by Alberta Kisling
Catch the mind
Don’t let it wander – Center
The facing bench is empty
Where are they?
Oh, there they are
Sitting so tall
So stern
Faces lined, eyed downcast
Always there.
There – out the window
The old school house
Where are your children school house?
Do they remember you?
Yes, I feel them here
They are whispering
Good morning – how is thee?
Alberta Kisling
Quaker Stories 
What a wonderful group of people and message!!! I love you all. Karen Morey
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I’m the daughter of Roy and Marie Clark. Mom was a Johnson, daughter of Carroll and Alice Johnson. Alice was a Standing. I was born and raised in AZ, so I’ve only been to Bear Creek Meeting House a few times over the years. I’ve told several member of my family when I do get to the Meeting House I FEEL my ancestors wrapping me in such a powerful warmth and love. When I just read Berdie’s poem, I got goosebumps! Friend speaks my mind! I would LOVE to hear of any stories about the Meeting House, family and Friends in the Earlham area. I am currently on a quest to fill in a couple of gaps on a story my mom told me when we went back to Earlham. Mom has since passed so I’m reaching out to anyone that might know this story. This is part of a letter I sent to my Aunt Carolyn (Johnson-sister of Marie Clark) in hopes of her remembering the story but she can’t get the details from her memory bank right now!
“Mom and I went back to Iowa for Aunt Blanch and Uncle Howard’s (Johnson) estate sale. We took time to go to Earlham to visit family and Friends. I LOVE going to meeting at Bear Creek. I literally feel our ancestors. This has happened every time I’ve been able to go. I feel like my ancestors are enveloping me in their love.
Somehow the subject of the original meeting house came up and Mom wanted to show me where it was located. It was across the dirt road from the cemetery. It was covered with vines and weeds. We had to really work to get to the location (can you imagine Mom crawling through vines and weeds?) We were able to see a partial foundation and boards. I took one of the boards that had the square nails embedded to Roy (Knight) and he removed the nails from the board.
Now, it’s your turn. Mom told me the story of when, I believe, her (your) Grandparents or Great Grandparents went to meeting in two different locations. “Grandfather” was a member of the silent meeting and “Grandmother” was a member of the pastoral meeting. Grandfather would take Grandmother to her meeting house and then continue down the road to his meeting house. I understood this went on for some time. Grandfather was in meeting for worship. He looked up and noticed Grandmother had quietly slipped in and sat next to him. Grandfather was so overwhelmed he cried. His tears feel to the floor.
What I’m asking of you is:
1. Who exactly were the couple?
2. Do you remember the same story, or do you have different version?
I still have the nails, and I would like to write the correct story to keep with the nails, knowing that Grandfather had wept on the same floor that the board and nails we retrieved were from that same floor.”
Yes, I’m a sentimentalist!
In peace,
Joan (Joanie) Keck
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