There were no mosquitoes.

This week is the 8 year anniversary of our very first class at the Avon Hills Folk School!

On April 18-22, 2018, we welcomed five intrepid souls and instructor Clark Bremer for an Introduction to Timber Framing Course at the very, very new Avon Hills Folk School.

Our facilities were more limited then - by a long-shot. Because of that we scheduled it late enough in the season so it was warm enough to work outside and early enough so there wouldn't be mosquitoes.

It started snowing on day one Wednesday, April 18th. It didn't stop for four days and on the fifth, last day of class, the wind started blowing and the temperature dropped. A legit January blizzard. In the third week of April.

Yet the five students and Clark endured and soldiered on without any hesitation or negativity. They were stacked in that workshop (filled with many other things at the time) along with a timber for each of them.

They were able to keep it safe and warm, feeding the double-stacked barrel stove constantly, to keep the uninsulated and unfinished workshop with single pane windows warm (enough).

Karen Schellinger made meals for the crew, lunch and supper (and I think a breakfast or two) to keep everyone fueled.

Several students and Clark stayed overnight and we will never forget the memories of stories told around a wood stove, with Manhattan's in hand in the Gazebo with 360 degree windows as the snow drifted down around us.

There was no raising but the frame was complete and we would raise the frame onsite on a small lake north of Grand Rapids later that fall. With all but one student joining us Up North for the raising.

So. Here we are. Eight years later. A growing, established Folk School with a future that is bright and strong. With no small thanks to those six who toughed it out to give breath to this "idea".

Two of those students are now board members of the Avon Hills Folk School, one has contributed significantly to the planning and mapping of the folk school as an accomplished Landscape Architect and the other a friend personally and of the folk school.

And Clark. Clark Bremer has returned again and again, sometimes several times each year to lead courses at the Avon Hills Folk School. Clark's commitment to education, the craft of timber framing is and community is inspiring. His fingerprints are EVERYWHERE. We simply would not be who we are today or where we are without his unwavering support, encouragement and generosity. Thank you!!

And to the many, many hundreds - thousands even who have followed these "first six" - THANK YOU! Students, instructors, volunteers, supporters from afar - you give us tremendous energy, affirmation and enthusiasm to keep going.

Here's to the next eight years! Who knows what may be?