Burchell Hopes to Educate Generations with Windmill Tales
MINDEN — Marjorie Bishop Burchell began collecting stories about 40 years ago.
“Mom had written some of these stories starting in 1970,” said her daughter, Linda Burchell Ard. “She found a common theme in the stories; they were all about windmills.”
Last Christmas, Burchell pulled her stories together to create copies for her children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren.
“We developed the stories into a booklet,” Ard said.
Burchell wanted to make enough copies so other people who might be interested could have one.
The result, “Listen to the Song of the Windmill,” will be presented with the author present at 2 p.m. Sunday at Burchell’s White Hill Farmhouse Inn at 1578 30th Road near Minden. The event includes an autographed copy of the booklet, pie and coffee. Admission is $10.
Ard sees the project as a way to educate future generations. She understands the value of passing on the stories, including the failures and the successes of pioneer living.
“The descendants of these people have the same pioneer blood,” Ard explained. “We hope the inspiration passes on to the descendants as they meet the challenges in their lives.”
Burchell lived for 44 years at the farmhouse where Ard now operates the White Hill Farmhouse Inn. This is the first book Burchell has written.
The writings have been compared to the poetry of Walt Whitman, Ard said, but Burchell doesn’t consider it as poetry. She simply wants to tell stories.
Burchell, 92, has the same concerns as any new author.
“She’s very excited about the book signing,” Ard said. “She lives at Northridge Retirement Community in independent living. Except for her vision problems, she does really well. She called me and said, ‘They put up a notice about the event on the bulletin board, and I think we’ll have too many people.’”
Ard isn’t worried. The more people who attend, the farther the stories will reach.
Learn more at: www.burchellfarmhouseinn.com
Story by: Rick Brown of the Kearney Hub
