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Volunteers of the Year 2023

Group photo of Volunteer of the Year honorees, site administrators, Associate Group presidents, and presenters

This past Saturday, April 15, we held our first in-person PHMC Volunteer of the Year awards ceremony since 2019 (see group photo above). We honored volunteers for service in 2022. Although the weather was quite rainy in Harrisburg, the assembled group at The State Museum of Pennsylvania was cheerful, vibrant, and good-humored. It was truly a pleasure to bring people together to say thank you for the hours of time and the tremendous amounts of talent that our volunteers contribute, working alongside our dedicated staff to care for collections, present programs, lead tours and school groups, help maintain and beautify our grounds, and much more.

The Outstanding Service Award was presented in memoriam to Nancy Hetrick (1944-2022) on behalf of the Pennsylvania Lumber Museum and the PA Lumber Museum Associates (PALMA). Nancy was a long-time volunteer at the Lumber Museum who helped create many new programs over the past 10 years or so, actively supported the annual Bark Peelers' Festival, and served as Board Secretary and editor for the PALMA newsletter (read the Outstanding Service Award citation). Nancy's husband and fellow volunteer, Roger, accepted the award in her memory.

This year's Volunteer of the Year honorees were (click on the names to see an individual photo and read about the honoree's service):

Anthracite Heritage Museum - Chester Kulesa
Brandywine Battlefield Park - Mario Lerario
Bushy Run Battlefield - Jim Comunale
Conrad Weiser Homestead - Lynn Otto
Cornwall Iron Furnace - Dan Snyder
Daniel Boone Homestead
Drake Well Museum & Park - Faith Mealy and Amber Hannold
Eckley Miners' Village - Matthew Gaydos
Ephrata Cloister - Douglas Gehr
Erie Maritime Museum & U.S. Brig Niagara - Gayle Chojnacki
Graeme Park - Kevin Horan
Hope Lodge - Phil Williams
Joseph Priestley House - Mike McWilliams
Landis Valley Village & Farm Museum - Linda Schock
Old Economy Village - Joyce Patterson
Pennsbury Manor - Douglas Lehnen
Pennsylvania Lumber Museum - Janifer and John Halter
Pennsylvania Military Museum - Simon Cressman
Railroad Museum of Pennsylvania - Stephen Jacobs
Somerset Historical Center - Ron Hillegas
The State Museum of Pennsylvania - Alice Herncane

Up Next

Today, April 21

Learn at Lunchtime (virtual); 12:15-12:45 pm; The State Museum of PA

Emily Boyd, small game mammal biologist for the Pennsylvania Game Commission, will talk about the three Pennsylvania rabbit and hare species and the ongoing research to improve management and promote the continued presence of all lagomorph species for future generations of Pennsylvanians. Program is free, but you must register to receive the link (April 21 Learn at Lunchtime registration).

Saturday, April 22

Common Threads Fiber Symposium (in-person); 9 am-4 pm; Somerset Historical Center

Cosponsored by Somerset Historical Center and Laurel Arts, this event offers an opportunity for regional fiber artists to share their skills and knowledge with each other as well as the public. Fiber artists will be set up throughout the museum, demonstrating specific techniques, providing hands-on activities to participants, and selling or talking about their hand-made products. Admission is $5 (Fiber Symposium info).

Earth Day (in-person); 10 am-3 pm; Brandywine Battlefield Park

From seeing our Living History interpreters to interacting with the Delaware Nature and Science Museum animals and employees, visitors will get to experience a fun-filled Earth Day (Brandywine Earth Day program info).

Spring Antique Show and Sawmill Run (in-person); Saturday & Sunday, 10 am-4 pm; PA Lumber Museum

There will be antiques and collectibles vendors and historic trades demonstrations, including the museum's birch still (plus cooking demos 11 am-1 pm). On Saturday only, the steam-powered circular sawmill will be operating (plus Earth Day craft activities 2-4 pm). Admission is $8. There will be food and drink for purchase (Spring Antique Show info).

StoryTime (in-person); 10:30-11:30 am; The State Museum of PA

Listen to a reading of Spring After Spring by Stephanie Roth and explore the story of Rachel Carson, create a spring drawing, and look for signs of spring in the galleries. For ages 2 to Pre-K and included in regular admission. Sign up at the Ground Floor Info Desk (StoryTime info).

