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Bob Donaldson
The outstanding Venedocia Gymanfa Ganu in northwestern Ohio is the destination for our 2008 Annual WSCO bus tour.
Venedocia, one of the main Welsh communities in Ohio, has continued to give professional – level cymanfoedd since 1915, or earlier. This year’s event will be no different, and will take place on the Sunday of Labor Day Weekend, which falls on August 31st at 7 p.m.
With a history of being filled to capacity, the large Salem Presbyterian Church (founded in 1848) provides a beautiful setting for a most traditional Gymanfa, with expert part singing done by an experienced and dedicated congregation. You won’t believe the majesty of the sound emanating from the congregation; it will make you feel as if you’re in the cymanfoedd of your childhood. It is said that if front doors of the church are left open, you can hear the singing a mile to the east.
Prior to 1895, all church services in the village were exclusively in Welsh, and the Gymanfa is the largest event in Venedocia to this day.
Our supper will be provided by members of Salem Presbyterian Church, for about $5.
The church is not air conditioned, so dress accordingly and bring a bottle of water and a paper fan if you have one.
Along our trip to Venedocia, we will stop at Welsh communities in Allen and Van Wert Counties, and our first sight-seeing stop will be the Allen County Museum & MacDonnell House in Lima (admission -- “suggested donation -- $5 adults”). Next, we will visit the Welsh cemetery called Tawelfan or A Peaceful Place, established in 1833 by Gomer Welsh and used by inhabitants of both the Pike Run and Gomer areas. From the cemetery we go on to Gomer and the Welsh Museum there. Trained guides will be on hand to enrich our experience.
Before we start sight-seeing, we will have lunch at a Bob Evans Restaurant in Lima, where each will pay for his own meal.
Other WSCO members who have attended the Venedocia Gymanfa have raved about it and have returned year after year. Get the hwyl (spirit) moving and be part of this memorable time!
Seating is limited on our air conditioned coach and in order to ensure that you and your friends and family have seats, please remit your registration form and check as soon as possible. The round trip fare is $35, per person, (when registered by July 30th) and going to the Gymafa with us will save you driving those country roads at night.
The bus will leave from Kingsdale Shopping Center at the northwest corner of Northwest Boulevard and Zollinger Road at 10:30 a.m. (on the dot!) There is ample public parking at the site. We will leave Venedocia immediately after the Gymanfa and return directly to Kingsdale Center.
Send your check, payable to WSCO, to Bob Donaldson, 1963 Wickford Road, Columbus, OH 43221-4221. Include the information requested for yourself and for those traveling with you on the registration form. One need not be a WSCO member to join us.
For further information contact Bob: (614) 488-0007 or email wirefoxes3[at]aol[dot]com. Reservations received after July 30th will incur a $5 processing fee due to the requirements of the coach company.
Hope to see you on board!
For more information on the Welsh in Allen and Van Wert counties, visit the Wales/Cymru-Ohio Project website at http://ohio.llgc.org.uk. Look for the “Select a county” map on the lower left side of the home page.
Allen County Museum & MacDonnell House -- http://allencountymuseum.org
Welsh Society of Northwest Ohio & Gomer Welsh Museum -- http://www.welsh-society.org
Venedocia & Salem Presbyterian Church – http://www.venedocia.org
(see article on page 1)
Blendon Woods MetroPark is located in Westerville on Old State Route 161 just east of Cherry Bottom Road, or take the Little Turtle Way exit from “new” State Route 161 (east of I-270), turn right, go to Old State Route 161 and turn right. http://www.metroparks.net/ParksBlendonWoods.aspx
WSCO: (614) 470-4999 or centralohiowelsh[at]aol[dot]com
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