January, 2006
Dear Friend of the Yoder House,
You are warmly invited to attend the 2006 National Yoder Reunion which will be held Thursday evening, October 19 through Sunday, October 22 in Grantsville, Maryland on the grounds of the Spruce Forest Artisan Village where the Yoder House, a mid-18th century colonial-style home, is located (www.houseofyoder.org). The three-story house features a root cellar, beautiful stone walk-in fireplace and numerous items of interest to the Yoder family (genealogical records, heirlooms, etc.). You may participate in any or all of the activities planned for the reunion. The weekend will feature numerous activities including dedication and tours of the Yoder House, local history presentations, a public sale of Yoder artifacts and crafts, a Friday evening banquet, a Saturday day-long tour of Yoder sites and the 9/11 Flight 93 crash site, three performances of the original drama featuring the life of Yost Yoder of Steffisburg, Switzerland, and a Sunday morning worship service in the Yoder House. See the attached schedule of activities for more details.
The Spruce Forest Artisan Village (301-895-3332 and www.spruceforest.org ) features the work of a number of local artists (stained glass, bird sculptures, weaving, spinning, basketry, pottery, herbs, heirloom teddy bears, slate paintings, furnishings, natural soap, and Stanton's Mill flours and meals). Adjacent to the Yoder House is the Penn Alps Restaurant and Craft Shop (301-895-5985 and www.pennalps.com ). The Penn Alps Craft Shop features the work of 400 tri-state artisans. Also near the Yoder House is the unique Arched Bridge (1813) over the Casselman River.
You might also want to consider coming early or staying after the reunion to vacation in the mountains of western Maryland in Garrett County (www.garrettchamber.com ). The Deep Creek Lake recreation area is nearby (www.deepcreek.com) and offers many recreational and vacation options. The cities of Frostburg and Cumberland are also nearby.
Please complete the enclosed registration form and return by August 19. Register early to ensure your space on the bus tour and/or for the drama presentations. We encourage you to share this information with family and friends who will have interest in this reunion. We look forward to seeing you at the 2006 National Yoder Reunion!
Sincerely,
The 2006 National Yoder Reunion Committee
Information, Registration, and Schedules
Arts and Crafts, Participating Guidelines
Registration Form for NATIONAL
YODER REUNION -------------------------- (Printable form)
October 19-22, 2006
Please complete this registration form and return by August 19, 2006 to: Jim Yoder, 11035 National Pike, Grantsville, MD 21536. Any questions you have may be directed to: Paul H. Yoder, 507 Hemlock Drive, Grantsville, MD 21536; 301-895-5411; phyoder@juno.com
Name: ____________________________________
Address: __________________________________
City: ______________________ State: ______________ Zip: ____________
Telephone: (______)__________________ Email: ___________________________
Number and Names of those attending: Total Number ____
Names:
________________________________ ___________________________________
________________________________ ___________________________________
| Reunion Event | Cost per person | # of Persons or Items | Total Cost |
| General Registration Fee (only required fee-all other events are optional) |
|
$ | |
| Friday Evening Banquet, October 20 |
|
$ | |
| Saturday Bus Tour (lunch included), October 21 |
|
$ | |
| Original Drama, Saturday, October 21-6 p.m |
|
$ | |
| Original Drama, Saturday, October 21-8 p.m |
|
$ | |
| Worship Service at Yoder House, Sunday-10 a.m. |
|
||
| Original Drama, Sunday, October 22-7 p.m. |
|
$ | |
| Reunion Items | |||
| Catalog of Sale Items for the Friday Auction |
|
$ | |
| House of Yoder Tote Bag |
|
$ | |
| "Journey of Faith" European Yoder History DVD or Video by Virgil Yoder (please indicate type) |
|
$ | |
| TOTAL AMOUNT ENCLOSED | $ |
Lodging arrangements must be made by each registrant. The primary lodging option will be at:
Comfort Inn
2541 Chestnut Ridge Rd, Grantsville, MD 21536 (I-68, Exit 22)
301-895-5993
90 rooms have been reserved at the Comfort Inn until August 19, 2006. Special reunion rates are: $55 per room plus 10% tax (without the continental breakfast) or $58 per room plus 10% tax (including the continental breakfast). To receive the reunion rates, please mention that you are attending the National Yoder Reunion. After August 19, the room rates will raise to the $80 range.
