Union Township—On Sunday, July 8, Audubon Center Director Jean Bochnowski will present an overview of John James Audubon’s Mill Grove, the home of the famous naturalist, ornithologist and painter and the namesake of the Audubon Society. Sponsored by the Friends of Hopewell Furnace, the free program will begin at 2 p.m. in the Hopewell Furnace Conference Room.
Located in Audubon, PA, Mill Grove was home to John James Audubon from 1803-1808. Here he achieved the first bird-banding experiment in America; invented a method of wiring dead birds in order to paint them in a naturalist manner; and married Lucy Bakewell in 1808 who supported and promoted his work during his lifetime. Today the property is owned by Montgomery County and managed by the Audubon Society.
Jean Bochnowski was hired as Center Director for the Mill Grove Audubon Center in October 2003. She served six years as the Executive Vice President/Chief Administrative Officer of Zoo New England. During her tenure, Boston’s Franklin Park and Stone Zoos achieved an unprecedented eighty percent increase in attendance, a 241 percent increase in guest revenue, and a 400 percent increase in fundraising. She is credited with building from the ground up programs in marketing, development, information services, education, guest amenities, and human resources. Ms. Bochnowski has a BS in Mass Communication and an MS in Administration. Prior to joining Audubon, she served as the Executive Director of the Rainbow Endowment, a national grant making foundation established by tennis legend Martina Navratilova.
Established in 1994, the Friends of Hopewell Furnace is the official non-profit fundraising arm of Hopewell Furnace National Historic Site. A 501(c)3 citizen organization, its mission is to support the preservation, maintenance and programs of Hopewell Furnace National Historic Site. Donations to the Friends may be tax deductible according to the rules set by the Internal Revenue Service.
Hopewell Furnace National Historic Site is located in the Hay Creek- French Creek Forest Block Important Bird Area designated by the Audubon Society in the 1990s. Visitors are encouraged to explore the natural landscape, go into the village, tour the buildings, and learn about iron making and why Hopewell Furnace is important to our nation’s history. Open 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.; Wednesday thru Sunday, the park is located five miles south of Birdsboro, PA, off Route 345. For more information visit www.friendsofhopewellfurn.org.
