Events in Review
Vesper Services - Sunday evenings in July and August , 2010
A 45-minute service including music and a meditation was held each Sunday evening during July and August in the amphitheater in the woods at CrossRoads. Our special leaders were:
July 4: Jennifer Davis Sensenig; special music, Ann Daggett harpist
July 11: Steve Longenecker; Special Music, Curtis Nolley
July 18: Marty Barlow; special music, Harmonia Sacra singing with the Table Singers. Bring your book
July 25: John Keim; special music, Roundhill Recorders Consort
Aug. 1: Myron Augsburger; special music, Inner Harmony Quartet
Aug. 8: Loren Swartzendruber; special music, Stan & Joan Shifflett with autoharp
Aug. 15: YOUTH NIGHT Leadership by singer/songwriter Jessica Crawford
Aug. 22: FAMILY NIGHT Leadership by the Pleasant Valley COB and Pastors Matthew Fike and Steve Spire. Picnic at 5:30. --- Bring sandwiches for your family and finger food to share. Dinnerware and drinks providedAug. 29: Jean Hawk; special music, Sharon Miller and Becky Hunter violinists
Tears & Ashes Bus Tour - June 26 , 2010, 8 a.m.- 4 p.m. The annual Civil War-related bus tour sponsored by the Valley Brethren-Mennonite Heritage Center (CrossRoads) took place Saturday, June 26, 8–4 p.m. It focussed on the Underground Railroad used by Conscientious Objectors to slavery, secession and warfare during the war between the states and included the homes of families featured in the book series, Unionists and the Civil War Experience in the Shenandoah Valley. See the 2010 Tears and Ashes Photo Album.
Luncheon at Burkholder-Myers House - June 19 , 2010 .
Sonya and Wendell Eller hosted an elegant meal of soup, salad and dessert prepared by the Rhodes sisters. Guests learned about the family in this pre-Civil War house from costumed story tellers.
Cove Church Homecoming - June 6 , 2010 at 4 p.m.
This annual event brings together people who are interested in what happened in this building, which was relocated to the Heritage Center from a mountain valley near Mathias, W.Va. Some of the attendees went to school here or worshipped here. The Trout Pond Pickers led singing.
"Harmonia Sacra" Singing at Historic Church - Sunday, June 6, 2010 at 6:30 p.m.
For the first time, the historic Hildebrand Mennonite Church building in Augusta County, hosted a Harmonia Sacra singing. Harmonia Sacra is a popular hymn book first published in Rockingham County in the early 1800s by Joseph Funk. Hildebrand Church, which has excellent acoustics, is now owned by the Heritage Center.
First Log-Laying for Weaver-Brunk House - May 28 , 2010 at 4 p.m.
In a brief ceremony, the first logs were laid for a pioneer dwelling that was previously part of a farm on Rt. 33 west. It was dismantled in 1999 to make room for Mountain View Elementary School. Now it is being rebuilt at the Heritage Center so that we can show what life was like for our pioneer ancestors. The event ended with a light supper.
Antique Auction - April 16, 2010 at 4 p.m.
The CrossRoads Heritage Center launched its first annual fundraising event to bring together collectibles with historic value for sale to the public. Proceeds from the sale of these donated items will be used in the development and operation of the center. The sale was held on Friday, April 16, at Shady Oak, Weavers Mennonite Church, and proceeds from the sale and refreshments total $6500. Jack Bowman served as auctioneer. Many thanks for the itmes that were donated!
Easter Sunrise Service - April 4, 2010 6:30 a.m.
The CrossRoads Heritage Center held its annual Easter sunrise service on the hill at Heritage Center Way on Sunday morning, April 4, at 6:30 a.m. We had 180 participants who enjoyed music by a sextet and interim pastor at Weavers Mennonite Church, Gordon Zook's message on the theme, "He arose! So what?" Photos by E. Kauffman
Spring Lecture -March 28, 2010 at 4 p.m.
The spring lecture sponsored by the CrossRoads Heritage Center in Harrisonburg featured the theme, “Decorative Arts of the Shenandoah Valley.” Scott Suter, associate professor of English and American Studies at Bridgewater (Va.) College, presented the
lecture at Dayton Church of the Brethren, 202 Main St., Dayton, on Sunday, March 28, 4 p.m. Download the lecture photos in pdf format. The lecture laid the groundwork for an antique auction on April 16, and was funded in part by Jeffrey S. Evans & Associates of Mount Crawford, Va. At left, Scott speaks with attendees Erma Brubaker, on left, and his mother on the right. Photos by J. Allen Brubaker
Annual Dinner and Meeting - February 19, 2010
The CrossRoads (Valley Brethren-Mennonite) Heritage Center held its annual dinner and meeting on Friday evening, February 19, at 6:30 p.m., at the Lindale Mennonite Church. Guests were treated to a picture slide show review of the 2009 year for VBMHC, depicted in photos, music, comments and poem and CrossRoads President Robert Alley will share
a vision for the remainder of 2010. About 160 guests enjoyed a meal prepared by the Rohrer family. See photos and summary of this event. Annual reports are available for download here: Robert Alley's Annual Report and Steve Shenk's 2009 VBMHC Accomplishments and the slide show shown at the dinner. Photos by J. Allen Brukaker.
