09/03/2026
THE HOPE CHEST
This Hope Chest has a story of its own.
My grandfather Jim made the chest, and my grandmother Polly filled it with pieces she had made by hand.
On the final day of our 2026 season, I opened that chest and shared those pieces with our visitors — telling the story of my grandparents and the things my grandmother had carefully made and saved.
But this year, we decided to add a new chapter to its story.
Each week of our summer had a different theme, rooted in heritage and history. Throughout the season, we collected one meaningful piece from each week.
Then, on our final day, we brought all eight pieces together.
One by one, they were placed inside the Hope Chest. As we briefly spoke about each one.
Eight weeks. Eight stories. One summer.
Then we closed the chest.
And just like that, our 2026 season became part of the Hope Chest’s story. 🕊️❤️