Celebrate Earth Day: Plant a Tree (in-person); 1:30-2:30 pm; The State Museum of PA

Learn more about the trees in Pennsylvania and how they make our lives better. Then take a seedling home to plant. Supplies are limited, so register at the Ground Floor Info Desk when you arrive to receive a seedling. Included in regular admission (State Museum Earth Day info).

Sunday, April 23

Beer Brewing and Garden Highlights (in-person); 1-4 pm; Pennsbury Manor

Explore and experience the sights, sounds, and smells of the recipes and plants that fed the early residents of Pennsbury. Included in regular admission (Pennsbury Sunday afternoon program info).

Wednesday, April 26

Lunch & Learn (in-person); 10 am-2 pm; Graeme Park

Author C.J. McGroarty will discuss her novel, Clara in a Time of War, which is set on a Chester County farm in 1777. The program also includes continental breakfast, buffet lunch, and tours of the Keith House. Tickets are $35 (Lunch & Learn program info and tickets - sales end April 21).

Stargazing: Tonight's Sky (in-person); 2-3 pm; The State Museum of PA

Chat with the Planetarium director to learn about what you can see in tonight's sky, the basic motions of the sky, visible constellations and planets, and any special celestial events coming up in the next month. Regular admission and planetarium ticket required (Stargazing program info).

New Exhibit Reception (in-person); 6:30-7:30 pm; Erie Maritime Museum

Join us as we unveil our newest exhibit, Snipe to…Black Ice – featuring a 1900-built ice boat that sailed Presque Isle Bay for over one hundred years. Enjoy light refreshments and a chance to talk with the men who were the last to sail this ice boat (and who donated it to the museum). Event is free (Exhibit reception info).

Thursday, April 27

Wheels Go Round (in-person); 11:30 am-12:30 pm; The State Museum of PA

Travel through the Second Floor of the museum to discover how many objects have wheels. Create your own vehicle using different parts and pieces. Included in regular admission (Wheels Go Round program info).

Advance Tickets or Registrations

Behind the Scenes with the Heirloom Seed Project (in-person); Saturday, Apr. 29, 9 am and 1 pm; Landis Valley Village & Farm Museum

Heirloom Seed Project staff and volunteers will offer a glimpse into preparations for the annual Herb & Garden Faire and lead a tour of gardens on the site. Two tour times: 9 am or 1 pm. The tour is two hours of walking around the museum grounds, rain or shine; please dress for the weather with comfortable footwear. Tickets are $40, $35 for members (Heirloom Seed Project tour tickets).

Art in the Garden (in-person); Saturday, Apr. 29, 10 am-1 pm; Pennsbury Manor

Take a tour of Pennsbury's gardens and grounds, then settle into your favorite spot and paint. All skill levels welcome; materials provided. Cost is $35, $30 for members. Registration required (Pennsbury Manor contact info).

Salon Social (Tea) (in-person: Saturday, Apr. 29, 1-3 pm; Anthracite Heritage Museum

Join us for afternoon tea featuring Victorian and Edwardian fashions, tea sandwiches, desserts, coffee and tea. Make reservations by calling 570/963-4804 or emailing ahmuseum@verizon.net. Tickets are $25 and the deadline to reserve is April 23 (call 570/963-4804 or email ahmuseum@verizon.net).

Sensory Hours (in-person); Tuesday, May 2, 3-5 pm; Railroad Museum of PA

Light, sound, and crowd levels will be lower, and there will be some quiet spaces in the galleries to take a break. Several historic trains will be open with staff on hand to answer questions. Advance tickets required (May 2 Sensory Hours tickets).

Herb & Garden Faire (in-person); Friday and Saturday, May 12-13, 9 am-5 pm; Landis Valley Village & Farm Museum

The Faire, featuring plants from Landis Valley Museum’s Heirloom Seed Project, will also offer heirlooms, natives, and other hard-to-find varieties to purchase from vendors spread out over the historic village area of the site. The 2023 Herb & Garden Faire is the 35th year of this high-profile regional event. Food and drink will be available onsite. Tickets are available at the door or in advance online (Herb & Garden Faire online tickets).

Mother's Day Breakfast and Cake Walk (in-person); Sunday, March 14, 10 am-Noon; Graeme Park

Treat Mom to a Mother’s Day breakfast in the large event tent at Graeme Park! After your meal, enjoy a tour of the Keith House or participate in our cake walk (separate $10 ticket to be sold on site) to win a cake to take home with you. Tickets must be purchased in advance (tickets for Mother's Day breakfast).

