NOTES – 1978

Pine Mountain Settlement School
Series 17: PUBLICATIONS PMSS
Notes – 1978
Spring and Fall

NOTES – 1978

“Notes from the Pine Mountain Settlement School”
Spring & Fall 1978

GALLERY: NOTES – 1978 Spring

[In this issue of the Notes]…we have decided to give a rough statistical analysis of the variety of groups which have scheduled programs on our campus in the [last] two years.

TAGS: Notes – 1978 Spring, statistical analysis of visiting groups, Environmental Education, college groups, open programs, interns, church groups, adult specialist groups, community events, special education, alumni, researchers, inquirers, neighbors, fundraising

TRANSCRIPTION: NOTES – 1978 Spring

P. 1

NOTES FROM THE
PINE MOUNTAIN
SETTLEMENT SCHOOL

PINE MOUNTAIN * HARLAN COUNTY * KENTUCKY

Spring                 The Rev. Alvin Boggs, Director                1978

In this issue of the Notes, instead of giving an account of a selected aspect of life and work at Pine Mountain, we have decided to give a rough statistical analysis of the variety of groups which have scheduled programs on our campus in the two years from April 1976 to March 1978, though this seems a “dead” way to convey these live experiences.

    1. Environmental Classes with Grade Schools (Local) 2535 – 1 day; 135 — 2 days. Participants: 2670
    2. Environmental Classes with Grade Schools from Outside the Area, Kentucky — Berea, Lexington, Richmond; Virginia — Norton. Average stay four nights. Participants: 327
    3. Environmental Classes with High Schools (Local) 878 — 1 day; 12 — 2 days. Participants: 890
    4. Environmental Classes with High Schools from Outside the Area, Georgia — Columbus; Iowa — Scattergood; Kentucky — Oneida, Lexington; Maryland — Montgomery Co.; Ohio — Cleveland, Mansfield; Tennessee – Knoxville; 49 — 2 days; 45 — 4 days; 68 — 7 days. Participants: 262
    5. College Students, either groups from their own colleges, or attending one of Pine Mountain’s Short Terms, from the following colleges: Florida — Eckerd; Illinois — Elmhurst; Indiana — Hanover; Kansas-Bethel; Kentucky — Asbury, Berea, Eastern Ky. State, Georgetown, Transylvania, University of Kentucky, Southeast Community College, Interns in Government –…

[Image: Sketch of rocks in flowing water.]

P. 2

…Frankfort; Maine — Colby; Maryland — College of Notre Dame; Michigan –– Ann Arbor; Minnesota — Augsburg, St. Catherine’s, St. Thomas; New Jersey– – Jersey City State; New York –-Colgate; North Carolina — St. Andrews; Ohio — Capital University, Hiram, Oberlin, Wright State; Tennessee — Knoxville; Overseas — Denmark, France (Sorbonne). 60 — 1 day; 93 — 2 days; 95 — 3 days; 60 — 4 days; 8 — 5 days; 36 — 6 days; 16 — 7 days; 15 — 12 days; 8 — 14 days; 43 — 21 days. Participants: 434

    1. Open Program Events — Mainly for Adults, Wild Flower and Fall Color Weekends, Spinning Bee, Workshops — Environmental Ethics, Medicinal Plants, Edible Wild Plants — Bird Counts, Homecoming. 608 — 1 day; 47 — 2 days; 305 — 3 days; 13 — 5 days; 1 — 7 days. Participants: 990 
    2. Interns — From Florida — Eckerd; Indiana — Earlham; Kentucky — Berea, Georgetown, Southeast Community College, University of Kentucky; Maine — Colby; Maryland — Goucher; Minnesota — Augsburg; New York — Colgate, St. Lawrence. 1 — 1 week; 2 — 1 month; 2 — 2 months; 3 — 3 months; 2 — 4 months; 1 — 6 months; 2 — 7 months; 1 — 8 months. Participants: 14 
    3. Church Groups — For Retreats, Work Camps, Study, Camps: Both from the Mountain Area and beyond, camps representing Amish, Baptists, Four Square Gospel, Mennonite, Methodist, Church of the Nazarene, Presbyterian, Union Churches, etc., From the following states: Illinois, Kentucky, Massachusetts, Michigan, Mississippi, New Jersey, New York, Ohio. 293 — 1 day; 262 — 2 days; 60 — 3 days; 65 — 4 days; 100 — 5 days; 39 — 6 days; 60 — 7 days. Participants: 879 
    4. Adult Specialist Groups — Morton Arboretum, Chicago; Natural History Museum, Cincinnati; Kentucky Society of Lepidopterists; Kentucky Nature Conservancy; Berea Faculty; Oneida Baptist Institute (staff); Southern Appalachian Leadership Training; Appalachian Regional Commission; Interns, Appalachian Coalition. 75 — 1 day; 110 — 2 days; 202 — 3 days; 35 — 7 days. Participants: 422 
    5. Scheduled Events for Organizations in Our County and Surrounding Counties: Farm Bureau; Boys and Girl Scouts; Family Reunions; Hospital Groups; Poke Sallett Festival; Weddings; Mental Health Groups; Forestry Camps (Dept. of Corrections); Upward Bound Program. 1828 — 1 day; 200 — 2 days; 75 — 3 days; 18 — 8 days; 60 — 5 weeks. Participants: 2171 
    6. Scheduled Events for Our Immediate Community: Reunions; Weddings; Field Days; Fair Days; Christmas and Easter Celebrations; Summer School. Participants: 2989

