Forming Connections in Bucks Quarter
One of the key takeaways from the January PYM Governance and Stewardship Thread Gathering on Property and Burial Grounds was that Friends would like a way to connect with each other as issues arise in their meetings. Bucks Quarter has already forged these connections through our Property Google Group. The group consists of the property contacts from the fourteen meetings in the Quarter. We have had occasional Zoom meetings, but more importantly, this group is a forum for asking questions and getting answers.
Here's an example: Jim, a Bristol Meeting Friend, who is not on the property committee, emailed the following question to me:
Hi Wendy,
Do you know if there are any Quaker metal craftsmen, aka blacksmiths, in our area? The slide portion of one of the shutter bolts on a shutter at the Meetinghouse is entirely missing. We've just had the woodwork painted gray and the shutter bolts painted black, so it shows up now. It's clear from the imprint left on the shutter that the slider was 14" long and 2" wide. I cannot find anything even close to that size available online. I suspect it will have to be custom made. I wonder if there's a Friend or a friend of the Friends somewhere nearby who could help?
I posed his question to the Property google group. Within minutes there were responses:
Phil from Buckingham Meeting:
I have found it difficult to find a local blacksmith so if someone knows of one willing to do specialized jobs, please let me know. We lost a “shutter dog” at Newtown Friends years ago. I tried unsuccessfully to locate it with my metal detector and reverted to having one custom made. I sent a photo of others with dimensions and a fellow out west made it for perhaps $15.00! Thus, you may search on the internet for someone to custom make one for you. Before you do that, call Wayne at Architectural Antiques, in Bedminster on Rt 113 (215) 795-2616 and ask him if he has one or knows of where you could get one or have one made. Wayne has a very well organized and extensive collection of antique hardware as that is his specialty. If you would like, I could swing by your Meeting with my metal detector to see if we can find the lost bolt around the window.
Carol Ann from Plumstead Meeting:
I would start by looking in Architectural Antiques in Bedminster. They have all kinds of antique hardware. Finkle's Hardware in Lambertville might also have what you need- a huge old fashioned hardware store with helpful employees who know their inventory. Plumstead is dealing with Anderson Ironworks in Oreland for a custom railing – I highly recommend them as "good guys" if you need to go that route. andersonironworks.com
Stuart from Solebury Meeting:
Call Tinsmans Lumber. They have access to facsimile hardware 215-297-5100.
Phil from Buckingham Meeting:
I am heading to Tinsman’s right now and will ask and email back to you their suggestions. They generally carry “acorn” brand replicas.
And here’s the resolution:
Dear Friends,
Thanks for all of your help in locating a replacement shutter bolt for a shutter at Bristol Meeting. I am happy to report Carol Ann Gray has found the mother load at Architectural Antiques: two boxes of old shutter bolts that include some very close to ours. I'll try to get up there soon on a Thursday, Friday, or Saturday when they’re open. Thanks again to everyone. It’s great to know that there is a cloud of witnesses out there to help with any issue.
Warm regards,
Jim
The problem was solved through connecting and communicating between monthly meetings. Our google group was easy to set up and can serve as a model for other quarterly meetings around the yearly meeting.
FYI, the current question posed to the group is “where did you get your meetinghouse bench cushions from and how much did they cost”? Does anyone out there have an answer to contribute? Email me at quakersbucks@gmail.com. The more the merrier!