Celebrate Welsh History ~ Featuring Sarah Woodbury Best Selling Author

Arvonia Historic Preservation Society (AHPS) was established in 2014 to promote the Arvonia community and its Welsh heritage.  The society's mission is to provide guidance in the preservation and restoration of the Welsh settlement of Arvonia.  A part of this mission is to raise awareness of the community and to share the history of the school, church and community as a whole.  This includes the Welsh heritage that was once a very important part of this community.  The organization raises funds for the upkeep, preservation, and restoration of the buildings through private donations, fundraising and grants.  The AHPS received the Kansas Preservation Alliance Award for Excellence in Historic Preservation Advocacy in 2016.Arvonia was established in 1869 by Welsh settlers led by John Mather Jones.  Arvonia was once home to over 700 residents. The town originally had a sawmill, general store, a cheese factory, the Dooley Hotel, a blacksmith shop, two churches, a school, a town hall and other buildings. The school was designed by architect, John Haskell in 1872.  He designed other prominent Kansas buildings including courthouses and churches.  It is one of the earliest-known architect-designed schools in the state. The building was constructed by Welsh craftsman James Rice. It has become a Kansas icon, immortalized in the art of photography and legend of the region.  It was originally constructed as a two-story building.  The school consolidated and was closed in 1949.The Calvinistic Methodist Church reflects the simple architecture commonly used by Welsh congregations.  The church was the center of religious and social activity in the community and was in continuous use as a church from the time of its construction in 1883 until it was disbanded in 1968.  Reopened in 2019, the church and community hosted the first Candlelight Service in decades thanks to the work of the AHPS!The Arvonia Town Hall was dedicated in 1916. The hall has a rich history in the community and surrrounding counties. For over one hundred years the building has housed significant community events, including social and political gatherings of local farmers, war-relief efforts, soil conservation meetings, voting for the township and celebrations of the community's Welsh heritage.The Arvonia School, Calvinistic Methodist Church and the Arvonia Town Hall are all listed on the Register of Historic Kansas Places and the National Register of Historic Places.

Arvonia Historic Preservation Society

Sarah’s “After Cilmeri” series gives readers a fantastical alternate history of real historical events from  1268-1294.

Lyon County History Center

The Arvonia Historic Preservation Society, The Lyon County History Center, The Great Plains Welsh Heritage Project (Wymore, NE), &amp; The St. David’s Society of Kansas will host Welsh author Sarah Woodbury on Tuesday, July 11th, 2023, from 5:30-8:30 p.m. at the Lyon County History Center. This is the long awaited reschedule date for this event! These organizations have combined efforts to celebrate the rich Welsh heritage in our area. This event will feature Sarah’s “After Cilmeri” series which gives readers a fantastical alternate history of real historical events between the English and the Welsh from 1268 to 1294. There are 20 books in the series, and one complete set will be part of a prize drawing at the event. Debra Holland, New York Times bestselling author of the Montana Sky Series says that “Sarah Woodbury is my new favorite author. Daughter of Time reminds me of Outlander and 1632, with a fresh twist. I read all the books in the After Cilmeri series in four days! Long after I finished the last book, the stories and characters stayed in my mind, and I kept wishing I could return to the world Sarah so skillfully created. I can’t wait for the next book and the next …”With over a million books sold to date, Sarah Woodbury is the author of over forty novels set in medieval Wales. Although an anthropologist by training and then a full-time homeschooling mom for twenty years, she began writing fiction when the stories in her head overflowed and demanded that she let them out. While her ancestry is Welsh, she only visited Wales for the first time at university. She has been in love with the country, language, and people ever since. She even convinced her husband to give all four of their children Welsh names.Sarah is the author of the Gareth &amp; Gwen Medieval Mysteries, set during the Anarchy and the rule of King Owain Gwynedd and the best-selling After Cilmeri series about a time traveling family of modern Welsh Americans who save the life of Llywelyn ap Gruffydd, the last Prince of Wales."We are excited to be collaborating with these wonderful organizations and to recognize these historic and cultural milestones for the area." Greg Jordan, Executive Director Lyon County History Center“The Great Plains Welsh Heritage Project in Wymore, NE., is grateful for the opportunity to participate and support this lovely event. We in the Welsh community enjoy working with Arvonia and the Emporia societies to further our heritage and bring awareness of our proud legacies. This one-of-a-kind affair with Dr. Sarah Woodbury, renowned author, will be the start of other events to be showcased in the future. We are quite excited to be involved and welcome the cooperation between Kansas and Nebraska.” Gwenith Closs-Colgrove, President. Happy Hour with the author begins at 5:30 p.m. and advance ticket reservations of $25 per person include reserved seating, a Welsh Appetizer Menu, and a Red Dragon Signature Cocktail. The community is encouraged to reserve event tickets/tables in advance at https://www.eventbrite.com/e/640816769207 Free general admission at the door begins at 6:45 p.m. Attendees can get their general admission tickets at the same web site. (GA does not include reserved seating, appetizers, or signature cocktail). The author's presentation will focus on significant moments in the history of medieval Wales, particularly as they relate to the After Cilmeri series, as well as a brief reading from one of the books. There will be a silent auction, and prize drawing for the complete set of the “After Cilmeri " Series. Sarah will be available to autograph books at the event. Net Proceeds from the event will benefit The Arvonia Historic Preservation Society, The Lyon County History Center, the Great Plains Welsh Heritage Project (Wymore, NE), and The St. David’s Society of Kansas.For more information on the event please contact event coordinator Mi’Chielle Cooper at (620) 340-2749 or email ArvoniaKS@gmail.com OR MiChielle@live.com

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Celebrate Welsh History ~ Featuring Sarah Woodbury Best Selling Author

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Celebrate Welsh History ~ Featuring Sarah Woodbury Best Selling Author

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