Candlelight Dinners - December 11 & 12, 2009
Guests journied back into the mid-1800s and experienced the Christmas season and an old-fashioned meal in the Burkholder-Myers House at the CrossRoads Heritage Center.
Candlelight Tours - December 4 & 5
The Christmas season this year was ushered in with with a self-guided candlelight tour of the buildings at the CrossRoads Heritage Center. Each building was be decorated in a Christmas theme, with hosts and musicians in various locations. Tours ran from 7-9 p.m. on December 4 but were cancelled December 5 due to snow.
Fall Lecture - November 1, 2009, 4 p.m.
Wendell Nisly, a music teacher and choir director at Calvary Christian Academy in Mt Clinton, Va.,
presented the fall lecture sponsored by the CrossRoads Heritage Center on Sunday, November 1, 4 p.m.
at Bridgewater Church of the Brethren. His address was Lift Your Glad Voices: Nurturing the Four-Part
A Cappella Tradition (download here). The event included some congregational singing. Wendell holds a Master's
Degree in choral conducting from James Madison University in Harrisonburg, Va. Calvary Christian
Academy hosts the annual Shenandoah Christian Music Camp, with Wendell as one of the leaders of the camp.
Harvest Day - September 26, 2009 
The annual Harvest Day was held on a rainy Saturday, September 26, 10 a.m. till 3 p.m., with an estimated 550 persons in attendence. This annual festival offers something for the whole family,
with special activities for children – old-time games and crafts, painting pumpkins and gourds, hayrides, shelling and
grinding corn to feed barnyard animals, making pancakes and butter, fabricating toothpick and yarn dolls, etc.
Adults enjoyed Civil War era stories, special music, boiling molasses, pressing cider, sawing logs with a crosscut,
spinning thread and quilting, homemade foods, homemade ice cream, and more. See photos of this event.
July – August 2009 Vesper Services
A 45-minute service including music and a meditation was held each Sunday evening during
July and August in the amphitheater in the woods at CrossRoads. Download the schedule for 2009 in pdf .
Land Dedication Festival - August 30, 2009
The CrossRoads Heritage Center sponsored a Festival of Dedication Sunday, August 30, at 5 p.m.,
for the recently acquired 10 acres of land on the south side of the campus.
Tears & Ashes Bus Tour - June 27, 2009 
The annual Civil War-related bus tour sponsored by CrossRoads took place Saturday, June 27, visitng locations in northern Rockingham County that were impacted by the Civil War. Lunch was served at the Linville Creek Church of the Brethren in Broadway. The Tour included some of the homes of families featured in the book series, Unionists and the Civil War Experience in the Shenandoah Valley, as well as other places of historical interest. See photos of
the 2009 Tears and
Ashes Tour.
Cove Church Homecoming - June 7, 2009
The annual homecoming celebration in the former Whitmer School/Cove Church at CrossRoads, 1921 Heritage Center Way, Harrisonburg, was held on Sunday, June 7, including singing, reminiscing, special music and an evening meal. Bernard Martin led a hymn sing of old-time songs.
May 15 Work Day
CrossRoads, 1921 Heritage Center Way (off Garbers Church Road), Harrisonburg, sponsored a work day on Friday, May 15, to prepare the grounds and facilities for summer activities. Joining the staff for this activity were students from Eastern Mennonite High School and volunteers from the community. MANY THANKS to all participants!
Seagoing Cowboys Film shown at Dayton Church of the Brethren - April 13
"A Tribute to the Seagoing Cowboys," a 23-minute documentary that tells the story of post-World War II men and boys who took cattle to Europe and China, was shown on Monday, April 13, at 7 p.m., in the Dayton Church of the Brethren, 202 Main St., Dayton, Va. Some 7,000 men, serving under a United Nations Relief and Rehabilitation Administration program, helped to deliver more than 300,000 animals to countries devastated by the war. A few of these local seagoing cowboys displayed memorabilia at 6:30 at the church. Author and producer of the film, Peggy Reiff Miller, moderated a question and answer period following the film and recognized the seagoing cowboys who were present. Copies of the DVD were on sale after the meeting.
Easter Sunrise Service - April 12, 2009
The CrossRoads Heritage Center held its annual Easter sunrise service on the hill at Heritage Center Way, led by Ron Wyrick, pastor of First Church of the Brethren in Harrisonburg who presented an Easter meditation entitled "Who will roll away the stone for us?".
Spring Lecture - March 22, 2009
The CrossRoads Heritage Center held its annual spring lecture on Sunday, March 22, at Dayton (Va.) Mennonite Church. Emmert Bittinger, professor emeritus at Bridgewater College, spoke on the theme, “Heroines of the Civil War .” (540) 438-1275. See photos of this event.
Annual Dinner and Meeting - February 6, 2009
The CrossRoads Heritage Center held its annual dinner and meeting at the Bridgewater Church of the Brethren. The speakers were Larry Glick as Alexander Mack and Gerald Brunk as Menno Simons. Board President Robert Alley shared a vision for the remainder of 2009.
