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Purpose is clear by Paul Kurtz


Why we need to complete the NSH project is now very clear:

  1. Descendants are attracted to this place.
  2. This is the only ancestral site from the 70 Berks families settling in the 1700's in our charge.
  3. The area offers so much.
  4. The community has welcomed us.
  5. Groups events prove the value of the preservation.
A large busload from the White Horse Machine Shop had already arrived at the House Thursday morning, August 6, 2009 when I pulled in at 7:20. Although a bit rainy, they began the day with doughnuts and coffee spread on the nearby picnic table. The House was open, they came in to see and to ask questions.



By 10:00 they were across the Red Bridge to the Gruber Wagon and Canal museums. It was almost 1:00 when they returned to the Berks Leisure Area pavilion for the chicken barbecue dinner. Soon the volley ball game was going on a nearby grassy area. The old folks gathered on their chairs in the shade along a stone wall. The scooters and bicycles were on the trails across the Tulpehocken Creek by way of the foot bridge. Then soon after 5:00 came the call for supper. Henry King had barbecued the hamburgers, with lots of tasty dishes spread.

The day was hallowed by the silent prayers as the soul was nourished before the Lord.

I wish you would have heard Henry's words at the close of the day. He marveled at what the area had to offer. Here they connected with Nicholas who had joined the Amish in Zwiebrucken, Germany and came here with Bible, Ausbund, Martyrs' Book, and prayer book. Nearby they saw the museums, followed the trails, and played volley ball on the grassy spaces.



Then the next week as I drove in to the House Friday, August 14, about 2:30, I saw a young man walking between the House and the trailer home. I called him an intruder! Actually he was Levi M Fisher's son Ephraim. A son-in-law Joseph Miller, Jr., had reserved for the stay. They were already setting up for a camp fire and an overnight stay. To my surprise they had kayaked from Leesport on the Schuyllkill and came across to the Tulpehocken. Soon the volley ball game was going on the flat between the House and the Creek.


The volley ball is in the air! The kayak by the creek
Boys looking for the way to tap Or spike the ball back


They set up an open pit fire for supper and breakfast Saturday morning. As they gathered around the fire late Friday night, Crystal Brunk came back from work and welcomed them, told them the bath in the house could be used by the ladies and children who then came on a bus Saturday.



They retired in their tents on the lawn.

Saturday morning after the families arrived they all went into the House where I tried to answer questions. They were especially surprised to learn of what it meant for Nicholas to join the Amish. Scooters, bicycles, and volley ball filled the morning, with some dipping in the creek.

After dinner they went to the Berks Heritage Center to see what it had to offer.

As we were separating one of them said they would be back next year!

These two events fulfilled the purpose of the preservation, yet we have a ways to go:

  1. The trailer home is temporary., and we need overseers on the grounds.
  2. We do not have sufficient rest rooms.
  3. We need a heritage room where the story can be made clear.
  4. A pavilion on grounds is to be in the future after the barn is complete.

The barn will take care of these needs. It will have quarters for overseers, rest rooms, and the heritage room. Then all we need to completely fulfill the purpose is the pavilion.

The builder is ready to begin. All are eager for a barn raising. Half of the needed start-up funds are on hand through efforts of a few hard workers. The other half is the last hurdle!

What a future (all about the past!)