August, 2019 1

The White WaterRecordAugust, 2019 • Volume 6, Number 2

The newsletter of the Friends of White Water Shaker Village, Inc.

Basket Workshopby Karen KilgoOn April 28 and May 4, the Meeting House was the site of our first basket workshop. Three ladies participated in April and five on the May date. The first project was a market basket, approximately 6 x13 inches with a fixed, woven in handle. The class was taught by Karen Kilgo and Patty Schultz, both board members at White Water Shaker Village. The basket took approximately three hours to complete and everyone’s basket turned out beautifully. This first class was open to those who had expressed an interest by signing the basket workshop sheet, on display during open houses at the Village. Members will be notified about future basket workshops.

Save the DateSaturday, September 28 Broom making WorkshopSunday September 29 Great Outdoor Weekend 2:00-5:00 P.M.Sunday December 8 Meeting House Anniversary CelebrationSaturday April 4, 2020 Annual Gathering, 10:00 A.M.-4:00 P.M.

Treasurer SoughtDo you love our Shaker village and want to be a part of its success? Then join the FWWSV board as treasurer. You’ll record income and pay bills, maintain our books, and prepare financial statements for the board. An accounting background is not necessary, but you’ll need to use email and have a basic understanding of Microsoft Excel and be willing to attend monthly board meetings at the Shaker village. Time spent is 5-6 hours per month.

If you would like to join us and make a difference, please send an email to Rich Spence at

2019-2020 Annual RaffleA Pleasant Hill Package

by Linda PoynterThe Friends of White Water Shaker Village are pleased to announce the 2019-2020 Annual Raffle – a two night stay at The Inn at Shaker Village of Pleasant Hill in Harrodsburg, Kentucky.

The winners will receive complimentary admission to The Historic Centre, The Farm and The Preserve for the length of their stay, as well as a dinner for two and a breakfast for two at the Trustees’ Table Restaurant.

The Gift Certificate will be valid from the date of the Annual Gathering on April 4, 2020 (when the winner will be selected) through December 31, 2020. Tickets are $5 each or 5 tickets for $20.

This package was graciously donated to the Friends of White Water Shaker Village by the Shaker Village of Pleasant Hill in support of our restoration efforts. We are most grateful.

2 The White Water Record

Our website address is

Our mailing address isFriends of White Water Shaker Village

PO Box 62714CIncinnati OH 45262

Our email address is

Look for us on Facebook. Searchfor White Water Shaker Village.

Our Mission Statement“To preserve, restore, and open the

Shaker buildings and adjacent grounds known as the North Family of White Water Shaker Village; to collect and

exhibit artifacts related to the site for the cultural enrichment of the public;

to educate the public about this unique part of our nation’s heritage.”

OfficersPresident

Richard SpenceVice PresidentEd Creighton

SecretaryDavid KilgoTreasurer

Position open

Board of DirectorsPatrick Allen

Christy ConnellyEd CreightonScott HooverDavid KilgoKaren Kilgo

Carol MedlicottBruce PoynterLinda PoynterPatty Schultz

Richard Spence

The Friends of White Water

Shaker Village, Inc.A 501(c)(3) corporation

In Passing

W. E. Smith Grants Help Preserve White Water’s Historic Treasuresby Linda PoynterThe Friends of White Water Shaker Village, Inc. is pleased to announce that the W.E. Smith Family Charitable Trust has recently awarded two grants to our organization. As in previous years, the W.E. Smith Family Charitable Trust has graciously agreed to help support our adult educational programming expenses with a $450 grant. They have also awarded us with a generous $4,950 grant for the conservation and repair of a rare Shaker manuscript hymnal (created by George Amery, c. 1870 at White Water), 13 letters written at White Water by Joseph Agnew and his daughter Hannah between 1849 and 1863, and a calligraphy drawn by Joseph Agnew in 1844.

Descendants of George Amery, a Shaker Elder who lived at White Water in the late 19th century, discovered the manuscript hymnal containing songs, hymns and dance tunes in their possession and have permanently loaned it to the Friends of White Water Shaker Village. The hymnal is rare and contains both known and unknown Shaker songs and hymns and many wordless White Water dance tunes.

Joseph and Miriam Agnew are credited with being the founders of White Water Shaker Village in 1823, as they invited the Union Village Shakers (near Lebanon, Ohio) to share the Shaker principles with

the locals in southwestern Ohio. Most of the letters in our possession were written in the 1840s and 1850s by Joseph, detailing everyday life at White Water, as well as his views on various theological topics. Joseph Agnew also reports on the weather and how it affected harvest, as well as crops planted and prices received. Some letters also detail how, in 1830, the Agnews came to the decision to go their separate ways, with Joseph staying at White Water (until his death in 1870) with three of their children and Miriam leaving and settling in Indiana with their remaining children. These invaluable letters were used by Tom Sakmyster and Jim Innis while researching and writing The Shakers of White Water, Ohio, 1823-1916.

