Darrow School - Shaker Post Yearbook (New Lebanon, NY)

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1936 The Peg Board Order is heaven's first law. This the early Shakers taught. When a group of men and women are gathered together to work out high ideals, a concert of action to make their efforts successful, and this spirit of orderly cooperation entered into all the minutiae of their lives. And now come the carpenters, or, rather, skilled cabinet workersg a New Deal for them to come down to making picnic tables and benches, but, in the true spirit of cooperation they gave their service for the good of all. - Another primal principle of the people is, simplicity of life, the plain sincere Truth expressed in all things, no glitter or false show. Well, living at the Canaan Family was a brother named George Smart, a rugged Scotchman, who had been a surgeon in the Spanish army in Cuba. He possessed great versatility of talent as a poet and artist. Brother George was to be our decorator. He interlaced the evergreen boughs to form bowers, placing a bunch of red berries here, a sprig of blue there and a premature autumn leaf somewhere else, and, mingling them with the feathery ferns, he soon made a bower of beauty, and the traditions of simplicity were not lost. Our good President in one of his economic speeches tells Congress, We must do first things first. The Shakers were always very practical. It would not do to have the people singing psalms in a beautiful bower, without putting First things first, so the physical man must come in for consideration. The cabinet workers had already made nice small chests as smooth and clean as glass, fitted with shelves to carry the pies and cake securely. The outside of the chests was painted a Shaker blueg I think we might call it an Elinor blue in this day. It was arranged for the North Family to provide all the pies, cakes, cookies, preserves, fruit and cheese. The Upper Family prepared all the vegetables, the Lower Family'dairy products, Qminus ice-creamj in that day. It was a feast for the gods, and we would not be honest if we did not admit it was the great part of our festive gathering. The following is one of the songs composed and sung on one of the gatherings: Over the meadows of golden grain, ' The sound of the reaper has passed againg The flush of the summer has faded away, On the silent wing of harvesting day. Beautiful leaves await our feet, Even as we their glory meet. Gifts of the Father and Mother are here, In the bountiful crops that crown the year. There is much we might describe pertaining to those olden times, but, with Our Hands to work and Our Hearts to God, we now turn our eyes to the bright hopes of the future, wishing God-speed to the Lebanon School. The Oflice Building By DoUG1,As Wissr, ,37 HE OFFICE Building, as we call it, or the Trustees' OHice Building, as it was known to the Shakers is a large brick edifice across the road from the Meeting House. It was built in 1827. The bricks with which it was constructed were manufactured by the Shakers at the East Family about half a mile from the Lebanon School. According to Sister Emma they were not burned enough and were consequently too soft. That, she says, is why they used to let water through and make the building damp. The dampness was done away with when the structure was faced with weather boarding on two sides and painted on the other two. In this building lived a number of the brethren and sisters who had charge of the business affairs of the Church Family. In it also guests were entertained. The Shakers' store was situ- 59

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The Peg Board 1936 4 M SISTER EMMA Al the an offorly-lilo 58

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The Peg Board 1936 Photograph by Winthrop B. Coffin '36 A CORNER IN THE SHAKER POST OFFICE ated on the first floor. In this store many articles such as cloaks and baskets, manufactured by the Shakers were sold to the world's people. Rather late in the history of the family the post- office was moved into the room across the hall from the store. Over this postoflice Sister Sadie Neale, who was postmistress at Mount Lebahon from IQIO until the property was sold to the Lebanon School, presided. Mount Lebanon PINE TREES silver-lit by moonlight,- Lace of silvery clouds above,- Brightly twinkling stars at midnight- Signify God's perfect love. P. W. D. 60