The Fort Laurens Chapter of the D.A.R. met Oct. 15 at Union Country Club in Dover.
Guest speakers included Jon Elsasser, president of the Zoar Community Association and Eleanor Sullivan, a direct descendent of the Zoarites and author of Cover Her Body. Laverne Piatt, state chairman of lineage research, was also in attendance.
Elsasser spoke about the village of Zoar, stating that it is the countrys best example of an early 1800s village. The village was founded in 1817 by German religious dissenters as a communal society. Many of the original buildings are still there. The boys dormitory is there but not the one for girls. He passed out a card with information on saving Zoar. The levee that stands between the village and the river is in need of repair. He told us of the three options being considered for the village. One, repair the levee; two, tear down the village and flood the area; and three, relocate the village to higher ground. Individuals can write letters to: U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Huntington District, 502 Eighth St., Huntington, WV 25701-2070 or by email to zoarlevee@usace.army.mil. Write Zoar Comments on the subject line or phone 304-399-5720 and say why Zoar should be preserved.
Sullivan spoke about her book, and noted that it is the first in a series. It is a book about love and murder set in the historic village of Zoar. The second book, which she is working on now, will be called Graven Images.
Cookies and crackers were collected to be given to veterans that are in area nursing homes.
Next month, gifts will be donated for the Operation Christmas Child program.
The next meeting will be held at Union Country Club in Dover, at 12:30 p.m., Nov. 12. The guest speaker will be Mary Haggis, and her topic will be A Family Legacy.
For more information about the meeting and the chapter, call Anne Lurie, registrar, at 330-401-5832.
