Efforts to preserve John Kline Homestead continue.

Efforts to preserve the John Kline Homestead are continuing, in an update from Paul Roth, president of the John Kline Homestead Board of Directors and pastor of Linville Creek Church of the Brethren in Broadway, Va. John Kline was a Brethren preacher and elder, and a martyr of the church during the Civil War years.

The Mennonite family who had lived on his farm in Broadway for six generations moved at the end of 2006. Four acres of the property were purchased by Park View Federal Credit Union on behalf of the Brethren until sufficient funds could be raised by a foundation that has been established to preserve the homestead for development as a heritage site. In a January letter to supporters of the effort, Roth reported on fundraising and development plans for the homestead, saying that "total gifts and pledges received are over $103,000."

A fundraising campaign is being planned for 2008 to reach a $600,000 goal to purchase more than three acres of the more than nine acre property. An additional $600,000 would be needed to purchase the remaining acreage. Incorporation papers have been filed with the Commonwealth of Virginia so that contributions to the John Kline Homestead are tax deductible. A website has been posted with photos and updates, go to http://johnklinehomestead.com.

A Church of the Brethren senior high workcamp is planned at the homestead on June 16-22 (go to www.brethren.org and click on "Key Words," then "Youth and Young Adults"). In addition, a James Madison University professor will focus on the architectural design of the John Kline house and outbuildings with a spring semester class and research study on historic preservation. The class and study will pave the way for registration of the site with national and state historic site registries. In another development, Brethren horticulturalist Jason Stevens who works at Thomas Jefferson's Monticello Plantation, has offered to plant an orchard from saplings of 120-plus year old fruit trees and create designs for traditional Shenandoah Valley gardens.

At the 2008 Church of the Brethren Annual Conference, a display on the John Kline Homestead will be provided, and plans are underway for events and tours at the homestead as part of the celebrations of the 300th Anniversary of the Brethren.

Roth added an open invitation to "please contact us with your vision for the John Kline Homestead or questions you may have regarding its preservation." Contact the John Kline Homestead at P.O. Box 174, Broadway, VA 22815.

Source: 1/30/2008 Newsline