One Thing Leads to Another

We have delayed reopening PHMC's Trails of History sites, which includes The State Museum of Pennsylvania and the Pennsylvania State Archives, until further notice. The July program page lists online events that you may want to check out; updates on site schedules will also be made there.

See if you can follow my train of thought (spoiler alert: it's not a long train...or a high-speed one for that matter):

Rows of archival boxes at the Pennsylvania State Archives (photo via Facebook)

On July 22 and 29 at 10 am, join archivist Josh Stahlman for free webinars on PHMC's Historical and Archival Records Care (HARC) Grants. Stahlman, grants manager for the HARC program, will provide a brief overview of eligibility and guidelines and offer tips for a competitive proposal. Questions will be answered throughout the presentation. Register online for either date.

In early June, the Science History Institute partnered with the American Philosophical Society to present "Deciphering the Past: An Introduction to Transcription." The webinar provided an overview of transcription projects going on around the country. It also explored issues related to transcribing historical documents and the nuances of different types of documents. It includes a transcription exercise near the end. Whether you're actually transcribing or not, there are some useful tips for deciphering manuscript documents. The webinar lasts about an hour - you can watch it below or go directly to YouTube at your leisure.




This spring Sarah Buffington, curator at Old Economy Village, posted a call for volunteers on Facebook to help with a data entry project. OEV has typewritten lists of Harmony Society correspondence that had been compiled over the years, but they needed help entering the information so that it can be searched and sorted by staff and other researchers. Sarah tells me that the Facebook post garnered several volunteers, who have worked on the project remotely during the COVID-19 closures. Thanks to these volunteers, the amount of work still to do has been greatly reduced. Kudos!

Excerpt from Old Economy Village list of Harmony Society correspondents (photo via Facebook)

The Science History Institute identified their transcription webinar as being part of a new social media initiative called Museum Survival Kit, which seeks to share the skills and knowledge that museums and historic sites preserve and interpret and show their relevance to the challenges we currently face (the tagline for the project is "Our Ancestors Knew Some Stuff"). If you're interested in learning more or contributing to the kit, visit the Museum Survival Kit website or find them on Twitter (@MuseumKit) or search hashtag #MuseumSurvivalKit on Facebook or Twitter.

Trails of History sites are actively engaged in researching, preserving, and sharing historical knowledge with audiences of all ages. The pandemic has interrupted public programming and school visits, but the work continues. I'm inspired every day by my PHMC colleagues who are so dedicated to helping people connect to the past in tangible ways that can lead to greater insights.

Here's an example of a program for younger audiences from Erie Maritime Museum and U.S. Brig Niagara:

And because it's Friday, a little something from Pennsbury Manor for the over 21 set: a demonstration of 17th-century beer brewing and a conversation about historic and contemporary beer, breweries, and brewing. Enjoy!

A Little of This, A Little of That

The September program page provides info through the end of the month. Be sure to check it for events this weekend.

Commemorations

Battle of Lake Erie commemoration, Sept. 10, 2019 (via Facebook)

Earlier this week, sites on the Trails of History held commemorations for battles during the War of 1812 and the American Revolution. On Tuesday evening, staff and volunteers from the Erie Maritime Museum and U.S. Brig Niagara, along with members of the public, gathered to remember the Battle of Lake Erie, fought on Sept. 10, 1813, near Put-in-Bay, Ohio. Members of Ship's Company in period dress provided a color guard for the event (you can read more and see additional photos on the Facebook page).

On Wednesday, Brandywine Battlefield Park commemorated the Battle of Brandywine, Sept. 11, 1777. Throughout the day, the site's Facebook page posted info about what was happening in the battle at that time in 1777. In the evening, a ceremony was held to remember the battle as well as the Sept. 11, 2001 terror attacks.

