On the road again

I'm out on the Trails of History most of the week, so I'm writing this Tuesday morning for posting on Friday. Please, universe, no breaking Trails-of-History news before I get back!! As always, you'll find the list of all things (that I know about) happening on the TOH very helpful for planning. And there's the list of sites that plan to be open on May 30 for Memorial Day (not all TOH sites will be open, so it's always a good idea to check).

Joseph Priestley House, Northumberland (photo by Janice Mullin)

My Google alerts brought me an interesting story, and a detail I did not know (one of many, no doubt), related to a Trails of History site. There is a playground in Sunbury, PA, called Fort Discovery. It was built in 2000 by community volunteers who included elements of local history among the swings and monkey bars. The playground has models of a canal boat, Fort Augusta, and, wait for it, the Joseph Priestley House. Very cool. The article in Sunbury's Daily Item was focused on teens from Shikellamy Middle School who spent a recent morning removing trash and graffiti, spreading mulch, and speaking with a reporter about their fond memories of the playground. Even cooler. Thanks to the students, their teachers, and the playground's co-coordinator, Fran Zartman, for their hard work and for helping children learn about their community while they play. And thanks to the PHMC staff and community volunteers who help keep the full-size Joseph Priestley House in good repair and open to visitors.

And speaking of Joseph Priestley House and Fort Augusta, you can visit both of them and 9 other sites as part of the 2016 Time Traveler's Passport program offered by the Susquehanna River Valley Heritage Alliance. In addition, the pass encourages visits to see New Deal art at a half-dozen post offices in the region.

I wanted to make sure that everyone has had a chance to read about our amazing volunteers on the Trails of History. I posted info shortly after our annual Volunteer of the Year awards ceremony, but in case you missed it:

Volunteers from Anthracite Heritage Museum, Brandywine Battlefield, Bushy Run Battlefield, Conrad Weiser Homestead, Cornwall Iron Furnace, Daniel Boone Homestead, Drake Well Museum, and Eckley Miners' Village are in Part 1

Volunteers from Ephrata Cloister, Erie Maritime Museum and U.S. Brig Niagara, Graeme Park, Hope Lodge, Joseph Priestley House, Landis Valley Village & Farm Museum, and Old Economy Village are in Part 2

Volunteers from Pennsbury Manor, Pennsylvania Lumber Museum, Pennsylvania Military Museum, Railroad Museum of Pennsylvania, Somerset Historical Center, State Museum of Pennsylvania, and the recipients of this year's Outstanding Service Award are in Part 3

Happy Trails!