The Village of Arden was recently featured on WHYY’s Mover’s and Makers program.  A number of museum volunteers were featured and we extend our thanks to them for representing the museum and Arden so wonderfully!  You can view the episode here.
 
The Ardens have also been shown on other public programs.  These include:

• WHYY First Experience for Love of Chocolate features Mhairi and Stuart Craig Double Spiral Chocolate, from November 16th, 2017.
• WHYY’s Art of Life featuring Russ McKinney, October 1st, 2015, in the last 3rd of the show.
• WHYY’s Friday Arts from July 13th, 2016 this episode features Russ McKinney, Warren Rosenkranz, and Rick Rothrock
• WHYY First Experience from March 1st 2018, features local artist Susan Benarcik, who showed her Arden Woods inspired artwork at the Buzz Ware Village Center
• WHYY’s First Experience featuring the Oddporium on May 18th, 2018 
• WHYY Friday Arts featured Phil Fisher on July 13th 2017, 

If you know of any others please let us know!
 

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. 

​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

When you visit our Images from the Ardens exhibition and take a good look at all the pieces of sculpture, you may notice that an old friend is missing.  Look closely at the assembled busts and you will find that Henry George is not in the group.  The bust of Henry George has been part of the collection since the beginning – well before the Museum was opened in 2004.  In fact, the piece was listed in the inventory done by the original Archives Committee in 1991.  This inventory was done by of University of Delaware intern and was paid for by a grant from the Delaware Heritage Commission.  Having this piece in our collection is an important link to our founders, Frank Stephens and Will Price, advocates of the Georgist concept of Land Value Tax.
 
The bust was done by one of George’s sons, Richard, a well-known sculptor. The piece, however, has never been in the best condition.  There are numerous scratches and scrapes on the surface.  And most visibly, the top half of the left ear has always been missing.  The Museum and Archives Committee has long wanted to have this piece repaired.