Rev War military and civilian reenactors (including General Washington with back to camera) gathered Wednesday evening at Brandywine Battlefield Park (photo Charlie Fox)

Activities on the Trails of History

This happy pup was one of 140 (or so) attending the inaugural Paws in the Park event at Bushy Run Battlefield (via Facebook)

Last weekend, Bushy Run Battlefield tried out a new program, "Paws in the Park," designed to appeal to the many dogs and their walkers who visit the site. Roughly 300 people and 140 dogs attended, taking part in a variety of activities, such as making dog treats, dog tags, and dog collar bows; a photo booth; games and a battlefield scavenger hunt; and a caricature artist doing people and pup portraits. The site also put together a small exhibit, "Dogs in Colonial America: History and Art of Dogs in the 18th Century," which museum staffer Michael Tusay describes as a discussion of "evolving societal views of dogs and their primary roles in the 18th century"; the exhibit features the work of artist George Stubbs. For many more adorable pictures of puppers and their people who attended the event, visit Bushy Run's Facebook page.

Pennsbury Manor's Brew House was mentioned in an article on SouthFloridaReport.com timed for National Beer Lover's Day (Sept. 7). Your next chance to see Pennsbury's brewers in action is September 22 from 1 to 4 pm. On a related note, September is Pennsylvania Craft Beer Month.

A Touch of Humor

[Description: an embedded Facebook post from humor site The Onion showing a map of Pennsylvania and titled "Report: Some People Live in Pennsylvania" - link to Onion website is https://bit.ly/2kK7RWX]

Working Together

Looking for something to do on the PA Trails of History? Check out this list of events scheduled for today through Sept. 15. If you're planning further ahead, the September program page will take you to the end of the month.

This week's post is a team effort, with text and photos supplied by Kurt Carr, Janet Johnson, and Judy Hawthorn of The State Museum of Pennsylvania's Section of Archaeology and Chuck Johnson and Linda Bolla of the Erie Maritime Museum & U.S. Brig Niagara. Thank you all.

At left, 3-masted barque Picton Castle (out of Nova Scotia) docked at Erie Maritime Museum, with schooner Lettie G. Howard on the right; you can just see the head of the giant yellow rubber duck between the two ships (photo Erie Maritime Museum)

The weekend of Aug. 22-25, the Section of Archaeology of The State Museum of Pennsylvania traveled to Erie to attend the Tall Ships event organized by Tall Ships America in conjunction with the Erie Maritime Museum & U.S. Brig Niagara, the Flagship Niagara League, and other local organizations. Featured were 13 sailing vessels and the world's largest rubber duck and her baby. The event, held in Erie every three years, is a celebration of maritime culture and technology from a bygone era and was attended by roughly 30,000 visitors.

State Museum archaeology curators Janet Johnson (front) and Kurt Carr in the 20-foot dugout canoe (photo Judy Hawthorn)

Members of the Section of Archaeology, curators Kurt Carr and Janet Johnson and volunteer Judy Hawthorn, were based at Erie's Bayfront Convention Center to promote the State Museum and Pennsylvania archaeology. Their exhibit featured the dugout canoe, guaranteed to attract visitors of all ages, and included the stone adzes used to make it. This was a joint public outreach program involving the State Museum and the Erie Maritime Museum. Local arrangements were facilitated by Linda Bolla (Erie Maritime Museum), Marcus Masternak (Tall Ships Erie 2019), and Rebecca Grimaldi (Tall Ships Erie 2019). Negotiating a 20-foot dugout in and out of the convention center with tens of thousands of visitors was very tricky, but with their help, there were very few problems.

Erie's ABC24 reporter Samiar Nefzi provides tv coverage of the canoe exhibit (photo Judy Hawthorn)

The State Museum team spoke to 4,500 or so during the three-day event and distributed the Section's brochure series that covers a wide range of subjects in 10 different pamphlets, from pre-contact times to the archaeology of the late 19th century. The team found that in addition to the dugout, visitors were also very interested in Pennsylvania history, archaeology and natural science. They were especially interested in the archaeology of the Erie area.

Many Tall Ships visitors also checked out the indoor exhibits at the Erie Maritime Museum (photo Erie Maritime Museum)

The Erie Maritime Museum was open throughout Tall Ships, hosting the tall ship, Picton Castle, and welcoming visitors with tours and programs designed to help them learn about U.S. Brig Niagara, the Battle of Lake Erie, Erie's maritime heritage during and after the War of 1812. There were hands-on activities for kids, and storyteller Perry Ground, a Turtle Clan member of the Onondaga Nation, was on hand to share Haudenosaunee (also known as Iroquois) stories with visitors. Visit the Erie Maritime Museum Facebook page and the U.S. Brig Niagara Facebook page for more photos from the weekend. The next Tall Ships Erie event will be in 2022.