Summer Camp Programs (camps are in-person unless marked otherwise)

Brandywine Battlefield Park (Brandywine camp info)

Live the Battle Week (grades 3-4), June 27-30, 9 am-2 pm
Step Into the Past Week (grades 3-4), July 11-14, 9 am-2 pm
Live the Battle Week (grades 5-6), July 18-21, 9 am-2 pm
Step Into the Past Week (grades 5-6), July 25-28, 9 am-2 pm

Bushy Run Battlefield (Bushy Run camp info)

Colonial Life (grades 1-5), June 19-21, 10 am-3 pm

Drake Well Museum & Park (Drake Well camp info)

Discovery Days Camp (ages 8-12), July 6, 13, 20 & 27, 9 am-4 pm

Landis Valley Village & Farm Museum (LVVFM camp info)

A Child's Life in the Civil War (ages 5-11), July 18-21, 9 am-12:30 pm

Pennsbury Manor (Pennsbury camp info)

Colonial Camp Week (ages 6-8), July 17-21, 9 am-4 pm

Railroad Museum of PA (RMP camp info)

Barons & Builders Summer Day Camp (ages 9-10), July 11-14
SOLD OUT Barons & Builders Summer Day Camp (ages 11-12), July 25-28

Volunteers of the Year 2022

White background with small white longstemmed flowers. A blue box contains text in white letters: "Thank you, PHMC Volunteers! National Volunteer Week 2022"

As National Volunteer Week draws to a close (tomorrow, April 23), let's take a few moments to thank all of PHMC's volunteers, who support the agency's programs and behind-the-scenes efforts in so many ways. It's been a rough couple of years (just call me the queen of understatement), and our volunteers have been patient and flexible, adapting to changes in how we work and how we serve the public. Because of the disruptions caused by being closed to the public for most of 2020 and the first quarter of 2021, we expanded the timeframe for honoring volunteer service this year to include 2020 and 2021.

The 2020-21 honorees, including four recipients of the Outstanding Service Award, are pictured below, and there is a link for each so that you can read more about their volunteer activities (thank you to all the sites for providing this information). Please join me in congratulating them and thanking them for their support of the Pennsylvania Trails of History.

A quick note: Looking for the coming week's events? Up Next, April 22-29

Outstanding Service Awards

White man in a dark suit with white shirt and striped tie. He has white hair and wears glasses. He's standing in front of a large stone wall with a fireplace and a Christmas wreath.

Alan Mochnick, Bushy Run Battlefield (citation)

White man portraying a historic oilfield worker in a plaid shirt, dark pants, suspenders and a cap holds a wrench in his left hand. He is looking toward a piece of historic oil field equipment.

David Weber (in memoriam), Drake Well Museum & Park (citation)

White woman with short dark hair and glasses stands in front of a large fireplace wearing a dark green colonial-style dress with white edging, white gloves and a white cap. She is talking to a visitor wearing a dark gray jacket.

Jo Ann Long, Joseph Priestley House (citation)

White man in a blue sweater and brown pants stands in front of collections storage shelves. Next to him is a faceless mannequin with a WWI-era olive drab uniform jacket and hat.

Norman Oelschlegel, The State Museum of Pennsylvania (citation)

Volunteers of the Year for Service in 2020-21

White man with dark hair wearing a brown t-shirt and standing in front of a window with white vertical blinds.

Justin Skavery, Anthracite Heritage Museum & Scranton Iron Furnaces (citation)

Black man with glasses and graying goatee in Rev War uniform with black tricorn hat, white breeches, red stockings, blue coat with red and yellow edging. He's standing in the courtyard of a stone military barracks with red railings on balcony and stairs and holding a musket.

Noah Lewis, Brandywine Battlefield Park (citation)

White man with white hair wearing a blue and white check shirt stands in front of a stone fireplace next to a white man with brown hair wearing a gray patterned sweater.

Joe Ramus (left) and Larry Gesner, Bushy Run Battlefield (citation)

White man with dark hair and glasses wearing a sweater with ornate black and white pattern

David Sonnen, Conrad Weiser Homestead (citation)

White man with graying hair stands in front of a brown stone wall. He's wearing a blue button-down shirt with the words "Cornwall Iron Furnace" in the right of the photo.