See photos of this event.
Pax Film Viewing at Court Square Theater - February 8
The story of Pax, a Mennonite Central Committee service program which ran from 1951 to 1975, was shown at Court Square Theater
Fall 2008 Lecture - November
2
James O. Lehman, local Mennonite
historian, presented the fall
CrossRoads lecture on the theme, “My
Discoveries in Local Mennonite
History” on Sunday, November
2, at 4 p.m., at the Mt. Pleasant
Church of the Brethren meetinghouse.
Harvest Picnic at CrossRoads - November
1
The CrossRoads board and staff hosted a Harvest Picnic on Saturday, November 1, at 4 p.m. near the Burkholder-Myers House at CrossRoads.
September 27, 2008 - Harvest
Day
The annual Harvest
Day at CrossRoads, was held on Saturday, September 27 offering
something for the whole family,
with special activities for children – old-time
games and crafts,
painting pumpkins and gourds,
hayrides, shelling and grinding
corn to feed barnyard animals,
making pancakes and butter, fabricating
toothpick and yarn dolls, etc.
Adults enjoyed Civil War era stories,
special music, boiling molasses,
pressing cider, sawing logs with
a crosscut, spinning thread and
quilting, homemade foods, and
more.
September 25, 2008 - Blacksmith Shop Dedication
The dedication of the Blacksmith Shop at CrossRoads was helpd on Thursday, September 25, at 6:30 p.m. The shop was recently created from the second story of an outbuilding from the Eby farm on Acorn Drive. It has a new hearth with built in forge, a new chimney and doors, an earthen floor, and paint to make it look quaint while preserving it from the weather. Larry Martin, president of the Shenandoah Valley Blacksmiths Guild, spearheaded the acquisition of the building and its modification as an authentic shop for blacksmith work. Ervie Glick, building and grounds director, did the masonry work. Blacksmiths will ply their trade in the shop during events such as the annual Harvest Days. See photos of this event.
Open House, September 13,2008 Saturday, 2-5 p.m.
This Open House provided opportunities to learn about the only pre-Civil War, fully-equipped grist mill remaining in Rockingham County, which was built circa 1800 by pioneer Abraham Breneman. Stories were shared of how it survived attempted burnings by Union forces, and was preserved and operated by J. Howard Turner from 1933 until his death in 1988.
The children of Howard Turner shared memories and stories and others shared old pictures and toured the mill and observed the grist-mill stones, including the dressing of the French Burr Stones.
July – August
Vesper Services, 2008
A 45-minute service of music and a meditation
was held each Sunday evening during
July and August in the amphitheater in
the woods at CrossRoads. The 2008 outstanding programs were:
- July 6 Music by Inner Harmony Vocal Quartet with 100-year-old portable organ. Meditation by Jan and Roma Jo Thompson, workers in various Church of Brethren outreach programs.
- July
13 Hymn sing led
by Tim and Charlene Davis
from Harrisonburg Mennonite
Church.
July 20 Cathy Cupp leads worship through music, with Ed Gant, cellist. Meditation by Linda Neff of Grottoes Church of the Brethren. - July 27 Harmonia Sacra hymns led by Sam Showalter. Meditation by Carol Scheppard, V.P. and Dean for Academic Affairs at Bridgewater College.
- August 3 Music by Ardith Kauffman of Harrisonburg Mennonite Church. Meditation by Donna Lou Shickel of Montezuma Church of the Brethren.
- August 10 Harp music by Virginia Bethune. Meditation by Wendell Eller, retired Church of the Brethren pastor
- August 17 Youth night, but all ages welcome. Worship led by youth. Meditation by Basil Marin, Mennonite pastor and youth advocate.
- August 24 Family night: 5:30 picnic on the hill.
June 28, 2008 - Tears
and Ashes Bus
Tour -
The annual
Civil War-related
bus tour sponsored by the
CrossRoads (Valley
Brethren-Mennonite)
Heritage Center
took place on Saturday,
June 28, 8 – 4
p.m. The tour covered Elkton area
sites and Zenda,
a settlement formed
after the Civil War by newly
freed slaves with Dave Rodes,
Norman Wenger, Al
Jenkins and Casey
Billhimer as guides.
See photos of this event.
June 1 Cove Church Homecoming
The annual homecoming
celebration in the former Whitmer School/Cove
Church at CrossRoads, was
held on Sunday, June 1, 2008. The celebration
included singing, reminiscing,
finger foods and special music.
Spring 2008 Lecture - The CrossRoads Heritage Center held its annual spring lecture on Sunday, April 6, at 4 p. m. at Harrisonburg Mennonite Church, where Joan Daggett, missions advocate in the Shenandoah District office of the Church of the Brethren, spoke on “Missions in the Brethren Tradition.” Text of the address is available here.
March 23, 2008 at 7
a.m. - Easter
Sunrise Service
Jeff Kauffman,
pastor of Weavers Mennonite
Church, challenged
100 early risers to
be “witnesses
to the New Day in Jesus” during
the 7 a.m. sunrise
service at CrossRoads
on March 23. The worshippers,
bundled up against
a 25-degree frost,
welcomed the sun rising
into a clear sky over
the Massanutten Range.