Other lodging options in the area include:
The Casselman Inn (Motel, Historic Hotel, and Restaurant)-on
Alt. US 40
113 Main Street
Grantsville, MD 21536
301-895-5055
The Stonebow (1870 elegantly restored Victorian Inn-adjacent
to the Yoder House)
146 Casselman Road
Grantsville, MD 21536
800-272-4090
Casselman Valley Farm Bed and Breakfast Inn
215 Maple Grove Road
Grantsville, MD 21536
301-895-3419 www.bbonline.com/md/casselman
Wisp Resort Hotel
290 Marsh Hill Road
McHenry, MD 21541
800-462-9477
Victorian Rose Bed and Breakfast
193 Ord Street
Salisbury, PA 15558
814-662-2442
Hampton Inn
11200 New Georges Creek Road
Frostburg, MD
301-689-1998
2006 National Yoder Reunion Schedule
October 19-22, 2006
Thursday, October 19
6:30-9:00 p.m. Registration at the Comfort Inn (I-68,
Exit 22)-2.5 miles east of the Yoder House
Get Acquainted Reception at Comfort Inn-Kenneth Yoder as
MC
-Refreshments, information, ice breaking
-Entertainment by Windy Ridge (vocal and instrumental group)
-Storytelling by Gary Yoder (local champion storyteller)
Friday, October 20
9:30-10 a.m. Registration at the Yoder House on the grounds of Spruce Forest Artisan Village
10 a.m. Program at the Yoder House begins with Lowell
Bender as MC
10 a.m. Recognitions; Greetings from Doris Ours, Yoder House Board
President, and introduction of Board
10:10 a.m. Local History by Bob Bantz who will impersonate an
early trapper
10:40 a.m. Music in charge of Lowell Bender
10:50 a.m. Talk on the Yoder House (history, features, purpose,
future)-Lonnie Yoder, Harrisonburg, VA
11:10 a.m. Dedication of the Yoder House-Phil Dayton-pastor of
Pinto Mennonite Church
11:25 a.m. Announcements
12 noon Lunch on your own-eat at Penn Alps Restaurant (two buffet options will be available) or at other area restaurants
1:30 p.m. Public Sale of Yoder Artifacts and Crafts (in the tent near the Yoder House)
All afternoon Shops on the grounds of Spruce Forest Artisan
Village will be open
Yoder House will be open each day including all day Thursday
5 p.m. Banquet at Salisbury, PA Fire Hall with Johnny
Crist of Lilburn, Georgia as MC
5 p.m. Food will be served
7 p.m. Program begins
7:05 p.m. Music
7:15 p.m. Talk-"The Different Lines of Yoder Immigrants"-Chris
Yoder (Yoder Newsletter) of Saugatuck, Michigan
Saturday, October 21
8:30 a.m. Day Long Tour of Yoder Sites and Cemeteries
from Grantsville, MD to Berlin, PA (leaves from Comfort Inn)
12 noon Lunch at Berlin, PA (part of the tour cost)
Afternoon Tour of Christian Yoder sites and Flight 93 Crash Site
(returning to Grantsville at 4 p.m.)
6 and 8 p.m. Premier of Drama focusing on Yost Yoder of Steffisburg, Switzerland at Cherry Glade Mennonite Church
Sunday, October 22
10 a.m. Church Service in the Yoder House (limited number
due to space)
Singing by the congregation (in charge of David Yoder, Morgantown,
WV)
Speaker-Nate Yoder, Harrisonburg, VA
7 p.m. Third Performance of Drama focusing on Yost Yoder of Steffisburg, Switzerland at Cherry Glade Mennonite Church
Day Long Bus Tour -Saturday, October 21, 2006-8:30 a.m.-4 p.m.
You are invited to a mountaintop experience on top of the Allegheny Mountains at elevations up to 2800 feet which are similar to the elevations in Switzerland where the Yoders lived. The rolling hills and valleys, the cool summers and harsh winters will remind us of our native home in Switzerland. You will be impressed by the people-their friendliness, the slower pace of a quiet, peace-loving people with a touch of the mountains.
The Yoder Tour will begin at the Comfort Inn at Grantsville, Maryland at 8:30 a.m. on Saturday and go north into Pennsylvania where the first Yoders settled in this area. Nearly all of the places will be of early Yoder historical interest. Three of the main stops on the tour will be the farms and cemeteries where Henry (YR261), Christian (YR23), and Magdalena (YR 13?) lived and are buried. In addition, you will see some early non-Yoder history where George Washington, who at the age of 22, built the first wagon road across the mountains in 1754 only to be widened a year later by General Braddock on his way to Fort Duquesne. You will see where both Washington and Braddock camped at Little Meadows.