White woman with blond hair and glasses wearing a red embroidered suede vest over a black top

(Top) Mike Weber - 2020; (bottom) Kathy Donaldson - 2021, Cornwall Iron Furnace (citation)

White man with gray beard wearing a black tricorn hat and ringing a small bell, wearing a red collared 18th-century style shirt under a brown waistcoat with silver buttons. Two stone buildings are in the background along with a stand of bare trees.

William Jewell, Daniel Boone Homestead (citation)

White man wearing white coveralls and green cap is in a garage-type space standing next to a large piece of oil field equipment with a large wheel on each side connected by multiple gears

White woman with shoulder-length white hair and glasses, wearing a black top with a red collar. A framed painting is partially visible behind her.

(Top) Richard Paul - 2020; (bottom) Jean Riddle - 2021, Drake Well Museum & Park (citation)

White man with dark hair wearing brown boots, khakis, a white shirt with sleeves rolled up, a dark tie and a black vest. He is seated and playing a small stringed instrument (lute or mandolin?) and the neck of a guitar played by someone else is visible.

Dave Matsinko, Eckley Miners' Village (citation)

Whitel woman with slightly graying short hair and glasses wearing an ivory cowl-necked sweater. She is in a living room and an evergreen branch is visible behind her.

Bonnie Martin, Ephrata Cloister (citation)

Bruce Miller, Erie Maritime Museum & U.S. Brig Niagara (citation)

Melissa Kurek, Graeme Park (citation)

White man with white beard and mustache stands on snowy ground with evergreens behind him. He is wearing a brimmed brown hat with an orange and brown jacket and sunglasses hanging from a cord. He is holding a paper cup.

Mark Matt, Hope Lodge (citation)

White woman with dark hair wearing a 19th-century style dress with wide sleeves in light and dark blue shades with a matching bonnet tied with a dark blue bow beneath her chin. She is standing in front of a light colored stone wall. She is wearing black gloves and standing with her elbows at her sides, hands held with the palms toward the camera and the thumbs and index fingers pointing upward.

Laurie McCants, Joseph Priestley House (citation)

White man with slightly graying hair and glasses. He is wearing a plaid collared shirt with shades of white, gray, and black and standing in front of a dark green curtain.

White woman with brown hair and glasses sits in a collections workspace wearing a cream-colored cardigan over a white top. She's holding a pencil to fill out some forms in front of her as she examines two stereograph cards.

(Top) Bob Haas - 2020; (bottom) Sharon Koziar - 2021, Landis Valley Village & Farm Museum (citation)

Three white men stand together with snow on the ground, there is snow on the roof of the rear porch of the house behind them. Man on left has gray hair and a gray goatee and mustache and is wearing a long-sleeved blue shirt under a gray zippered vest. Man in middle has brown hair and is wearing sunglasses and a white checked shirt. Man on right has graying hair and mustache and is wearing a blue denim shirt with "Old Economy Village" over the left pocket.

(From left) Ted McAuley, Joe Pulgini, and Warren Kinneer, Old Economy Village (citation)

White man with sunglasses sits on a wooden bench petting a small white dog. He is wearing a yellow cap, blue pants, and a long-sleeved top with thin blue and white stripes. There is a canal behind him with palm trees and buildings visible on the other side of it.

James Pagliaro, Pennsbury Manor (citation)

White man with a gray mustache and glasses holds 3 large wooden disks and is wearing brown pants with suspenders, an orange t-shirt, and a beige cap. Behind him is a mud pit, a grassy field, and rows of spectators behind an orange plastic fence.

Michael Callahan, Pennsylvania Lumber Museum (citation)

White man with short gray hair and glasses looks just left of camera. He is wearing a black collared shirt with a PA Military Museum lanyard visible around his neck.

Victor Campbell, Pennsylvania Military Museum (citation)

James Cleveland, Railroad Museum of Pennsylvania (citation)

White man with short dark hair, close-cropped beard and mustache. He is wearing a black t-shirt.

White man with light brown hair wearing a blue polo shirt that says "Cisco". There is a light brown curtain behind him as well as some white balloons visible in the upper left corner of the photo.

(Top) Jeffrey Shaffer; (bottom) Michael Rhoades, Somerset Historical Center (citation)

The Week Ahead

It's a sunny day. A two-story stone building is in the background. A mass of green plants with pink and purple flowers are in front and there is a fuzzy bumblebee on one of the stalks.

