Save Our Stuff!

Late last week, the Conservation Center for Art and Historic Artifacts (CCAHA) kicked off its “Pennsylvania’s Top 10 Endangered Artifacts” campaign at the Governor’s Residence, with help from First Lady (and PHMC Commissioner) Susan Corbett. The project is supported by The Pew Center for Arts & Heritage. Staff from PHMC’s Harrisburg offices, Old Economy Village, and the Anthracite Heritage Museum were on hand to mark the occasion along with staff from eight other institutions.

From left: Holly Dofner (OEV), First Lady Susan Corbett,
Mary DeMars and Sarah Buffington (OEV)
(photo courtesy Brenda Reigle)

This project, part of a larger initiative called “Save Pennsylvania’s Past,” is aimed at drawing attention to the millions of artifacts (including objects, archival materials, and books) in the care of Pennsylvania’s museums, libraries, and archives. An independent panel selected 10 entries that represent the variety of holdings and that are in critical need of conservation. Among them are a coat and cap made for Harmony Society leader George Rapp and preserved at Old Economy Village and a coal sculpture of Abraham Lincoln by artist C. Edgar Patience in the collection at the Anthracite Heritage Museum.

From left: Brenda Reigle (PHMC), Ingrid Bogel (Exec. Dir., CCAHA),
Chester Kulesa and John Fielding (Anthracite Heritage)
(photo courtesy Brenda Reigle)

PA’s Top 10 list has already garnered publicity in traditional (for example, here and here) and social media—help us keep up the buzz. Please go to the project website here (or click on the links for the objects listed above). You’ll have a choice to vote for an object, donate to help preserve an object, or share the object on Facebook and/or Twitter. Or you can do all of those things. It’s just that easy. And you’re not limited to just one vote/donation/share, so make it a habit. The PA Top 10 are awarded points for all of these activities—the end result will be support for their conservation and stabilization.

Voting closes on November 1, so please don't wait to get started.

Photos of recent events on the Trails of History:
Artisans Faire, 9/21 at Ephrata Cloister
Cast Iron Cooking Demo, 9/21 at Cornwall Iron Furnace
Erntefest Harvest Festival, 9/21-22 at Old Economy Village
Market and Muster Day, 9/22 at Washington Crossing Historic Park

This weekend’s events:
Saturday, 9/28:
Brandywine Battlefield – Revolutionary War Encampment event, includes craft demonstrations, reenactors, and house tours (here for info). Admission charged. 10 am-3 pm.
Drake Well Museum - Drake Well by Moonlight (here for details). Admission charged (family rate available). 6:30-9:30 pm. (Oil Valley Blacksmiths will be on site for their monthly meeting and demo, 9 am-2 pm that day, included in regular admission.)

Sunday, 9/29:
Sunday afternoon interpretive programming at Hope Lodge Historic Site, Landis Valley Village and Farm Museum, and Pennsbury Manor.