Local family's history is at the root of Willow Grove

On the first Saturday in July, the past came alive for people gathered at Cromwell Valley Park for a program called "Willow Grove Speaks."

The program linked the existing buildings at Willow Grove Farm (now part of Cromwell Valley Park) to the people who lived there 150 years ago.

The park's Willow Grove Nature Education Center was built in middle of the 19th century as a home for Arthur Washington Shanklin and his bride, Ann Bosley, who married in 1867.

The Shanklins were a prominent family in the area and owned large tracts of land in Cromwell Valley and along Satyr Hill Road. Shanklin was a farmer, had 10 children and added two additions to the home over the next 20 years before Ann passed away at age 39.

Justine Schaeffer, the naturalist in charge of the program, said, "The two huge sycamore trees now gracing the front of the home may be bride and groom trees, planted to commemorate the marriage of Arthur and Ann and the establishment of a new household."

Some of the Shanklin descendants live in the area.

"We have met with several Shanklin descendants who have supplied us with historic artifacts and wonderful stories that help to make these people, who lived so long ago, come alive," Schaeffer said.

"I think the most interesting artifact we have is an old shoe (circa 1900) that was found during the restoration of the house.

It was stuffed between two walls, along with a bunch of other old shoes, probably for insulation," she said. "We also have an unusual wooden bird cage with porcelain seed dishes, and an interesting boot jack which belonged to the Shanklin family."

The program included stories of other families who lived in the area, including Arthur Shanklin's brother, William Jefferson Shanklin.

In 1993, the county purchased the old Shanklin property, which at the time was owned by Robert Merrick's heirs, along with farms owned by the Sherwoods and the Ecks, using county and state Program Open Space funds.

The original 381 acres, and a recently added 20-acre parcel, have been set aside as a passive-use county park.

Visitors can enjoy hiking, picnicking, birding and nature study, and can choose from a variety of nature and garden-themed programs.

Visitors are welcome at the Willow Grove Nature Education Center on Saturdays from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., to view the lower level of the historic home and an display of Shanklin artifacts.

Call 410- 887- 2503 for information for more information and for details about upcoming programs.

A belated happy birthday to Dot English, a former Loch Raven resident who turned 89 on July 8.

English moved from rural Pennsylvania with her husband, Bob, to Chestnut Oak Road in Baynesville in 1950, leaving behind a life very different from 2011 urban America. A twin, and one of nine children, she was raised on a dairy farm.

Her early childhood home had no phone, no indoor plumbing and was heated by wood and coal. The family traveled by horse and wagon.

The couple attended Arnolia Methodist Church before the current building was built, and the congregation worshiped in a small white church building not too far from the current church.

She worked at the drug store on Joan Avenue; her husband worked at Bendix, Weber's Farm and Stebbins Anderson.

Their favorite Baynesville story involves honey bees: A swarm of bees had followed their queen to swarm just outside of The Village Bakeshop, stopping all traffic into the bakery.

After being alerted to the problem Bob, a beekeeper, arrived on the scene with a bee hive, smoker and some sugar syrup and soon had all the bees in the hive and away from the scene!

They eventually moved to Hamilton and led an active family life: church, Girl Scouts, Boy Scouts and job.

Dot was a Girl Scout leader for Troop 49 for 40-plus years. Currently, she lives with her daughter in Perry Hall. A belated happy birthday, Dot!

Contact me with your news!