Perry Ground telling a traditional Haudenosaunee story in the museum's orientation theater (photo Erie Maritime Museum)

What Are We Up To?

Last week's post covers events through Thursday, August 8, and the August program page takes you to the end of the month (which will come sooner than we think).

New Developments in Accessibility

As part of our 21st Century Museums Initiative, we met in January with staff from the Dept. of Labor and Industry's Office of Vocational Rehabilitation, Bureau of Blindness and Visual Services (BBVS). We wanted to explore ways that we could partner to improve accessibility at our Trails of History sites for people who are blind or have low vision. BBVS staff were enthusiastic and offered to do some site visits to provide us with specific suggestions. A team visited Landis Valley Village and Farm Museum in May, and we have a visit to the Pennsylvania Military Museum tentatively scheduled for later this month. BBVS also told us about Aira, an app that uses artificial intelligence and augmented reality to remotely assist people who are blind or low vision with everyday tasks. Aira "explorers" subscribe to the service, which connects them to professional agents who provide audio description of whatever their smartphone or smart glasses camera is pointed at. When we talked to the folks at Aira, we learned that destinations (stores, museums, etc.) can also subscribe and allow explorers to visit their locations without using up their subscription minutes. The Smithsonian Institution had just launched as an Aira location, so we talked with the accessibility coordinator to get her experience.

Shelley Rhodes, Vision Rehabilitation Therapist, her guide dog, Humphrey, and museum guide Chuck Lehr explore the Erie Maritime Museum using the Aira app (photo Natalie Ditzler)

We decided to create a pilot project for Aira (see PHMC press release) and selected six sites: Erie Maritime Museum and U.S. Brig Niagara, Landis Valley Village & Farm Museum, Old Economy Village, Pennsylvania Military Museum, Railroad Museum of Pennsylvania, and The State Museum of Pennsylvania. We worked with Aira to geo-fence each site so that explorers could use the service for free while visiting. The service went "live" on June 1, and we are gradually learning about the kinds of information we need to provide for the agents. The Erie Maritime Museum, especially staffer Natalie Ditzler, has been proactive in working with the Erie BBVS, where the staff has been very generous with their time and expertise. Several staff members have tested Aira in the galleries and provided the rest of us with useful insights. Shelley Rhodes, a vision rehabilitation therapist in the Erie BBVS office who is blind, said she found Aira easy to use and enjoyed exploring the exhibits - "One of the hardest things I had to accept about my vision loss was that I could not see art and artifacts any longer with my eyes. But with apps like Aira I can explore things in a new and exciting way." She also noted that she was able to browse in the museum store, with the Aira agent describing items or reading book titles. In addition to helping us test Aira, staff from the Erie BBVS office also returned to the museum to provide some training for guides on how to create the best visitor experience for people who are blind or low vision. That information will also be shared with the other pilot sites. Stay tuned.

Learning about Marine Archaeology

Students learn about charting shipwrecks with Erie Maritime Museum educator Chuck Johnson (in maroon shirt) (photo by Marcus Masternak)

Trailheads Erie correspondent, Linda Bolla, reports that "Erie Maritime Museum Educator Chuck Johnson is taking summertime opportunities to roll out a Museum Archaeology Lab, piloting the activities for the museum’s 2019-2020 school field trip schedule during Flagship Niagara League’s Tall Ship Summer Camp. Among other goals, the program will help students develop observational skills and apply math concepts through activities such as locating and charting objects. While the activities meet several Pennsylvania Core Standards, the Lab meets the campers’ most important criteria – fun!"

Top photo shows the simulated shipwreck debris field (photo Linda Bolla)
Bottom photo shows students learning how to measure and chart the debris field (photo Marcus Masternak)

Wrapping Up July

Vietnam Revisited event at PA Military Museum, July 20-21 (via Facebook)

Just to recap late July a bit, the photo above is from the Pennsylvania Military Museum's 2019 Vietnam Revisited event, which took place July 20-21 (more photos in the Facebook album for the program). Landis Valley Village & Farm Museum's Civil War Days was held the same weekend. Lancaster Online covered the event and posted a gallery of photos with their article. Photographer Jennifer MacNeill's photos of the cavalry demo are on her Facebook page. MacNeill regularly photographs events at Landis Valley; her portfolio also includes other Lancaster County scenes and numerous photos of horses and the people who love them (you can find one of her horse photos, Back Scratch, in the current Art of the State exhibit at The State Museum of Pennsylvania).

