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Jeanne Jones Jindra
Warm breezes welcomed visitors to the 136th Gymanfa held in Oak Hill on Sunday, September 28, 2008, with both morning and afternoon sessions. Evan Davis served as moderator and Mildred Bangert, Curator of the Welsh-American Heritage Museum, was hostess. The morning session included a welcome by Rev. Kathryn Loxley of Nebo Church, scripture reading by Joan Owen Mandry, sermon by Rev. Robert Hughes of Akron, OH, and solo by Rosemary Ross of Oak Hill. Jay Williams of New York served as chorister, as a big part of the event is singing hymns in Welsh and English. Mildred gave a special memorial for the late David Mandry, past president of WNGGA, as she compared him to the old Welsh preachers as “a man of tall timbers”. Lunch was provided in the picnic area of the old Congregational Church, as old friends gathered to visit. Elizabeth Davis of Oak Hill gave the afternoon scripture reading followed by Rev. Stacy Evans’ sermon “Coming of Faith”. Madog student intern Lauren Weddington presented a display on “Past Gymanfa Memories” for all to enjoy.
The historic Hill Cemetery near Thurman was the site of the Cardigan Club’s annual “Cemetery Walk” held on Sunday afternoon, October 19, 2008. The lives of twelve Welsh people buried there were honored when volunteers, dressed in period clothing, stood by the graves and read first-person scripts reviewing highlights of the lives of those interred. Davis Summers of Oak Hill researched old obituaries and then Mildred Bangert, Curator of the Welsh-American Heritage Museum in Oak Hill, wrote the scripts. The idea is to preserve and promote Welsh culture and history and keep it alive for future generations. The twelve individuals honored came from different walks of life but with a common thread -- they all came from large Welsh families where hard work was valued along with religion and church affiliations.
The Madog Center for Welsh Studies collaborated with the Lillian Jones Museum in Jackson, Ohio, on their most recent exhibit “Wales and Our Welsh Heritage” which was shown through December 31, 2008. This innovative exhibit combined local Welsh history with international contemporary graphics that inspired everyone to take a closer look at their own heritage. Twenty selected graphics from
Benjy Davies’ series entitled “Welsh Heroes” created for the Madog Faculty Fellowship were interspersed with traditional hand-crafted love spoons created by Chris Watkins of Wooster, Ohio, and a variety of Welsh memorabilia from the Madog Center for Welsh Studies. There were historical documents pertaining to Welsh heritage, Eisteddfod items, an audio recording of the radio broadcast between Cilcinnen, Wales, and the Jackson Welsh recorded in 1946 by WLW in Cincinnati.
The opening reception was Tuesday, November 18, 2008 and included artists and local historians who discussed historical and contemporary Wales. Wine and light refreshments were served.
Note: The Lillian Jones Museum is located at 75 Broadway Street in Jackson, Ohio; normal hours of operation are Tuesday, Wednesday, and Saturday from 1-4pm. Please contact Amy Landrum at 740-286-2556 or the Madog Center at 800-282-7201 ext 7186 for more information.
Excerpts from The Telegram Article by Pete Wilson, Editor, and Jeanne Jones Jindra, Director, Madog Center for Welsh Studies
The joys of the Christmas season and the area’s Welsh heritage were celebrated in song at the Annual Advent Carol Sing, held on Sunday, November 30, 2008 at the Welsh American Heritage Museum in Oak Hill. The Cardigan Welsh Club and the Madog Center for Welsh Studies joined forces to conduct the event, which featured performances by the Columbus Welsh Singing Society, under the direction of Ann Gillard and accompanist John Davids, and the Oak Hill Amazing Kid Singers, under the direction of Bambi Roush. Santa and Mrs. Claus, Bob & Vicki Powell, were special guests as Mrs. Claus read The Stick Man which she had found in a bookstore on her last trip to Wales.
Madog student intern Lauren Weddington displayed a special exhibit on the Edwards Sisters Quartet and the Jones Quartet. She researched information, photos and tapes of both groups who gained notoriety in the late 1800’s by singing nationally.
The old Welsh Congregational Church was filled to capacity on the late wintry afternoon and the sounds of the holiday season warmed everyone’s spirits. We were happy to welcome the CWSS for their first performance in southern Ohio, and look forward to many more collaborations.