Snapshots from the Trails of History

Last week's post has info on events through Thursday, June 13, and the June program page takes you through the end of the month.

Time for a brief roundup of items that have come across my radar recently.

Gideon Gilpin House at Brandywine Battlefield Park with large sycamore tree (photo Elizabeth Bertheaud)

Longwood Gardens (Chester County) recently posted on their blog about a 4-foot tall sycamore tree planted on the grounds in April. The new tree was grown from cuttings taken by Longwood staff of the approximately 290-year-old sycamore that stands beside the Gideon Gilpin House at Brandywine Battlefield Park (see photo above). The cuttings, taken in 2017, were propagated in Longwood's nursery until ready for planting. According to Longwood arborist Scott Wade, "The result is our new tree now planted in Peirce’s Park, two more recently planted near the springhouse at Brandywine Battlefield...Park, and an additional seven to be planted at the Haverford College Arboretum ... all of which are genetic matches to the original Brandywine Battlefield sycamore." You can read more about the project (and some of the legends of the original tree) in the full blog post.

A recent Facebook post from the Friends of Joseph Priestley House congratulated one of their docents and board members on her nomination for Pennsylvania Teacher of the Year 2020. Colleen Epler-Ruths, PhD, teaches physics and computer science at Shikellamy High School in Sunbury. Nominations for Teacher of the Year come from students, parents, peers, and community members who wish to honor an educator for their work in and out of the classroom. Dr. Epler-Ruths is one of just a dozen finalists from around the Commonwealth. The Teacher of the Year 2020 will be announced in December of this year.