Summer 2018 Newsletter
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Circa 1794 The Newsletter of Rock Ford Plantation SUMMER 2018 General Hand Puppet Theatre delights audiences Calendar of Following its warmly received inaugural performance at Upcoming Special this year’s May Fair, the General Hand Puppet Theatre Events offered two performances on Sunday, June 24. Carefully staged in the festively decorated Rock Ford Barn, the ex- July: panded show resulted from the continuing collaboration between Rock Ford and The Lancaster Marionette Thea- 1: Meet the Gardener, tre. Under the direction of master puppeteer Robert Brock, 10 am - 3 pm the show used word and song from puppet versions of (weather permitting) General Hand, Kitty Hand, George and Martha Washing- ton, several Hand farm animals and “Mad King George” to charmingly recount the story of 3, 10, 17, 24 and 31: America’s struggle for independence. The expertly crafted puppets were under the control of Stories on the Porch, four Rock Ford volunteers (with musical accompaniment by Ron Peters) and followed a 10 am warm and witty script provided by Brock. Although this was a volunteer effort, the perfor- mance exhibited a high level of professionalism that was a testament to the talents of Robert 26: Lecture: Brock and to the many hours of rehearsal given by Rock Ford volunteers under his exacting “My Dear General: The tutelage. “Working with Rob was a blast,” said one of the volunteers, “but he is a perfection- Extraordinary ist and takes his craft very seriously. At times, it could get a bit like puppet boot camp.” Relationship between George Washington and The performance also included a brief demonstration by Brock of his beautifully made mari- the Marquis onettes from his show about the Lancaster-born John Durang, Early America’s first profes- de Lafayette,” sional actor and dancer. It concluded with a special treat: a doll house replica of the Rock 5:30 pm in the barn Ford mansion, painstakingly constructed 43 years ago and not seen by the public for many years, was rolled out before the audience. The side of the house was removed, and docent August: Debbie Smith offered the audience a “mini tour” of its fully furnished “mini rooms.” 5: Meet the Gardener, “We are very excited about this collaboration,” said Executive Director Sam Slaymaker. 10 am - 3 pm “Lancaster has so many unique and special places like Rock Ford and the Marionette Theatre (weather permitting) that many of us who live here have grown to take them for granted. Collaborative efforts like this allow us to experience these places in new and innovative ways which build upon their 7: Stories on the Porch, individual strengths while refocusing the collective attention of our community to their ongo- 10 am ing missions. They also prove something that we have known at Rock Ford for quite a while: history and the arts are a good mix and, when they come together in the right way, you should 11: Lobster Picnic expect magic.” Annual Fundraising Event A future show is in the planning stages. Stay tuned! Mar your calendar for Roc For’ Annua Fundraiser! Loter Picni o Saturda, Augus 11 Details will be posted on the Rock Ford website and Facebook page in the near future. Look for your invitation in the mail soon! We would like to thank Clermont Wealth Strategies, Fulton Financial Advisors and Brubaker Connaughton Goss & Lucarelli, LLC for their support of this event. Rock Ford acknowledges and thanks our 2018 Season Sponsors for their generous support: Lead Sponsors: Thomas G. Englert, Willis and Elsie Shenk Foundation and the Pennsylvania Historical and Museum Commission Supporting Sponsors: Brubaker Connaughton Goss & Lucarelli, LLC, Clermont Wealth Strategies, Fulton Financial Advisors, and Rhoads Energy Corporation CIRCA 1794 Page 2 2017-18 Membership Appeal The 2017-18 Membership Appeal began on November 1, 2017. We would like to thank the following individu- als and organizations who became new members or who renewed their memberships from November 1, 2017 to June 30, 2018. This list will be updated in future newsletters. Individual: $50 Family (cont,.) Patron (cont.) Marguerite S.V. Adams Carol Thompson & W. Fred Kinsey Lindsley Development Consulting Sarah Alberico Audrey Trussell John & Karen Lyter Donna Arment Micke Trussell Charles Maser & Jon Johnson Jeannette Arment Willem & Thea Van Huystee William D. McCann Stewart Axtell Ronald & Beverly Walton Linn & Susan Moedinger Thomas Bowen, Jr. Joel & Kristin Young Russell & Lisa Mullen Susan Broomell Joel Marc Mumma Corey Craver Bonnie Nolt Barbara Douglas Business/Photographer: $85 Ron & Judy Peters Dr. S. Kendrick Eshleman, III Kate Aldrich Photography Joanne & H. Herbert Poole, Jr. Andree Goldman B. Beers Photography William & Joanne Quain Larry Greenawalt Steve Bradney