A men’s trio
provided special music
during the event.
February 1, 2008 at 6
p.m. - Annual
Dinner and Meeting
The Valley
Brethren-Mennonite
Heritage Center – CrossRoads – held
its annual dinner meeting
Friday evening, February
1, 2008, in the Fellowship
Hall of Park View Mennonite
Church in Harrisonburg,
Va. Board President
Robert Alley shared
his vision for the
future of the CrossRoads
ministry. Annual meeting looks back and forward:
Despite an ice storm, 190 guests gathered February 1 at Park View Mennonite Church to enjoy good food and fellowship, review CrossRoads growth last year and hear plans for 2008. �During the first full year of operation, we hosted 1,373 guests,� reports Director Steve Shenk. Some came in buses, others in cars or vans. Another 1,000 came for Harvest Day, and many enjoyed vesper services in July and August.
The July 21 bus tour in
eastern Rockingham
and northern
Augusta Counties
attracted 85
persons. During
the year the
Wash House was
placed on its
permanent foundation,
the Burkholder-Myers
House was restored
and the Blacksmith
Shop foundation
was prepared.
Board President
Robert Alley
anticipates completing
the Wash House
in 2008, moving
and restoring
the Blacksmith
Shop and reconstructing
the 1829 Weaver-Brunk
Log House this
year. He thanked
each for supporting
the ministry
with their time,
prayers and dollars.
See more photos
of this event
here.
December
2, 2007 - Unionist
Book Celebration
A Unionists
book celebration was
held Sunday, December
2, at Linville
Creek Church of the
Brethren to introduce
Volume IV in the book
series, Unionists and
the Civil War Experience
in the Shenandoah Valley.
Researchers
and compilers Dave
Rodes and Norman Wenger
and editor Emmert Bittinger
shared insights
on the 60 families
of northwestern Rockingham
County who are featured
in this volume.
Norman Wenger, one of the researchers of Unionists War in the
Shenandoah Valley, autographs Volume IV for
Ilene Smith, a volunteer for CrossRoads, the Valley Heritage Center. Ilene purchased a copy of the
book during a celebration December 2 at Linville Creek Church in Broadway,
Virginia. The book tells the stories of 60 families
from northwestern Rockingham County who filed depositions
to the Southern Claims Commission
after the war.
Norman Wenger, one of the compilers for the series, Unionists and the Civil War Experience in the Shenandoah Valley, searches for Mennonite claims during a celebration of the release of Volume IV on December 2 at Linville Creek Church of the Brethren. Looking on are Elwood Yoder and James Rush, who joined 31 other persons to hear stories from the 60 families in this volume who filed depositions to the Southern Claims Commission after the war.
Joining Norman in the storytelling were researcher David S. Rodes, and the editor, Emmert Bittinger. Of particular note during the meeting were the many Brethren and Mennonites who went to the polls on May 23, 1861, fully intending to oppose secession from the Union, but under threat of loss of property or even life, voted for rather than against it. Because the voting was done orally, everyone knew how you voted and the threat to loss of property, physical harm, or even hanging was very real, noted Bittinger. To recover reimbursement for loss of material goods to the Union Army during the war, one had to prove loyalty to the Union, and if you voted for secession, your claim was usually denied, Bittinger said.
November
17 - Historic
House Tour
The 2007annual
Bounty of Hearth and
Heritage Tour took
place on Saturday,
November 17
featured three
houses, Mt. Olive Brethren
Church and the Mill
Creek Church of the
Brethren in eastern
Rockingham County.
The houses were: Dr.
Irvin and Nancy Hess
(The Widow Pence) House,
the Vern and Mary Jane
Michael House, and
the Warren and Linda
Bannister House.
November 10 - The
Fall CrossRoads
Lecture for 2007
Nancy Heisey,
president of Mennonite
World Conference, chair
of the Bible and Religion
department at EMU and
associate professor
of biblical studies
and church history
presented �They Also
Serve: The Brethren
and Mennonite Service
Experience�. The lecture
was held at
Garbers Church
of the Brethren,
Harrisonburg. See
the text of the address
here. Photo at right: Nancy Heisey talks with Jay Landis following the lecture at Garbers Church of the Brethren on November 10, 2007. Looking on is Nancy�s husband, Paul Longacre.
September
29 - 2007 Harvest
Day
The annual
Harvest Day at CrossRoads
was again a great success,
with a special focus
on old-time fun for
the children. Stories,
special music, boiling
molasses, pressing
cider, sawing logs
with a crosscut, spinning
and weaving, homemade
foods provided
entertainment and fun
for all. See Photo
Album by Tom Sawin.
July & August 2007
- Vesper Services
These Vesper services
were held each Sunday
evening in July and
August.
July 1- Music
on the hammered dulcimer
by Dave Landes.
Meditation
by Mennonite pastor Shirley Yoder Brubaker.
Hymn
sing led by Gerald
Brunk, former song
leader for Brunk
Crusades.
July 15 - Anthony VanPelt and Cathy Chupp led worship through music. - Meditation by Mennonite pastor Wayne North.
