2013 Crowell Hilaka Open House - October 20th
Tour guides for the FoCH Open House 2013: Deb Kramer, Susan Kabot, Corey Ringle, Chris Naizer, Beth Sanderson
The Planning
Date: Tue, 8 Oct 2013 23:14
We get to have guided tours through Crowell Hilaka on October 20!!!!!!!
We aren’t allowed to have an open house per se—it’s all guided tours. Which is considerably more labor-intensive, but the conservancy is hopefully going to bring people to help, too. The goal is to get more funders- so altho we would love to go on a hike of our own just for fun, We will be working to show it off for mostly for people who have never been there.
It may only be two hours, altho Joe says he will ask for 4
As soon as we know details, we need to make up a flier that we can distribute in Richfield / Bath / HInkley and send to everyone on our mailing lists. OR – ( just a thought)- maybe we ask Ken Wood if can whip something up or have the WRLC logo on a design of ours.
So far the idea is to reduce the amount any one tour guide has to know by having Volunteers at each point of interest explain just their one thing. They can work off a script OR ad lib. The tour guide can then just shepherd their group around.
We will have two separate tours- one in the north, one in the south. I think if we had enough volunteers it would be awesome to have a couple “hard-core tours” that took serious hikers everywhere- including Innisfree, the secret waterfall, Hi Lea, Forest of the Lost Green Cathedral, and Pine Lake Trail and come back via Deer Leap Trail, but that might take more time than we are allotted.
Ah well. details need worked out between WRLC lawyers and GSNEO lawyers – we will just have to work with what we have got.
if all goes well, we could start flier distribution this weekend. we need volunteers
Lynn
Date: Tue, 8 Oct 2013 23:14
We get to have guided tours through Crowell Hilaka on October 20!!!!!!!
We aren’t allowed to have an open house per se—it’s all guided tours. Which is considerably more labor-intensive, but the conservancy is hopefully going to bring people to help, too. The goal is to get more funders- so altho we would love to go on a hike of our own just for fun, We will be working to show it off for mostly for people who have never been there.
It may only be two hours, altho Joe says he will ask for 4
As soon as we know details, we need to make up a flier that we can distribute in Richfield / Bath / HInkley and send to everyone on our mailing lists. OR – ( just a thought)- maybe we ask Ken Wood if can whip something up or have the WRLC logo on a design of ours.
So far the idea is to reduce the amount any one tour guide has to know by having Volunteers at each point of interest explain just their one thing. They can work off a script OR ad lib. The tour guide can then just shepherd their group around.
We will have two separate tours- one in the north, one in the south. I think if we had enough volunteers it would be awesome to have a couple “hard-core tours” that took serious hikers everywhere- including Innisfree, the secret waterfall, Hi Lea, Forest of the Lost Green Cathedral, and Pine Lake Trail and come back via Deer Leap Trail, but that might take more time than we are allotted.
Ah well. details need worked out between WRLC lawyers and GSNEO lawyers – we will just have to work with what we have got.
if all goes well, we could start flier distribution this weekend. we need volunteers
Lynn
Guided Tours of Crowell Hilaka
Time is running out! If you are dedicated to preserving the past, conserving precious green space and protecting our future, please join us on Sunday, October 20th for guided tours showcasing an irreplaceable Ohio treasure, Crowell Hilaka. Crowell Hilaka is currently for sale through Western Reserve Land Conservancy.
Formerly the estate of inventor James Kirby, this beautiful 336-acre property has two self-clarifying lakes, captivating historic homes, as well as the Kirby Mill — recognized on the National Register of Historic Landmarks.
Western Reserve Land Conservancy and Friends of Crowell Hilaka are soliciting pledges and raising the money needed to secure the property as a community resource and a premier recreational facility. We invite you to become a funder. Please come to our open house to learn why this land is so important to Northeast Ohio.
Sunday, October 20th 12 noon-3:00pm
South Entrance: 3771 Oviatt Road, Richfield, Ohio 44286
North Entrance: 4374 Broadview Road, Richfield, Ohio 44286
Thank you. We look forward to seeing you next Sunday. If you have questions or need more information before then, please visit our website www.friendsofcrowellhilaka.org
Joe Leslie of the Western Reserve Land Conservancy setting up his display in Gund Hall.
