Almost everyone knows the name Frank Stephens and the role he and Will Price played in founding the communities we now call the Ardens.  We know Stephens to be a proponent of Henry George and his economic ideas, a sculptor, and the founder of several other single-tax enclaves.  Today, however, few of us remember the extensive amount of writing he did – and not all of it in support of the single tax movement.
 
In 1935, after Stephens’ death, a collection of his poems was published in the book, Some Songs.  These poems cover a wide variety of themes.  There are birthday greetings, campaign songs, memorials, and even 13 poetic advertisements for the Arden Forge. The book also included essays about Stephens written by his friends. The book has long been a favorite among Arden Folk and indeed the Museum has a number of copies.
 
As the weather warms and the evenings grow longer, the following stanza from “The Day’s End” seems like a fitting way to remember Frank Stephens and all he has meant to the Ardens.
                       
​                        Would I might see and know the days,
                        As in some wonder-mirror clear,
                        That, alien, exiled as I stray,
                        Beyond those Hills of Far-away
                        Still lies the Land of Always-near.

It's no great surprise that Frank Stephens, a lover of Shakespeare, the founder of Arden, and an artist, would have a way with words. 

​Enjoy this poem "To Eleanor" from Some Songs:

O! Heart--hold closer by me, for this life
Hath really neither breadth nor height nor depth
Other than love; and all material forms
That hedge us round and seem to bound our world
Are rough daubed scenes upon whose little stage
We play this tragic comedy of life--
That mirrors forth some larger world beyond--
Only the purpose, born of love, is real.

The Ardens have a long history of being politically diverse.

In 1950, Don Stephens said about Ardencroft:

“You are welcome hither, for here in Ardencroft we do not ask about a man’s religion nor his beliefs nor do we hold to any theory of racial superiority.”

​This philosophy was a continuation of the spirt of Arden and Ardentown, epitomized in the words of the stile:

                                              "You are welcome hither"

Many Ardenenites have been politically active.  Arden was home to Mother Bloor, a founder of the American Communist Party.  Frank Stephens, who founded Arden, was a Single Taxer who followed the economic and political theories of Henry George and participated in the Delaware Single Tax Invasion of 1896.   ​

On April 27th, 1935, First Lady Eleanor Roosevelt visited the Ardens.  She was visiting WPA projects, of which the cobblestones around the Arden Green are one.  Mrs. Roosevelt was greeted by Marie Holcomb of the local girl scout troop as seen below.

The newly inaugurated 46th President, Joseph Biden, lived for a short time with his family in a rental on Harvey Road in Ardentown.  Maria Holcomb Burslem, niece to the girl scout who gave Mrs. Roosevelt flowers,  remembers President Biden as the local paper boy. 

The Arden Craft Shop Museum has in it's archive a newspaper article from 1986, when then Senator Joe Biden, gave greetings to Charles Pettit on the occasion of his 100th birthday at the Candlelight Dinner Theatre.

In 2020, the museum opened an exhibition called "Equality in the Ardens" which highlights the work of suffragists and other activists from the Ardens in the early 20th century.  This work allowed women across the United States to celebrate the 100th anniversary of casting their ballots in the federal election of 2020.  This exhibition will be transitioning into the museum’s main gallery along with our other current exhibition “15 Treasures”.  Be sure to see both of these through September 2021.

As part of our commitment to telling the history of the Ardens, it is our pleasure to highlight work on the preservation of the historic structures that make up the Ardens.

Rest Harrow was probably built around 1912 and designed by architect William Price.

To learn more about tis restoration by fellow Ardens residents please visit Delaware Today Magazine's website here.

EQUALITY IN THE ARDENS
ARDEN CRAFT SHOP MUSEUM
OPENS NEW EXHIBITION
October 18, 2020
 
 
 
Our new exhibition, opening October 18th, celebrates the traditions of Equality in its many forms in the Ardens.  Of course, nationally 2020 has marked the 100th Anniversary of the ratification of the 19th Amendment, bringing equality to the voting booth, but equality has many forms. In the Ardens we have seen it at work in many ways though out our history.  We look forward to displaying these traditions in the new exhibition.
 
The Covid-19 epidemic, of course, has had an impact on our plans.  We will be open from 1-3 PM and the new show will be on display in the Bernie Schwab Community Room.  We ask that guests wear masks and line-up to enter though the front door – we will monitor the number of visitors.  As you exit through the BSCR, we plan (weather permitting) to offer some limited refreshments and hope that socially appropriate gatherings can be held on the Green.  We will miss our usual opening celebration, but we hope many of you will be able to join us.
 
