48 SUMMER 2020 | WWW.SHAKER.LIFE
n 1923, the Van Sweringen Company
produced a 48-page sales pamphlet for their
development titled “The Heritage of the
Shakers.” The back cover is a sort of prosepoem
called “What the House Must Give to
My Home.” It describes the characteristics
and virtues of a Shaker Heights home,
and while parts are reflective of society a
hundred years ago, much of the intention
still resonates. It begins, “A lot of morning
sunshine through windows large enough
to empty all the darkness.” A few lines
down it continues, “Dignity enough in its
appointments to make us proud of it; yet such
freedom from formality that friends are eager
to come and loth to leave.” (See page 62 in
this issue of Shaker Life for the
entire inscription.)
THE
TRUE
VALUE
OF
OUR
HOMES
I
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