Quaker Village

Monteverde was founded in 1951 by a group of 44 North American Quakers-most from Fairhope, Alabama—who as a matter of conscience had refused to register for the draft. Led by John Campbell and Wilford “Wolf” Guindon, they chose Costa Rica for a new home because-it had done away with its army. With the help of their Costa Rican neighbors, the Quakers began developing the community that exists today. They built roads and cleared much of the virgin forest for dairy farming. They decided to make cheese because it was the only product that could be stored and moved to market (without spoiling) along a muddy oxcart trail. Cheese is still a mainstay of the local economy, arid the Quaker organization is still active in Monteverde (it meets every Wednesday morning at time Friends’ Meeting House; visitors are welcome).

The area had been heavily deforested when Gum don and company arrived. Monteverde’s founders, however, were environmentally conscious and set aside a heavily timbered region near the headwaters of the Rio Guacimal to be held undisturbed and in common to safeguard the water source for their small hydroelectric plant. The area attracted scientists, especially after a small brilliantly colored frog— the golden toad—was discovered in 1964. In 1972, under threat of homesteading in the surrounding cloud forest, visiting scientists George and Harriet Powell joined forces with longtime resident Wilford Guindon and, overcoming local resistance, established a 328-hectare wildlife sanctuary. In 1975, the 554-hectare community watershed reserve was annexed with the aid of a $40,000 grant from the World Wildlife Fund. Together they formed the initial core of the Monteverde Cloud Forest Biological Reserve.

Don’t expect to find the Quakers walking down the road dressed like the chap off the oatmeal box. Cuaquerismo (Quakerism) in Monteverde is a low-key affair.

Much of the information on our site as it relates to Costa Rica is:

Courtesy of Christopher P. Baker and Avalon Travel Publishing.
© 2004 Christopher P. Baker. All Rights Reserved.

A2Z Languages highly recommends Christopher P. Baker's book: Moon Handbooks Costa Rica. Click on the image to visit his website where you can purchase this book or find out more about the author.

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