January 26 – Toad Hollow Day of Encouragement

nPosted on January 26, 2018

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nThis unique-sounding special day has a very unique backstory:

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nOnce upon a time, a man named Ralph C. Morrison read an article that mentioned Toad Hollow Country School. This school was located in the charmingly named Kalamazoo, Michigan.

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nEven though it’s the name Kalamazoo that makes me sit up, take notice, and smile, it was the name “Toad Hollow” that caught Morrison’s fancy. He loved the name.

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nMorrison was a teacher and a storyteller, and soon he had created several stories that happened, he said, in a place called Toad Hollow. When people asked where Toad Hollow was, Morrison always answered, “It can only be found in your heart.”

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nThe Kalamazoo Country officials offered Morrison a place for his storytelling, in a park that was rarely used. He agreed and started a non-profit group to build an 1800’s pioneer homestead and town in the park – which of course he called Toad Hollow.

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nToad Hollow became a place where wonderful events and historical reenactments and fun classes were held. 

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nThere were Renaissance Faires. There were Civil War reenactments. 

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nThere were classes on everything from blacksmithing and quilting to soap and candle making. 

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nThe people who ran the park and taught the classes were volunteers. But…this was Toad Hollow we’re talking about, so those volunteers were called Voluntoads!

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nUnfortunately, the county took back the park just three years later. The buildings were donated to historic organizations and museums. But the Voluntoads just changed a few things about Toad Hollow – like going back to the concept of it being, not a physical place, but a place in all of our hearts. And the Voluntoads started teaching the classes to kids in nearby schools. They did storytelling, writing, and barbecuing at the schools as well.

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nWhy did so many people volunteer their time? They loved sharing things that they knew and enjoyed with others. So that’s what this day is all about – encouraging EVERYBODY to share what they know, to expose others to what they love, to volunteer, to teach or help others! 

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nAlso on this date:

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nPlan ahead:

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• nJanuary holidays

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• nJanuary birthdays

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• nHistorical anniversaries in January

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• nFebruary holidays

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• nFebruary birthdays

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• nHistorical anniversaries in February

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