The First Seven Years

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.

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. “However, 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.”

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.

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:

"… 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."

-- Bernadette Kovaleski, wtih special thanks to Helen Zipperlen