NOTES – 2007

Pine Mountain Settlement School
Series 17: PUBLICATIONS PMSS
NOTES 2007
Fall

NOTES  2007

“Notes from the Pine Mountain Settlement School”
2007 Fall

GALLERY: NOTES 2007

Nancy Adams on the death of Burton Rogers: “My last visit with Burton was on May 7th at his home. He remained engaged in Pine Mountain matters, and on this day, we had planned to view one of the School’s historic films. He had agreed to help me try to identify some of the people and places in the film. At the end of the visit, as I was heading toward the front door, he stopped me. ‘You know,” he said, “Pine Mountain was my life.'”

TAGS: NOTES 2007 Fall, Director Nancy Adams, outdoor classrooms, donors and grants, Trustee R. Springer Hoskins, Preservation Field School, Putney Ranger Station, Fair Day, Summer Day Camps, Bookmobile Summer Reading Program Director Burton Brush Rogers, Author and Screenwriter Earl Hamner, conversion of swimming pool, Reading Camp, Alumni and Friends Homecoming, how to contribute to PMSS 

CONTENTS: NOTES – 2007 Fall

Nancy Adams; Burton Rogers; Mary Rogers; environmental education; Vanessa Zeoli; Ginger Shank; Sommer Torabi; Kentucky College of Design School of Architecture; Reading Camp; Steele-Reese Foundation; farming; obituaries; R. Springer Hoskins; Board of Trustees; Preservation Field School; Dan Mazzotti; Gettysburg National Military Park; Kentucky Heritage Council; log houses; Putney Ranger Station; National Preservation Training Center; Kentucky State Division of Forestry; preservation; conservation; Fair Day; Summer Day Camp; Bookmobiles; Earl Hamner; Judy Hensley; swimming pool; wetlands; Jim Lemke; Arboretum State Botanical Garden of Kentucky; Fred Hall; Mike Hall; Gola Smith; Gerry Boggs Malloy; Shirley Boggs Ruyack (1948-49); Mattie Decker; Ann Andaloro; homecomings

TRANSCRIPTION: NOTES – 2007 Fall

P. 1

NOTES FROM
 THE PINE MOUNTAIN
SETTLEMENT SCHOOL
PINE MOUNTAIN ~ HARLAN COUNTY ~ KENTUCKY
A tradition of education and service since 1913
FALL 2007

[Cover color photograph: “From bottom: Vanessa Zeoli, Ginger Shank and Sommer Torabi, students in University of Kentucky’s College of Design, School of Architecture, participated in a hands-on repointing workshop in April at Pine Mountain. Photo courtesy of Michael Spencer“]

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August 2007

Dear Friends,

This week, we are swamped by produce from our garden. In the kitchen, a heap of green beans rises to knee height from a bedsheet spread on the floor, five-gallon buckets brim with red tomatoes, while cantaloupes and watermelons fill the coolers. Out- side, in the bed of the farm truck, a mound of corn waits to be shucked. In the field, okra, peppers and eggplant have yet to be picked, while squash and zucchini plants keep producing.

In the midst of this agricultural exuberance, we are already thinking of next summer. We are about to embark on an exciting and challenging new initiative that will help us to improve our general operation, augment our community outreach, and expand our environmental education program. During this process, we will transform our fields into an outdoor classroom to demonstrate organic farming techniques. We will raise heirloom vegetable varieties. We will invite our neighbors to share their agricultural knowledge with the community and our visitors. We will reserve space for those in the community who want to raise a garden here. And we will celebrate with community dinners.

This new program has been made possible by a generous grant from the Steele-Reese Foundation, which recently approved our request for start-up funds to cover the first two years of the project. You have probably heard about similar projects to promote the use of locally grown food. We are pleased to be able to join this movement. Some of you may have read Barbara Kingsolver’s latest book, “Animal, Vegetable, Mineral,” in which she details her family’s efforts for a year to grow their own food, buy it from their neighbors, or do without. Interspersed with this chronicle, she and her husband Steven L. Hopp and daughter Camille write about related topics, including farmers’ markets, industrial animal food production, childhood obesity and good recipes. Younger daughter Lily’s experience with raising chickens for egg production is a delightful story. After reading the book, it is difficult not to be more conscious about food – where it comes from, how it was grown, the effect of agricultural practices on the environment.