TOTAL PARTICIPANTS: 12,048
TOTAL VISITOR DAYS: 22,543

[Image: Sketch of tree trunks.]

Among the 209 scheduled groups listed here, 137 are repeat visits. Length of stay varies from 1 day to 8 months.

P. 3

NOT LISTED ABOVE

    1. The 7 – 9 children in the emotionally disturbed class who are here for the school day (breakfast and lunch included) throughout the school year.
    2. No list has been kept of visits of former staff members and students from 1913 – 1978 who have come back to share the place with family and friends, to see it at different seasons of the year, to meet friends and renew memories.
    3. Nor is there a record of “Inquirers,” who come as research students to use our library and nature trails, to confer with a staff member on our Environmental Education Program, on Appalachian History and Culture, and innumerable other topics, or just to see the place after hearing from someone that it was “interesting”, “beautiful,” “well worth a visit.”
    4. No tally has been kept of the number of our neighbors who come here regularly from Spring through Autumn for swimming, ballgames, picnics, sports, or year round for folk dancing, or local club meetings, for church services and Sunday School, or use our buildings and grounds to meet their neighbors, and enjoy the surroundings. All these added together would add considerably to the total number of both day and overnight visitors.

**********

Pine Mountain with its 24 buildings, 17 of which are more than 50 years old, has been proposed recently for the National Historical Register. The old buildings are beautiful but need upkeep. This demands money. Materials are costly.

Pine Mountain must employ people to keep the plant in running order, to care for the farm which helps to keep down food costs for visiting groups, to prepare meals and clean buildings. It must pay salaries to those who do interpretive work with these groups. Wage levels are constantly rising.

In order to keep its programs alive and forward looking it must provide equipment. We are aware that scores of people who visit our programs go away with a new or strengthened commitment to serving as Stewards to the Earth on which they live. We believe that many others of the thousands who visit us, without our having become aware of it, may have had a similar experience.

Again, we place before you all our pleas to help us by your contributions to set the stage in which people young and old, rich and poor, wise and foolish, may come to a deeper realization that each person counts in helping to preserve and cherish this beautiful and wonderful Earth that we inhabit.

[image: Sketch of ferns and trees.]

GALLERY: NOTES – 1978 Fall

We come to you for help twice each year….Costs are staggering….Our facility, with aging buildings, begs for repair. Wages and living costs spiral upward.

TAGS: Notes – 1978 Fall, Association of Alumni and Friends, student letters, needs, donations, drawings, fundraising, events

TRANSCRIPTION: NOTES – 1978 Fall

P. 1

NOTES FROM THE
PINE MOUNTAIN
SETTLEMENT SCHOOL

PINE MOUNTAIN * HARLAN COUNTY * KENTUCKY 40810
TELEPHONE 606 / 558-4361

Fall                The Rev. Alvin Boggs, Director               1978 

You have heard from Pine Mountain Settlement School one extra time this year. The Association of Alumni and Friends has made known a special offer of a work of art, which is again available. There is genuine appreciation for the new surge of intense interest in one special project on campus.