Photography Wylie Gibson Raab Lisa Haldy Beth Cardwell Photography Eric & Frances Rebert Vicky Hand Fannie Lynn Esh Ronald A. Ritter Margaret Jenne Eye Journey Photographic Art Patti Rottmund George May Lauren Fisher Photography Jay Schroeder, III Linda Myers Leo & Virginia Shelley Fly Away Home Photography Sally Patterson Ellen Simpson Kenneth Pandozzi Cindy Frey Photography Sarah Slaymaker Paul H. Ripple Regina Gutierrez Photography Kent & Pat Spotts Harriet Robbins Elina Hope Photography Kathryn Thomas Gail Rogers Stephanie Hostetter Stephen Trapnell Laura Schramm Mary Hunt Photography Mr. and Mrs. Charles Walker Kenneth Shaffer Angelique Kauffman Photography William P. Snyder Lulubelle Photography George Ross Society: $250 Dr. Samuel Stayer Susie Marks Photography Alan & Susan Andersen Kenneth Berkenstock Margaret Tassia Orange Slice Photography Ann Taylor Michael & Barbara Brown Keith Tussing Sally Belle Photography Jill Edwards & George Beech Nancy Wiker Diana Shaffer Photography Dennis & Betty Jo Grimm Dr. Nikitas Zervanos Annie Sharp Photography Stephen & Rochelle Gunzenhauser Amanda Souders Photography Caroline Hill Family: $75 Nancy Kenneff Robert & Mary Anne Aichele Patron: $100 Dave & Kathy Parse Kathleen Ashworth Mary Ellen Bachman Robert & Patricia Pontz Peter & Millicent Christie Dr. & Mrs. William Boben Robert & Deborah Smith Rosemary Coverly & Kent Strickler John & Joanne Bowman Tim & Cindy Trussell Kevin & Rebecca Crouse Steve & Eva Bradney Donald Walters Richard & Charlotte Drennen Louis & Millie Caccamo Richard & Sylvia Drennen Forrest & Kathryn Collier Edward Shippen Society: $500 William & Judith Geil Carolyn Cook Kevin Craig John & Barbara Graeter Mr. & Mrs. D. Weston Darby, Jr. Jane N. Eastman Francis Harchuska Ray & Carol Dennis Edith May Susan Hayes Gayle Despard Thomas & Georgina Russo James & Alace Humphreville Hal & Ellen Eager Samuel & Laura Slaymaker Vanessa Johnson Bob & Carol Falk Daniel & Ellen Strickler Michael & Barbara Kuntz John Frymyer Dr. and Mrs. C. Darrell Lane John & Dolores Gareis Jasper Yeates Society: $1000 Richard & Leslie Manix Dan & Lisa Garner Thomas Englert Jenna Martin Tom & Cindy Gehr David & Linda Schwanger Eric Maxwell Douglas & Gail Gibson Donald & Elizabeth Steckler Christian & Gladys McMurtrie Joseph Chester Gibson, III John & Pamela Stoner Carol Norwood Dr. & Mrs. Alistair Grant Mr. and Mrs. Arthur D. Old Robert Groff, Jr. Katharine Hand Society: $5000 Michelle Pieters Bill & Jane Hewitt Dorothy M. Smith Anna & Robert Roschel Horst Insurance Karl & Betty Salmon Mark & Glenda Jardel David & Lesley Schmidt Tim & Brenda Kauffman Philip & Luann Scribani William & Sharon Kennedy Robert & Marylou Simons Frank & Nancy Koch Tom & Delight Snyder James & Stephanie Landis Page 3 SUMMER 2018 Rock Ford’s annual May Fair celebration continues to grow Rock Ford held its annual May Fair on Sunday, May 20. While the prior week’s rain-soaked weather forced the cancellation of several outdoor activities, the day of the event was mostly sunny and warm. Many people took open-house tours of the mansion that were offered at a special rate. The event also featured outdoor vendors such as Liberty Bakehaus (bottom left), games of charades, 18th century dancing, living history re-enactors such as Ken Spotts (top left), Warm Hearth Club cooking demonstrations and the premiere of the General Hand Puppet Theatre (top right). The all-volunteer puppet theatre held its initial performance outside, but a rain shower forced the production to move inside the mansion. The show had hand pup- pets depicting Edward and Kitty Hand, George and Martha Washing- ton, King George III as well as several farm animals. Rock Ford offers new experiences for students By Debbie Smith We are looking anew at our resources here at Rock Ford to develop more opportunities for children who visit on field trips. Of course, touring the mansion will always be our first and foremost asset. How- ever, new this year is a visit to our four-square garden to learn about herbs, their characteristics and their medicinal powers—lots of differ- ent scents and textures of the herbs hold the children’s fascination. The third activity we offer is a study of the archi- tecture of the house. Following a short intro- duction, children sketch their favorite detail, pattern or feature. Our goal is to continue to create a variety of programs for young visitors. We are fortunate to have such a beautiful site that enriches educational experiences and gives us a continual source of ideas. Photos: Third grade students explore the medicinal uses of herbs in the 18th century by touring the Kitchen Garden (top); docent Glenda Jardel explains open hearth cooking to students in the kitchen (bottom); and students work on architectural sketches (right). Thank you to Thomas G. Englert