July 22 - Taize Service of music, Scripture and prayer. Led by Monica and Matt Carlson of Harrisonburg Mennonite Church.
July 29 - Lindale church pastor Duane Yoder led the meditation.
August 5 - Harp music by Virginia Bethune. Meditation by J. Wayne Judd, retired Church of the Brethren leader.
August 12 - Youth night: Speaker Luke Hartman, assistant basketball coach at Harrisonburg ;High School.
August 19 - Hymn sing led by Karen Moshier-Shenk of Park View Mennonite Church.
August 26 - Music by Sacred Sounds. Meditation by Church of the Brethren pastor Wayne Pence.
July 21,
2007 - Tears & Ashes
Bus Tour
The Tears
and Ashes bus tour
sponsored by the Valley
Brethren-Mennonite
Heritage Center on
Saturday, July 21,
2007, featured
historic sites in the
Cross Keys, Port Republic
and New Hope areas
of Eastern Rockingham
County. and included
visits to Civil War
battlefields in this
area of the county.
Guides
Dave Rodes and Norman
Wenger, researchers
and compilers of the
Unionists book series,
and Murphy Wood,
an authority on these
battlefields led the
group. See photos of
the 2007 Tears and
Ashes Tour.
June 3,
2007 - Cove Church
Homecoming
This annual
celebration in the
former Whitmer Schoolhouse
at CrossRoads was held
on Sunday, June 3,
10 a.m. It included
worship, a potluck
meal, hymn singing
and reminiscing and
special music by the
Trout Pond Pickers
after lunch.
May 11-12, 2007- Work Days
CrossRoads
sponsored two work
days in May to prepare
the grounds and facilities
for summer activities.
Thanks to the students
from Eastern Mennonite
High School and our
community volunteers
the grounds are looking
great!
April 22, 2007
- Hildebrand Church
Homecoming
The Valley
Brethren-Mennonite
Heritage Center (CrossRoads)
sponsored a homecoming
at Hildebrand Mennonite
Church on Sunday,
April 22
which included
reminiscing, singing,
inspirational storytelling,
and finger foods. This
date, April 22, marked
the 130th anniversary
of the dedication of
the Hildebrand church
building, located at
538 Hildebrand Church
Road, between Hermitage
and Madrid. The church
has been acquired by
CrossRoads and is available
for church and community
groups to use for weddings,
family reunions, business
and civic functions,
funerals, etc. Call
(540) 438-1275 to rent
the Hildebrand Church
facility.
April
8, 2007- Easter
Sunrise Service
Ron
Wyrick, pastor
of First Church
of the Brethren
in Harrisonburg,
led an Easter
meditation on Sunday,
April 8, 2007
on the hill at
CrossRoads.
Music was provided
by the Thomas Family
Singers.
March 11, 2007
- Spring Lecture
Dr. Carol Scheppard of Bridgewater College spoke on “Old Testament Roots of Covenant & Community” at 4 p.m. at Weavers Mennonite Church, 2501 Rawley Pike, Harrisonburg.
Febrary 2, 2007 - CrossRoads
Annual Dinner
Harrisonburg, Va. (VBMHC) – Bridgewater College Professor Steve Watson encouraged 177 dinner guests attending the CrossRoads annual meeting Feb. 2 at First Church of the Brethren in Harrisonburg to “know who we are so we know where we’re going. We must remember our history to have a clear identity,” he said, noting that a heritage center can play an important role in this task.
Professor Watson warned, however, against withdrawing into a monastery. He encouraged the Center to lift up values like peace and social justice rather than creating a quaint curio. The mission of the Valley Brethren-Mennonite Heritage Center (CrossRoads) is “to share and celebrate the story of Jesus Christ as it has been reflected in the lives of the Mennonites and Brethren in the Shenandoah Valley.”
Among 2006 accomplishments that Executive Director Steve Shenk highlighted was the official opening of the Center to the public on June 18. Visitors to date fall into two categories he noted: pilgrims who come to learn more about their history in the Valley and tourists who come to explore the faith and values of Brethren and Mennonites.
Board Chair Robert Alley expressed gratitude to donors for their financial support of the Center, including major gifts from two families, and recognized new and outgoing board members.
Projects for 2007 include placing the Wash House on a permanent foundation and rebuilding the Weaver-Brunk Log House. The basement has already been dug for the Wash House, the foundation poured and the walls laid.
During the dinner meeting, Rebekah Hertzler shared how her grandmother, also a CrossRoads board member, brought her, her brother and three cousins last summer to the Center to play house and school.
The Center is now available for families, small groups and whole congregations to use. The Whitmer School/Cove Church has already been used for a wedding, for Sunday school and church socials and for family events. Call (540) 438-1275 to make a reservation. See photos of this event (photo credit: Tom Sawin).
November 18, 2006 - Bounty of Hearth and Heritage Historic House Tour - The 2006 annual Bounty of Hearth and Heritage house tour featured homes in the Dayton, Va. area,
Sunday, October 15, 2006 - Fall Lecture -
John Ruth, historian, storyteller, writer, and filmmaker from eastern Pennsylvania, presented the second CrossRoads lecture of 2006 on the theme,“Strains of Anabaptist Identity in Early Germantown.” on Sunday, October 15, 7:30 p.m., at Bridgewater (Va.) Church of the Brethren. A largre turnout enjoyed this presentation.
