Historic Adventist Village (HAV), located in Battle Creek, Mich., shares with visitors the story of “A People Who Lived to Honor God.” Since its inception, Village planners have looked for creative, interactive ways to share the story of the history of the Adventist Church.
The Village currently has several original or replicated sites on the grounds, including: a Welcome Center, The Log Cabin, James and Ellen White Home, William J. Hardy Exhibit, 19th Century School House, The Meeting House, and Parkville Church. Other exhibits under development include a two-story, two-stall carriage shed, and Deacon John and Betsey White House, parents of James White.
The latest project on the drawing board for the Village is the replication of the first Adventist publishing house, originally constructed in 1855. In the proposed structure, the first floor will include a printing press, bindery, and accounts section. The second floor will accommodate the composing room with type cases, galley cabinet, lockup table, and proof press. The editorial office and proof reader will also be on that level. The proposed layout of the basement level includes a small amphitheater for video viewing, a rest room, and mechanical room.
Plans also include restoring the hand press to operable condition, now on display in the museum at the Village Welcome Center; Village visitors could then see facsimile prints produced. At the replicated publishing house, Adventist publishing history will be portrayed, showing how “the leaves of autumn,” have traveled round the world in so many languages. Adventist literature will also be made available to visitors who visit the publishing house.
Someone has donated a two-story pole barn with the same type of construction as the original publishing house, built around the same time. A volunteer team dismantled it in Apr. 2005, and stored the building materials to be used as soon as the foundation and basement are ready. But before that can happen, $150,000 needs to be raised to fund the full cost of the replication project. This amount includes the cost of the project and an additional 25 percent to help pay for maintenance for several years after its completion.
When looking for someone to spearhead the fund-raising for the publishing house, Tom Nestlund, HAV president, and Alice Voorheis, HAV vice president, knew just where to turn—Noble Vining. Before his retirement as manager of the College Press in Collegedale, Tenn., Vining accumulated a lifetime of publishing experience managing publishing houses in this country and abroad. Since his retirement, 87-year-old Vining is still connected to the printing world with Worthwhile Publications. Vining hopes “this [replicated] publishing house will be a witness to thousands of visitors to the power of the printed page.”
One of the ways Vining will raise awareness and funds for this project is the development of the SDA PRESS lapel pin, created to honor those who participate in this project. The pin displays a silhouette of a press similar to the press James White purchased. Vining would like to invite individuals who were ever involved in communications, in any way (print, radio, television, or Internet), to make a $120 donation to the project and a lapel pin will be sent to them. Honorary members may send a minimum of $500 to receive a pin. Donors will be displayed on the donor wall in the Welcome Center.
Donations may be sent to: Adventist Heritage Ministry—SDA Press, P.O. Box 1414, Battle Creek, MI 49016-1414. You will receive a tax-deductible receipt.
For additional information about this project, and to see architectural drawings of the proposed building, visit website: www.sdapress.org; or e-mail: nvining@mindspring.com.
Diane Thurber, Lake Union Herald managing editor