Thoughts on Giving Thanks

All PA Trails of History sites are closed tomorrow (11/22) for Thanksgiving). For information on site schedules for Friday (11/23) and events going on this weekend through Nov. 29, please check out last week's post.

Through December 31, the Pennsylvania Heritage Foundation (PHF) and The State Museum of Pennsylvania are excited to offer a "Buy One Get One Free" membership offer. Renew, rejoin, or join, and you can gift a free membership of equal or lesser value to a friend, family member, or co-worker. Memberships included in this offer are Heritage, Individual, and Family (visit PHF website for details or to purchase online). All categories of membership include free regular admission to sites on the Pennsylvania Trails of History. (Please note, the gift membership must be for individuals or families who have never held a membership with PHF or The State Museum previously.)

This table setting from Conrad Weiser Homestead's Candlelight Tours last weekend makes me think of Thanksgiving (photo via Facebook)

Coming to you a little early this week to get ahead of the holiday. On behalf of all of us here at Trailheads HQ, I'd like to wish all of you the Thanksgiving that makes you most happy. The traditions you love, the people who make you feel special, a victory for your football team (if you celebrate that way), a winning hand at gin rummy (ditto), a nice glass of Beaujolais Nouveau (ditto ditto). Those of us lucky to have enough (or more than enough) have much to be thankful for, but we should also remember not to take it for granted. If you have the chance to help others this holiday, please take it.

Hope Lodge's Whitemarsh Encampment event earlier this month brought American Revolution reenactors to the site (via Facebook)

Following up on our Veterans Day post, I had a little time to think about some other military-related Trails of History info recently and thought I'd share some of it this week. These items illustrate the span of military history that gets covered on the Trails and the relevance of our sites to the present.

Reaching back to the 18th century, Hope Lodge's annual Whitemarsh Encampment presents the stories of Revolutionary War soldiers and civilians, especially related to the Continental Army's stay in the area during November and early December of 1777. I've shared a photo above, and you can find more on the Hope Lodge Facebook page.

As part of the centennial celebration of the end of World War I, Conrad Weiser Homestead held an Armistice Day event on Sunday, November 11. Speakers included Doug Miller, site administrator at Pennsbury Manor, and state Sen. David Argall (R - Schuylkill and Berks). Military reenactors were on hand as well. (In May of 2017, we showed you some before and after photos of a project to clean a World War I doughboy statue on the grounds at Conrad Weiser Homestead, dating from the 1920s.) The event also honored all local veterans (read more in this Reading Eagle article); keep an eye out for Weiser's annual concert honoring veterans, generally held around July 4.

We've shared info before about military reenlistment and promotion ceremonies at Trails of History sites. Back in October, the Erie Maritime Museum and U.S. Brig Niagara hosted members of the United States Marine Corps. Gunnery Sgt. Charles Bays reenlisted in USMC and then he and his wife, Kate, left for his new assignment in South Carolina; Bays was promoted to Gunnery Sgt. onboard Niagara in October 2017. Bryan Johnson and Devin Dominech were promoted to the rank of Staff Sergeant. (My thanks to Linda Bolla of the museum for the info and photo below.) In other Erie news, the Flagship Niagara League recently announced the promotion of Christopher Cusson to Captain of the U.S. Brig Niagara. Cusson is, among other things, a United States Coast Guard veteran (read more info here).

SSgt. Bryan Johnson (left) receives his new collar insignia from his grandfathers. (I'm not crying, you're crying.) (photo L. Bolla)

Prospective applicants for the U.S. military service academies are interviewed by a congressional panel to determine if they will receive a letter of referral from their U.S. Senator or U.S. Representative, a requirement for admission. Last weekend, the Pennsylvania Military Museum hosted 16 candidates and their families. Yesterday, the museum received a lovely note from a woman who was there with her son, who hopes to attend the United States Naval Academy. She complimented the museum on its well-kept and well-organized facilities and was impressed with the exhibits and displays, comparing them favorably to those at the Marine Corps Museum in Quantico, Virginia. "It is obvious a lot of time and effort has been spent to make this small museum a true gem!" Kudos to the staff and volunteers at the museum for their work and thanks to Tyler Gum, site administrator, for sharing the info.

