Sometimes the path we have chosen makes an unusual turn which we do not expect. That is what occurred for us as the Fundraising Team tried to create a brochure for the project.

Since the Consistory approved of the name Dina’s Dwellings, we have been trying to find a picture of Dina Van Bergh (Freylinghuysen Hardenbergh). Our search took us into the RCA’s Archivist’s office of Russ Gasero, who had much to say about the life and witness of Dina. Most likely, he informed us, there will be no portraits of Dina, since she was a part of the pietistic movement in the middle colonies of the 1700’s. It was common practice that such Christians refrained from hanging mirrors or portraits in their houses because this would promote vanity. What evidences remain of Dina are some of her diaries which have been translated into English. However, the Archivist shared with us a beautiful doll which was hand made by Louretta Lane in 1980. Ms. Lane was once the organist at the Readington Reformed Church and created the doll for their Harvest Home event. Supposedly the doll is wearing a replica of a dress of Dina’s that is held by Rutgers University’s Special Collections. What we are excited about is that we will receive the Dina doll on permanent loan from the RCA Archive. Continue reading →