Saturday, September 30, 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Harvest Day - Some 750 visitors enjoyed Harvest Day 2006 on September 30, which began cool and damp but then turned quite comfortable about noon. Children enjoyed making dolls using yarn or apples, painting pumpkins, creating things from leaves, pods, stones and other things found in nature, eating freshly made pancakes with butter churned on the spot and molasses and corncob jelly, enjoying potato candy, rolling marbles, playing ancient board games, riding a horse-drawn wagon or a wagon pulled by an antique tractor, pressing apples into cider, watching molasses being boiled from syrup pressed from sorghum stalks, sawing a log with a crosscut saw, and watching women spin thread from flax and wool and quilt bed covers. Blacksmiths forged hooks and nails from steel. Youth and adults enjoyed stories and music from years past, including the Trout Pond Pickers, who played and sang bluegrass numbers both old and news. All enjoyed homemade soup, ham sandwiches, hot dogs, pies, cookies, drinks and more. A country store sold cider, molasses, honey, pumpkins, a variety of baked goods, and more. See Photo Album for this event.
Musicians and Storytellers for Harvest day 2006Whitmer School
11:00 Dave Landes, hammered dulcimer
11:30 Gerald Brunk, portraying Menno Simons
11:45 Dave Landes, hammered dulcimer
12:15 Gerald Brunk, portraying Menno Simons
12:30 Finely Tuned, women’s a cappella quartet
1:00 Paul Roth, portraying Elder John Kline
1:15 Finely Tuned, women’s a cappella quartet
1:45 Paul Roth, portraying Elder John Kline
Porch of Burkholder-Myers House
11:00 Cantore, men’s a cappella octet
11:30 Larry Glick, portraying Alexander Mack
11:45 Cantore, men’s a cappella octet
12:15 Larry Glick, portraying Alexander Mack
12:30 Trout Pond Pickers, bluegrass band
1:00 Ruth Stoltzfus Jost, stories of draft hide-aways
1:15 Trout Pond Pickers, bluegrass band
1:45 Ruth Stoltzfus Jost, stories of draft hide-aways
Sunday evenings in July and August, 2006, 7 p.m.- Vesper Services - Vesper attendees experienced the serenity of Sunday evenings in a lovely woodland setting with music and inspirational meditations. The services were held every week in July and August, at 7:00. See photos of the Juy 2, 2006 vespers.
Thursday, August 17, 2006 - Civilian Public Service Reunion - CrossRoads sponsored this reunion for World War II conscientious objectors who served in Civilian Public Service (CPS). Speakers included Harold Lehman and Ted Grimsrud.
Saturday, July 15, 2006 - Tears and Ashes Tour - The 2006 Tears and Ashes Tour took place in the Broadway area, with 47 participants. Lunch was served at the Linville Creek Church of the Brethren prepared by Kristy Rhodes and Anita Rhodes. See photos of this event.
Sunday, June 4 2006, 10 a.m. until 3 p.m. - Whitmer School/Cove Mennonite Church Homecoming - The day included singing, special music, and sharing in the morning and a hymn sing in the afternoon. Lunch was held in the lower level of the Welcome Center.
Sunday, June 18, 2006 - CrossRoads Opening - The Dedication and Open House for the CrossRoads Welcome Center was attended by over 100 persons. See photos of the dedication.
Friday and Saturday, May 12-13, - Spring Cleaning -
Twenty-five volunteers, including 14 students from Eastern Mennonite High School,
helped plant shrubbery, clean out the Wash House and a tool shed at the Valley Brethren-Mennonite Heritage
Center on May 12-13. Mark Hershberger and Jared Troyer erect a fence to keep the deer from eating the newly planted trees.
Bethany Gingrich is digging a hole to plant a lilac bush.
Easter Sunday, 2006
- Sunrise Service - Sun greets early risers. 
Jeff Kauffman, pastor of Weavers Mennonite Church, challenged 130 early risers �to be witnesses to the living Christ,�
during the first annual Easter sunrise service held on the CrossRoads hill overlooking the Valley
(last year�s service was held at Weavers Church because of inclement weather). As sunshine warmed his back,
Kauffman drew
lessons from John 20:1-18 and challenged each present to be able to say, �We have seen the risen Christ.� Photo Credit: Tom Swain
Friday, February 3, 2006 - Annual Dinner Meeting - The CrossRoads Annual Dinner Meeting took place February 3 at Shady Oaks Hall, Weavers Mennonite Church, along Route 33 west of Harrisonburg. Becky Hunter and Nate Yoder shared testimonials and Executive Director Steve Shenk reported on 2005 activities and plans for 2006. Daphna Creek, a bluegrass band from Broadway, provided special music.