On a related but somewhat more somber note, the PA Military Museum has been working with the Jana Marie Foundation, which is devoted to bringing attention to and addressing mental health issues in the Centre County region where the museum is located. The Foundation's STOMPERS Project was developed to embody their goal of stomping out the stigma that often surrounds talking about mental health. STOMPERS are made from shoes and boots on a life-size frame and have different themes depending on their host organization. As a participant in the initiative, the museum is now home to a STOMPER titled "SERVE," which is focused on issues of depression, suicide, and well-being among military veterans and their families. The goal is to help foster conversations between civilian and military communities, between veterans, and among families. This is another way the museum is honoring the military service of Pennsylvanians and recognizing the sacrifices of military families.

"SERVE," part of STOMPER Project, at PA Military Museum (photo AKF)

What's Up?

Planning ahead for events later this month? Check out the October program page. I've listed some of this weekend's events below, but there's plenty more between now and the end of the month. And if you're trying to gauge the best time and place for leaf peeping in PA, DCNR's fall foliage reports will help you work it out.

L to R: Pennsbury Society president Ron Schmid, Gov. Tom Ridge, Gov. Tom Corbett, Gov. Tom Wolf, Gov. Mark Schweiker, PHMC Chair Nancy Moses, Pennsbury Manor site administrator Doug Miller (via Facebook)

I'm a little late on the follow-up, but two weeks ago Pennsbury Manor hosted a luncheon and panel discussion in honor of the 300th anniversary of William Penn's death. The event was the culmination of Pennsbury's exploration of Penn's legacy during this anniversary year. Gov. Tom Wolf kicked off the luncheon with remarks on Penn's impact. Former governors Tom Corbett, Ed Rendell, Mark Schweiker, and Tom Ridge reflected on their terms in office and the responsibilities of following in Penn's footsteps (former Gov. Dick Thornburgh sent written remarks). It was, by all accounts, an impressive gathering and an excellent example of mixing history and contemporary issues (Bucks County Courier Times online article includes video).

The Pennsylvania Military Museum was recently featured in a post on the Getaway Mavens blog, which compiles "entertaining and eclectic" ideas for weekend trips in the northeastern US, with an emphasis on unique destinations. Their take on the greater State College area noted that the museum is small but "engaging and well-designed" and that walking the grounds is a great way to get some fresh air and "pay your respects to our lost soldiers."

On board the Lettie G. Howard, September 2018 (photo AKF)

The Lettie G. Howard, which spent this summer and early fall providing day sails out of the Erie Maritime Museum, recently went through the Welland Canal en route to a maintenance stop in Maine. The Flagship Niagara League posted video on their Facebook page showing a time lapse view of the Canal locks. The Lettie, which is in Erie under a collaborative program agreement with the South Street Seaport Museum in NYC, will then sail down the east coast of the US to Florida for the winter. Come spring the schooner will return to Erie for another summer of sailing. This arrangement has meant that visitors to the museum get to see a tall sailing ship even when U.S. Brig Niagara is away touring the Great Lakes. Visit the website for more info on the east coast trip and opportunities to participate.

On Wednesday, Oct. 17, the PHMC and the PA Dept. of General Services will host a meeting to update the public on plans for the new Pennsylvania State Archives building, currently in design. The new building will be located on a 3-acre lot bounded by Sixth, Seventh, Harris, and Hamilton Streets in Harrisburg. Staff from the two state agencies responsible for the project will provide a progress report, answer questions, and listen to community feedback. The event will begin at 5:30 pm and will be hosted by Camp Curtin YMCA, 2135 N. 6th St., Harrisburg.

This weekend...

LVM broom maker Genevieve Pallas shows Shelby Vaccaro from Lancaster Newspapers how it's done (via Facebook)

Hope Lodge
October 14: Site open—Hope Lodge will be open from 1 pm to 4 pm, with guided tours at 1:00 and 2:30 pm. Admission charged.

