Today I attended a presentation at the local Schwenkfelder Library. Schwenkfelders are plain people in the same sense as Mennonites and Amish. They were also the founding fathers of my private boys (now co-ed) secondary school. The Library has become a Museum as well and shares the campus of my Alma Mater.
Today's monthly "brown bag" presentation was about a local "fixture". Ralph W. Berky (1890-1977) was known in the Butter Valley area as “The Birdman.” He was an eccentric figure walking the Valley in a long overcoat that had pockets filled with birdseed. His love of nature was evident in his hand illustrated postcards inscribed with his poetry. I was to find out today that he attended Perkiomen School also. It took him 9 years to advance from 8th to the 12th grade---and he walked 6 miles each way to school. He never failed, he simply didn't take enough courses in a timely way to get through in 4 years
He walked, he had no car nor time for one---they moved entirely too fast. He had dabbled in the "other" world having worked for the IRS in DC but found it unfulfilling. He came home to live a life that was ultimately to his liking.
I never saw anyone pass him by as he walked along the highway without a wave---nothing demonstrative--just a lifting of his hand. He was far from a recluse, he made regular visits to town and visited with shop keepers and customers. Never----NEVER did I ever hear of kids or anyone else poke fun at this old man who wore an old trench coat almost year around. He had sewn extra pockets in it to carry bird seed and "treats". When it got too hot for his coat he used a bag slung over one shoulder to carry his "necessaries".
His real love was a tract of woodland (about 3 acres) that was offered for his use by one of the local farmers. It became known as Larkland. He cut trails through the woods and welcomed anyone to visit, sit awhile and rejoice in the sounds of nature. He would teach the kids about not only the birds, but the trees and and simply listening to nature. He wrote a poem each morning at dawn and another at dusk and often put them on post cards to different people.
He cut the grass in our cemetery (Mennonite) with a push real mower. The elders decided he was too old for that and bought him a power mower---he used it twice and then went back to the push mower. He said the thing made far too much noise and he couldn't hear even the loudest birds.
Ultimately, in Feb of 1977 he could no longer make his long daily walks to Larkland and to town and he was taken to the Mennonite Home (founded by one of my ancestors). He passed away on Good Friday and was buried on Easter Sunday.
Now for the rest of the story: some alum of our past site and here might remember "Alaska Ranger", AKA Audubon Bakewell. There was a connection between Mr. Berkey and a descendant of John James Audubon and his wife Lucy Bakewell Audubon. I missed what the speaker said and have to go back over the recording to capture that------but the light went on---clearly Alaskan Ranger is a descendent of John James Audubon.
I will have to send "Audie" a note
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...Ben
Originally Posted by Truckman
