It was an ordinary day. Reading another Jack Brubaker story that was recently published in my daily newspaper. Story was titled "Why did they take 'Hans Herr' out of the '1719 Museum'? The story followed a question that a Mr. Burnell A. Hostetter sent to Jack Brubaker who is known as "The Scribbler". Burnell wanted to know how the Lancaster Mennonite Historical Society can just change its name to "Mennonite Life" and the "Hans Herr House" name to "1719 Museum." Burnell goes on to write that he feels it is a terrible mistake to remove the Herr family name. He says that he is a ninth generation descendant of Hans Herr and had been a docent at the Hans Herr House for over 12 years. He therefore believes that the Herr name should not be erased. And, I believe the same as Mr. Hostetter! Well, Jack replies to Mr. Hostetter by telling him that name changes can be difficult. The morning Lancaster newspaper used to be called "The Intelligencer Journal", but now is known as "LNP" for what I assume means Lancaster News Paper. Same goes for the museum complex in Willow Street, Pennsylvania which has recently gone through two name changes. For decades it was known as the "Hans Herr House", than it was changed to the "1719 Hans Herr Home and Museum." But, wait! It was than changed to "1719 Museum." No explanation was ever given for making these changes. Yeah, I suppose I could guess why the name was changed, but would it be the same reason they would give? The Hans Herr House was actually built by Christian Herr and there was no definitive documentation on whether Christian Herr's father, Hans, ever lived there. The name "1719 Museum" is said to simplify the existing name. So, who wants it to be simplified? So...Mennonite Life Executive Director (MLED...isn't this better?) Jean Kilheffer Hess told the Scribbler that the shorter name suits contemporary marketing practices. Give me a break! JKH said she got a lot of positive comments on the name change. And that...my readers...was the end of the story in Mr. Brubaker's statement. How can Jack fight comments like that? I hope JKH reads my story and sees how dumb cutting part of the name or story really is. I'm all for changing the name of the historical place back to the "1719 Hans Herr House and Museum." It's only half a line more of typing for goodness sake. If only those who are buried on the site could rise back up and see what has happened to the name of the place where they lived and died...they would be horrified! And, I for one would agree with them. It was another extraordinary day in the life of an ordinary guy.
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My wife is a Witmer and a descendent of Hans Herr. Removing the Hans Herr name is a shame. Next we will be changing the name United States of America to just States because we are no longer united. And what happened to the Indian girl on the Land of Lakes butter package?
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