Landis Valley Village and Farm Museum
Oct. 13-14: Harvest Days—a classic special event and a great way to celebrate the heart of the fall season. Loads of demonstrations and activities for the whole family in a beautiful setting. Admission: adults, $12; seniors, $10; age 6-11, $8; free for members and children age 5 and younger. Free parking and food available for purchase. Skip the admissions lines by purchasing your tickets through Brown Paper Tickets (please note that the event is rain or shine and there are no refunds for online tickets). 11 am-5 pm.

Old Economy Village
Oct. 13: Multiple activities—there will be a Gardening Class, Beer Tasting, and a Sip and Paint evening. Times and fees vary; please click on individual activities for details.

Pennsbury Manor
Oct. 14: Living History Theater—William Penn’s steward and housekeeper, John Sotcher and Mary Lofty, will be united in marriage according to 17th-century Quaker wedding customs. Included in regular admission. 1-4 pm.

500th Post!!

This is officially the 500th Trailheads post since we started back in August of 2009. On behalf of all who've posted, thanks for reading!

Last week's post included Trails of History events running through next Thursday (there have been a couple of updates) or you can check the August program page if you're planning further ahead.

"Heading Home" by Daven Anderson is one of the featured works in a new exhibit at Erie Maritime Museum (used with permission)

Linda Bolla of the Erie Maritime Museum and U.S. Brig Niagara (a frequent Trailheads contributor and guest blogger these past 9 years) sent an update on the two-gallery exhibition opening at Erie Maritime this weekend. The overall title for the project is A Celebration of Life and Work on Our Waterways. The museum's West Wing Gallery will feature "THE RIVERS: A Celebration of Life and Work on America’s Waterways," a series of watercolors by Daven Anderson, Managing Director of the American Society of Marine Artists and Executive Director of the Missouri Watercolor Society. Anderson is a U.S. Coast Guard Artist and a graduate of the U.S. Naval Academy. As a complement to Anderson's work, the museum's Orientation Theater will display works by members of Erie's BLOOM Collaborative, which is dedicated to promoting better health through the arts. Anderson will present a gallery talk on Saturday, Aug. 11, at 2 pm, and there will be an opening reception from 1 to 2:30 pm on Sunday, Aug. 12 (more info). The exhibits continue through Oct. 27.

Phil, a member of the BLOOM Collaborative, works on a large-format painting of a dolphin

From Graeme Park's Facebook page: Last Friday Grover Silcox and his crew showed up to film an episode of "Let's Go!"--a show that highlights family-friendly things to do and places to go in the Lehigh Valley and beyond. Friends of Graeme Park Vice President Jack Washington volunteered to be the on-camera spokesperson (see photo below) and show them around, while a whole crew of costumed reenactors including John and Carol Brunner, Steve Griffith, Mary Washington, Julie Thibeau, Germain Ledoux, Bill Sparke, Jim Miller, Michael Carver, and Ellen Idelson, were on-hand to add to the Colonial atmosphere and show some local children how to play colonial games. The episode premiered last night but if you're in the WLVT viewing area, you can catch it again tomorrow (8/11) at 5:30 pm or on Tuesday, Aug. 14, at 7.

Jack Washington, center, talks to camera crew for an episode of "Let's Go!" (via Graeme Park Facebook page)

Bushy Run Battlefield hosted its annual reenactment this past weekend. TribLive covered the event, and you can read all about it in their article. You can also see photos and video on Bushy Run's Facebook page. This weekend, the site is bringing back its popular tabletop gaming event (read more about that on the event page).

The Boys and Girls Club of Somerset recently visited Somerset Historical Center to see their lime kiln (built on site over the past few years) and learn about how the different uses of lime (no, not the kind in margaritas, the kind that comes from limestone). They shared some great photos on their Facebook page.

And finally, if you're planning to see The Meg this weekend (or ever), you might want to check out this article from PennLive. They talked to State Museum of PA paleontology and geology curator Dr. Steven Jasinski about megalodons to help separate fact from movie fiction (lots of good photos in this one).

Enjoy your weekend!

Catching Up and Looking Forward

Be sure to check out the June program listings for events this weekend and the rest of the month.

Catching Up...

