Life Sketches by Terry Berkson

Forever Young: The ‘Home Farm’ Family Dance Goes On

For several years, up until 2019 when COVID cut in, my wife Alice and I attended an August square dance on the sprawling Young “Home Farm,” just outside of the village of Van Hornsville, New York. It was a family affair but, by way of a close friend, we were invited to participate.

The dance was held in the carriage house, one of the original farm buildings that had been cleared out in order to accommodate about a hundred people including a live “Quick Step Band” led by John Kirk on the fiddle and his wife, Trish Miller, on banjo. Both took turns at calling dances. Other musicians, Greg Anderson and Sara Milonovich, lent their skills to produce a very lively barn-rocking sound.

The callers would first prepare the dancers with instruction as to the order in which the do-si-dos, allemandes, promenades and sashays would take place. Then the band began to play and, as the night went on and the dances became more and more intricate, the crowd often became more and more confused but covered the mistakes with hearty sweat-bathed laughter so that in the end there was order—or some degree of order –to the dance.

This year, the shindig was back, and though the long time matriarch Shirley, a granddaughter of industrialist diplomat Owen D. Young, and her patriarch husband, Walter, a retired army brigadier general could not attend, they were still honored as hosts of the dance. The distinguished couple who in recent years no longer participated in the dance but presided over the celebration which amounted to a family reunion—a family reunion centered on a square dance that was first conceived by Shirley’s father, Philip. It has been going on, except for COVID, for the past 86 years. Another senior member who used to attend but no longer participated in the dance was Shirley’s older cousin, John Peter Young, age 98 (known by the family as JP) who up until two years ago was playing his violin with a string quartet in Oakland, California. Several other family members make the yearly trip from the west coast to attend the festivities. There are children, grandchildren, great-grandchildren and great-great-grandchildren—including Owen D.’s past participation, at least five generations in all.

The affair helps to preserve the memory and grand spirit of Owen D. Young and to foster and keep alive strong family ties that maintain a theme of connection. Everyone seems to be enjoying the party. No doubt there’s a “time out” on daily cares and concerns that are put aside for the night.

Owen D. Young left the family farm pursuing an education that eventually made him eligible to attend Saint Lawrence University and later Boston University, where he earned a law degree in 1896. Ironically, following a legal battle against General Electric, he eventually wound up president of the company and coaxed GE into producing home electrical appliances. He also encouraged the electrification of farms, factories and various modes of transportation. At the request of the government, he created RCA, which soon became the largest communications company in the world. During his lifetime, he served as council to five presidents and in 1929 he was Time Magazine’s “Man of the Year.” When he retired from his illustrious career, Young returned to his home town and once again became active in dairy farming. He later funded the construction of a new public school in Van Hornsville which, after his death, was given his name.

And so the dance goes on each year, attracting and revealing new Young faces that will eventually learn to do the steps. No doubt there are and will be among them a host of skilled, talented and educated individuals making their contribution to society. This time, while driving home at the end of the night and still elevated by the energy of the contagious celebration, I thought of the award winning motion picture “Moonstruck” and the memorable toast in the final scene:

“A la famiglia!”

Terry Berkson’s articles have appeared in “New York” magazine, “Automobile” magazine and many others. His memoir, “Corvette Odyssey,” has received many good reviews: “highly recommended with broad appeal,” says “Library Journal.”