I hope that our agricultural project at Pine Mountain can be a learning experience for our staff, neighbors and visitors. We plan to post our progress and failures on this project on our web page. We’ll begin our first entries in mid-winter, as we plan our gardens and order seeds. We’ll make mistakes, of course, but that is an important part of learning.

As always, we welcome your visit. If you are planning to be in our area this fall, you might consider taking in the magnificent autumn foliage during Fall Color Weekend on Oct. 19th through 21st.

In the Spirit of Pine Mountain,
[Signed] Nancy Adams
Nancy Adams
Executive Director

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R. Springer Hoskins

[Photograph: R. Springer Hoskins]

Robert Springer Hoskins, who served on the Pine Mountain Board of Trustees for 33 years, died on Aug. 1, 2007 after a long illness. During his tenure as trustee, Springer was elected Secretary and Secretary-Treasurer of the board. He was chairman of the finance committee for several years. In 2004, when he left the board, Springer was named an honorary trustee.

Springer earned the respect of fellow trustees for his wisdom and practicality. The staff loved him because he always showed an interest in them. On his trips to Pine Mountain, Springer would bring seedlings to be planted on campus. We are reminded daily of these gifts as we walk past the now sturdy trees. Springer was born on July 8, 1927 in Harlan. He was a graduate of Davidson College and served in the United States Navy during World War II. He worked for the family-owned Enterprise Publishing Co., publisher of the Harlan Daily Enterprise, and eventually became editor and vice president. In 1971, Springer was named president of the Corbin Times-Tribune. He wrote a weekly column on politics and personal experiences for the Times-Tribune called The Springboard. He was active in many professional and community organizations and institutions: Kentucky Press Association executive committee member, Advisory Council member for Harlan Appalachian Regional Hospital, founding member and past president of the Harlan County Jaycees, Harlan Chamber of Commerce member, and board member for the Presbyterian Child Welfare Agency in Buckhorn. He was also active in the Presbyterian Church, and he served as a deacon and an elder. He attended First Presbyterian Church in Harlan, and later, Corbin Presbyterian Church. In 1991, he was named Moderator of the Transylvania Presbytery. Springer is survived by his wife Anne, and three children: David, Caryn, and Mary Ann; two sisters and four grandchildren. His son James died in 1993. We are fortunate to have known and worked with Springer, and we are thankful for his many contributions to Pine Mountain Settlement School.

Grant awards

The Kentucky Historical Society has awarded two grants totaling $1,355.00 to Pine Mountain Settlement School. The $1,000 technology grant will cover the cost of equipment to help with retrieval and storage of archival documents. The $355.00 project grant will pay for artifacts to be used in the environmental education program’s early settlers class. We appreciate this support from the Kentucky Historical Society.

A $12,940 grant from the National Film Preservation Foundation will pay for preservation and duplication work on five historic films held by the Settlement School. These films date from the mid-1930s to the mid-40s and contain rare footage of life at the School and surrounding communities. The preservation work will be done at ColorLab in Rockville, Maryland. After completion of the work, these films will be available for public viewing. We welcome this opportunity to share some of the School’s historic resources with a wider audience.

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Preservation Field School

[Color photograph]: “Sixteen students representing six states participated in the workshop. Photo by Nancy Adams]

Putney Ranger Station, the first district headquarters for the Kentucky State Division of Forestry, was the site of Pine Mountain’s log repair workshop in June. Putney is on the south side of Pine Mountain, about seven miles from the School.

The ranger station is being repaired for possible use as a visitors center and forest museum. Harlan County Fiscal Court has received grant funds to help with restoration of the historic building.

During the weeklong workshop, instructors Moss Rudley and Paul Jensen of the National Preservation Training Center introduced students to the basics of how to repair a log structure. The first step was to analyze the structure to determine its condition. Students then took on two of the worst sections of the building – a rotted sill log and a crown end replacement.

Partners in this workshop were Harlan County Fiscal Court, Kentucky Heritage Council, and Preservation Kentucky. We appreciate the help of Merril Flanary, Blanton Forest steward for Kentucky Natural Lands Trust, who found logs for the class to use. More information about the Putney Ranger Station is available on-line at www.state.ky.us/agencies/khc/historic_context.htm, Section 5-6, pages 183-186.

