(I I well-remember theall-day singing at Weaver's Mennonite Church in
Rockingham County on eachNew Years Day during the late 1930s and 1940s, using
the Harmonia Sacrabook, sung a capella using shape notes. The church was
always filled to
capacity. More than two generations have passed since that time, so I have
no living references for you. Singer's Glen was the early seat for that kind
of music- mid-19th century (the Showalters), before Ruebush brought it to
Dayton near the end of the century.)

It was Joseph Funk, an 18th Century Mennonite Renaissance man (musician,
printer, progressive church leader) whose "Harmonia Sacra" songbooks and
training programs were so instrumental in the shaped-note singing movement.
His fame was such that the western Rockingham County village where he lived
was re-named Singers Glen in his honor.  Funk's family, including Ruebush,
continued his work.
       In the early 20th Century, traditional "all-day sings" evolved as
"old-folks sings," because older generations had been taught shaped-note
singing in the Funk tradition.
       The New Years Singing at Weaver's Mennonite Church still takes place,
along with a half-dozen other Valley sings, including the first Sunday in
August (this Sunday) "all day sing and dinner on the ground" at the Valley's
earliest Mennonite-connected church, the tiny restored Mill Creek or Mauck
Meeting House at Hamburg in Page County..  It is a truly wonderful occasion.
       Dates, locations and contacts are available through the invaluable
Lois Bowman and Harold Huber at the Menno Simons Historical Library at
Eastern Mennonite University (www.emu.edu.)
       From the Page County Heritage Association website: "Mauck Meeting
House one mile west of Luray at Hamburg has been listed in the Virginia
Historic Landmarks Register. The original log structure was built by the
neighbors for religious purposes, commonly called and known as "Mauck Meeting
House." The "neighbors," most of whom were Mennonites from Switzerland and
Southern Germany, built it probably around 1770. It was constructed of large
pine logs neatly dovetailed at the corners, whitewashed inside and out and
roofed with chestnut shingles which was typical of most local construction at
that time."
Gail Nardi

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