Reunion of the Schürch Family
Association of North America
August 6-7, 2010 Harrisonburg, Virginia, U.S.A.
The next Schürch (Sherk, Shirk, etc.) family reunion will be held at the Seminary Building on the campus of Eastern Mennonite University in Harrisonburg, Virginia on Friday Aug 6 and Sat. Aug 7, 2010. Harrisonburg is in the heart of the scenic Shenandoah Valley on Interstate 81. The Valley has great natural beauty, such as, the Luray caverns, Shenandoah National park, Blue Ridge Skyline Drive, Natural Bridge, and many small villages that date from the 18th century. In addition we are within 2 or 3 hours of Washington D.C., and National Parks at Harpers Ferry, Williamsburg, Jamestown and Yorktown, VA.
The valley is of great historical importance. It was the center of some of the most important battles during the civil war and experienced what is called the "great burning". The valley was the bread basket for Southern forces and in the summer of 1863 the Northern forces burned many barns and fields to deprive the Southern army of food. After the war, farm owners that could prove they were loyal to the north received compensation for their lost property. These personal stories have only recently been discovered in our Library of Congress in Washington and are being retold in 7 new books by two local authors. They also tell the story of how this area was a part of the Underground Railroad to help slaves from the south make their way to Canada. A Shirk family member played an interesting part in this story. It will be told at the reunion.
The Valley also has many museums within an hour's drive of Harrisonburg. In addition to several Civil War museums others include: the outdoor Museum of Frontier Culture that recreates farming practices of the different ethnic groups that settled the valley; Museum of the Shenandoah; the Black Friars Theater in Staunton (a recreation of the Globe Theater in England); P. Buckley Moss Museum; Woodrow Wilson Presidential Library in Staunton and an antique quilting museum in Harrisonburg. For younger people there is a water park within 30 minutes of Harrisonburg and a safari park with more than a 100 wild animals that roam free. You can feed the animals from your car window.
We hope to expand the list of family members who attend our reunion. Special time and effort will be given to making new family connections and giving time to share stories with new and older members. If you have thoughts or ideas that you would like to see incorporated into the next reunion please let us know. You can send your ideas or comments to Verne Schirch at vrnschurch856@gmail.com. More information will be forthcoming in the months ahead, including a registration form and costs. We expect to have a program by Feb. 2010.
For more information about area attractions and motel accommodations see the EMU web site at: http://www.emu.edu/ On the home page click on "visit" and you will get a menu that lists area accommodations and click on "area attractions" to get a fuller list of what is available in the area close to Harrisonburg. A dorm will be open to our reunion so that families or groups can come early and use the dorm as a home base to explore the area. The dorm has airconditioning and is arranged as two or three bedroom suites with a common living space and a common bathroom. The rates are less expensive than area motels but are clean and pleasant. The dorm will be available only the week during the reunion as after the reunion the rooms will be made ready for incoming students. If you have questions about motels, dorms or camping please contact me at vrnschurch856@gmail.com.
Verne Schirch
Direction to Reunion Site
Harrisonburg, VA is on I-81 about 60 miles south of Winchester, VA. Most of you will approach Harrisonburg from the north.
Driving south on I-81 you exit at Exit 251 just north of Harrisonburg. After exiting, turn left on Rt. 11 and go 2.5 miles to the first stop-light. Turn right on Mt. Clinton Pike and go 1.7 miles through 2 stop-lights. Turn right on Smith Rd. and immediately enter the Seminary parking lot on the left. The reunion is held on the 2nd floor of the Seminary Building at the far end from the parking lot.
If you are coming from the south you exit I-81 at Rt. 33 west (Exit 247). Take Rt. 33 west for about 1.5 miles to the center of the town. You will come to the central square where you follow the signs for Rt. 33 west. Two blocks after the city square turn right on Rt. 42. Go 1 mile and turn left on Mt. Clinton Pike (Exxon Station and Rite Aid are on the right at this stop-light). Go about 0.5 miles and turn right at Smith Rd. and immediately enter the Seminary parking lot on the left. The reunion is held on the 2nd floor of the Seminary Building at the far end from the parking lot.
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