Date | Event |
---|
1881 | A group of fourteen adults and four children led by Horatio
Gates Spafford (1828-1888) and Anna T. Spafford traveled to the Holy Land from
Chicago, Ill., and formed a Christian utopian community in Jerusalem |
1888 | Horatio Gates Spafford died; Anna T. Spafford became leader
of the group |
1895 | Custody trial concerning guardianship of Ruth Whiting and
John D. Whiting, children of American Colony member, Mary E. Whiting, Chicago,
Ill. |
1896 | Groups of Swedes joined the American Colony; members of the
Swedish Evangelical Church, led by Olaf Henrik Larsson, arrived from Chicago,
Ill., in April and others from the village of Nås in Dalarna, Sweden, arrived
in August |
1898 | American Colony Photo Department established |
1902 | American Colony began operating a hostel for visitors to the
Holy Land |
1904-1948 | Operation of Fr. Vester and Co., American Colony Store,
managed by Frederick Vester and John D. Whiting, inside Jaffa Gate in the Old
City, Jerusalem |
1915-1918 | Colony members engaged in relief efforts and charitable
activities for the local populace during World War I |
circa 1918-1922 | Administered an orphanage supported by Christian
Herald |
1923 | Anna T. Spafford died; Bertha Spafford Vester assumed
leadership role |
1926 | Started a baby home; over the years it became the Anna
Spafford Baby Home, the Spafford Children's Hospital, and the Spafford
Children's Center |
1927 | Infant Welfare Center established |
1929 | Opened a playground in the Old City |
1929-1930 | American Colony organized into a corporation, American
Colony of Jerusalem, resulting in a split in the group and the departure of
many of the Swedish members |
1929 | American Colony Stores, Inc., established |
1931 | Vester and Co. New York store sold to Nils Lind |
1960 | Vester and Co., Ltd., established |
1980 | Management of American Colony Hotel taken over by Gauer
Hotels of Switzerland following retirement of Horatio Vester |
Date | Event |
---|
1828, Oct. 20 | Born, Lansingburgh, N.Y. |
circa 1856 | Moved to Chicago, Ill. |
1856-1881 | Practiced law, Chicago, Ill. |
1861 | Married Anna Tubena Lawson (originally Larsson) |
1871 | Suffered financial losses in the Great Fire, Chicago,
Ill. |
1873 | Lost four daughters in the sinking of the
Ville du Havre |
circa 1873 | Wrote lyrics for the hymn “It Is Well with My
Soul” |
1878 | Published Waiting for the Morning and Other Poems. Chicago: F. H. Revell |
1881 | Following family tragedies and a split from his church, led
a group of people to Jerusalem and set up a Christian utopian community that
became known as the American Colony |
circa 1882-1888 | Taught English, Alliance Israelite boys' school |
1888, Oct. 16 | Died, Jerusalem, Palestine |
Date | Event |
---|
1879, Mar. 24 | Born, Lake View, Chicago, Ill. |
1881 | Moved to Jerusalem, Palestine |
1897 | Director, Moslem girls school, Jerusalem |
1904 | Married Frederick Vester (died 1942); first marriage allowed
in American Colony |
1925 | Founder, Anna Baby Home which later became the Anna Spafford
Baby Home, the Spafford Children's Hospital, and the Spafford Children's
Center, Jerusalem |
circa 1931 | Established American Colony Aid Association |
1950 | Published Our Jerusalem: An American Family in the Holy City, 1881-1949. New York, Doubleday & Co. |
1962 | Published Flowers of the Holy Land. Kansas City, Mo., Hallmark Cards |
1964 | Published new and enlarged edition, Flowers of the Holy Land. Kansas City, Mo., Hallmark Cards |
1963 | Awarded Jordan Star by Hussein, King of Jordan |
1968, June 27 | Died, Jerusalem, Israel |