news
Camphil Vil age Kimberton Hil s
Autumn 2012
40th Anniversary Series
Celebrating Kimberton Hills: 1972-1979
The birth of a community
When did Kimberton Hills really begin? Was it when the Myrin’s wanted to teach
biodynamics here in the 1930s and 40s? Was it when Dr. Karl Konig visited Alaric Myrin
in the 1960s? Was it when Karin Myrin realized Camphill was the movement to which
part of her family’s beautiful estate would best be given? Was it when the intrepid
Camphill pioneers witnessed the deed being signed— when the first villager arrived?
The birth of this place was clearly in the to–be-written-destinies of many people. Some
have had their lives detour through Kimberton Hills, most have recognized it as life
changing, and many have remained, creating their lives directly in the heart of this work,
this place, this community.
Community everywhere is at risk in the world. As individualism rises strongly, and
distrust and polarities seem the order of the day, many wonder whether a place that so
values connectedness and mutual help can survive.
At the same time, it is those connections that give us our sense of who we are, that orient us in the world with ballast and
meaning. It is by knowing each other, and often by collaborating, that we can make the world a better place. Sometimes it takes
the will of millions and sometimes it takes only a few or even one inspired individual who will act.
Many of us heard the call of Karl and Tilla Konig and/or Rudolf Steiner. The values
Steiner brought to our lives inclined us toward Kimberton Hills: biodynamic
agriculture that seeks to work with the ecology of health to bring good food from the
earth, recognition of the rightness of our basic economic interdependence,
understanding that each person is a sovereign individuality with spiritual wholeness
beyond so-called handicapping conditions, and of course, the strength that comes
when we help each other, whether we are helping in the moment or being helped.
Some came to help and some came to be helped, and yet in life, the roles blur and
reverse, the capacities of each of us are challenged and enhanced. That is the other
value we hold—that each person (I, you, he and she) can continue on a lifelong
journey of becoming. We can continue to direct the arc of our lives, opening new
doorways that lead to a new future.
Kimberton Hills continues to work to serve these values in daily life. We “stand on
the shoulders of the ones who have gone before” as the Chartres masters have said.
Whether it is the communitarian movements of the past, those who worked with
Rudolf Steiner’s ideas to bring healing, or individuals and families whose hopes and
needs encouraged the spirit of Kimberton Hills to rise from agricultural land in
Chester County, we have many to remember and thank!
- Diedra Heitzman, Executive Director
Clockwise from top right: Alaric Myrin and his granddaughter, Karin; The Oberlin household in 1974;
Kerria House in 1973; Eva Herz in 1974; Karin Myrin’s art studio, given to Camphill Kimberton in 1975.
After renovations, this building became the current Rose Hall and Rosemary House.
Editor’s note: Our spring newsletter will focus on the next chapter of our history, 1980-1989.
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Bernad
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Kovales
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To make your tax-deductible contribution to Camphill Kimberton, please return the
enclosed envelope, call 610-935-8660, or visit www.camphillkimberton.org and click the
blue “Donate Now” button. Your gift in any amount will be deeply appreciated and
carefully used to enrich the lives of the people with special needs who make Camphill
Village Kimberton Hills their home. Thank you!
The First Seven Years
Camphill Kimberton 1972-1979
by Bernadette Kovaleski, with special thanks to contributions from Helen Zipperlen
In November 1972, the property of Kimberton Hills was donated to Camphill Village USA, Inc. “for expansion of its work.” Its
previous owners, the late Mr. and Mrs. Alaric Myrin, working in the 1940s with the late Dr. Ehrenfried Pfeiffer, had begun to develop
the land according to the indications of Rudolf Steiner – the curative attitude of biodynamic agriculture. This strong intention, so
much in harmony with Camphill philosophy, pervades the fertile farmland and woods.
“The 350 acre estate lies on a gentle hill, bounded in part by the curve of a small river,” said Carlo Pietzner in a letter to all in the
Camphill Community. “On the top of the rise stands the mansion house, a large stone building some 30 years old, and in good
condition. There are some fine trees and forest plantations, but the greater part of the land is agricultural. There is a farm with, at
present, a resident farmer looking after 70 head of prize Guernesy cattle; and about a dozen small houses in varying condition, most of
them occupied meanwhile by tenants.” The other property across from French Creek was given to the Kimberton Farm School [now
Kimberton Waldorf School].
The Kimberton Hills venture began with a team including Helen and Hubert
Zipperlen, Rita Rosseland, and Elias Rive – all from Camphill Village in Copake and Herta and Andrew Hoy and their four children from Camphill Special Schools at
Beaver Run in Glenmoore, Pa. Both Helen and Herta still reside at Kimberton Hills
today.
“On the 15th of November Andy, Hubert and Helen went over to Kimberton Hills for
the official signing of the deeds of the property to Camphill Village USA, Inc. Also
present were Karin Myrin [granddaughter of Mr. and Mrs. Myrin],
representatives from The Glenmede Trust, Francis Richards - the attorney for the
Myrin family, and Abe Wilkenfeld - the attorney for Camphill Village. All this took
place in the dining room [now the Myrin Library] and lasted but a few moments!
Then all was ours! Then back to Beaver Run to collect Herta and her children and
Elias, and a huge and rapid move took place,” a personal note recalls.
After two years in Kimberton Hills, there were 50 people living in the village, 22 with developmental disabilities. Helen reflected on
a celebration in which 16 visitors from nearby institutions [Pennhurst] joined the village for Thanksgiving Day: “The dignity and
goodness with which they enjoyed their visit made us realize again that ‘home’ is formed first and foremost of people, friendship and
interdependence, far more than by physical conditions and ‘programs,’ however excellent.”