Daniel Boone Homestead shared this lovely photo of the Boone House (photo via DBH Facebook page)

There's a lot on the events calendar, so I'll keep it brief. Please note that sites on the PA Trails of History will be closed on Sunday, April 17, for Easter. They'll resume their regular schedules on Monday (most are closed on Monday, too, as a rule).

Sunday is also the start of National Volunteer Week, which runs through April 23. Watch for next week's post with info on our Volunteer of the Year honorees and Outstanding Service Award winners for this year. They're an impressive bunch. Until then, I hope that you can enjoy whatever the week brings. I hope it's more of the photo above than the photo below, but spring in Pennsylvania can be unpredictable. You just have to roll with it.

Wooden decking with wooden railing behind the Lumber Museum Sawmill. The deck is covered in snow and so are the trees nearby and the hills in the distance.

Sometimes winter isn't through with us (photo via PA Lumber Museum Facebook page)

Up Next

Saturday, April 16

StoryTime (in-person), 10:30-11:30 am, The State Museum of PA

Read Ten Seeds by Ruth Brown and plant a seed to take home. For kids age 2 to pre-K and included in regular admission. Sign up at the Ground Floor Info Desk when you arrive (StoryTime info).

Sunday, April 17

Online Benefit Auction Starts (virtual), Landis Valley Village & Farm Museum

Online bidding starts today at 9 am and closes at 11 pm on April 22. Previews opened last week (LVM online auction site - preview and bidding).

Tuesday, April 19

Sensory Hours (in-person), 3-5 pm, Railroad Museum of PA

Light and sound levels will be lowered in the galleries and there will be fewer visitors. Several historic trains will be open, with museum staff on hand to answer questions. Please purchase tickets in advance (Eventbrite link for ticket options).

Wednesday, April 20

Explore! (in-person), 11:30 am-12:30 pm, The State Museum of PA

Earth Day is Friday, so what better time to learn about reducing, reusing, and recycling? For kids in grades 3-5 and included in regular admission. Space is limited; sign up at the Ground Floor Info Desk when you arrive (Explore! info)

Thursday, April 21

Family Gallery Tour: Paleontology (in-person), 11:30 am-12:30 pm, The State Museum of PA

Museum educators will be in the gallery with hands-on fossils of plants and animals from the Carboniferous Period to the present. Included in regular admission (Gallery Tour info).

Friday, April 22

Learn at Lunchtime (virtual), 12:15-12:45 pm, The State Museum of PA

Senior curator Dr. Curt Miner will present a talk on Levittown (Bucks County), which is marking its 70th anniversary this year. The program is free; register to receive the Zoom link (Learn at Lunchtime info and registration).

Saturday, April 23

Spring Antique Show & Sawmill Run (in-person), 10 am-4 pm Saturday and Sunday, PA Lumber Museum

Antique vendors will be selling a wide variety of items. Historical demos and the birch still will take place both days. On Saturday only, the steam-powered sawmill will be running. Food available for purchase in the community room (Spring Show info).

Falconry Demonstration (in-person), 2-3 pm, Joseph Priestley House

Falconer Mike Dupuy will present an educational program and demo, followed by a Q&A session (Falconry demo info).

National Water Dance Festival - Erie, 4-6 pm, Erie Maritime Museum

This event merges dance, art, music, and science. Weather permitting, participants will start at the front of the museum and make their way around to the water side before heading indoors for an event in the Hirt Auditorium (Water Dance info).

Annual Benefit Auction (in-person), 5-8 pm, Landis Valley Village & Farm Museum

Live auction takes place in the Yellow Barn; there will be food trucks onsite (Live and online auction info).

Art and Wine with Henry! (in-person), 7-9 pm, Bushy Run Battlefield

An evening of art displays, refreshments, and history. Regional artists and students from Seton Hill will display their work. Cost is $25 per person; includes hors d'oeuvres and two drink tickets (Art and Wine ticket info).