Hannah Agnew, one of Joseph and Miriam’s children, remained a Shaker for her entire life. In 1836, when Hannah was just 16 years old, a delegation from the East selected her to return to New Lebanon with them. It was presented as a “privilege”. Initially, Hannah was devastated, but having embraced the Shaker principles, she accepted her fate, as “a gift”. Hannah kept a travel journal and wrote several poems on her way to New Lebanon. Hannah’s letter that is in our possession shows her feelings toward her father (“my Most Worthy Parent”), as well as containing a poem.

Preventing further deterioration by conserving and stabilizing these treasures will ensure that they can be studied and viewed by scholars and the public for years to come. Specific steps that will be taken by the conservator include cleaning, reduction of accretions and pencil scribbles, reinforcing sewing, repair of damaged sheets and large tears, attempting to reduce mold growth, removing pressure sensitive tape and adhesive residues, reducing brown staining, repairing tears, flattening papers, creating a new spine on the hymnal, and

continued at the top of the next page

New MembersSince March 2019-August 9, 2019

William Allen FamilyPaula Arter IndividualJacob Glover IndividualJoan Gory IndividualHannah Greer IndividualLyndsi Hersch IndividualMaggie McAdams IndividualJim McKenzie IndividualBJ & Casey Miller FamilyDavid Neuhardt FamilyJed Portman IndividualSue Pinto FamilyBertha Schmalfeldt IndividualNancy Waldeck Individual

Renewing MembersSince March 2019

Mary Abbott Individual Rodney & Charlotte Adams FamilyRomola Allen FamilyJennifer Bornemann IndividualDale & Barbara Covington FamilyRoxann Dieffenbach Individual

Tommy Hines IndividualJim Innis IndividualDavid & Karen Kilgo SponsorIrene Light Sponsor Harold & Kay McCollum SponsorMichael Miller FamilyDiane Packard IndividualPaul & Marjo Prinzing SponsorTom Queen IndividualMark Sandefur FamilyDavid & Judy Savage SponsorDenny & Patty Schultz FamilyMarguerite Sharp FamilyThomas & Linda Shevlin FamilyJoyce Wiseman Individual

Meeting House Campaign DonorsPat & Mary AllenRobert CampbellPaul CrumrineJim InnisAnne & Carl JantzenBill MooneyPaul & Marjo Prinzing

David & Judy SavagePatricia ScharfJon & Jacqueline SeymourMarguerite SharpHedda Windisch von Goeben

Unrestricted DonationsMary AbbottDecorative Arts SocietyRoxann DieffenbachClayton & Ethel HockScott HooverJim InnisPeggy LandesHarold & Kay McCollumStephen & Miriam MillerBill MooneyElizabeth PackDavid & Judy SavageDenny & Patty SchultzMaggie Viverito (in honor of Claire Viverito)Joyce WisemanXi Eta Iota Chapter of Beta Sigma Phi

Recent DonationsRigid wet/dry shop vacuum. – donated by Allen and Kay Bornemann

Books on the Shakers, especiallywoodworking. – donated by Richard Fisher

Sabbathday Lake Drying Rack, maple, assembled from a Shaker Workshops Kit. – donated by Scott and Elaine Hoover

Tape loom, from an eastern Shaker community. – donated by Scott and Elaine Hoover

Low back dining chair with red wash, from Pleasant Hill Shaker Village. – donated by Scott and Elaine Hoover

Six peg hanging shelf. – donated by Scott and Elaine Hoover

for the restroom

Two Shaker swifts, manufactured at Hancock Shaker Village c. 1880. – donated by Elaine Disch

Mt. Lebanon tilter chair and reproduction Shaker gift drawings. – donated by Margaret Peery &

the estate of Martin & Jean Popelka

Antique quilting frame, hay knife, two horse hames, three wood singletrees and a dry mounted WWSV article printed in the Cincinnati Enquirer. – donated by Janet Lockwood

Old green wooden tool carrier in green paint, including old clothes pins, bits for a hand drill, and three cast iron clothingirons. – donated by Janet Lockwood

Four boxes of books on the Shakers and Shaker villages, periodicals, South Union

Shaker Journal transcriptions, Ohio Department of Transportation report in four volumes on archaeology at the Union Village North Lot, and two hand painted gourd head dolls. – donated by Lois Madden

Two Mt. Lebanon armed elder’s chairs, assembled from Shaker Workshops kits, about 20 books on the Shakers and three posters. – donated by Sue Pinto

Isaac Newton Youngs reproduction hanging wall clock, graduated stack of eight reproduction oval boxes, large framed “Heavenly Tree” spirit drawing poster, a wool shawl woven on Shaker looms by Pleasant Hill interpreters, Sister Karlyn Cauley spirit drawing prints, baskets, and a number of books.