The tour will also visit the farms where three other early Yoders lived before moving to other communities-John (YR125), John (YR 25), and Jacob (YR121), also known as Casselman Jacob. Other interesting places along the way will include: the Yoder School, "Yotter Eck" (Yoder Corner), the Yoder Church House (Amish), an Amish School, and the site of the Hochstetler infanticide perpetrated by Henry Yoder (YR2613). The book "Eyes in the Window" by Evie Miller is based on this historical episode.
The tour will also include the farm where Christian Yoder (YR2611A) was tortured and robbed, driving through a town previously called "Yetterstadt", and another place called "Yoder Station". "Yetterstadt" is where "Axie" Joseph (YR1212) lived. He was famous for the quality axes he built. Nestled in the rolling hills on top of the Allegheny Mountains, the tour will see many small businesses, farms, and homes occupied by the descendants of the early Yoders. Finally, the tour will stop at the site where Flight 93 came down on September 11, 2001. The tour buses will return in time for tour participants to take in the premiere of the drama of Yost Yoder of Steffisburg, Switzerland if they have paid for the drama in their registration.
Information -- Yost Yoder Drama-Saturday (6 and 8 p.m.) and Sunday (7 p.m.)
Yost Yoder was a well-to-do landowner in 17th century Steffisburg, Switzerland. He was a member of the church-state court (the Chorgericht) with both governors and crusaders prominent in his lineage. And yet many of his ten sons and daughters chose to become Anabaptists, while Yost retained his position on the court and engineered an expansion project for the Reformed Church. He returned to duty even after six months of imprisonment for refusing to reveal the names of Anabaptists under his jurisdiction. Through the eyes of Yost's son Christian, the drama, written by Elizabeth Beachy, tells the story of Yost Yoder, a man torn between responsibility to his family and to his Lord.
Humor, excitement, and 16th century life seriousness will be portrayed as Yost's son Christian grows from childhood into a married man with his own farm, all the while serving as a leader of the Anabaptists. Interesting scenes will include:
-Christian pestering his mother about the truthfulness of the stories of St. Yoder when he is supposed to be doing his homework-Christian trying to understand the many "Anna's" in his life
-a sharp verbal exchange between Yost and Jacob Amman at an Anabaptist meeting where Jacob Amman, founder of the Amish, is speaking
-a confrontation between Christian and a local constable who happens to walk into a hastily dispersed late night Anabaptist church meeting in Christian's barn. To Christian's evasive answers and embarrassment, the constable asks why Christian needs all these benches if he is just caring for his cows!
-Christian's arrest and imprisonment in Bern in the most expensive hotel in the city where Christian must cover all of his own expenses, including the expensive items his waitress serves him even though doesn't want them.
Guidelines for the Artists Participating
A Public Show and Sale of Yoder Arts and Crafts
Held at the Yoder House as a part of the National Yoder Reunion
---------------------------- (Printable
form)
Friday, October 20, 2006
Two goals for the sale are: 1) to call attention to Yoder artistic ability, and 2) to raise financial resources for the ongoing work of the Yoder House.
Guidelines for the artists providing items for the sale:
1) Items may be crafts, paintings, quilts, or other arts or
crafts.
2) The items should display creativity and be of good quality.
It should be appropriate, not controversial.
3) The artist should provide suitable hanging frames for pictures
(suitable wire hanger, not sawtooth).
4) The artist should provide a description and photo of the article.
5) The artist should provide a biographical sketch of himself
or herself.
6) A booklet, catalog, or other suitable papers will introduce
the product and the artist to the potential buyer before the sale.
7) The requested information about the item should be in the hands
of the Sale Committee by July 1, 2006 or before.
8) Artists are responsible to deliver the item to the Yoder House
on or before Thursday, October 19, 2006.
9) The artist should check the block below indicating his or her
choice of percentage of sale of the item as a donation to the
House of Yoder.
Please check your choice: I desire that ___ 100% ___ 75% ___ 50% of the proceeds of the sale of the item go as a donation to the House of Yoder.
Name of Artist _________________________________
Address ______________________________________
_______________________________________
Phone Number ________________________________
Point of Contact: Kenneth L. Yoder
365 Dorsey Hotel Road
Grantsville, MD 21536
301-895-5687