COMMUNITY COMMENT: Save Cherry Hill Farmhouse Programs
BY MARY MADELINE KING
February 12, 2010
The Cherry Hill Board was informed a few days ago that the position of part-time coordinator for the historic Farmhouse and Barn is one of the options being considered for elimination under FY2011 budget scenarios.
Since the Council meeting on February 22 may be the last time residents can speak against this, we don’t have much time to organize supporters for this City landmark and its programs. If you want to help save this part time position, which organizes history camps, school tours, and other programs held at the barn or farmhouse, please email the City Council before February 18. Your email will be summarized and included in each council member’s packet on Friday.
You may also speak during the petition period, but must fill in a sign-up form and give it to the City Clerk before the meeting.
Please take the time to register your support for this important part of City history. If this part time position is eliminated, the house and barn will likely be closed.
By (see byline)
February 12, 2010
Cherry Hill Farmhouse is a treasure that we all need to remember. Someone needs to be responsible for her. I chaired the Historical Commission in the 80′s and at first did not know what the excitement was about having assistance with the old farmhouse. In my roll I got to know her and all who have supported the efforts to maintain the farmhouse. Many of the same people are doing that today.
In the 80′s there were events for children there, including making paper lace valentines, tussie-mussies and May baskets. A play day with hoops on the walkways occurred. More recently the afternoon teas were a delight and one had to wait weeks for a reservation. I don’t know what happened to them. Small weddings and other gatherings have been a part of her past. Also Civil War re-enactments. Of course the docent-led tours with roll playing were a favorite for a long time.
Do encourage the City Council to support her either with a volunteer who is given expectations, adding responsibilities to the part-time person already there to justify the job, or assigning the Cherry Hill duties as an expected job to a person who remains on staff. Then get in touch with Mary Madeline King and volunteer to be a part of reviving Cherry Hill. The Old Farmhouse springs to life and offers herself to you.
Cathy
When I was growing up my mother, Cay Wiant, was a professional storyteller. When she went to work for the Falls Church City Schools full time, she scaled back on her “gigs”, as she liked to call them, and instead would put on special holiday themed shows at Cherry Hill Farmhouse. On Valentine’s Day audiences would be enchanted by stories of love conquering all; Halloween stories were told in such a way as to ensure that listeners wouldn’t sleep easy that night; and at Christmas time, my mother always made sure that people left with hearts full of the true meaning of the season. She put her heart and soul into the preparation for each of these performances. Often she’d go out on long walks in the neighborhood so that she could rehearse without interruption. Other times she’d lock herself away in her study so that we would be sure not to bother her with some trivial sibling complaint. Performing these programs at Cherry Hill Farmhouse was something that was very special to her and to the community. I know that if she were still with us that she’d be leading the rallying cry to drum up support for the little farmhouse that meant so much to her.
We are cutting pennies and risking the character of the City. Cherry Hill brings in approximately $20k a year and the part time salary for running the facility is approximately $30k. This is just not worth it. We are trying to market the City, so what kind of a marketing plan will we have since Cherry Hill will not be available to the community as it is now. Also the City will most likely have to pick up the insurance on the facility as the Friends of Cherry Hill can not insure it since it will be essentially an unoccupied facility. Cherry Hill goes to the character of our City. Let’s tell the Council that this is not a good idea.
It’s seems ridiculous to cut this position and endanger the one historic property owned by the City, especially when the City just spent THOUSANDS and THOUSANDS of dollars coming up with their “The Little City” slogan. Cherry Hill is a wonderful historic house that brings people into the city and, as pointed out above, actually brings in some money. The coordinator performs a valuable service with organizing a variety of events that educate children and adults alike about the wonderful history of the City of Falls Church. Why not build upon that and encourage more people to use the Cherry Hill site instead of closing it down? Why not use the site as a city visitor’s center and have more exhibits and programs there?
I also feel that, with the exception of a couple of members, the current City Council has no appreciation for the rich past and history of Falls Church. I’ve participated in many program and re-enactments at Cherry Hill and have never seen the mayor attend any of them and only one or two City Council members. I realize that everyone is busy but they could show some support for Cherry Hill and the programs they offer.
Eliminating the coordinator position and closing the farmhouse will only show that the City does not care about its history and the people that built the City of Falls Church into what it is today. How sad that would be.