Greater Dover Historical Society
May 21, 2009

The regular meeting of the Greater Dover Historical Society was called to order by President Madelyn Shermeyer at 7:05 p.m. at the Calvary Lutheran Church. Members present were: Lori Koch, June Kinsey, Jeff Koch, Carol Leathery, Gayle Heagy, Madelyn Shermeyer, Jo Ott, Doris Burger, Grace Trimmer, Mel Miller, Lois Slothower, Norma Botterbusch, Ron Botterbusch, Chris Coleman, William Coleman, Zita Smith, Melanie Green, Ted Ziegler and Larry Law.

The April 2009 minutes were presented, and President Shermeyer asked for any additions or corrections to the minutes. A motion to accept the minutes as presented was made by Doris Burger and seconded by Gayle Heagy. All voted in favor and motion passed.

TREASURER’S REPORT

The treasurer’s report for April 2009 was presented. There was a motion by Mel Miller to approve the treasurer’s report as presented and seconded by Jo Ott. All voted in favor and motion passed.

Assistant Archivist report – Gayle Heagy reported she had a very successful work day organizing the archives at the Township building with help from June Kinsey and President Shermeyer.

Gayle Heagy reported she received a phone call from Mrs. Innerst who lives in Ohio and was interested in acquiring information on a family named Reisinger from the 1790’s, specifically a father and son. Mrs. Innerst contacted the York Heritage Trust and staff told her to contact the Dover Historical Society for help. Mrs. Innerst was researching which individual, the father or son, was the constable in Dover. Gayle searched through the Dover Borough Council minute books which she had transcribed, and she also searched the books of cemeteries. Gayle contacted Mr. Reisinger, who authored the books on local cemeteries, and he knew all the information on this family which Mrs. Innerst was asking about. Gayle put Mrs. Innerst in touch with Mr. Reisinger, and she was very pleased to acquire the information. Gayle was told the younger man was the constable.

Gayle reported that the lithographs which Jo Ott purchased at the auction held at the Dover Fire Hall recently were part of Mrs. Reichley’s estate. Gayle has a meeting scheduled with one of the Reichley’s granddaughters who plan to give the GDHS additional items from the estate.

Historian report – Cindy Snyder did not have a report. 

Adopt-a-Highway – Melanie Green reported the next pick-up will be on June 6, and the sign-up sheet is on the table for volunteers to sign.

Landscaping committee report – Lucia Hrinyak was absent and June Kinsey presented the report on her behalf. The volunteers worked on May 20 to spread out 3 cubic yards of mulch, which is the same amount used last year. The mulch will help keep the weeds down and ensure cooler temperatures for the plants’ roots. The Worley’s will submit the invoice for the mulch when they receive it. Several of the flowers and plants were trimmed; the garden should require little maintenance over the summer months, but will require a substantial amount of work in the fall to split and relocate plants.

Board of Directors’ report – Ron Botterbusch reported the Board met on April 23. The Board discussed the "You’ve Got It Made In York County" magazine; President Shermeyer will bring this issue up with the membership later in the meeting. The Board also agreed to use a PayPal service to pay for our website fee. The Board discussed a safety event to be held in Ketterman Park on August 15 which is a better date for the fire company members instead of August 8 when the Blacksmith Shop will be open. Ted was asked if he would be willing to work in the Blacksmith Shop on 2 consecutive Saturdays in August, and Ted said yes.

Blacksmith Shop open house – Jo Ott reported the April open house had very few visitors most likely due to the rainy weather. Jo said one of the visitors was a young boy around 14 years old who wants to be a blacksmith; he owns an anvil.

Dover Firemen’s Fair – President Shermeyer stated that Melanie Green has volunteered to chair the committee this year.

Dover Halloween parade -- President Shermeyer stated we need a chairperson for the event. Norma Botterbusch said she spoke to someone at the fire company’s Easter flower sale but did not attend the April meeting to get permission for a food concession stand. Norma said she will try to get information to report at our June meeting.

Website – President Shermeyer reported she emailed Brett regarding what had been discussed at the Board of Directors’ meeting and discussed the billing for the website. President Shermeyer asked Brett to guide us through the process of transferring ownership of the website domain to the GDHS. President Shermeyer advised Brett of the last time payment was made to him for the website fee. Brett pays for the website fee with a PayPal account he set up which charges his personal credit card quarterly. According to our records, the last payment to Brett for the website fee was made in August 2007. President Shermeyer stated we will have to wait for Brett to take care of the website transfer issue and provide the treasurer with an invoice for the fees still owed to him.  

