If you read the minutes of Town Assembly meetings of the Village of Arden in the mid-1980s, you will find regular reports from an Ad Hoc committee – the Archives Committee. Finally in September, 1989, this self-motivated and determined group became an official standing committee of the Village. There had long been an interest in the history of our village and the 75th anniversary in 1975 and the 80th celebration in 1980 helped crystalize that interest into action. And Sally Hamburger was always in the forefront of the effort.
There is much to remember about Sally and her interest in the community of Arden and its unique history. She was instrumental in leading the effort to preserve our history for all of us to enjoy and to share with future generations. Sally was part of that very special group of women we have come to call the Founding Mothers of the Arden Craft Shop Museum.
Those of you who knew Sally remember that she would be the best person to tell the story. And the best way to tell what Sally did for the archives is to quote her own words. We are fortunate to have a copy of the remarks she gave at the opening of the Museum in October, 2004.
Sally told the audience, “What an exciting moment this is for the Ardens, for all of us, and especially me. The dream began 15 years ago with the official formation of the Arden Archives Committee in 1989. In the beginning it wasn’t so much a dream as a panic. Oh, some of us had been conscious of the need to preserve the story of Arden, the 1980 celebration committee had gotten a grant from the Delaware Humanities Forum and created the first edition of the Arden Oral History; but it was the death of Virginia Shaw – Arden’s professional historian and archivist- that brought on the panic attack. Virginia could answer any question about who did or said what when in town; we counted on her official memory.
When Virginia died, 5 of us looked around and realized it was time to get serious about Arden’s history. So, the first committee was formed – Jean Brachman, Joan Colgan, Pat Liberman, Ethel Montfort and I began gathering art, sculpture, iron work, and files from attics and basements around town. For several years, the bust of Frank Stephens lived in my living room- my children draped him in tinsel for Christmas and gave him a mask for Halloween.
A quote from the Archives minutes of January 14, 1990; “we are feeling very frustrated because we have no place to work, no storage space, no permanent exhibit space. We discovered that the Frank Stephens studio in the Craft Shop is for rent- the space is historically and geographically ideal. After much agony; pondering our finances, discussions with town officials, we decided this was too good an opportunity to pass up. On January 23, 1990, we signed a one-year lease for $ 375 per month.” With that move we became an entity. We were amazed to see how much we had collected. The space allowed us to apply for an intern from the University of Delaware Museum Studies Program and we were lucky enough to get Tess Riesmeyer for that 1991 summer. Tess lived with us, worked with us and taught us what a real museum was all about; she introduced us to white gloves for handling artifacts and oh so gently forbad smoking and eating on the site.
But all was not easy. Folks began to grumble about using town funds for a rental. Talk of a private little club for old ladies was heard around the byways. So, we had to give up the Red House (At the Craft Shop). Now, where do we go? We couldn’t just pack it into Rae’s basement. A space was carved out for the collection on the Buzz Ware (Village Center) stage- Pete Renzetti built a temporary wall to secure our temporary home.
You know the rest of the story- the amazing fund raising and purchase of the building, the formation of the Arden Craft Shop Museum, Inc. the creation of the super committee to include Ardentown and Ardencroft and their histories. So, it is just amazing to stand here and see it all come true. I wish that Jean, Joan, Pat and Ethel were still alive to share this moment they would be so proud. I’m so glad that Tess could travel from Pittsburgh to be here with us and see how her handiwork has grown. It’s wonderful to see the dream of 5 old ladies, be picked up and carried into reality by the next generation. Most of all, I commend the good people of the Ardens for valuing their history for realizing that the privilege of living in the oldest intentional community in America cares with it the responsibility of sharing the details of that experience with others who would like to do the same.”
All of us on the Archives committee appreciate Sally’s dedication and value her hard work. What was once an idea, became a vison, and is now a reality. We have a museum which exhibits the early history of the Ardens, houses a huge photographic collection, hires professional curators, gives group tours, works with researchers, and enjoys a growing group of active and willing volunteers. Sally – all we can say is thank you so very much.
ACSM
Museum & Archives Committee
April 2022
