PHMC Volunteers of the Year for 2022 Part 2

/ Comments: (0)
Douglas Gehr
Man with gray goatee and glasses wearing a gray sweatshirt and standing next to a tall case clock on exhibit at Ephrata.
2022 was a difficult year for Ephrata Cloister, which makes the dedication of volunteers like Doug so vital to the site’s day-to-day operations. Having attended Ephrata’s Virtual Academy during COVID shutdown, Doug began volunteering when we reopened our doors in 2021. Born and raised in Ephrata with an interest in local history, as well as being a Church of the Brethren minister, he was a perfect fit to become a tour guide. Visitors frequently comment on his knowledge and the excellent quality of his tours. Doug is always quick to volunteer whenever and wherever Ephrata needs help, whether it is for the Community Day school programs or other special events and programs. In May of 2022 Doug shared his research into German clockmakers of the Cocalico Valley as a presenter for Ephrata’s Virtual Academy, and in January of 2023 he began serving on the Ephrata Cloister Associates’ Board of Directors. We thank Doug for sharing his time and talents so generously with the Ephrata Cloister.

Gayle Chojnacki
Man with dark hair pulled back and a gray beard wearing a light blue short-sleeved collared shirt with "U.S. Brig Niagara Crew" emblem
Gayle has volunteered at the museum since 2013. Recognized by staff, crew, and peers alike as a “jack of all trades,” Gayle displays the “Don’t Give up the Ship” spirit that unites our community each time he walks through our doors. He has become a regular fixture at the museum and can be found several days a week taking care of tasks throughout the building in places like the Carpenter’s and Rig Shop, Spar Alley, the Outdoor Plaza, and the museum’s Gallery Floor. While he is considered a Maintenance Volunteer, Gayle’s impact stretches far beyond the constraints of his job description. 2022 marked his fourth Tall Ships Erie weekend, and he devoted dozens of hours to the event’s set-up and tear-down. When the museum needed a custom case for a cutaway model of the U.S. Brig Niagara, Gayle immediately volunteered to assist in designing and constructing the case, which was installed in the Museum in August of 2022. It is with great esteem and pride that we recognize Gayle Chojnacki’s commitment and thank him for his service and dedication to our organization, our community, and our shared heritage.

Kevin Horan
Man with brown/gray hair and glasses wearing a black flannel shirt with white grid pattern sits in a brown leather chair.
Kevin has been a volunteer at Graeme Park for more than 15 years. He is always available before events to help with set-up, lugging tables, chairs, straw bales, and so much more. During an event, he sees that trash cans get emptied and that things are kept running in a smooth and orderly manner. After the event, Kevin can always be counted on to help with the cleanup and to put things away. Kevin frequently uses his own truck to bring items from Hope Lodge to Graeme Park (he volunteers at both sites) and has made many trips to the farm to pack straw bales in his truck for our use at Halloween. He shows up almost before daybreak to cook and serve pancakes and waffles for our Lunch & Learn programs and for our Mother’s Day breakfast. During a power failure, it was Kevin who carted a very heavy generator from the top of the barn down to our wedding tent area, staving off a wedding day disaster. Kevin does so many things for our site that sometimes go unnoticed but are so very essential. We are extremely privileged to have Kevin as a 15-year veteran of Graeme Park’s volunteer base and hope we have his help for many more years. 

Phil Williams
Man wearing jeans, work boots, and a dark jacket sits on the front threshhold at Hope Lodge holding a beige cap.
Phil began as a volunteer in 2016 after seeing the “volunteers wanted” sign along the road in front of Hope Lodge. He had recently cut back on his workload and wished to do volunteer work outdoors. For the first several years he worked within the garden committee, helping to maintain the lovely gardens. In 2021, he stepped up as property committee chairperson and joined the board. In that role he has picked up more and more tasks, including helping to restore the grounds after a disastrous tornado ripped across the property in September 2021, upending many trees and greatly damaging the grounds. In 2022 he continued to perform maintenance projects that have benefited the property immensely. His many endeavors include the garden fence and gate painting, brick walkway cleaning and power washing, and tree planting and lawn repair. Phil is always available to perform the many pop-up tasks that arise and to help set up and clean up our events. We are grateful for his ongoing commitment to Hope Lodge and thank him for his service and dedication.

Mike McWilliams
Man wearing colonial-style garb - beige striped waistcoat, black tricorn hat, dark blue coat with capelets. He wears glasses and has the strap of a muslin bag slung across his body.
Mike has been an essential part of the work at the Joseph Priestley House Museum. In addition to being a trusted docent, he has been heavily involved in both the preservation committee and the property committee. He is a jack-of-all-trades and always available to give a tour, change a light bulb, or wield a hammer. Mike is a true lover of history and is able to converse about Priestley, the Priestley House, and the history of the town of Northumberland. We thank him for his commitment and dedication to the programs and property at Joseph Priestley House.

Linda Schock
Woman with blond/gray hair and glasses wearing a bright blue sweatshirt with gray jacket holds a plate with a layered cookie creation (kransekake).
Linda has been a volunteer at Landis Valley’s Heirloom Seed Project for 10 years. She said that Landis Valley has been a special place for her since she first came here in the 1970s. She loves being a volunteer and says that coming to the seed house is almost a kind of therapy for her. Linda can be counted on to see jobs that need to be done and to do them without being asked. She doesn't seek thanks or recognition for the work she does, but she shows up every week and at special events and makes everything run more smoothly. Linda has done just about every job there is to do, including learning how to drive a team of horses. She is also an excellent cook and generously shares her talents with the seed house volunteers. We are grateful for Linda’s contributions to the work of the Heirloom Seed Project at Landis Valley Village & Farm Museum and thank her sincerely for being part of our volunteer family.

Joyce Patterson
Blonde woman with glasses wearing a teal turtleneck and a scarf with circles in shades of yellow and blue.
Joyce has had a deep appreciation for Old Economy Village for quite some time. While directing and teaching at a childcare center in Aliquippa, she brought children to Old Economy Village for field trips until she retired in 2013. Before the end of 2017 she began volunteering at Old Economy, leading the same school tours her students had attended in the past. Joyce was a natural, quickly learning all the various school tours offered, and then became involved with public history tours and special events. More recently, Joyce has shared her talents in arranging archival material and decorating for Christmas. She is very insightful about the way things should be, and both the curator and museum educator appreciate her input. Her knowledge of the historic buildings and Harmonist trades are excellent, which allows the staff to put her anywhere for a special event. We thank her for her dedication, her flexibility, and her willingness to help whenever and wherever needed.