[Color photograph: “Above left: Leaders for the workshop included Moss Rudley, left, exhibit specialist for the National Park Service’s National Preservation Training Center, and Patrick Kennedy, restoration project manager for the Kentucky Heritage Council. Above right: Howard Hogan (left), Kentucky State Parks employee, and Dan Mazzotti, from the Gettysburg National Military Park, use draw knives to smooth out a new log. Photos courtesy of John Gerding“]

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Community

[Color photograph: “Nolen’s Lodge pig roast offered plenty of delicious food along with a generous helping of conversation.”]

Fair Day
Horse-drawn buggy rides, children’s games, homemade sweets and baked goods, and the Nolen Lodge’s pig roast dinner drew friends from near and far to the annual Pine Mountain community’s Fair Day on August 25. Despite the hot weather, everyone enjoyed seeing the exhibits of quilts, crocheted items, canned goods and crafts, and listening to music provided by Gene Harris, Don Harris, Terry Harris, Barbara Wilder, and Edna and Valenie Farley. This year’s winner of the Pine Mountain Homemakers’ quilt was Bethany Whitehead of Bledsoe.

We appreciate the efforts of Jackie and Cathy Coots and Jackie and Mallie Coots to bring the horse and buggy to the fair. Harlan County Extension office staff who judged the exhibits were Theresa Howard, Pat Duncan, Jeremy Williams, and Linda Asher. Thanks to all the volunteers and Pine Mountain staff members who helped make Fair Day such a wonderful event.

[Color photograph: “Fern Cornett of the Pine Mountain community brought flowers from her yard to enter into the live flower exhibit category. Photos by Nancy Adams“]

Summer Day Camps
Nearly 50 local children and young people participated in the annual day camps in June sponsored by the Settlement School.

A highlight of the camp for younger children was musician and storyteller Randy Wilson of Clay County, who taught dulcimer playing and drama. His residence was made possible through an Arts Build Communities grant funded by the Kentucky Arts Council.

The older youth participated in stream ecology and orienteering classes, and worked on several crafts, including hemp bracelets, window art, and pottery. They took a guided hike through nearby Lilley Cornett Woods, an old-growth tract, and a field trip to Harlan to see the movie “Pirates of the Caribbean: At World’s End.”

Thanks to all the volunteers who helped make the camps so much fun!

Bookmobile Summer Reading Program
Children from the Pine Mountain community participated in the summer reading program sponsored by the Harlan County Bookmobile and the Settlement School. They enjoyed six activity-filled sessions designed to inspire them to read more. Each child received free books to take home after each session. We appreciate Book-mobile librarian, Rosemary Cantrell, who brought the program to the School, and several Harlan County businesses for their donations of prizes.

P. 6

Burton Brush Rogers

I was privileged to know Burton Rogers, the School’s long-time principal and director. On Burton’s first visit here after my arrival in 2002, he and his son Christopher drove me to the top of Pine Mountain to Little Shepherd Trail. There, as we rode along the ridge, Burton talked about the geology of the mountain. He pointed out the special overlooks on the north side and told me when the Catawba Rhododendron blooms. He remembered that he and his wife Mary would sit atop the mountain on Saturday afternoons to listen to broadcasts of the weekly Metropolitan Opera production on Knoxville’s WUOT.

On every visit, he’d always go to the Chapel and play the organ he loved so much. He’d check out all the keys and stops, just to make sure it was in good condition.

Burton’s ability to recall details was legendary. One example was his vivid recounting of his first trip to Pine Mountain for a job interview. After Burton was hired as a teacher and counselor, he and Mary traveled by train from New York to Bristol, Tennessee, with their four-month-old son Christopher. In Bristol, they discussed whether to complete the trip by bus or taxi. After carefully considering the costs, they paid $15 for a taxi ride to Pine Mountain. They arrived on June 30, 1942 and began work that evening.

[Photograph: “Burton, Mary and Christopher Rogers in the mid-1940s. Photo from the Pine Mountain archives.”]