Advance Tickets or Registrations

On April 24, the PA Military Museum will offer sensory friendly visits, with background noises in the galleries turned off and volume on the orientation video reduced (captions always enabled). Reserve a time slot on the hour between 10 am and noon. Standard admission rates apply (Sensory Visits info and reservations).
On Wednesday, April 27, Graeme Park will host a lunch and learn program, "Forgotten Heroes - Women and the Fight for the Right to Vote." The program includes continental breakfast, a lecture, and a buffet lunch; tours of the Keith House will be available after lunch. Tickets are $35; reservations are required (Forgotten Heroes info and tickets).
On Saturday, May 2, Old Economy Village will host "Unlock Your History," a program on researching your family history and deciphering clues in old documents. Cost is $15, which includes a box lunch (Unlock Your History info and registration).
The next PHMC Virtual Collections Showcase is scheduled for Wednesday, May 11, at 7 pm. Staff from five Trails of History sites will present objects on the theme "Health & Medical Devices" and then the audience will vote on their favorite or the one they thought best illustrated the theme. The program is free; register to receive the Zoom link (Collections Showcase registration).
Railroad Museum of PA's STEAM on the Rails educational experience takes place May 19 from 10 am to 1 pm. The program is for school group students in grades K-6 and features learning stations throughout the Museum - interactive behind-the-scenes tours, a live steam demo, hands-on art activities, and presentations on historic railroading jobs (STEAM on the Rails info and tickets).
Landis Valley Village & Farm Museum will offer living history tours on Saturday, May 21, based on the life and work of local inventor William Chester Ruth. Ruth was born in 1882 in Chester County; his father had been enslaved in South Carolina and his mother was a free woman of color. Ruth will be portrayed by actor Keith Henley of American Historical Theater. Tour times are 9:30, 12:30, and 3; advance tickets are required (William Chester Ruth Tour info and tickets)
On May 22, Daniel Boone Homestead will host the Trails of History Run, which includes a 5K, 10K, and 1/2-mile fun run. There will be awards for 5K and 10K races, plus special awards for the best-dressed representation of the 1770s era. Advance registration is required (DBH trail runs info). Training runs for new runners start at 10:30 am every Sunday at the DeTurk House (near the front entrance gate off of Daniel Boone Rd).
Drake Well Marathon, August 14 - this race is a Boston Marathon qualifier. Registration for a variety of categories is now open.

Summer Camps & Activities on the Trails of History

I'll add to this as I get more info.

Bushy Run Battlefield

Summer History Club; activity boxes for Ages 8-12 (pick-up to use at home with an accompanying YouTube video); June 19, July 10 & 24, Aug. 7

Drake Well Museum & Park

Discovery Days Camp; Ages 8-12; July 7, 14, 21, & 28

Pennsbury Manor

Colonial Camp; Ages 6-8; July 11-15
Time Travelers Camp; Ages 9-12; July 18-22

Railroad Museum of PA

Behind the Scenes of Railroading Virtual Summer Camp; Ages 9-12; June 28-30
Barons & Builders Day Camp; Ages 9-10; July 12-15
Barons & Builders Day Camp; Ages 11-12; July 26-29
A Moveable Feast Virtual Summer Camp; Ages 9-12; Aug. 2-4

Agriculture and Art!

Agriculture and Art!
Please be sure to check the PHMC Events Calendar for information on upcoming programs (in-person and virtual). I've included highlights below. The Trailheads Rec Room pages to the right of your screen offer an array of online content generated by Trails of History sites. Also a quick reminder that PHMC sites participate in the Blue Star Museums and Museums for All programs.

6 people in blue jeans, workshirts and caps harvest and bundle flax plants. A pile of plants is in the foreground

Staff and volunteers at Landis Valley Village and Farm Museum harvesting flax (photo Heirloom Seed Project)

My thanks for this week's opening photo go to Joanne Ranck-Dirks of the Heirloom Seed Project at Landis Valley Village & Farm Museum. Joanne sent along a series of photos, along with an explanation of the effort:

The flax harvest is underway at Landis Valley. This historic crop is planted in early April and harvested in mid-July. After drying in our hoop house, the flax is retted in a tub of water and dried again. We use the flax in our textile barn to show how it is processed into linen fiber. We also sell the flax straw to other historic sites and individual spinners and weavers.

Man in jeans, green shirt and cap stacks bundles of flax upright to dry

Landis Valley's Farm and Garden Manager, Joe Schott, stacks flax bundles to begin drying

I've saved some additional photos and info on a separate Landis Valley Flax Harvest page. Thanks, Joanne, and all the folks at Landis Valley for this update on your work.

