Need Birthplace Brochures?

I've noticed a number of attractions around the area that still have the old brochure depicted below in their racks.  It's several years old and contains inaccurate hours of operation.  

If you have these contact us for replacements.  Click this link to see the correct brochure.  

Old Brochure

New Brochure

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.

"What has Pearl S. Buck Done for You Lately?"

"What has Pearl S. Buck done for you lately?" That was the question posed "1 day ago" on Yahoo Answers. It's an odd question, considering she died over nearly 40 year's ago, but one assumes the person who posed it is asking about the impact of her legacy, not what she, personally, has done.

The best response, as chosen by visitors to the site, was highlights of her life taken from the Pearl S. Buck International (PSBI) website. To those who know little or nothing about her, it's informative, and reveals Pearl Buck to be a highly accomplished woman, but the question seems to be asking what is Pearl S. Buck's impact on the world today, and the response provided most definitely doesn't answer that. It begins,

A Week Ago Today

The tree that broke the fence also severed the power line to the Birthplace

Last Friday started out out wonderfully, and ended in devastation.  No doubt some of you have been wondering about damage at the Pearl S. Buck Birthplace.  There's been a good deal of damage to trees, the fence and what seems to be minor damage to the exterior of both houses.  We've also lost our power line to the property. 

We'll only be able to really judge once the power's back on and we can take a good look around, inside and out, but though the damage will not be either cheap or easy to repair, it does not seem to be major.  We were fortunate.   Psychologically, though, the damage bites quite a bit.

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:

Gathering Blueberries for Treats to Serve at Workshop & Reading

Blueberries, Photo by Tina Brown

Yesterday my niece, Tina Brown went blueberry picking at White Oak Farm in Renick, WV to help Ginger Must, Laura Miller, and Acting Executive Director Sue Groves, gather fresh off the branch blueberries for the treats that will be served at tonight's events with blueberry farmer and prize-winning author Jim Minick.  At 6:00 Minick will don his farmer's cap for a Workshop on Growing Blueberries, and at 7:00 pm he'll read from The Blueberry Years: A Memoir of Farm and Family.  

Between the four of them they picked 7 1/2 plastic grocery bags full of blueberries, Tina said.  "They were heavy.  We picked about 100 lbs," Tina joked.  The treats will prove an excellent compliment to evening.  

Headlines from Pearl S. Duck Croquet Tournament

Congratulations to Jim Boswell, Mark Rooper and Allen Johnson, our first, second and third place winners of the Second Annual Pearl S. Buck Croquet Tournament.  

Jim Boswell hugs Pearl S. Buck Board President Gail Ratcliff after receiving his prize.

The winning team was from Boxley, also our official tournament sponsors, by a narrow margin. 

Final Round

The Final Round is well underway.

The Finalists

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!

Historic Garden Tours Begin at PSB Birthplace

Last Sunday, June 17, the Birthplace hosted the first of four "Historic Garden Tours" planned for this summer as part of the Calvin W. Price Appalachian Enrichment Series, sponsored by the Pocahontas County Convention and Visitors Bureau.

Photo by A. Jiordano of volunteer gardener Joe Heathcock talked about buckwheat and other cover crops, and their function in the museum's organic garden.

It was an interesting program, but I was staffing the Birthplace that day and kept getting pulled away by other things.  Fortunately, Angelo Jiordano from The Pocahontas Times was there and describes the event in an excellent article that appeared in the paper this week.

Sunday visitors to the Pearl S. Buck Birthplace Gardens enjoyed a return to "The Good Earth," with free garden tours, demonstrations, and a little bit of history behind the famed author and humanitarian.

Event organizers invited local "mostly-retired" farmer Cad Tyler to talk about some of the tools he uses, and share some tricks he's learned in his 60 years of farming. Tyler also talked about organic gardening author Elliot Coleman and some of the methods he employs.

Read "A step back in time at the Pearl S. Buck historic garden" and see more photos from the day on the website of the Pocahontas Times.

Announcements from Pearl S. Duck re: Her Tournament

Attention please!  Ms. Duck has asked me to convey some very important reminders about the her tournament on Sunday:  

• There are still a few places left for competitors.  If you would like to play, register now.  We expect to have a waiting list by the weekend. 

• If you have registered by phone (304-653-4430), email, or online but have not paid the registration fee, but sure to arrive before 1:30 pm to do so, so that we can know how many we can accommodate from the wait list, assign all players to courts and commence play on time.  

•  Registration can also be paid in advance by cheque or cash at the Birthplace or via credit card Paypal:

• If you'd like a chance to win the time prize as well as individual prizes, don't forget to indicate you are playing as a team when you register. 

• All equipment is provided and will stay on the courts.  Instruction will be provided for first time players and practice time will be available starting at 1:00 pm. 

• Water will be provided at no charge.  Additional food and other beverages will be for sale.

•  Don't hesitate to contact us with any questions!

Between Two Worlds Cast Reunion June 23

Playwright Jean Battlo was commissioned to write Between Two Worlds, a musical about the life of Pearl S. Buck, in honor of the birth centennial the author's birth.  Twenty years later a reunion of cast an crew is planned for June 23 at 4:00 pm during the Little Levels Heritage Fair, at the Pearl S. Buck Birthplace.  We plan to prevail on the cast to perform a few numbers from the show.

Could this be the first steps toward a full revival of the show in 2014 to commemorate the 40th Anniversary of the opening of the Birthplace to the public?   

If you were part of the original production, and want information about the reunion, contact us.