By August of 1975, the circle had grown from two families to more than 60 people
and the village had celebrated two births, three weddings and experienced one
death. Houses, garages and stables had been renovated into homes for larger
extended families. Karin Myrin donated her newly built Tower building and studio,
10 acres of land, a large garage and stable building and a driveway leading to the
northern edge of the estate. The tower building will later become Rose Hall.
The herb garden and two large vegetable gardens were added. The vineyard had been
built up to 100 vines and the orchard had been reshaped and replanted with 103 new
trees. “Steady progress is being made with the conversion of our farm operation to
biodynamic methods,” reports August 1975’s newsletter. It continues, “Our third
birthday draws near, and I think you will agree, together with your help, we have
managed to reach the first milestones. We not only stand, walk and speak, but also cut
our teeth, and are ready to bite into what the next three years may bring.”
During the next four years the growth continued - the village passed the milestone
of 100 community members, presented a formalized agricultural training course,
named Kepler House, built Pfeiffer House and the cheese house, laid the foundation
stone for the community hall, and printed the first Kimberton Hills Agricultural
Calendar.
By July 1973, the community had grown to 28 people and the new village had
“experienced on all levels of our life the growth-forces of summer.” Helen
remembers it as a time of social and physical changes.
“The greenhouse has emptied itself into the landscape undergoing painting and
repairs, and the first harvests are coming in from the gardens. Weeding, thinning,
gathering, processing, storage and selling all call upon ready hands and upon skills,
experience, decisions and long-range planning,” a personal letter shares. “The key in
our work together is our work on the land,” another letter notes.
The hens laid eggs, a young boar came from Copake, 60 pounds of honey was
processed, the huge hay crop was brought in, small grains were harvested. “How-
ever, the great needs and attractions of our new Village cannot claim our full attention for more than a few months. The developing,
if somewhat chaotic, field of Developmental Disability (as one now says) is sorely in need of the experience we have been allowed to
gather in 30 years of Camphill. Already in May some of us, together with colleagues from Beaver Run, were taking part in conferences
and workshops of various organizations in Southeastern Pennsylvania,” the personal letter continues. Representatives also traveled to
Georgia for a convention on the topic of “Normalization.”
In 1980, a newsletter reflected on Kimberton Hills’ first seven years comparing them to the growth of a child during his first seven
years, at the end of which, the second set of teeth are set, taking the place of those he inherited. As Rudolf Steiner says in Education of
the Child: Above: The first official newsletter to come from the
month-old Camphill Village Kimberton Hills.
‘… Now before the change of teeth in the seventh year, the human body has a task to perform upon itself which is essentially different from
the tasks of all the other periods of life. In this period the physical organs must mold themselves into definite shapes. Their whole structural
nature must receive certain tendencies and directions. In the later periods also, growth takes place; but throughout the whole succeeding life,
growth is based on the forms which were developed in this first life-period.’”
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Village Profile: Elias Rive
Elias Rive’s father, the Canadian Ambassador to Ireland, sent his 12-year-old son to Glencraig, Belfast, Ireland. At that time Glencraig
was one of Camphill’s earliest colonies and the only one in Ireland. Lias learned about farming there and also turned his “speech
impediment” into his own unique and original eloquence.
When Camphill Copake was started, Lias’ family wanted him to join that community to be closer to his Canadian home. There Lias
became a true farmer and while working with many of the young men who lived at Copake he was promised that he could accompany
them someday to start their own farm.
“I was rather deeply moved by Lias’ disappointment whenever one of these dreams evaporated,” says Helen Zipperlen, a founding
member of Camphill Village Kimberton Hills. “It was not that he disliked Camphill life, but the dream of his ‘own little farm’ and the
normal wish to explore the world, were real and strong in him. When Kimberton Hills appeared, and the decision was taken that
Hubert and I should go there from Copake to join Andrew, Herta and family, we immediately thought of Lias.”
So Helen asked him, “Hey, Lias, Hubert and I are going to a new place, a farm in Pennsylvania. Want to come?” “YyyyUP,” said Lias.
The group prepared for November 15, 1972. Copake lent them a station wagon equipped with one snow tire. The day before, Hubert
was immobilized with back pain. Lias loaded the car, ran errands, and remembered details. A hard snow fell.
“With Hubert prone on a mattress we pulled out early on the Taconic Parkway, skidding a bit, but
there was curiously little traffic,” says Helen. “At the southern exit we saw why. There was a big sign
that read: Taconic Parkway closed. Just Lias’ ticket, though he didn’t have to use the shovel he
remembered to load! We made it to Beaver Run, and the next morning the five of us, with four
young Hoys, took over Kimberton Hills. The Hoy family in Kepler, Lias and the Zipperlens in
Garden Cottage. They were the only empty houses on the estate.”
Days passed in Kimberton Hills and for a while there was a separation between the former Myrin
staff and the Camphill team. The attitude of the employees of the estate was understandably wary
as they discovered just what a Camphill village might be. But, as Lias spent time working on the
estate alongside Gerald Salinger and his son, Jerry, and Ed Stringer, they declared, “He’s good,” and
the long friendship began.
Gerald and Lias worked well together. Gerald was immensely strong, digging holes, creating fences,
transplanting shrubs. Lias was the perfect right-hand man, complementing Gerald’s strength with
his ability to read and write. Their great bond was fishing. In the evenings they would fish French
Creek, behind Sankanac House, and on the weekends Gerald would drive them to the mountains to
fish, and his son, Jerry, would join them.
“Lias was at home in both families,” says Helen, “opening the way for others who joined us later.”
Today Lias, pictured at left, lives in Camphill Hudson in New York.