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Detail from inside Garfield Hall
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KIrby House viewed from the Mill walkway
The Event
I am pretty used to first time visitors being “wow’ed” by Amity House. But I don’t think I have ever seen so many people so “wow'ed” by the whole property. Those of us who were already familiar with the place were happy to be back. But visitors from Richfield were awestruck. As one man said: “ I saw pictures of it before, but it’s nothing like being here”. The technologically inclined were fascinated with the design of the mill, the lake being patented, Garfield’s floor. Nature lovers were delighted with the scenery ( Thanks be to God for the beautiful weather! ) History buffs loved the mansions and the stories.
Our biggest logistical problem was that first-time visitors had a hard time tearing themselves away. The plan was for volunteer tour guides to move people through at a reasonable clip, stopping every so often at a point of interest to read the guideposts. But the tours ran longer than expected because everyone was having a great time, asking questions, taking close looks, figuring out the KIrby stuff. We ran into a few bottlenecks! We reminded people that they would be able to come back - if we get the funding.
I am pretty used to first time visitors being “wow’ed” by Amity House. But I don’t think I have ever seen so many people so “wow'ed” by the whole property. Those of us who were already familiar with the place were happy to be back. But visitors from Richfield were awestruck. As one man said: “ I saw pictures of it before, but it’s nothing like being here”. The technologically inclined were fascinated with the design of the mill, the lake being patented, Garfield’s floor. Nature lovers were delighted with the scenery ( Thanks be to God for the beautiful weather! ) History buffs loved the mansions and the stories.
Our biggest logistical problem was that first-time visitors had a hard time tearing themselves away. The plan was for volunteer tour guides to move people through at a reasonable clip, stopping every so often at a point of interest to read the guideposts. But the tours ran longer than expected because everyone was having a great time, asking questions, taking close looks, figuring out the KIrby stuff. We ran into a few bottlenecks! We reminded people that they would be able to come back - if we get the funding.
After the Open House10/28/2013
Come November, the Western Reserve Land Conservancy will decide if they can complete their purchase of Crowell Hilaka . Since last Sunday’s open house, pledges have been rolling in steadily. After just one week we are almost at $9,000 combined pledges and donations. We will keep counting up the pledges right up until the minute the Conservancy makes their decision.
Comments from the website:
from Akron: “I have been there for 1 tour and am amazed at the jewel in our midst. I commend your efforts.”
from Rocky River: “In the 1960's I was a Girl Scout leader for an intermediate group of girls, grades 4 through 6. We had many wonderful camping trips to Hilaka and Crowell. Fond memories were resurrected when I read the article in the Plain Dealer. Good luck in your laudable efforts to save Crowell/Hilaka.”
from Richfield : “I am hopeful for the day my girls and their girls can camp there again!! “
from Kent: “How do I become a member of Friends of Crowell/Hilaka and to what address would I send a donation? “
0 Comments
Come November, the Western Reserve Land Conservancy will decide if they can complete their purchase of Crowell Hilaka . Since last Sunday’s open house, pledges have been rolling in steadily. After just one week we are almost at $9,000 combined pledges and donations. We will keep counting up the pledges right up until the minute the Conservancy makes their decision.
Comments from the website:
from Akron: “I have been there for 1 tour and am amazed at the jewel in our midst. I commend your efforts.”
from Rocky River: “In the 1960's I was a Girl Scout leader for an intermediate group of girls, grades 4 through 6. We had many wonderful camping trips to Hilaka and Crowell. Fond memories were resurrected when I read the article in the Plain Dealer. Good luck in your laudable efforts to save Crowell/Hilaka.”
from Richfield : “I am hopeful for the day my girls and their girls can camp there again!! “
from Kent: “How do I become a member of Friends of Crowell/Hilaka and to what address would I send a donation? “
0 Comments
Retired signs: spent but satisfied in the knowledge that they had accomplished their mission.