhouse marker in the ground where the original jailhouse was located.  Don Baughman will fix it and Ted will make a small enclosure for it.  Mrs. Albreght would like to see a drawing of what it will look like.  Madelyn will drop it off at her house.

 Melanie Green stated she still has the leftover soft pretzels and potato chips from the Fall Fest concession stand in her freezer at home.  It was decided to keep the chips for the July membership picnic and Mel will test the pretzels for freezer burn.  If bad, she will dispose of them or give to Madelyn for the deer.

 Larry Law asked about articles to sell at the dedication.  Maddie said she thought it had been discussed at one of the meeting to have some small items made by Ted to sell at the dedication.  Kay said the rings were one of them and maybe the “S” hooks needed for the open house.  How many is Ted to make?   Joyce Law asked if we will need more picture frames made for the dedication event. It will be discussed at the next dedication committee meeting.  Larry will check on boards leftover in the blacksmith shop to use for the frames and to make the plaque for the donors/craftsmen.  Madelyn is going to whitewash the board for the plaque so the name plates of the donors/craftsmen stand out better. 

 NEW BUSINESS

 The Board of Directors has changed their meeting dates for 2007 to the first Thursday of March, May, July, and September.  January’s meeting was held on January 18. 

 Members were reminded to keep track of all their volunteer hours (updated volunteer forms are available at the sign-in table) and any new committee must submit waiver forms as well as volunteer hour sheets.  Each committee chairperson will keep track of their volunteers. 

 Madelyn Shermeyer further discussed the changes to the GDHS website as discussed at the Board of Directors meeting.    She stated that Maureen App will handle these updates.  “Our Town Characters” renamed to new link “Biographies of Dover Citizens”.   “Our Town Characters” is marked under construction.   Remove mission statement from archives and renamed “GDHS Policy on Archives”.  Removed 3 names from the patron list.  Removed meeting minutes 2004-05, projects 2003-04 and quilt raffle 2005-06.  Any items deleted or changed will be moved to “Other Links – Recent Changes”.   It was also suggested that the old blacksmith shop photo be removed from the website and a reconfigured photo of the newly rebuilt blacksmith shop be on the main page.

 Lucia Hrinyak reported that the Adopt-A-Highway cleanup date will be on Saturday, March 31st beginning at 8am.  We will meet at the GDS building on Rt. 74 and Temple School Road.  If any member wants to volunteer to help, see Lucia after the meeting.  The rain date will be April 14.

 Jo Ott asked about the blacksmith shop replica photo.  All the changes and additions recommended by the Committee will be taken care of (add flowers, color the pathway same as the apron, add grass).  Madelyn stated they will update it to make it more “springy”.  The bill for the art fee is $200, up from the $150 quote since it is a perspective view (2 sides of the building will be shown) which is paid up front.  It will be ready in mid-May and a sample will go to the Committee for approval and decide the total number of replicas to order and price to sell.  Cost of previous replicas were $8 and were sold for $16. Boxes are an extra fee of 85 cents each.  Lois Slothower asked if the size will be the same as the jailhouse replica and Madelyn was not sure but felt it would not be much larger than the log house replica. 

 Bob Kehr from West Manchester Historical Society addressed the membership.  He gave details on the proposed field trip to Morris Meadows in Freeland, Maryland.  It is scheduled for May 26 from 4:30pm – 7:30pm.  Bob has made arrangements for a museum tour and booked the caterer for a meal at 6pm.  The total fee will be $15 per person ($5 museum tour; $10 meal).   The deadline for reservations is May 1st.  A sign-up sheet will be available for GDHS members at our next meeting in April. 

 Mr. Zech has informed Madelyn Shermeyer that the Calvary Lutheran Church will be undertaking renovations for the next 4 months.  Therefore, the GDHS will need to find a temporary meeting location for April, May, June, August and possibly September.  Grace Trimmer stated she will check with Reverend Loser at the Dover UCC to inquire if we can hold our meeting there.  Another possibility is the Log House.  Once a location is determined, it will be posted to the GDHS website and notice to members via email will be sent by the Secretary, as well as notification in the newspapers (Weekly Record and Community Courier). 

 There will be a brief Board of Directors meeting immediately upon adjournment to discuss the newsletter schedule.

 Ted Ziegler asked a question concerning the horseshoe rings.  Are they to be handed out at the April open house and the June dedication event?  Kay Stitley said it was discussed a while back that these rings would be available for the kids to purchase at the dedication.

 Joyce Law reminded members to pick up their membership badges and cards on the table if they did not do so yet.

 Jo Ott reported that she and Joyce Law have finished the interview with Fahs “Charlie” March at the nursing home.

 There being no further business, the meeting was adjourned at 8:46pm.

 Respectfully submitted,

 Lori Koch
GDHS secretary