Wednesday,
January 25, 2006 at
7 p.m. - Forum -The
Massanutten Regional
Library in downtown
Harrisonburg hosted
a forum on the third
book in the series
on the Unionists
and the Civil War Experience in
the Shenandoah Valley,
with about 70 people
in attendance. This
volume highlights families
in the Dayton and Bridgewater
areas who lost cattle,
feed, firewood, and
food stuff to the Union
Army during the Civil
War and submitted claims
to the federal government
for reimbursement after
the war. Presenters
were Norman Wenger,
Dave Rodes, and Emmert
Bittinger. The forum
was sponsored by the
Massanutten Regional
Library and CrossRoads.
Saturday, November 12, 2005 lecture - Sara Wenger Shenk, professor at Eastern Mennonite Seminary,shared from her new book on the theme, "Remembering Who We Are From Generation to Generation."
Saturday,
November 19, 2005
Bounty of Hearth and Heritage
Tour - This annual
tour featured historic
homes in the Broadway
area of Virginia. See
details here (pdf) .
October 15, 2005 - CrossRoads again sponsored a Harvest Day of "good old timey fun for everyone" on Saturday, Oct. 15. A smorgasbord of activities were available for adults and children, including games, food, music, storytelling, and hands-on activities like crosscut log sawing and shelling and grinding corn to feed to barnyard animals. See photo album here.
Sunday
Vesper Services, July and
August, 2005 - CrossRoads
offered Sunday evening
vesper services during
the months of July and
August in an amphitheatre
in the woods at the 711
Garbers Road Church campus.
These 45-minute outdoor
services began at 7 p.m.
and focused on music, particularly
hymns, and storytelling.
The first Sundays of each
month featured hymn singing,
the second and fourth Sundays
of the month were led by
a Mennonite or Church of
the Brethren congregation
and the third Sundays featured
a music group. The church-led
components included a children's
time, a meditation, an
anthem, and song leading.
campus
August 27, 2005 - The second CrossRoads lecture of the year: Local historian Nancy Bondurant Jones shared insights on the life of Roberta Webb and the story of how one woman broke barriers of race and gender to enrich her life and that of many others.
July
16, 2005 -The
Tears and Ashes Annual
CrossRoads Tour -
The Valley Brethren-Mennonite
Heritage Center hosted
an all-day bus tour
in the Dayton (Va.)
area on Saturday, July
16, 8 a.m. - 4 p.m.
Norman Wenger and David
Rodes, researchers
and compilers of Unionists
and the Civil War Experience
in the Shenandoah Valley,
led the tour. Sites
included Meigs Lane,
Silver Lake Mill, Doc.
Gabe and Margaret Swank
Heatwole's house that
hid Unionists fleeing
the war, and the Pleasant
View Old Order Mennonite
Church.
See
photos
of this
event.
June
5, 2005 - The Whitmer
School Homecoming was held
Sunday, June 5, 2005.
Former students, teachers, and members of the Whitmer School/Cove Mennonite Church in Mathias, W.Va., met at CrossRoads (the Valley Brethren-Mennonite Heritage Center) on Sunday to worship, reflect, reminisce, fellowship and share in a potluck meal. Event planners Lucy Helmick and Irene Mullenex, who grew up in the Mathias area, welcomed the group and later shared stories of life in the cove. Song leader Bernard Martin began the service by leading, �The Church in the Wildwood� and Roland Good, pastor of Morning View Mennonite Church (pictured here), led the group in a meditation on being �joined to our head, Christ.� About 60 persons attended this first annual homecoming to be held at the CrossRoads site at 711 Garbers Church Road. The service included the singing of many songs from yesteryear and storytelling.
Photo supplied by Tom Sawin.
April 10, 2005, 3 p.m. - The first CrossRoads lecture in 2005 provided an opportunity to reflect on the 140th anniversary of the end of the Civil War. Pat and Keith Gibson of Lexington, Va., discussed music and culture of the era and CrossRoads President Robert Alley reflected on Brethren and Mennonite experience of the time.
March
27, 2005 -
A sunless
sunrise service
was held on
Sunday, March
27, at 6 a.m.,
at Weaver's
Mennonite
Church in
celebration
of Christ's
triumph over
the grave.
February 4, 2005 - The Annual Meeting of the Valley Brethren-Mennonite Heritage Center was held Friday, Feb. 4, at the Bridgewater Church of the Brethren. Noted Civil War historian John Heatwole spoke on "The Everyday Lives of Our Ancestors," with about 180 in attendance. See photos of this event.
December
7, 2004- Library
hosted forum
on new books
The Massanutten Regional
Library hosted a forum
December 7, 2004 on two
new books, with about 35
persons in attendance.
Historians Samuel L. Horst
and Edsel Burdge, Jr.,
discussed Building on
the Gospel Foundation.
This 927-page hardcover
traces the three-century
history of Mennonites in
the Cumberland Valley of
Pennsylvania and Maryland.
Because of historic links
to the Shenandoah Valley
during pioneer days and
the Civil War era, the
book is of special relevance
to Valley residents.
Volume II of Unionists
and the Civil War Experience
in the Shenandoah Valley features
32 families of northwest
Rockingham County who lost
crops, cattle, saddles,
food stores, firewood,
and the like to the Union
Army during the Civil War,
and who submitted claims
for compensation after
the war. Researcher and
compiler Norman Wenger,
with collaborators Dave
Rodes and Emmert Bittinger,
led this discussion.