Lots of goodies to enjoy at Joseph Priestley House's first World Doll Day tea party (via Facebook)

On Saturday, June 9, Joseph Priestley House held their first World Doll Day event, in honor of long-time volunteer Ruth Eleanor McCorkill. Doll collectors and vendors displayed all kinds of dolls. A festive tea party (see photo above) included adults, kids, and dolls. Among the program offerings were some intriguing and well-executed photo op stations, such as the boat (complete with oars) below. You can find more photos in the World Doll Day 2018 album on the Priestley House Facebook page.

One of several photo op stations for visitors to the World Doll Day event at Joseph Priestley House. Dr. Priestley himself (Ron Blatchley, center of photo in white shirt) even took a turn with an oar (via Facebook)

Last week (June 6), as has become an annual tradition, Hope Lodge hosted the Ambler Symphony Orchestra for a concert on the lawn. Folks brought their blankets and lawn chairs to enjoy an evening of music and fresh air.

The Ambler Symphony Orchestra performing at historic Hope Lodge on June 6 (via Facebook)

Did you follow the voyage of the Lettie G. Howard from South Street Seaport Museum in NYC to its new temporary berth at the Erie Maritime Museum? The Lettie has been leased by the Flagship Niagara League and will spend two years providing Erie-based day sails and educational programs in addition to the U.S. Brig Niagara, which also spends time traveling to other Great Lakes ports. The U.S. Brig Niagara Facebook page has lots of photos and video documenting the trip out of New York, the coast of Atlantic Canada, through the St. Lawrence Seaway and the Welland Canal, and finally into Lake Erie and Presque Ile Bay. There's also been plenty of publicity, including an article about Allison Taylor, who will serve as captain of the Lettie during its stay in Erie. Visit the Niagara Facebook page or Erie Maritime Museum website for more info on sailing schedules and other events for the Lettie G. Howard and the U.S. Brig Niagara.

Schooner Lettie G. Howard docked in Erie after its voyage from NYC (via Facebook)

...and Looking Forward

PhillyVoice.com's list of 5 ways to celebrate Father's Day includes Pennsbury Manor's Brews and Bites event coming up tomorrow, June 16. Visit Pennsbury's website for info on ticket options and a list of participating breweries and wineries. The event runs from 4 to 8 pm and you must be at least 21 years old to attend.

The annual Patchtown Days event at Eckley Miners' Village is a tribute to the immigrants who lived and worked in this coal company town. This year's event, scheduled for June 23-24, celebrates the 50th anniversary of Paramount Pictures’ 1968 production of The Molly Maguires, starring Sean Connery, Richard Harris, and Samantha Eggar. The event will feature live entertainment, reenactments, artifact displays, craft and food vendors, kid’s activities, and more! On Saturday evening, the film that started it all will be shown in the visitor center auditorium, with doors opening at 6 pm, a brief lecture at 6:30, and the screening at 7 pm.

Production photo of Samantha Eggar, who played Miss Mary Raines in The Molly Maguires 

At the beginning of April Emily Arcaro, Eckley's Americorps VISTA staffer, sent an email to Samantha Eggar detailing the upcoming events. Eggar replied with some of her thoughts on the production, which Emily shared with volunteers (and other readers):

...Personally it was one of the best career experiences for me. The cast were so involved with the history and emotions of that period. We were all very happy on that film. To work in the actual town lent such credence to each day and I recall shooting in a home where the miner came home each day, exhausted, face stained, sitting silently at his kitchen table in the small space as we worked around him. The silence spoke all we needed....

Thank you again for contacting me. I am proud to have been in your town and seen the true history of anthracite mining in PA.

With blessings to you all,
Samantha

The Future is Here

Please be sure to check out the May program page for events this weekend and the rest of the month.

PA Lumber Museum hosted the Potter County Conservation District's 2018 Envirothon on Thursday. High school students tested their knowledge on a variety of environmental science topics. The winning team goes on to the state level contest. (See PLM's Facebook page for more info. UPDATE: see a photo of the winning team, from Coudersport, getting their awards.)

A number of items (including the photo above) drifted across my screen in the last couple of weeks that focused my attention on the "younger generation." Or generations, I guess I should say. So I thought I'd highlight some activities involving high school and college students. I'm sure there are other stories out there - feel free to share in the comments.

