Greater Dover Historical Society

June 19, 2008

 

 

The regular meeting of the Greater Dover Historical Society was called to order by President Madelyn Shermeyer at 7:00 p.m. at the Calvary Lutheran Church.  Members present were:  Lori Koch, Jeff Koch, Gayle Heagy, Jo Ott, Larry Law, Joyce Law, Carol Leathery, Bill Coleman, Chris Coleman, Madelyn Shermeyer, Harry Shermeyer, Kay Stitley, June Kinsey, Melanie Green, Mel Miller, Cindy Snyder, James Geiselman, Grace Trimmer, Ron Botterbusch, Randy Worley, Judy Worley, Lucia Hrinyak, Ted Ziegler, Norma Botterbusch and Zita Smith.

 

President Shermeyer presented the May 2008 minutes and asked for any additions or corrections to the minutes.  A motion to accept the minutes as presented was made by Harry Shermeyer seconded by Cindy Snyder.  All voted in favor and motion passed.

 

TREASURER’S REPORT

 

The treasurer’s report for May 2008 was presented by Joyce Law:

 

Balance as of May 1, 2008                              $9,969.66

Deposits for May                                                    103.42                               

Expenses for May                                                 331.42

Balance as of May 30, 2008                            $9,741.37

 

There was a motion by Mel Miller to approve the treasurer’s report as presented and seconded by Cindy Snyder.  All voted in favor and motion passed.

 

Archivist Report -- Dr. Drawbaugh was absent.  Assistant Archivist Gayle Heagy reported she did not receive any new items. 

 

Webpage Report – Brett Pfleiger was not present at the meeting.  No report.  President Shermeyer stated she knows that Brett has started on the new blacksmith shop link. 

 

Historian Report – Cindy Snyder did not have anything to report.

 

 

COMMITTEE REPORTS

 

Blood Root -- President Shermeyer reported that she and Ron Botterbusch did talk about meeting to discuss the items to work on.  President Shermeyer did speak to Joe Marks and she hopes he can be convinced to do the printing of the books for the Society.

 

Adopt-a-Highway – Melanie Green reported that at our June 7 pickup, there were a total of 6 bags collected by 10 volunteers in 1 hour and 45 minutes.  The next litter pickup will be scheduled in October since Melanie is busy with 2 weddings over the next 4 months and she does not feel she will have time to schedule a pickup before October.  Gayle Heagy suggested the next newsletter recognize the GDHS for the highway cleanup.  Melanie will write an article and submit to Lucia for editing.  President Shermeyer will submit the article to the township to publish in their newsletter also.

 

Landscape Committee – Lucia Hrinyak reported the committee met twice – March and June 16 – to do some weeding, mulching and other gardening upkeep at the storage shed.  It looked absolutely beautiful for the historic walk on June 17.

 

Historic Walk – Kay Stitley reported there were approximately 15 attendees and lots of delicious snacks!  It was a great night with nice weather.  Kay stated that along North Main Street the group saw 2 horse-drawn covered wagons pass by driven by young men, perhaps Amish.  Bill and Chris Coleman were able to get some good photos of the wagons.  There were several items sold and everyone enjoyed watching Ted forge. 

 

Board of Directors’ report

 

Gayle Heagy reported she did not contact the Board members regarding the insurance policy because it was close to our regular meeting date and could be discussed at that time.  Joyce Law reported she paid the insurance bill in the amount of $405.  It was discovered that theft was removed from the policy when Joyce contacted the insurance agent to increase the contents coverage for the blacksmith shop from $2,500 to $3,500.  A new insurance bill in the amount of $443 was received with theft coverage for the blacksmith shop put back into the policy; therefore an additional $38 is owed on this policy.  No member present voiced any opposition to paying the insurance bill for the additional coverage and President Shermeyer directed Joyce Law to submit the $38.

 

President Shermeyer was contacted by a representative from Sam’s Club regarding a tax-exempt business membership for the Society.   The fee is $30 per year for three cards.  President Shermeyer presented the matter for discussion to the membership.   Norma Botterbusch makes purchases for the Society at Sam’s Club and Gayle said she buys the page covers but she does not feel they are any cheaper there.   Jo Ott stated she buys ink cartridges at Sam’s Club.  Joyce Law stated she felt the $30 was worth it since Norma buys the acid free paper, labels and envelopes for her at Sam’s.   President Shermeyer stated the business membership at BJ’s Wholesale Club is $40.  Harry Shermeyer said the Society would need to spend $500 to get our $30 back to break even.  Several members suggested keeping tabulations on how much members spend at Sam’s Club and then deciding next year on whether or not to purchase a membership.  A motion was made by Randy Worley and seconded by Cindy Snyder to try the Sam’s Club membership for one year.  Motion passed with no votes recorded by Madelyn Shermeyer, Lori Koch, Joyce Law and Lucia Hrinyak. 

(*per email from President Shermeyer dated 6-20-08 – cost of business membership at Sam’s Club is $35.)