December, 2004-- The Cove Mennonite Church Move - A pictoral record of the move of the 100-year-old Whitmer School/Cove Mennonite Church in Mathias, WVA. It was moved in early December to the CrossRoads site where it will now reflect the early education and mission work of the Mennonites and Brethren in the Valley.
November
20, 2004-- Tour of Historic
Homes, "A Bounty of
Hearth and Heritage". About
225 people participated
in the tour, which included
the well-kept pre-civil
war homes of Harry and
Beth Jarrett, Bill and
Becky Hunter, Byron and
Deanna Peachey, the By
the Side of the Road Bed
and Breakfast (the Peter
Burkholder house), and
the Burkholder-Myers house,
where refreshments will
be served.
The Jarrett house contains
one of the first, if not
the first, poultry incubators
used in the valley. The
Wamplers were leaders in
the early development of
the poultry industry in
the area, and both Charles
and Bill Wampler will serve
as tour guides on November
20. The house also contains
a bench from the first
Garbers Church of the Brethren
meetinghouse. Further,
an old log house on the
property is said to be
the one George Washington
walked past in his visit
to the Valley many years
ago.
October
16, 2004-- Harvest Day
- The first annual Harvest
Day celebration was sponsored
by the Valley Brethren-Mennonite
Heritage Center on Saturday,
October 16.
The day included stories
and a barnyard animal petting
area for children. Other
activities included an
old farm machinery exhibit,
crosscut log sawing, the
boiling of sorghum molasses,
apple cider making, storytelling,
a variety of music and
food.
Sorghum as it was made
in the Mennonite-Brethren
community was a highlight
of the day. Kenton Brubaker,
retired biology professor
at Eastern Mennonite University,
has been overseeing the
production of half an acre
of sorghum at the CrossRoads
site. Sorghum and recipes
for its use were available
for purchase during the
day.
We hope this first-ever event will be the
start of a long-lasting annual tradition," says
Director Steve Shenk. See
photos of this event.
September 25, 2004--
Address by Dr. Donald F.
Durnbaugh
Dr. Donald F. Durnbaugh,
a life-long scholar, teacher,
writer and leader for the
Church of the Brethren,
spoke on the theme, "Like
Precious Faith: Brethren
and Mennonites through
Light and Shadow."
July 17, 2004 --
Tears and Ashes A
day-long bus tour of
local sites of historic
interest to Brethren
and Mennonites took
place on Saturday,
July 17. The tour, "Tears
and Ashes: Civilian
Lives in an Uncivil
War," explored the
sites, stories, beliefs
and lifestyles of the
peace-loving Dunkards
and Mennonites who
opposed both slavery
and war. Norman Wenger
and David Rodes, researchers
and compilers of Unionists
and the Civil War Experience
in the Shenandoah Valley,
served as tour guides
for 45 participants. See
photos of this event.
June 19, 2004 -
CPS Program - A
special program explored
the Civilian Public
Service program available
to Conscientious Objectors
during World War II.
About 50 people attended
the showing of the
video, "A Life of Peace
in a Time of War," which
was followed by an
animated discussion.
Various exhibits, with
photos and artifacts,
highlighted the CPS
story. The video is
available from WVPT
for $24.95. (info
available for download
in Microsoft Word format).
May 21 and 22, 2004 - "Smoke and Sorrow:
Shenandoah Valley 1864" was
the theme for a two-day
symposium on the American
Civil War exploring
the story of Virginia's
Shenandoah Valley in
the final autumn of
the war. For more details,
visit the Shenandoah
At War web site.
April
17, 2004
- Annual
Dinner
Fall, 2003 - Publication
of the Southern Claims
Commission historical
documents with their
stories of Brethren
and Mennonite families
during the Civil
War era, Unionists
and the Civil War
Experience in the
Shenandoah Valley.
This 750-page hardcover
is now available
for $49.95, plus
tax, from Reflections
of Yesteryear, Dayton
(VA) Farmer's Market.
For mail orders,
send $58.50, including
tax and shipping,
payable to Valley
Research Associates,
PO Box 526, Dayton,
VA 22821. For wholesale
prices, e-mail VRAssociates526@aol.com
September
25, 2003 - Steve
Longenecker Shenandoah Religion at
the Massanutten
Regional Library
in Harrisonburg.
September
7 Dedication
Ceremony of CrossRoads featured
Rev. Robert Alley,
Dedicatory Speaker,
singing of cherished
traditional Hymns,
tours of the
Burkholder-Myers
House and the
adjoining site
plan, and refreshments. See
photos of this
event.
June
1 - John
L. Heatwole,- Valley
historian and author,
conducted a talk
and walk in "Folkways
and Traditions of
the Shenadoah Valley". See
photos of this event. This
began with an outdoor
presentation at Shady
Oaks at Weavers Mennonite
Church and concluded
at CrossRoads.
June 6 - 8 and
13 - 15 - "Jordan's
Stormy Banks," was
presented at Bridgewater
College's Cole Hall.
Read more about the scriptwriter,
Elizabeth Beachy.