Burton and Mary played key roles in the two major transitions in the School’s history. The first transition was from the boarding school era to the community school era. Toward the end of the 1940s, it was clear that the Board of Trustees would have to make a decision regarding the future of the boarding school at Pine Mountain. The board appointed a committee to study the issue. The committee’s recommendation was that Pine Mountain should become a community school to help improve the educational opportunities for local children. Burton was named principal and director. The new community school served children in grades one through eight. Later, Pine Mountain added a kindergarten to help those children who needed extra preparation before entering first grade.

During this transition, Pine Mountain established a formal relationship with Berea College. Several positions on the board were reserved for Berea representatives. The college sent student teachers to Pine Mountain to gain classroom experience. Burton maintained this important relationship. He was close friends with many Berea professors and administrators, including Berea President Frances [sic, Francis] Hutchins. This has been one of the most enduring and beneficial partnerships in the School’s 94-year history. In 1972, the Settlement School faced its second major transition when Harlan…

P. 7

May 3, 1909 to June 18, 2007

…County built its own facility for elementary school students on Pine Mountain’s north side. The Settlement School’s facilities were no longer needed as a county school. Burton and Mary advocated for the institution of an environmental education program and the board accepted the proposal. This program has been highly successful and continues as the primary educational endeavor of the school today.

Burton moved from Pine Mountain to Lexington in 1994, a year after Mary’s death. He enjoyed going to concerts and being close to the Friends community. On one of my periodic visits to Lexington, we went to Gratz House, where the Settlement School’s articles of incorporation were signed on Jan. 9, 1913. We drove to Lexington Cemetery where Katherine Pettit, one of the School’s founders, is buried. As Burton looked at her simple grave marker, he said he wished that there would have been some indication on the marker of her great contributions to the people of Eastern Kentucky. We remember Burton for his compassion and wise decisions that have served Pine Mountain so well. We also treasure the personal interactions and attention to detail that were his trademarks. He was a prodigious memo writer and we continue to find his notes to staff in various desk drawers and boxes.

Two memorial services were held for Burton, one in Lexington at the Friends Meeting and the other at Pine Mountain. Both were well attended. At the service here, as in Lexington, friends and relatives remembered Burton with stories and music. Titus Boggs, pastor of Cedar Chapel at Big Laurel, presided. Clara Pope played the organ. Among those who spoke were former Settlement School teachers who said that Burton always supported their efforts to improve classes. Former students remembered that Burton wanted them to have the same opportunities as students in larger schools. Several men said that he had been a father figure to them. All said that Burton made them feel special.

On the afternoon of Burton’s service, the Reading Camp ice cream social was going on at the picnic area, and Earl Hamner, the famous writer, had just arrived for a visit. Amid all the activity, I remembered my ongoing joke with Burton. I’d say, “If it isn’t one thing, it’s another.” And he’d always reply, his eyes twinkling, “It’s never just ONE thing.”

[Photograph: “Mary and Burton Rogers in the mid-1980s. Photo by Lee R. Anderson“]

My last visit with Burton was on May 7th at his home. He remained engaged in Pine Mountain matters, and on this day, we had planned to view one of the School’s historic films. He had agreed to help me try to identify some of the people and places in the film. At the end of the visit, as I was heading toward the front door, he stopped me. “You know,” he said, “Pine Mountain was my life.”

Burton Rogers’ obituary is on the School’s web site: www.pinemountainsettlementschool.com

Nancy Adams
Executive Director  

P. 8

Campus News

[Color photograph: “Author and screenwriter Earl Hamner with Judy Hensley, teacher at Wallins Elementary School and Pine Mountain trustee. Photo by Judy Lewis“]

We were delighted to receive a surprise visit on June 24th from Earl Hamner, author of Spencer’s Mountain, the basis for “The Waltons” television series that ran from 1972 to 1981 on CBS.

Mr. Hamner traveled to the campus with George and Connie Brosi, after they had attended a writers’ workshop at Lincoln Memorial University.

After Mr. Hamner graduated from University of Cincinnati in 1948, he was hired as a writer at Cincinnati’s most powerful radio station, WLW. The station was planning a series titled “Heroes,” and Mr. Hamner was assigned to write the first installment, which was on William Creech Sr., the Pine Mountain man whose dreams of a school led to the founding of Pine Mountain Settlement School!