For almost seven years the pivotal point of activity has been to discover, acknowledge and learn to preserve or use wisely our God given resources. As a nation, we come late to appreciate what we squandered and trampled in the past. Some things perish with the using and the mis-use is far more devastating.

This 800 acre, natural arboretum is second to none. There is space, clean air and water, a variety of plants and trees, animals in natural habitat, and a facility that captivates and endears the place and program to many. We have been informed that the Pine Mountain Settlement School has been placed on the Register of the National Historical Society of the Department of the Interior. We do appreciate the recognition and those who presented the facts resulting in this recognition.

As children and youth scamper over boulders and share their excitement of a new kind of classroom it is a most insensitive person who cannot feel the rejoicing of all nature with them. An Old Testament Prophet made the leaves of the trees clap their hands. Another saw the rock turned to standing water, and flint turned into a fountain. In like manner we rejoice to see complacence turned to concern, and apathy give way to significant activity. All of the changes are not from cocoons to butterflies.Some changes are from indifference to desperate desire.

[Image: Drawing of a tree limb with an acorn and oak leaves.]

P. 2

A money figure is impossible in evaluating the success. There are expressions verbal and written that make us realize the importance of this program. Some lift their heads higher as they recall some special incident on campus. Specific likes and dislikes are shared frankly, but the unsolicited praise for the Pine Mountain Settlement School’s program and persons is a reward. Some letters from 5th grade children tell it clearly.

I enjoyed what I learned. I liked every subject. I enjoyed learning about the Settlers, Indians, Compass, Night Hike, Pine Mountain Hike, Spinning and Weaving, and other things. It was nice. I learned a lot. I’d like to go again. How about every year? Stay a month or two or more a year. I’m glad I met every one. I miss you all.

*

I enjoyed my time at Pine Mt. It was very fun. I learned a lot from all of you, like Bruce taught me a little about the Indans (sic), Tom taught me how to work a compass, Carrol taught me how to weave and Mary telling me (us) about the settlers and taking us to the night hike. I liked every one of them too.

And another thing I liked was their food it was real good so can you please thank the cooks for me. and also thank the people that let us stay in the dorm. We realy (sic) appreciate it, so thank you for everything.

*

Thank you very much for allowing us to come to your bee-utiful mountain. What I really enjoyed most were the night hikes, so please, give my regards to Afton [Garrison] (Father Nature).

*

Your school was wonderful. I am going to remember your school with joy. The food was just great! I learned so much. About trees and just everything. The staff was so sweet to everyone. I just want to thank the staff and all the people at Pine Mountain.

P. 3

You have helped us. So much credit is yours. Because you care, you enable us to reap such rewards as are herein revealed. We come to you for help twice each year — the notes reveal some accomplishments and many needs. Costs are staggering. We hope to keep even with our obligations. Our facility, with aging buildings, begs for repair. Wages and living costs spiral upward. The daily demands are such that we come to you with the confidence you will continue supporting the work that is dear to your heart. We know there will be accomplishments in which your gifts will continue to make significant opportunities.

Special attention has been given to some needs. New, homemade, oak shingles grace and protect our Old Log House (1850s) and the William Creech Cabin (1871). An excellent dictating system was given for our office. A neighbor has loaned a pick-up truck again and again for special errands. One group saw the importance of an oven that works, for our food service. Some have shown special interest in a need for bedding. Our organ restoration fund is making definite progress. We are grateful to all who show interest in these special needs.

We are encouraged on those occasions when our day to day expenses are covered. Office supplies, postage, employee benefits, surprise demands from breakdowns cannot be postponed. Again, we believe you will want to be a part of this great work.

[Image: Drawing of a tree and distant mountains.]

P. 4

FORTHCOMING EVENTS

December 17 Nativity Play

 January 3-27 Special College Credit Term

April 20-22 Spring Wildflower Weekend

May 11-13 Black Mountain Wildflower Weekend

June 8-10 Wild Food Workshop

June 16 Pine Mountain Homecoming

June 22-24 Spinning Bee

June 27 Poke Sallet Festival

August 6-10 Medical Plants Workshop

September 8 Fair Day

October 19-21 Fall Color Weekend

Previous:
NOTES – 1977
Next:
NOTES – 1979

See Also:
VISITORS Guide to Consultants, Guests, and Friends of PMSS
HISTORY PMSS Summary 1977-1978
HISTORY PMSS Summary 1978-1979

Return To:
NOTES Index