– donated by Maggie Viverito & the estate of Claire Viverito

housing the hymnal and papers in archival boxes for safe keeping.

Once conserved, the treasured documents will be safely stored as recommended by

Laura Moeller, the conservator at Strange Stock Art Conservation, and will be occasionally placed on view at White Water in a secure exhibit for all to enjoy.

The Friends are most grateful to the W.E. Smith Family Charitable Trust for their continued support of our projects and preservation efforts at White Water.

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Donations fromWarren County Historical SocietyWe are grateful to Victoria Van Harlingen, Executive Director, and the Warren County Historical Society for their decision to gift to us a number of deaccessioned Shaker items from their Shaker Gallery at the Harmon Museum in Lebanon, Ohio. The artifacts, including a tall cupboard, work counter, Pleasant Hill and South Union chairs, posters, a blanket chest, Hancock Shaker Village swift, and a fire place door, were on display or in storage.

In addition, and of great interest, was the donation of 33 lengths of peg rail and a length of ballister rail that we will use in the restoration at White Water.

This is truly a very generous gift by Vickie Van Harlingen and the WCHS board.Blanket chest

Fireplace door

Peg rails

White Water cupboardWork counter

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Shaker Village of Pleasant Hill Staff Helps at White WaterOn April 18, Jacob Glover (Program Manager) and Maggie McAdams (Assistant Program Manager) traveled north with four team members, Bertha, Jim, Lyndsi and Hannah, for “Hands to Work” at White Water. With their help, the peg rail channels in the dwelling southwest room were cleaned out in preparation for peg rail replacement.

The Hodapp family had removed the peg rail in many rooms and in its place left a cement-like material to ease the process of hanging wallpaper. This was dusty hammer and chisel work.

Our new friends also helped wash windows in the meeting house.

Thanks so much, Pleasant Hill volunteers!

Summer Blooms in theShaker Gardenby Linda PoynterThe Shaker herb garden has persevered through the extremely rainy spring and our hot, dry summer. The soapwort and bee balm have flourished.

Soapwort can be used as an herbal remedy for cough, bronchitis, constipation relief and upper respiratory inflammation. As the name suggests, soapwort can also be used to make a natural soap. It is made by boiling the dried and crushed rhizome or leaves in water.

Bee balm has antifungal and antimicrobial qualities. Those qualities make it ideal for creating a base for a healing salve. A tea can be made to ease nausea symptoms. Bee balm is also useful in easing colds, congestion and sore throats.

Left and above is bee balm. Right is soapwort.

6 The White Water Record

Ten years ago at White Water

Moving a Millstoneby Scott HooverOn Wednesday July 1, 2009, five people gathered at the Center Family for the moving of a millstone from a field behind the Center Family Trustee’s Office to the Wagon Shed of the North Family. The stone was located about an eighth of a mile to the west of the Trustee’s Office. The stone had to be moved about a mile to its new home.

Kay and Allen Bornemann secured help from their good friend, Jim Rolfes, to use his equipment to make the move. Board members Jim Innis and Scott Hoover helped in the move.

Jim Rolfes brought his tracked bobcat to try to raise the stone but the stone weighed over 3000 pounds and the bobcat could move the stone, but not lift it. Jim returned home to get his backhoe that had more lifting power.

The second attempt was successful, and the stone was lifted by the backhoe to reveal a well with stone sides. The well is about 14 feet deep with water filling up about eight feet. The well opening is angled outward as it goes down and is about three feet wide at the top. A new wooden well cap was placed over the well, and stones were added to the top.

Once the millstone was lifted, the trip to the North Family wagon shed along Oxford Road went very quickly. The millstone was laid down and placed on boards under the wagon shed. The morning move took about two and a half hours, and now the millstone can be seen by people visiting the North Family site.

The stone is 15ʺ thick, 52ʺ in diameter and the center hole is 9ʺ square. The stone is granite with a few holes drilled into the sides. Some question now remains as to whether the stone is a millstone or well cap. John Campbell and

Tommy Hines of South Union felt the stone had the look of a well cap similar to the well caps of the Kentucky Shakers.