Swimming Pool to be converted to new outdoor classroom
After much study and discussion, the Board of Trustees voted at its Spring Meeting to construct an outdoor classroom on the site of the swimming pool. The pool has been closed since 2002, when Harlan County Health Department officials determined that the filtering system needed to be upgraded. A more detailed study of the structure and site by civil engineers found that renovation of the pool would cost $500,000, and that the present site would not accommodate needed improvements to the pool, water purification systems, and outbuildings.

The outdoor classroom will include a vernal pond and plantings of native wildflowers, sedges, grasses, and shrubs. These plantings will come from seeds and plants gathered along Isaac’s Creek and in the area around the Settlement School. Jim Lempke, curator of native plants at The Arborteum, State Botanical Garden of Kentucky, is the advisor for the project.

Originally, the site was part of a wetlands area along Isaac’s Creek. In the early days of the School, around 1913 and 1914, administrators decided to drain the wetlands to allow more land for agriculture. They needed to develop as much arable land as possible to provide food for boarding school students and staff.

In recognition of the pool’s historic significance, the wetlands design will include a stone pathway in the shape of the pool using sandstone from the pool’s foundation. Work on the project will begin in early fall.

P. 9

Reading Camp

[Color photograph: “Thirty third and fourth grade students from Harlan and Bell counties stayed at Pine Mountain for the weeklong Reading Camp in July.”]

For the fourth summer, Pine Mountain Settlement School was host to Reading Camp, sponsored by the Episcopal Diocese of Lexington. Students spent six days at the School, reviewing the basic building blocks of reading and gaining confidence in themselves.

Students attend camp to strengthen their reading skills so that they might attain grade level in reading. Without good reading skills, students often fall behind and become discouraged in school.

This year’s campers were treated to visits by several special guests: Kentucky authors George Ella Lyon and Nancy Kelly Allen, Cumberland Gap National Park interpreters, and a rare appearance by Mr. and Mrs. Twit, the main characters in Raol Dahl’s book “The Twits.” Settlement School staff led students in hands-on environmental education classes during the afternoons. Evenings were spent on night hikes, at a campfire, and playing games. Campers prevailed against the teachers in an exciting version of “Are You Smarter Than A Reading Camper?”

The camp would not have been possible without the 32 volunteers who gave an extraordinary amount of time. These volunteers were from the Lexington area, Middlesboro, Harlan, St. Paul’s Episcopal Church in Cleveland Heights, Ohio, and Alpha Sigma Tau National Foundation. The camp is funded by several sources: Berea College Appalachian Fund, Episcopal Diocese of Lexington, the Settlement School, and private contributions.

[Color photograph: “Teacher Sara Meekins of Versailles, worked with a student in the pleasure reading center.” Photos by Linda Reeves]

P. 10

Alumni & Friends Homecoming

[Three color photographs: “Above left: Seated is Fred Hall, Class of 1949; his son, Mike Hall (back row); grandchildren – Lindsay Whited, and Tyler Hall (center) and daughter-in-law, Gatee Hall. Above center: Gola Smith Mooney, Class of 1935. Above right: (left-to-right) Gerry Boggs Malloy (1944-46), LaAnge Boggs Ginavan (1948-49), Debbie Gordon, Shirley Boggs Ruyack (1948-49).”]

Nearly 80 people attended Homecoming for Pine Mountain Settlement School Association of Alumni and Friends during the second weekend of August. During the weekend, Alumni shared stories of school days and caught up on more recent news.

This year, alumni were invited to share memories of their Pine Mountain days for an oral history project. Two Morehead State University employees, Mattie Decker, assistant professor of education, and Ann Andaloro, assistant professor of mass communications, recorded and videotaped alumni stories. The stories will be edited in coming months and we hope they will be compiled into a DVD that will be available to the public.

At the business meeting, the association voted to contribute up to $1,500.00 toward repair work on the organ in the Chapel. We appreciate this generous gift.

Next year’s Homecoming is set for Aug. 8th through 10th. Mark your calendars and plan to join us in 2008.

[Color photograph: “Elmer Lewis (1943-47) shares stories of his boarding school days at Pine Mountain. Photos by Nancy Adams“]

P. 11

How You Can Help

Contributions to Pine Mountain Settlement School

Pine Mountain is a private, non-profit organization whose mission is to be an educational center for learning, renewal and service with a welcoming Christian spirit through (a) stewardship and sharing of natural and cultural heritage, (b) serving as a community and regional center, (c) providing resources and services that address area needs, promote citizenship and alleviate suffering and conflict, and (d) fostering educational, cultural and spiritual development.

