Volume 22 Number 1 January 2017

Hawthorne Florida's Premier Retirement Community

We are presenting here variousstatements from the archives ofHawthorne's Historical Society foryour reading and contemplation.

"1974 was a very good year. Itbegan with 175 residents occupying103 homes. We now have nearly 800residents in approximately 425homes. Phase One of our buildingprogram is complete and newcomersare moving into Phase Two. Ourprogram advisory board has grown to42 activity chairmen. We have awealth of talent among our residentsand as they come forward, ourcommunity is developing into themodel retirement area we havedreamed about."An observation at the close of 1974.

The excitement was growing."The residents at Hawthorne at

Leesburg truly feel they are lucky, tohave found their 'Shangri-La' wherethey hope to live to be a hundred."Anon March 1974.

Although Hawthorne's facilities areoutstanding, its programs complete,it's the people of Hawthorne who arethe final ingredient making thiscommunity TOPS.Daily Commercial article.November 9,1974.

An Enclave of SanityJoe Feol in Penn Notes

September 1977

To me, Hawthorne is anenclave of sanity in anotherwise mixed up world.Values held dear here arethose of an era whenintegrity, responsibility andlove of one's neighbor werecornerstones of everydayliving. These tenets areprecious for we find we havemuch in common with ourneighbors.

We feel safe in this oasis ofthe arts and culture becauseour friends and neighborsare our own mirror imagesin spirit, cultural aspirationsand moral outlook. # # #Did you know that Joe alsoplayed the violin?

Hawthorne has other giftsfor you and me. "Where elseis one so needed in so manyways, by so many people, ashere?" Some people maywrite about "The graying ofAmerica" as if it were adisease or' at least anaffliction to growing old. AtHawthorne people wear ageas a badge of honor. "It is agift I'll always cherish," saymany residents, "this senseof usefulness, and the

See page 2 - Premier

Premier - from page 1recognition that I am genuinelyneeded."Dr. Earl Kauffman ProgramActivities DirectorDecember 1977Think about that - growing old

a badge of honor!More than 1800 people have

left the mainstream of Americanbusiness and public life to residein Hawthorne; to enjoy theHawthorne way of life. Somecame because they liked thesurroundings; some camethrough mutual friends; stillothers came to regenerate theirlives in an area of professionalskills in art, music and crafts.Many came for the sheer fun ofliving in a culture where there isno generation gap, wherecommon past experience can beshared with understanding.Joe Feol February 1978

There you have it. By early1978 Hawthorne was close toour present day population.Think about it - No generationgap!

Scientific evidence pretty wellsubstantiates the conviction thatthe two greatest attributes tosuccessful retirement are goodhealth and opportunities to beactive. Our goal for theHawthorne program is to assisteach resident to achieve themaximum success in the years oftheir retirement by being healthyand active.Dr.Earl Kauffman March 1978

What Hawthorne Means ToMe

Rosamond H. Braddock inPenn Notes May 1978

Hawthorne means manydifferent things to me, suchas a life of ease andsimplicity. After so manyyears of the nine-to-fivehustle, Hawthorne means avacation-like atmosphere theyear round, without theworry of wondering if myhusband and I could takevacations together.

Hawthorne means a time ofpure enjoyment without thehassle of worrying abouttrying to keep up with theJones. Hawthorne means anight's walk without beingafraid, it means being able toenjoy hobbies, nature, thingsthat were hard to come bywhen we were working.

Hawthorne means a worldof my own, or if I choose,sharing interestingexperiences ... not from aboastful way, but a genuineoutpouring of interestingconversation. Last but notleast, Hawthorne means amanagement that hasworked closely with two verylarge organizations toprovide a community thatgives me a way of life gearedto my pace, and amanagement that hasprovided so much for so

2

~$:l.....1'1'o.,I

C"lI'Do.,

(JQI'D

:Eo-.....,::0I'D

"0

o::l.I'D.,CIl

"t'lC.l1'1'

::cs::.,c=s::.,1'1'

t:""Si'$:l.C.l::0o$:l.$:l.

