Feb 1997 - Life in Oak Springs, the Homeplace

Life in Oak Springs, the Homeplace

Feb 1997

This series of posts on each Friday during 2015 continues the stories of “The Homeplace Saga” series of family saga, historical fiction families in the area of Oak Springs following the novel “Christmas at the Homeplace.” Here is a peek at ‘Life in Oak Springs,’ and the surrounding valley, in February of 1997.

The Bevins Trust announcement in the Oak Springs Enterprise in early February was direct and to the point: “As of the first of the calendar year, The Bevins Trust put into effect a reorganization plan which included the formation of a non-profit land trust, the McDonald Conservancy, and, a new for-profit corporation, the Bevins Corporation. Henceforth, all commercial agricultural activities of the Bevins Trust will operate through the Bevins Corporation, which will be headed by CEO, Bart Bevins. The McDonald Conservancy will be the recipient of selected assets of the Bevins Trust, over the next five to ten years, and be governed by a nine-member board operating under a mission statement and operating plan approved by the board. The mission will relate to stewardship of land and water along several miles of Oak Creek in eastern Oak Creek Township. Three board members will represent the Bevins Trust and the other six members will represent the general public selected for their expertise in land stewardship and conservation practices including the use of the water and land assets of the land trust for recreational and educational experiences. At a future date, an Executive Director will be hired to carry out the policies set by the Board of Directors. Peter Bevins will serve initially as Coordinating Director as the McDonald Conservancy goes through its initial organization.”

Karen Bevins, Chair of the Bevins Trust, said that this reorganization has been in the planning stages for several months and implementation steps will be spread over the first several months of the current year. The changes were prompted by the growth of the organization and the family, as well as by tax considerations.

Locals

News from the Oak Springs Historical and Genealogical Society: Penny Nixon and Brian Kirk announced that the Society Committee examining the manuscript found in the Oak Springs Enterprise office back room was indeed a History of the Founding of Oak Springs and the surrounding valley dating back to the first settlement in 1833. On closer examination it now appeared that the manuscript was prepared for the Centennial celebration in 1876, but was shelved because of the financial difficulties related to the Panic of 1873 in the nation and the community. It appeared that the stories were collected and compiled by Jerry Potts, publisher and editor of the Enterprise, at the time, and his assistant, future editor Alex McDonald. Plans were begun to arrange to have the manuscript edited and published by the Society, for the community, in the near future.

Social Notes:

At the Bevins Corporation hosted Valentine’s Day party held at the Homeplace Country Inn Heritage Room on Friday evening, February 14, two couples announced nuptial-related dates. First, Scott Gates and Rachel Nixon announced their official engagement with a wedding planned for September. In addition, Dr. Jennifer Bevins and Brian Kirk announced that they planned a June Wedding, with a date set of June 14.

"May everyone have a homeplace, if only in your mind."




Dr. Bill  ;-)