The School is supported by earned income, interest income from endowment, and contributions. From time to time, we receive grants to help with particular projects.

Your financial contributions make it possible for Pine Mountain to carry out its mission and to grow stronger as an institution. Contributions to Pine Mountain are tax-deductible as allowed by law.

If you are thinking about including Pine Mountain in estate plans, we will be happy to answer questions from you, your financial advisor, and attorney.

IRA Distribution Can Be Charitable Contribution

The Individual Retirement Account Rollover law permits individuals age 70 1⁄2 and older to make charitable contributions of up to $100,000 from IRAs and Roth IRAs without having to count the distributions as taxable income. Taxpayers who are 70 1⁄2 and older are required to take annual distributions from their IRAs. The distributions are included in the taxpayers’ adjusted gross income, and taxpayers pay taxes on them. By making a donation directly to charitable organizations, taxpayers do not have to count the required annual distribution in their adjusted gross income. If you are interested in contributing part of your required IRA distribution to Pine Mountain, please contact Faye Turner in the School’s office at (606) 558-3571.

NEEDS LIST

Those interested in helping with any of these items may donate part or all of the cost.

We are beginning to raise funds to replace the School’s 16-year-old van. Our goal is to secure $24,000 in the coming 18 months to buy a 15-passenger van that gets good gas mileage.

ADMINISTRATIVE
Office Supplies – (Unlimited)
Multi-function Printer – $200

KITCHEN/HOUSEKEEPING
Chest freezer – $425
Blankets – $20 each
Twin or Full Size Sheet Sets – $20/$30
Commercial Electric Skillet – $100
Pillows – $10 each
Towel Sets – $7 each

ENVIRONMENTAL EDUCATION
Arc View Software (GPS) – $150
Weaving/Spinning Supplies – $200
Replacement Nets (Stream Class) $15 each
Materials for Bird Blind – $100
Printer – $30
Tools for Exotics Control – $200

MAINTENANCE/FARM
Scaffolding Braces and Walk Boards – $450

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[Color photograph: “Participants of the “In the Footsteps of Lucy Braun” workshop in August peer over the edge of Knobby Rock in Blanton Forest to look at a fruiting American Chestnut tree. Photo by Ben Begley“]

2007-08 Calendar of Events

Community Family Night    Oct. 5, 2007
The Art of Building Dry Stone Walls    Oct. 12-14, 2007
Weaving Workshop     Oct. 12-14, 2007
Digital Photography Workshop    Oct. 12-14, 2007
The Art of Landscaping with Native Plants    Oct. 13, 2007
The Craft of Weaving a Hickory Bark Chair Bottom    Oct. 13, 2007
Fall Color Weekend     Oct. 19-21, 2007
Nativity Play     Dec. 16, 2007
———————————————————————————————-
Wildflower Weekend    Apr. 18-20, 2008
Black Mountain Wildflower Weekend     May 2-4, 2008
In the Footsteps of Lucy Braun     June 11-15, 2008
Historic Preservation Workshops    TBA
Reading Camp    July 13-19, 2008
Homecoming    Aug. 8-9, 2008
In the Footsteps of Lucy Braun     Aug. 13-17, 2008
Fair Day    Aug. 30, 2008
Community School Reunion     Sept. 6, 2008
Fall Arts & Crafts Workshops    Oct. 10-12, 2008
Fall Color Weekend    Oct. 17-19, 2008
Nativity Play    Dec. 14, 2008

For more information or to make on-line reservations, please visit our website at www.pinemountainsettlementschool.com or call (606) 558-3571 or 558-3542 between 7 a.m. and 3:30 p.m. Monday through Friday.

You may also write to: Events Coordinator, Pine Mountain Settlement School, 36 HWY 510, Pine Mountain, KY 40810-8289 or e-mail: pinemountain@earthlink.net.

Previous:
NOTES – 2006 [Missing]
NOTES – 2005
NOTES – 2004

Next:
NOTES – 2008

See Also:
BURTON ROGERS Director
SPRINGER HOSKINS Trustee

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