You are invited to visit more than a dozen historic sites and museums throughout Morris County free of charge on “Be Our Guest” Day, scheduled for Sunday, May 17, from noon to 5 pm! In celebration of National Tourism Week, the sites are opening their doors and waiving their usual admission fees, although guests are encouraged to contribute a non-perishable food item for the Interfaith Food Pantry in lieu of the normal admission fee.

Free shuttles will run between Craftsman Farms and Fosterfields Living Historical Farm. Free shuttles will also run between the following Morristown-area sites: Acorn Hall, Fosterfields Living Historical Farm , Historic Speedwell, Macculloch Hall, the Morris Museum, Schuyler-Hamilton House, and Washington’s Headquarters.

Other participating sites include the Denville Historical Society and Museum; the Ford-Faesch Ironmasters House in Rockaway Township; the Lake Hopatcong Historical Museum; the Montville Township Museum; and the Washington Township Historical Society Museum.

“Morris County is so rich in historical places, and yet residents may not take the time to visit the resources in their own backyards. This program gives a compelling reason to visit a museum you’ve always wondered about,” says Leslie Bensley, Executive Director of the Morris County Tourism Bureau. “And this year’s cooperative effort with the Interfaith Food Pantry underscores that our historic sites are an important and contributing part of the local economy.”

Founded in 1994, the Interfaith Food Pantry distributes supplemental and/or emergency food to eligible Morris County residents in need, provides hands-on opportunities for neighbors to help neighbors, and educates the public about local hunger issues. Their warehouse and office are located at 540A West Hanover Avenue in Morristown.

“Be Our Guest” is sponsored by the Morris County Tourism Bureau and Morris County Alliance for Tourism. This is the third year it has been held, and the first year it is being held in conjunction with National Tourism Week. To ensure the site you want to visit is open, or to learn if additional sites join the program closer to the actual event day, please contact the Morris County Tourism Bureau at 973-631-5151.

Craftsman Farms will be suspending regular tours on May 17th for “Be Our Guest” day. Instead, our docents will be stationed around the historical house to answer any questions on your self-guided museum tour. We hope you enjoy this special event!

“Be Our Guest” at Morris Area Museums on May 17 is a post from The Stickley Museum At Craftsman Farms

A studious group of volunteers have begun docent training at The Museum. Working with weekend site manager, Pete Mars, and director of education, Vonda Givens, these docents have been attending training meetings, shadowing well-practiced docents and studying the life of Gustav Stickley and the history of Craftsman Farms. The training is set to continue through the end of the year, and these new docents are expected to be ready to join our dedicated docent crew in early 2009.

While becoming a docent requires study and practice, all of this work is rewarded with the enthusiasm of visitors who discover Craftsman Farms through guided tours. By introducing visitors to the site and engaging them in its history, docents perform a vitally important part of the mission of The Stickley Museum at Craftsman Farms.

Potential new docents may contact director of education, Vonda Givens at 973-540-0311 at any time for more information. As volunteers sign up, a new docent class will be set up.

Docents-in-Training is a post from The Stickley Museum At Craftsman Farms

Docent Information Meeting is a post from The Stickley Museum At Craftsman Farms

The Als Ik Kan Award is the highest honor given by the Craftsman Farms Foundation and is presented to individuals who contribute in an exceptional manner to The Stickley Museum at Craftsman Farms and/or to the advancement of the American Arts and Crafts movement.  At the June 2008 Board meeting of the Craftsman Farms Foundation, Dr Donald Stahl was nominated and unanimously approved as the 2008 Als Ik Kan honoree. Don has contributed his much of his time, his significant talent, and generous resources to the Foundation for the past 15 years.

Time is the most precious gift any of us can give.  I am not sure how many hours Don has spent as a docent giving tours, but I do know that visitors who have experienced Don’s tours have said that he is one of the most informed and interesting docents they have ever had.  As a Board member for ten years, he served as Chairman of the Landscape Committee and spent countless hours coordinating and working along side volunteers on property work days.  He also served as Chairman of the Personnel and Nominating Committee, which took a lot of time to ensure that any vacancies were filled by the best candidates in a timely manner.

Known for his craftsmanship in oak, Don has shared his talents by donating reproductions he has made a number of fine Gustav Stickley designed pieces of furniture which were auctioned off at our annual fund-raising gala.  He also contributed a number of beautiful pieces that are now in use in the administrative building, has built Arts and Crafts picture frames for numerous volunteer awards, and for the beautiful mural that hangs in the Parsippany Public Library.

Don has made a number of significant financial contributions to the Annual Trustee campaign for 10 years, and has sponsored a foursome, as well as a journal advertisement every year for the Craftsman Classic golf outing.  While these contributions are significant, the Amy Stahl Memorial Endowment, that Don established in memory of his dear wife, is exceptional.  It was the first named endowment in the Foundations history and helped us begin to focus our mission on education.  The Annual Amy Stahl Memorial Lecture series will be inaugurated on November 8.

Truly Dr Donald Stahl is a worthy recipient of this year’s Als Ik Kan Award.

Congratulations, Dr. Stahl!

Don Stahl to Receive This Year's Als Ik Kan Award is a post from The Stickley Museum At Craftsman Farms