'<:::

3:C.l.,•...C.l

=or'l::rCIl

::cC.l

~::ro.,=I'D::0I'D

3I'D

3c:rI'D.,CIl

little.Hawthorne means I can be

ME ... totally.Editor's note: RosamondBraddock was Hawthorne'sfirst Historian, appointed byColonial Penn CommunitiesPresident, Amos Henley in1976.

oSr'l•...C.l-

.... if tempted sometimes toreflect upon the quality of lifethat may be left us, let's bequick with cheery thoughtsabout the quality of life righthere in Hawthorne. "Makelittle of your troubles; much ofyour good fortune" - just tobe here!Spencer Archdeacon July1978

YES! How blessed we arethat Hawthorne is our home.

"t'ls::c:r-•...r'lC.l1'1'•...o=o.....,;.I'D

::cC.l

~o.,=I'D::c•...CIl1'1'o.,....r'lC.l-CI:)oO.I'D-<

The sharing of talent, soprevalent here is anotherexpression of love andfriendliness. The sharing oflove and friendship inHawthorne has many faces,even as the many-faceteddiamond, for here are livingrealities that feed the heartand lift the soul. Long live."Espirit de Hawthorne."Joe Feol July 1978Joe certainly had a gift withwords!

Our quotations this far haveall been the thoughts of thosewho lived in our communityBEFOREwe became aCooperative. 1982 was thetransition year. The following

statement by one of the leadersin our successful purchase of thecommunity from Colonial-Perm isfamous for this statement.

"Snowflakes are one ofnature's most fragile things, butjust look at what they can dowhen they stick together! "Carl Curtis May 1982On December 15, 1982 the

residents purchased thecommunity from Colonial-Perm.The Green Sheet for March 16,1984 listed the achievements ofthe new Cooperative to date.This can be found on ourHistorical Society web sitewww.historicalsociety.org Theitem is Green Sheet Volume 2Number 5. We highlight here afew of these accomplishments.

17months ago we set up asales office to sell shares in ourCooperative. We have soldshares to the residents of 1,086homes - 95% of our total homes.NO ONE lost their residencybecause of inability to purchasetheir share.

The operating budget for 1983reduced the operating costsmore than one million dollarsbelow Colonial-Perm 3.5 million1981 budget.. We ended the year1983 with revenue 1% morethan budgeted revenue and 1%less than budgeted expenses.

We inherited an over-abundance of employees. Wereduced employment from 83 to52.

See Premier page 4

Premier from page 3After months of interviews

with management companiesand individuals, our SearchCommittee recommended wekeep local control of ouroperations. Dan Gorden washired as General Manager.He has built a qualified staff.They have assumed alloperating functions.

The outside of all buildingshas been painted - the firsttime in 7 years.

The clubhouse and activitycenter has been refinishedand refurbished - the firsttime since construction 10years ago.

The $800,000 mortgage ispaid off and Hawthorne iscompletely debt free.

The purchase of ourcommunity guaranteedcontrol of our future by theresidents. This new libertywas acclaimed andappreciated. A Board ofDirectors now providesdirection for our community.We control our own destiny.

The excitement continues!

Hawthorne is unique. Itoffers the greatest oppor-tunities of anywhere to leada fulfilling life. Food for souland mind and a chance to useyour brain.Don DornbrookJanuary 1987

In April 1998, I willcelebrate two years atHawthorne - yes, I meancelebrate because it is asthough my life has begun oncemore. Previously I had been insouth Florida where I residedfor 10 years in an adultcommunity. There were somesocial activities, but nothing tocompare with Hawthorne. Forthose who have never lived atanother adult or associationcomplex - trust me!Hawthorne has it all besidesbeing affordable ... Bless allthose who helped build a placefor me, and to those whocome, may they keepHawthorne the "friendly place"it's been.Eileen Sisco February 1998

You may have missed an HTVprogram a couple of monthsago. Linda Roddy made astatement, "How fortunate weare to live in Hawthorne - itslike being in a cocoon." That isa truth we readily acknow-ledge. May our happiness asresidents of Hawthornecontinue for many more years.

G.Wolf Scrivener

Happy New Year to All

4