2014: Celebrating the 40th Anniversary of the Birthplace

In this 1970 photo Pearl Buck begins the restoration of her home by knocking out a piece of porch railing of her Birthplace while back West Virginia for an environmental seminar.  Four years later we held out grand opening on May 4, 1974.  Sadly, Pearl died at the beginning of March in 1973, so she didn't get to see the opening, but it must have already been clear the house would indeed be successful as a gateway to "new hopes, dreams and ways of life" as she wished it to be. 

The project was and has continued to be a community endeavor.  In the coming months we'll post photos and stories of that effort in this blog.  Everyone involved with the Birthplace, from the moment a commitment was made to save the home to today should feel some sense of pride in the collaborative endeavor.

May 4, 2014 will mark the 40th Anniversary of our opening, and we think it deserves to be celebrated.  Unfortunately, that porch railing that Pearl S. Buck is knocking taking a whack at in the picture is once again in need of repairs and painting, as is the entire house.

Daleen Berry on Pearl S. Buck Writer's Workshop and Other News from Around the Web

The Pearl S. Buck Writers Workshop

Thanks to Eddy Pendarvis for forwarding along this interesting blog post, "What Pearl S. Buck, Blueberries and Bovines Have in Common," which begins as follows:

This morning I woke up from a dream in which I was trying to find a colorful clause to go with the verb “giggled,” as in “like a little girl.

That’s what happens when you go to a writing workshop taught by Jim Minick, author of several books, including The Blueberry Years. (While at Jim’s site, be sure to check out his wife Sarah’s baskets; they are exquisite!)

The workshop was held yesterday, in conjunction with Allegheny Echoes, at the Pearl S. Buck Birthplace in Hillsboro, W.Va. And it was wonderful, educational and hopefully made all of us better, stronger writers.  

Continue reading on Daleen Berry's Blog.

Other items related to Pearl S. Buck that appeared online recently include:

Croquet Today! And some other stuff, too!

Sorry!  No time to post pictures.  Lots to do.  The Pearl S. Duck Croquet Tournament is today!  Set up is more or less finished, burgers and hot dogs on the grill, courts marked, on site registration just beginning, and I'm stealing a few seconds to write this update. There are still only a few places left, but even if you just come to watch, it's worthwhile.  Some people are here in costume, others in their best whites, and some, like me, just in comfortable summer clothes!  Among other things, there will be a Birthplace tour at 2:30pm, and activities to keep the kids busy while their parents get down to serious competition!  Hope to see you there!

Pearl S. Buck Birthday Celebrations Focus of Article in The State Journal

The celebrations planned for the 120th Anniversary of the birth of Pearl S. Buck are the focus of a piece by Mike Ruben in the West Virginia State Journal, published June 18th.  Beginning the article by stating the the Nobel and Pulitzer Prize winner "knew the value of lessons learned," he cites a quotation, "If you want to understand today, you have to search yesterday," and notes,

That is the philosophy behind the annual birthday celebration at the Pearl S. Buck Birthplace Museum in the Pocahontas County town of Hillsboro. The event takes place at 4 p.m. June 23 during the community's Little Levels Heritage Fair.

"There are very positive things you can take away from Pearl Buck and her legacy," said Timothy Van Reenen, a consultant to the Pearl S. Buck Foundation, who has studied the author extensively.

Van Reenen then goes on to list some of those things and to outline the agenda for the Birthday Celebration.  To continue reading this informative article, click here.