As a follow-up to the Board of Directors’ report, President Shermeyer stated she had a meeting with Michele Zettle from the "You’ve Got It Made in York County" magazine to discuss putting GDHS information and events in the magazine. President Shermeyer said the matter was discussed by the Board, and it was agreed to advertise in the magazine at a cost of $145. President Shermeyer explained she contacted Ms. Zettle to get additional details. President Shermeyer reported the following information to the membership and the BOD: 1). The GDHS would have to join by July 1 at a cost of $145.00 for one year; 2). Events for the GDHS would appear on the website immediately but due to the large number of submissions, the magazine editors would decide which events are printed in the magazine (Blacksmith shop open hours and the annual historical walk) so there is no guarantee the events submitted by the GDHS would be printed in the magazine; 3). Any photos the GDHS would like printed in the magazine cost extra. President Shermeyer advised Ron Botterbusch that the Board of Directors’ will have to meet to make a decision on this matter. Mr. Botterbusch asked the members present for any opinions on this issue. After a brief discussion among the membership and the BOD, Mr. Botterbusch stated the feeling from the Board is not to go along with it if the GDHS information will not appear in the magazine. A final decision was made to not purchase a membership in this magazine.

Coffee table book – President Shermeyer reported on Capture York, which will be a coffee table book of photos from York County. Jo Ott gave details on the website, CaptureYork.com, which is collaboration from InYork.com and Pediment Books. Individuals are encouraged to log onto the CaptureYork.com website to submit photographs for various categories. Jo Ott stated she submitted about a dozen photographs, including one of the Blacksmith shop. The program ends on June 28^th , and then the editors will choose which photographs will appear in the book. The membership all agreed it was a good idea for Jo Ott to submit a photo on behalf of the GDHS.

President Shermeyer reported that Doris Burger brought a brochure about Hartslog Day to be held on October 10^th in case any member would be interested in organizing a trip there to visit. This date is also the last open house for the Blacksmith Shop for the year.

Gayle Heagy reported that Phyllis Mummert recently took a group of Girl Scouts on a walking tour of the Borough to earn a badge. Gayle had suggested that they visit the site where Louie Slothower’s barber shop had been located on West Canal Street.

President Shermeyer reported she was contacted by Scott Mingus about a Jeb Stuart plaque that had been displayed in the Dover square. President Shermeyer checked the one at the Calvary parish house and also the one at the Dover Fire Hall. She reported the plaque at the fire hall does mention Jeb Stuart and passed this information along to Mr. Mingus. Ron Botterbusch said he was told years ago that the plaque at the fire hall is the one that was originally in the square.

President Shermeyer stated a list of suggested speakers can be found on the meeting agenda, including June Lloyd and Scott Mingus who have already made presentations. Mr. Botterbusch will do a presentation on black powder firearms in October or November. President Shermeyer asked the membership to bring other suggestions for guest speakers to our June meeting. Norma Botterbusch asked President Shermeyer to remind members about guest speakers scheduled for West Manchester Historical Society. Per information from Ron Botterbusch, those speakers will be as follows: Jim McClure will speak on July 20 about one-room schoolhouses in York County, and Scott Mingus will speak on November 16 about the Civil War in West Manchester Township. Vice President Stitley asked Mel Miller to share information with the members about a visit to Zee Kehr’s house. Mel reported that one of their members, Denny Benkert, has a metal detector and they visited Zee’s house on Taxville Road. Dr. Jacob Eisenhart lived there during the Civil War, and family tradition says that the doctor treated many Confederate soldiers at his home. Denny Benkert found an old rusted canister with shot in it and an iron projectile. Scott Mingus posted an article about this find on his website.

Norma Botterbusch reported she received a phone call from Marie Elicker who had a barn door hinge she thought the society may want for our archives. Norma said it is about 4 feet long; Ron Botterbusch said it is a handmade strap hinge. Norma thought we may be able to display it in the Blacksmith Shop. President Shermeyer asked if it is from the Dover area, but Norma said Marie did not know and cannot ask her husband since he has dementia now. President Shermeyer said we have so many items in the archives now that are not relevant to Dover. Gayle Heagy said she has scrapbooks donated by individuals that do not have dates or any family history recorded. There is a wealth of information in these scrapbooks, but it would be a monumental task to try to catalog all this data from the scrapbooks.

Mrs. Koch reminded members to submit articles to Lucia Hrinyak for editing to be published in the next newsletter. A brief discussion ensued on the deadline and number of times the newsletter will be published each year. Norma Botterbusch and Lois Slothower will prepare articles to cover events for July through September and send them to Lori Koch by July 1. Jo Ott did submit an article on the date stone, and President Shermeyer will prepare her president’s message.

There being no further questions or suggestions from the membership, the meeting was adjourned at 7:57 p.m.

Respectfully submitted,

Lori Koch

GDHS secretary