According to Rich Spence’s research, the area where the well is located is about 675ʹ west of the Center Family Trustee’s Office, on a small hill, on the edge of a farmed field. The original well may have been placed next to a hen house. The hen house (1854) was 17ʹ by 44ʹ according to Don Janzen’s archaeological survey of 1991. The stone floor remains about one foot under the soil. Another millstone is located under the modern porch, as a support of the Center Family Trustee’s Office. Other millstones associated with White Water have been removed to private residences.

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Response Card for your ParticipationDonations for the Meeting House Restoration Fund ❏ $25 ❏ $50 ❏ $100 ❏ $500 ❏ $1000 ❏ Other $ Total $

Donations❏ $25 ❏ 50 ❏ $100 ❏ $500 ❏ $1000 ❏ Other $ Total $❏ To be used at the board’s discretion, or to be used for

❏ I would like my donation to remain anonymous. Total $

Annual Raffle, 2019-2020 – A Pleasant Hill Package# Single tickets for $5 each # Group of 5 tickets for $20 Total $

FWWSV Membership ❏ $10 Student ❏ $25 Single ❏ $50 Family ❏ $100 Sponsor ❏ $500 Patron ❏ $1,000 White Water Society Total $

Annual Gathering (April 4, 2020 at Fernald Nature Preserve, Tour of North Family)# Members @ $30 each # Non members @ $35 each Total $

Total Amount Enclosed $

Name(s)

Address

City State ZIP

Phone Email

Thank you for choosing to support our efforts to conserve and restore White Water Shaker Village.Friends of White Water Shaker Village is a 501c3 non-profit organization.

Please mail to: FWWSV, PO Box 62714, Cincinnati, Ohio 45262

Passport tothe Pastby Karen KilgoOn June 27, the White Water Village was open in conjunction with four other sites in the Harrison area for our third annual “Passport to the Past”. Historical venues work cooperatively by coordinating their open hours one day per year so visitors can see places of importance in Harrison’s history. People could visit the Othneil Looker Home, the Passmore Cabin, the Harrison Village Historical Society Museum, the White Water Shaker Village and, new this year, the Fernald Feed Materials Production Center, now known as Fernald Preserve. About 25 people braved the 90 degree heat to visit the Village.

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Repairing Meeting House FloorBruce, with help from Linda, Karen & Dave, covered the Meeting House floor hole left from a previous tenant’s desire for quick, inside access to the cellar. The covering will be restored with random width white oak in the future.

Memorial Day Open Houseby Karen KilgoMemorial Day was celebrated at the village on May 26 with an ice cream social and open house. The sky was cloudy, there was some rain and a surprise gust of wind blew a pop-up tent into the Meeting House downspout!

Despite the excitement with the weather, approximately 40 people enjoyed homemade vanilla and chocolate ice cream with all the trimmings plus lemonade and cookies and tours of the village.

Great Outdoor WeekendFor the fourth year, the Shaker Village will be participating in the

Great Outdoor Weekend, a two day event put on by Green Umbrella to encourage people to participate in free events throughout the area that focus on recreation and nature. The village will be open

The Friends of White WaterShaker Village, Inc.PO Box 62714Cincinnati OH 45262

First Class Mail

on Sunday September 29 from 2:00-5:00 P.M. The theme this year is “Shaker History on a Sundae” so, of course, there will be homemade ice cream and plenty of Shaker history. There will also be a flea market in the wagon shed to benefit restoration at the village.

Jeffrey L. Werner, 1957-2019Treasurer & Director

by Rich SpenceWe are saddened to report that our former treasurer, Jeff Werner,

passed away in Louisville on May 11, 2019 after a long illness. In addition to keeping our books for the last 10 years, Jeff was always there for projects such as burying the electrical lines, the propane tank and replacing the dwelling back steps. Looking back, we appreciate Jeff’s contributions to the Shaker Village and our thoughts go out to his family during this difficult time.

2019 Membership Dues ReminderJust a friendly reminder that memberships for the Friends of White Water Shaker Village are due for this calendar year. Yearly memberships coincide with the calendar year.

We start accepting memberships for the upcoming year in the fall of the previous year (October). If you aren’t sure if you have renewed your membership, you are always welcome to email Linda Poynter at and she will check and get back with you promptly.

Memberships are vital in supporting the daily operations and basic needs of the village (such as propane, electric, water and phone line for the security system). Members of the Friends of White Water Shaker Village also enjoy a 10% discount in the gift shop, free or reduced admission to special events (such as the Annual Gathering and Anniversary Celebration), and issues of our quarterly newsletter, The White Water Record.

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Aug19