Last weekend, Old Economy Village received a visit from the family of artist Richard Hay Kenah (1907-1982), who painted a mural of George Rapp and other members of the Harmony Society that now hangs in the Visitor Center. The mural, painted in 1934 on a canvas backing, was originally adhered to a wall at Ambridge High School and then painted over. It was later rediscovered by the Ambridge School District and donated to Old Economy. Following an extensive conservation effort that involved removing plaster and constructing a frame, the mural was installed in Old Economy's new Visitor Center when it opened in 2002. The site posted a photo of the artist's son Chris with the mural.

Upcoming Events (in-person and virtual)

Today, July 30

Learn at Lunchtime (virtual), curator Katie McGowan will talk about a 1946 silk wedding dress made from a surplus WWII parachute, State Museum of PA, 12:15-12:45 pm (SMP web link for info and registration)

Sunday, August 1

Garden Party and Oxygen Day (in-person), spend some time in the gardens (11 am-12:30 pm) and learn about Dr. Priestley's discovery of oxygen (1-4 pm), Joseph Priestley House (JPH Facebook page for details)
Living History Sunday, guided tours will be offered, Conrad Weiser Homestead, noon-4 pm (CWH website)

Wednesday, August 4

Explore! (in-person), kids in grades 3-5 are invited to learn about Pennsylvania Turtles, State Museum of PA, 11:30 am-12:30 pm, included in general admission - sign up at Ground Floor Information Desk (Explore! info)

Thursday, August 5

Curiosity Kids (in-person), help kids K-Grade 2 discover what natural resources are, State Museum of PA, 11:30 am-12:30 pm, included in general admission - sign up at Ground Floor Information Desk (Curiosity Kids info)

National Volunteer Week

Please check the PHMC Events Calendar if you're looking for virtual programs. I've highlighted events below, but there's more to see in the weeks ahead. The Trailheads Rec Room to the right of your screen has all kinds of online offerings--available whenever you need some entertainment.

National Volunteer Week this year is April 18-24, and I'd like to take this opportunity to thank all of the PHMC volunteers out there who have helped us weather a very weird year. Every site's experience has been a bit different since we closed to the public in mid-March 2020, but I think it's safe to say that "normal" operations and activities were disrupted. Volunteers do many things at our sites. Those involved in public programming were sidelined, but that doesn't mean they didn't stay engaged. At a number of our sites, staff organized Zoom sessions where volunteers could learn new information, visit other Trails of History sites remotely, and enjoy a virtual happy hour together. At some sites, volunteers were engaged with checking on buildings, maintaining a social media presence, and supporting virtual programs.

Because of, well Covid everything, we didn't do our usual round of nominations for Volunteer of the Year. We're still hoping to hold a ceremony later this fall to recognize, in person, the people honored for service in 2019 (read all about them in the April 17, 2020, Trailheads post). With sites reopening on April 30, we hope that we will work our way back into a rhythm and get back on track. In the meantime, thank you for everything!

Upcoming Virtual Events

Today, April 16

Flyover PA: TM Fowler's Bird's-Eye Views of PA, speaker: Dr. Curt Miner, The State Museum of PA, 12:15-12:45 pm EDT (visit SMP Facebook event to register)

Saturday, April 17

Naval Wargaming - A Brief History, speaker: Ed Bolla, Erie Maritime Museum, 2-3 pm EDT (visit EMM Facebook event to register)
Poison Gas Use in World War I, speaker: Ron Lenox, PA Military Museum, 2-3 pm EDT (visit PMM Facebook event to register)

Sunday, April 18

Explore Dinosaurs! The State Museum of PA, 2-3 pm EDT (visit the Explore Dinosaurs event on Facebook to register)

Tuesday, April 20

18th- and 19th-Century African American History in Pennsylvania German Lancaster County, speaker: Dr. Leroy Hopkins, Landis Valley Village & Farm Museum, 7-8 pm EDT (Zoom link to register)

Thursday, April 22

Simple Machines: Railroad Edition, Railroad Museum of PA, tickets by donation, 10-11 am EDT (Eventbrite link to register)

National Volunteer Week 2020, #MuseumSunshine, and Earth Day

PHMC's offices and Trails of History sites are currently closed to the public through May 8. Governor Wolf has announced a phased reopening plan; as we learn more about how the Trails of History sites fit that plan, we will keep you posted. The best way to stay up-to-date on site activities and plans is via social media. The April program page has a list of Facebook links for each site; you can find their other social media platforms that way. For up-to-date information on Pennsylvania's response to COVID-19, please visit the Pennsylvania Dept. of Health website.