Our current exhibition 15 Years – 15 Treasures is still on display and well worth a visit.
 
*If you would like to visit the Museum during our regular hours, please send an email to ardencraftshopmuseum@gmail.com at least 24 hours before your visit.  That way we can keep track of the number of visitors.
*We will only be able to receive up to 9 visitors at a time.
*We will be sanitizing all touch surfaces before and after visits.
*All visitors and staff must sanitize their hands before entering the Museum and wear a face mask while inside.  We have hand sanitizer already inside the door.
 
The Past Has a Future in The Ardens
 

A SHORT HISTORY OF THE
FIRST ARDEN FAIR
 
 
The Ardens will be quiet this Labor Day weekend for the first time in many years. As we will not be gathering as a community, it seemed like a good opportunity to look into the history of the Arden Fair.  The Archives Collection at the Arden Craft Shop Museum provided some interesting information and a fascinating look back at this most Ardenesque event.  One of the most interesting discoveries was that there was no record of a previous Fair being completely canceled.  Postponed due to weather, but not canceled.  Even during the war years of the 1940’s the Fair was held.
First – some background information. Most of you know that when Arden was founded in 1900 it was begun as a summer colony.  The residents came from the center-city heat of Philadelphia and Wilmington to enjoy the shaded glens and quiet pathways of this haven from the hustle and bustle of urban life.  Of course, the opportunity to put into practice the economic philosophies of Henry George was the primary impetus for our founders Frank Stephens and Will Price; but the leaseholders they attracted had many different reasons for joining the colony.  It appears that residents first began staying through winter around 1910. That development, plus changes in the Trust document and the founding of the Arden Club in 1908, really gave the village its push into the community of The Ardens we have today.   
So – when was the Arden Fair first held?  Early records are somewhat limited, but the Arden Leaves began publishing in November 1910.  In that issue, one of the articles states, ‘The fair this year differed essentially from its predecessor.  The artistic features were more strongly emphasized…While the returns from the fair did not reach the $500 mark, due largely to a rainy Saturday…” (Yes, rain has always had an impact on the Fair.) The article goes on to say that the money raised will be enough to complete the work on the clubhouse (which we now know as the Gild Hall) without the sale of any additional bonds.  This appears to say the Fair was first held in 1909. As the Arden Club was formed in 1908, acquired the Derrickson Farm barn in 1909, and converted it to a clubhouse in 1910; it would seem that the first Fair was held in 1909.
Several times in the November 1910 article the event is referred to as the Pageant.  In the early years it appears the term Fair and Pageant seem to have been used interchangeably. The term Fall Festival was also used and the spirit of “Merry Olde England” was a frequent theme. The September 1911 Arden Leaves invites the attendees to, “Come All! In finery new or old, bedeck yourselves, set forth the banners of your Gilds, with sheafs (sp)of wheat and flowers gay…”  In the Arden Leaves of August 1912, one of our founders, Will Price, concluded his article with words that ring as true today at they did then, “So whether it be big or little, old or new, lets us cry “Hail to the Pageant.”
A letter from Bertha Brooks in the October 1981 Arden Page, recounts her childhood memories of the first Fair being held on the Arden Green in front of The Inn (formerly at 2314 Cherry Lane) and Cherry Lodge (formerly 2310 Cherry Lane). She said the next year the fair was moved to the Gild Hall, “…overhead hammers were heard, where volunteers were lying the floor upon which we would dance that night.”  She also expresses concerns over the activities in the “beer garden,” but that is another story for another time.
One more piece of evidence for the first Fair being held in 1909 is a marvelous poster, also found in the Archives collection. The words on this hand drawn sign read:

You will always remember
The Western Show of The Wilds at
The Arden Town Fair
Aug. 28 1909
​
The poster also includes the figure of a cowboy – reminiscent of similar drawings done by Frank Stephens.  If you would like to see this object please visit ardencraftshopmuseum.com for a look at this piece of our history.
There are many other stories to be told about the Arden Fair and the Museum hopes to share more of these tales in the future.  (Who can forget the deluge of 2003 when fair evacuation plans were implemented?)  Thru the years many, many different activities have been held during the Fair.  Everything from fortune tellers to pet shows to a Russian Tea to a White Elephant booth; automobile rides were offered as a treat in many of the early fairs, all these events and more have been part of the Fair for many years. During World War II, the time was shortened, the schedule of events was more limited, and adjustments were made as some supplies were not available; but the Fair was held.
This year, however, will be remembered for many other reasons.  We will probably not hear Oh, What A Beautiful Morning over the PA system to open the festivities, the names of those who have died since the last Fair will not be announced, and the Brigadoon atmosphere of a Fair that appears and disappears will not be seen in 2020. The Ardens, however, will be together.  There will be artists and artisans, music and tee shirts and a community – a very special community.

