-6-

In June 1919, Ella Winship went to Canterbury, N.H. fora visit and while she was
gone, Maggie Caldwell went to the North Family from the South Family to stay with Jennie Wells;
and a week later, Eldress Anna had to accompany Jennie to Albany when she took Hattie Coburn
(Byron's feeble-minded sister) to have a tooth pulled. By now, at the North Family, there are only
7 Shakers - Lavinia Dutcher (80), Isablle White (69), Hattie, and the two men, Hamilton DeGraw (64)
and Byron (45)0 Jennie Wells was 41 and Ella Winship 61.
i,
On July 2, the Ministry Sisters arrived fromNew Lebanon and sent for Eldress Anna and
Elder Josiah. Anna Goepper notes "there are rumors afloat to the effect that the North Family here
expect to disband, sooner or later. Time alone will prove the truth or untruth of it." On July 24th
she notes that Eldress Anna went to the North Family for the day. "There have been rumors for a long
time of the contemplation of breaking up the North Family on account of expenses. There are only
seven of them and the cost of farm help is enormous, for a foreman alone $75 a month, and hired help
from $35 to $40 a month, and they keep several hired hands."

On August 9th, a Saturday, the New Lebanon Ministry called the members of the South
Family together at 2 p e m. Anna Goepper tells us "they thinkitbest for the North Family to move
here as they would not go to the Church Family, and the Church Family did not want them. They
felt they would not be treated right at the Church Family. We were all asked and, while the majority
were not so very anxious for the change, still no one refused or was unwilling. The Ministry thought
itwould be the cheapest and easiest way on account of their aged people." Anna goes on to say the
North Family property is for sale,in order "to pay up Elder Josiah's debts at Church Family which he
had run into in order to keep the North Family going. This is why they broke up - high cost of living,
paying so many hired hands and the foreman $75 a month and he is doing nothing but run about in his
auto and taking the North Family's help to his own farm to keep his own farm in fine shape. A pretty
kettle of fish, I say."

On August 22, Eldress Anna, Sister Lucy Bowers (who had had the experience of moving
from Enfield only two years previously) and two girls went to the North Family "to look over and pack
some of their things to get ready to move." Hugo Stroebel, the South Family foreman, drew two loads
of furniture to the South Family. (They were really optimistic about the speed of this move.)

It was determined that the North Family sisters would five together m the lower floor of
the Sisters' Shop at the South Family, with their shops upstairs; Hamilton would be on the 2nd floor;
and Byron would live in the men's house. These rooms were cleaned out, Eldress Anna and Ella
Winship went to Albany and chose wallpaper for the sisters'rooms, and in September a paperhanger,
carpenter and plumber were all at work. Lucy Bowers went again several days to the North Family to
help them pack, Hugo was carting furniture, Eldress Anna and her girls were scrubbing floors, putting
down carpets, and washing windows. The Ministry Eldresses came from New Lebanon to the Church
Family and expected to stay and help with the move.

This went on into October. On October 27th, Ella Winship, Jennie, Hamilton, isabelle
White and Lavinia Dutcher, came to see their new home. Isabelle didn't like her room (Grace Dahm had
moved out so Isabelle would have it),because It was too small and had only one window. Lavinia was
"very much pleased" with her room. (By the way, two years later, in1921, Anna Goepper records
that "Lavinia butcher eats raw onions every night for supper and beans when she can get them. This
accounts for her cheerful, happy disposition and longevity as she is now 90 years old, and still on
deck, able to clean her room and bathe herself and make her bed.")