It has been a busy week on social media for Pennsylvania Trails of History sites. I'm trying my best to keep up with all the activity, but it's impossible. I'm providing a few examples below, but to really get the full picture you'll be best served by following Pennsylvania Trails of History and/or your favorite sites on Facebook (try 'em all - their Facebook links are on the April program page).

National Volunteer Week 2020

Graphic shows shapes of human hands reaching upwards in shades of blue and tan

Part of the graphic design of PHMC's Volunteer of the Year awards ceremony booklet (design by Lauren Bennett)

In last week's post, we gave you info on this year's PHMC Outstanding Service Award recipients and the Volunteer of the Year honorees for the Bureau of Historic Sites and Museums, The State Museum of Pennsylvania, and the Pennsylvania State Archives. We had planned to celebrate with our honorees in person, but well, you know. We still hope to reschedule that event. As is true for much of what we're doing on the Trails of History right now, we managed lots of online "thank you" posts. As National Volunteer Week draws to a close, here are a few examples (you can find many more on the Facebook pages of our Trails of History sites - links are on the April program page).

PHMC's executive director, Andrea Lowery, (above) provided a heartfelt #ThankYouFromHome to all of our honorees, which PHMC's digital director posted to the Pennsylvania Trails of History Facebook page. Video "thank yous" were also recorded by Brenda Reigle, director of the Bureau of Historic Sites and Museums (her video); Beth Hager, director of The State Museum of Pennsylvania (her video); and David Carmicheal, director of the Pennsylvania State Archives (his video).

Other sites posting "thank you" videos included Erie Maritime Museum and U.S. Brig Niagara (for Outstanding Service Award winners Jack (in memoriam) and Maxine Gold, and the museum's co-honorees for Volunteer of the Year), Drake Well Museum and Park, and the Railroad Museum of Pennsylvania.

#MuseumSunshine

On Tuesday, April 21, museum social media accounts were bright and shiny, sharing artwork, objects, and images evoking sunlight. As you can see above, Bushy Run Battlefield took part with an array of images from the site. Daniel Boone Homestead posted a sunny shot of budding spring greenery, and Ephrata Cloister highlighted images of the sun in two fraktur letters in the Christian ABC book in their collection.

Earth Day

Wednesday, April 22, was the 50th anniversary of the first Earth Day. Although the need for distancing certainly torpedoed lots of plans for events to mark the day, social media proved to be up to the challenge of keeping it on people's minds. Pennsbury Manor (above) shared a beautiful photo of a blossoming apple tree in their garden (noting that their tree is a descendant of Sir Isaac Newton's apple tree - you think you know a site). The Pennsylvania Lumber Museum's Facebook cover photo proclaimed that "Every Day is Earth Day," and the Pennsylvania Anthracite Heritage Museum posted photos and info noting that the museum was built as part of a mine reclamation project - the before and after photos are striking.

Volunteers of the Year for Service in 2019

PHMC's offices and Trails of History sites are currently closed to the public through ~~April 30~~ May 8 (per Gov. Wolf on 4/20/20). The best way to stay up-to-date on site activities and plans is via social media. The April program page has a list of Facebook links for each site; you can find their other social media platforms that way. For up-to-date information on Pennsylvania's response to COVID-19, please visit the Pennsylvania Dept. of Health website.

Well, it's National Volunteer Month, but nothing about this is normal. We had planned to hold our annual Volunteer of the Year recognition event tomorrow, April 18. Instead we have postponed it and hope to reschedule some time this summer. We're doing our part to slow the spread of COVID-19, which regular Trailheads readers know from following our posts in recent weeks. Nevertheless, I'm sad that we aren't able to gather in person, yet, to thank this year's honorees (keep your eye on PHMC's social media channels tomorrow, however). Our volunteers provide so much talent to support what we do on the Trails of History, we can never fully thank them. But we can try.

The 2019 honorees, including the recipients of the Outstanding Service Award, are pictured below, and there is a link for each so that you can read more about their volunteer activities (thank you to all the sites for providing this information). Please join me in congratulating them and thanking them for their support of PHMC's Bureau of Historic Sites and Museums, The State Museum of Pennsylvania, and the Pennsylvania State Archives.