During these hectic times we want to thank those who attended our socially distanced opening for Equality: A Tradition in the Ardens.

For the first time we are using the Bernie Schwab Community Room to showcase an entire new show.  Although we could not have quite the same exhibition opening as usual, it was terrific to have so many friends stop by – in an appropriately social distant manner, of course!   Equality is found in many places and in many activities – you will find them on display at the ACSM.
 
Our current exhibition 15 Years – 15 Treasures is still on display and well worth a visit.
 
We look forward to being open for the Holiday Market on Sunday, November 29th and will have artisan maps available for your shopping pleasure.
 
*If you would like to visit the Museum during our regular hours, please send an email to ardencraftshopmuseum@gmail.com at least 24 hours before your visit.  That way we can keep track of the number of visitors.
*We will only be able to receive up to 9 visitors at a time.
*We will be sanitizing all touch surfaces before and after visits.
*All visitors and staff must sanitize their hands before entering the Museum and wear a face mask while inside.  We have hand sanitizer already inside the door.
 
The Past Has a Future in The Ardens
​

 
Welcome Back to the
ARDEN CRAFT SHOP MUSEUM
 
 
The ACSM is pleased to announce that we re-opened for visitors on Wednesday, July 1st, 2020.
In accordance with the state mandated guidelines for museums and libraries, it has been necessary to make a few changes in our visitor-ship practices.
We will continue to be open our regular hours – Sundays from 1-3PM and Wednesday evenings from 7:30 – 9 PM. 
*If you would like to come to the Museum, please send an email to ardencraftshopmuseum@gmail.com at least 24 hours before your visit.  That way we can keep track of the number of visitors.
*We will only be able to receive up to 9 visitors at a time.
*We will be sanitizing all touch surfaces before and after visits.
* All visitors and staff must sanitize their hands before entering the Museum and wear a face mask while inside.
We have hand sanitizer already inside the door and we look forward to welcoming you home.
 
Our current exhibition 15 Years – 15 Treasures is still on display and well worth a visit.
 
You are Welcome Hither in person.

While the ACSM is currently closed due to the health emergency, our Face Book page is open and ready to entertain you.   We are currently posting images from our collection on a daily basis and hope that you will enjoy them and make plans to visit in person when the emergency lifts.  For those who are out walking – in a socially responsible manner of course – we have copies of our Walking Tour available on the outside of the Museum door.  In case you have lost your own copy or forgot to buy one at the Museum, please stop by and pick up one – the Tour covers all three villages and is full of information and great trivia facts.  (If the bag is empty, please send an email to the museum  (ardencraftshopmuseum@gmail.com) and we will replenish the supply.
Our 15th Anniversary Exhibition will reopen as soon as possible.  Many thanks for your continued support.  You are Welcome Hither on line and soon again in person.

From the ACSM collection - the Arden Leaves, April 1913, excerpt from the cover piece by Elsie V.H. Baldwin. May we all soon return to our own well -loved life in The Ardens.
                       
Had I my choice, these are the things I’d ask; a little leisure
for a well-loved task; a quiet hill, where space unfolds her
wings and winds are fresh and breathe of far-off things…
a little house where friends may come and site: an open
gate whereon this motto’s writ:
“Good friend, behold beneath these trees
A gate that loves a Guest:
Here he who walks may sit at ease
And he who runs, may rest!  ...

​The Small Museum Association held its annual conference on President’s Day weekend in College Park, Maryland and the ACSM was well represented. Our curator Abby Harting and Museum & Archives Committee members Sadie Somerville and Barbara Macklem all attended.  And our former curator Robin MacDonald was the chair of the entire event.  The theme this year honored the 100th anniversary of Women’s Suffrage. 

The program was full of a diverse selection of seminars and workshops.  Each day Abby, Sadie, and Barbara reviewed the choices and selected different programs to take full advantage of all the offerings. Programs included topics such as What is Digital Curation, Women in the Arts, Preserving What Inspires and much more. It was a great opportunity to hear about activities in other small museums and to learn new information and techniques.  And while it was a great time to celebrate the passage for the 19th Amendment; it was even better to remember that in the Ardens we have had universal suffrage since our founding. ​