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Weekly News February 21, 2005Description
Mitchells’ Jerseys and Woodside Farm Ice Cream: Let’s go from spring water to Jersey milk, and yes, there is a connection. You are familiar with the 21st-century connection every time we go to Woodside Farm Creamery for ice cream. Here is the 19th-century connection: On October 17, 1877, Elizabeth Cloud Mitchell (1854–1930) married Israel Way Marshall (1850–1911) in the stone farmhouse at Woodside Farm. It just happens that they were my grandparents. The Mitchells had been on this farm since 1796, and the oldest part of the house was built in 1804. Elizabeth’s parents, Joseph (1829–1919) and Hannah Cloud Mitchell (1830?–1914) were my great-grandparents and also those of Joseph Mitchell, father of Jim (the ice cream man). Israel and “Lizzie” hosted a Golden Anniversary party for them at Auburn Heights in 1903. After her 1877 wedding, Lizzie didn’t move far away, less than 5 miles, and took up residence on Marshallvale Farm at Marshall’s Bridge. (She and Israel did go to Washington, D.C., on their honeymoon and shook hands with President Hayes.) End of local history lesson.
Last week was "meetings week". Bill Schwoebel chaired the Management Group meeting in the Museum Wednesday night which was attended by 19 volunteers. He announced those who are willing to chair various committees of the operating group, and gave them some guidance on how to get started. Things are already starting to move- Anne has announced a meeting of the Special Events Committee at her house for this Thursday, 2/24, at 7:00 P.M. Maintenance and Restoration Committee (cars and trains), Museum Committee, Promotion & Marketing, and Volunteer Training are planning to have meetings very soon. Please agree to help when you are called.
On Thursday, the first full Board of Directors meeting was held with 16 in attendance. The Board approved an appropriation for all our 2005 projects, from which the various operating committees can draw. As the year progresses, each Committee chairman will need to plan for 2006 and estimate how much will be needed for his or her committee, so it can be budgeted by the Board. The Board also approved the Organizational Chart as it applies to the Management Group, with the understanding that this can be altered slightly as needed. Board Committees are being reviewed further and the goal is to get them approved by the Board's next meeting which is scheduled for March 24. Our insurance agent, Tom Heckman, plans to attend the 3/24 meeting and we will review all our insurance coverages. The Board also discussed how to keep our Advisory Board interested. We have about 8 people outside our immediate group who have agreed to be advisors. We may want to put on a special event for them some time this spring. Mike May from Michigan attended both our Wednesday and Thursday meetings, and we were glad to have our distant friend, steam car expert, and Board member with us.
Our current work projects, about 4 in number, need to be worked through to completion. 2 involve the railroad (locomotive and cars) and 2 involve Stanleys, the water tank on the Model CX and the sheet metal work on the 87. It has been suggested that even after our season begins with people visiting the museum, we could have a roped-off area there where our guests can see a car undergoing repair, small or large. That should be of interest, and will free up space in the upper garage. At latest count, we have 52 members!
Thank you, and good night. Tom
