Did you ever go to Brooklyn to visit Bethel?

by JH 26 Replies latest jw friends

  • Dagney
    Dagney

    I visited several times in 80's and early 90's. I was different then...I had good friends there and it was fun. Disco dancing, dinner at the WTC, trip to UN...it was really fun.

    But I was in NY for business with a bunch of JW's a few years ago who wanted to visit Bethel. I did NOT want to go, didn't bring a skirt...I tried everything, but the kicker is we had to leave on the same plane that afternoon and a storm was coming in...it was getting complicated. So, reluctantly I went.

    Man...has it changed. They were sooo grumpy!! Being there in the past and staying at the Standish, at that time in my life was fun, and the Bethelites were fun. But now, they were somber, did not even acknowledge you when they walked by...it was very strange. We were toured by an exceptionally bright upper eschalon Bethelite "star", very nice, I guess. It was strange looking at the sister trying to keep her knees together as she washed the glass doors in the entrance way in a skirt.

    Then I overheard the desk clerk talking to a gal that I think was there on temporary assignment...and he said he never ever thought in a million years he would still be there. (Duh!!) The mood and attitude was so different. Obviously, they are facing changes and that sure would affect the way you felt about things, "am I going to be let go?

    For somebody who has never been, they would still be excited to see it I think. But it has truly changed. (Yeah!!!!!)

  • Outaservice
    Outaservice

    When I was there several years ago they were still showing off the Line-O-Type machines as if they were some great things! Very outdated even then! Lunch time was a great rush, give me some Peptobizmo. Someone liked wall murals as they were all over the place. I think I saw a Buddah in the library where different countries were depicted then. I don't know if that still exists or not, maybe some of you Bethel guys know?

    God must really love buildings according to them! It was even a part of their 'logo' on the inside cover of books for many years.

    Outaservice

  • lonelysheep
    lonelysheep

    No, I've only driven by it numerous times. I have taken a tour of the UN, though!

  • restrangled
    restrangled

    When I was about 10 years old (37 years ago) most of our congregation (about 100 people) booked a tour to see Bethel which was organized by the PO.....back when only one man ran the show. I remember it being very austere, and ugly. Gray cement floors, absolutely no dust anywhere....

    One of the biggest highlights of the trip was also a day tour to the UN! My family missed it because my dad was sick. We went to the farm, and the description of the slaughtering/machines/drainage really got to me. We also saw them making furniture, printing, etc., etc.

    It was all very prison like and no one was very friendly.

    We also went to a show by the Rocketts and a movie, it was either, The Great Escape, or the Twelve Chairs, I can't remember which.

    r.

  • cathyk
    cathyk

    I used to live in Queens. I'd been following the events leading up to 1975 while I was in high school, and had an academic interest in the JW religion. I've never been one myself.

    I finally visited Bethel toward the end of my time in college. I went on the factory tour first. I was pretty obviously not a Witness: jeans, t-shirt, corduroy watch cap, and sneakers. But they were nice to me, and scared up a tour guide since I'd shown up at an off-hour. Her name was Wendy. She was young, pretty, and very relaxed. She hadn't memorized the spiel, so she let the factory workers (one of whom was GORGEOUS -- *sigh* -- he was working on typesetting the "Bible Story" book into some foreign language) tell me about the work they were doing. It was fun.

    Later on I went on the Bethel home tour with my then-boyfriend. The tour guide reminded me of one of those Disney Animatronic(TM) presidents -- canned speech and in full witnessing mode. Not as much fun. I felt sorry for the laundry workers -- no AC in summer at that time. Yikes.

    Cathy Koenig

    www.oldlighthousebooks.com

  • orangefatcat
    orangefatcat

    Yes I have been to the Bethel in N.Y.

    It was in 1967, prior to our anticapted trip to serve where the need was greater in South America.

    All i remember of it was that it was boring. Walking and walking and walking, they didn't even invite us for a meal while we were there in view of the fact we were going to move to serve where the need was greater. The tour guide was in another zone I guess and our tour was just us as a family.

    I didn't think it was all that great to be totally honest.

    Orangefatcat

  • Seeker4
    Seeker4

    Have visited Brooklyn Bethel many, many times starting when I was a teenager in the 1960s, through the 70s, 80s, and into the 90s. Have not been for well over a decade. Had lots of friends at Bethel, and knew enough of the "heavies" to get many an insider's tour.

    We always found it exciting, and looked forward to it. Was like being at the center of the universe, amidst all the "spiritual giants," or so it seemed at the time.

    Later, it would be a different story.

    S4

  • mouthy
    mouthy

    I have five videos of a bus load of us picketing it.... LOl It shows all the DEAR Brothers & Sisters walking past us with their noses in the air....Got me with the "bull horn" telling them I love em....
    But I never could understand why they still walked by with their nose in the air....Like I stunk, I did use my deoderant also.... .

  • Highlander
    Highlander
    she saved her money for years to go, got there and saw that theater that is so fancy and got sick to her stomach at how much she struggled for years to donate donate donate and with no education , working her butt off just to live in a used mobile home..it kind of sticks it in your face that your financing a religion just like jim bakers or jerry falwells.. no big difference at all.

    Hmmm. Maybe I should send my wife there. She came from a very poor background and might be offended at the money being spent on non-spiritual items.

  • nonamegiven
    nonamegiven

    I've been a few times, even stayed in an apartment in 90 Sands building. Then stayed a week in Walkill in a vacation house for Bethelites in the mountans. It was very nice but if it weren't for my uncle being there for 30 years I don't know if I'd spend the money to go see it.

Share this

Google+
Pinterest
Reddit