 

 

OLD BUSINESS

 

Dover Firemen’s Fair – Jeff Koch reported there is a sign-up sheet for volunteers.  Dates for the fair are August 30 and September 1-6.  As per Vice President Stitley, the display should open by 5:00pm each day.  Specific times for the volunteers can be worked out closer to the opening day of the fair.

 

GDHS picnic --    Norma Botterbusch reported the picnic will begin serving at 5:30 pm.  Bob Stitley will supply the hot dogs and rolls.  Members are asked to donate salads, desserts and fruits.  Cindy Snyder said she will contact Lonnie to see if the hot dog griller is working and see if we can use it.

 

Other Old Business:  President Shermeyer reported that the leftover bricks at the blacksmith shop have been moved to her property.  She and Harry moved all the bricks, over 700 in total, on Memorial Day.  The Society can still plan to use these brick to make a base around the date stone, except someone else will have to haul them.

 

Gayle Heagy presented the final revision of the pen and ink drawing.  The chimney was made higher, larger trees were added and a wagon wheel was added.    It was passed around for members to see and make comments.  The paper will be an ecru color and the blacksmith shop will be in brown ink.  No other changes were recommended.  Gayle stated that Joyce will reduce the size of the drawing for her again.

 

Randy Worley mentioned about seeing the large bushes around the jailhouse marker as he drove down City Hall Drive which makes it hard to see the marker.  President Shermeyer said these bushes grew very rapidly since last year.  It was suggested we could perhaps ask Mrs. Abreght to cut the bushes back annually.

 

Gayle Heagy reported that she and President Shermeyer need to schedule a visit to the barn about storing the timbers and should probably do it on a weekend since Mrs. Jones works.

 

Norma Botterbusch stated that a gentleman, Ray Bassett, participated in the historical walk.  He has a business making signs and said he could replicate the old 1911 sign that was on the blacksmith shop.  He would consider donating it.

 

NEW BUSINESS

 

President Shermeyer reported she still has the soda leftover from the ’06 Fall Fest, approximately 96 cans which are out of date from 2006-2007.   It was suggested that perhaps the New Hope Ministries will accept the soda; if not, we will dump the soda and recycle the cans.

 

Randy Worley asked about using the bricks to shore up the ramp at the storage shed.  President Shermeyer said that Harry Shermeyer will be fixing the ramp by replacing boards and inserting nosing. 

 

Vice President Stitley and Larry Law shared the entertaining story of the black snake (black gracer) found in the blacksmith shop during the open hours.  Vice President Stitley will check into purchasing some “snake away” repellent for the blacksmith shop.

 

Vice President Stitley reported that the West Manchester Township Historical Society is sponsoring a trip to Muddy Creek Forks on October 19.  You can take a train ride, and if there are 35 or more in the group, they will serve a boxed lunch, or we can pack our own picnic lunch.  Mark your calendars.

 

Gayle Heagy stated at our last meeting we talked about members giving suggestions for meeting speakers or round table discussions.  Gayle said we could have a round-table discussion on pow-wows in old Dover.  We could set up a fall agenda.  Joyce Law said in the Stouch diaries, Oliver Stouch took his kids to pow-wows.

 

President Shermeyer reported on an old issue of Country Living in which she found a Q&A article about a coverlet which mentions a weaver from Washington Township, Martin B. Breneman.  He was born in Lancaster County but wove in Washington Township from 1835 to 1861.  President Shermeyer brought this up in case any member knows someone from Washington Township or Kralltown who may have some history on Breneman they could share with the Society.

 

President Shermeyer stated we need to sell our replicas.  She requested the township publish an article in the fall newsletter and we should also advertise in the Weekly Record to get the word out we have the replicas for sale.  

 

Mel Miller mentioned he thinks John Billet, the gentleman who gave the covered bridge presentation, also talks about pow-wows. 

 

June Kinsey asked about the water schedule for the chestnut tree.  It has large flowers on it now.  President Shermeyer said it has only been necessary to water it twice so far since it has rained consistently.

 

Melanie Green said members of the community asked her if the GDHS plans to do another replica.  President Shermeyer said we need to sell 209 replicas to break even and we have only sold 93 to date.  Norma Botterbusch suggested we put an article in the newspaper stating the GDHS will have replicas for sale at the Dover Fair.   President Shermeyer said a Neiman relative of hers will be taking a t-shirt to the Neiman reunion in Indiana, and she hopes the relative will talk about the replicas too.  Vice President Stitley suggested we get a stand at the high school craft fair which takes place before Christmas.

 

Joyce Law suggested we advertise the blacksmith shop items for sale in the newspaper when announcing our open hours.  Jo Ott will prepare an article to submit.

 

There being no further questions or any suggestions from the membership, there was a motion to adjourn by Norma Botterbusch and seconded by Vice President Kay Stitley.  Meeting was adjourned at 8:20 pm.

 

Respectfully submitted,

 

Lori Koch

GDHS secretary