DAR School Tour Visits Hindman

More than 100 Kentucky Daughters were among the 300 or more people who greeted the new National Society DAR President General in Hindman for DAR Day on October 8. Mike Mullins and Kentucky State Regent Sharon Withers greeted President General, Linda Gist Calvin.

Other DAR officials included nearly every national DAR officer as well as many state regents, including those from Indiana and Illinois.

“What a great day it is to tour this beautiful campus and meet some of the children whose lives are being transformed by the dyslexia program,” Sharon Withers said. More than 40 women from Central Kentucky rode a tour bus to Hindman, while many others drove there.

The stop in Hindman was part of a six-school tour by national DAR officials. Dr. Thomas Walker chapter member Nancy Hampton, Kentucky Society DAR schools chair, was one of the tour organizers and accompanied the Daughters to other schools.

Hindman Settlement School is one of six schools supported by the national DAR, a tradition started shortly after the school was established in 1902. May Stone, founder of the Settlement School, was an early DAR member.

The DAR Day agenda included tours of the Settlement’s campus, which houses programs for children with dyslexic characteristics, an adult education center and cultural activities. Many Daughters were impressed by the picturesque outdoor chapel, the gravesite of author James Still and the restored cabins.

President General Calvin spoke to the group about the importance of heritage and the work of the DAR schools. Mike Mullins said the October 8 event was the largest single turnout for any DAR event in Hindman Settlement School history.

Folk arts educator, Randy Wilson, led children from the James Still Learning Center in traditional songs, and even had the Daughters on their feet, singing and dancing to African folk melodies!

Following a luncheon, Daughters browsed the many hand-made gift items at the Marie Stewart Museum & Crafts Shop, while Randy and other musicians picked a few tunes that again had Daughters dancing.