Interns and apprentices will be starting their summers on the Trails of History soon. Some applied through the PHMC's Keystone Summer Internship or Summer Apprenticeship programs. Some interns applied to their host sites directly or through their schools. Depending on their assignment and interests, they will learn construction and restoration skills, care and management of object and archival collections, interpretation of historic sites, management of historic preservation programs, and much more. I hope that you'll hear from some of them through guest blog posts on Trailheads (I'll be recruiting heavily once they get started). It's always a pleasure to see new faces and learn about their career plans. (If you're a former PHMC intern, give us a shout in the comments to let us know what you're up to - I know some of you are right here at PHMC.)

My Google Alerts clued me in to a story about the Sewickley Herald's 2018 Emerging Citizen, Katie Rostek, a senior at Quaker Valley High School, near Ambridge. Among many other activities, Katie is a member of Old Economy Village's Young Harmonist group, which learns about the history of the community and shares it with the public. According to the article, she plans to double major in political science and secondary education at Penn State. Congratulations to Katie and to all of our younger volunteers who are graduating high school and moving on to the next chapter in their lives.

Bushy Run volunteers on Charter Day 2018 celebrate funds raised (via Facebook)

When we talked about Charter Day programming back in March, I think I mentioned that Bushy Run Battlefield was open on Charter Day for the first time in a while due to the efforts of a local high school student working on her senior project at Penn-Trafford High School. Emily Liska (second from left in the above photo) coordinated activities for Charter Day and organized a marketing campaign (with a GoFundMe component) to help raise awareness of Bushy Run in the local community. She helped raise more than $1,000 to support activities at the site. Emily will be giving a presentation at the high school next week to share what she learned. Thank you, Emily, for your efforts.

I recently learned about an interesting new project through the Eckley Miners' Village volunteer newsletter. This semester, students in Prof. Dan Kimbrough's video class (Misericordia University's Dept. of Mass Communication and Design) have been working on a documentary about the history of Eckley and its impact on the region. As part of the production, they interviewed a number of volunteers and others at the village to gain their insights. Students screened their work yesterday for an audience that included folks from Eckley. Word has it that the documentary will be made available online. I'll share a link if and when I'm able to do so.

Mercyhurst University Dancers perform on the Erie Maritime Museum floor, the wind in our sails!  L-R, Emily Black, Caitlin Cummings and Olivia Duke (photo by Ashlyn Duke Photography, used with permission)

This final item comes from Linda Bolla at Erie Maritime Museum and U.S. Brig Niagara, who regular readers will recognize as our most prolific guest blogger. Last month, the museum hosted Erie's participation in a project called National Water Dance, "an artist-driven collective of dancers and educators confronting critical water issues facing the United States." With its proximity to Lake Erie, the museum was the perfect venue for this multi-media event led by a group from the Mercyhurst University Departments of Dance and Chemistry.

Doug Lodge performs in the museum lobby, dragging the weight of one week’s single use plastic bottles, as collected by students from Harborcreek Youth Services. (photo by Ashlyn Duke Photography, used with permission)

Linda writes:

Because winds were high and temps were unseasonably low on April 14th, the Erie event did not commence next to the water at 4:00 p.m., as it did simultaneously at other waterways throughout our nation. An indoor start did not diminish anyone’s enthusiasm! The Erie event is unique in its scope: in addition to dance, the museum hosted live jazz, sculpture, poetry and infographs created by Mercyhurst students, along with a multitude of partners from the community. Poetry and art remain on exhibit until May 4th. [editor's note: that's today!]

Highlights from the finale mainstage performance included choreography by Elizabeth Hite, who will graduate this term. Undercurrents is her Senior Capstone thesis project. When interviewed about her work, Elizabeth cited her concerns about the environment as inspiration for this piece, and noted the challenges of representing the beauty of water and the threat to it.

Undercurrents, performed by (1st row, l – r) Jenna Swartz, Emily Black, Sophia Thorman, Caitlyn Cummings, (2nd row, l – r) Olivia Duke, Hannah Schayes, Rachel Rhodanz, Katarina Flores. (photo by Ashlyn Duke Photography, used with permission)

Museum Week and Other Stuff

Please check the April program page for upcoming events. I've highlighted some below, but there's always more to know.

Next week (Monday, April 23, through Sunday, April 29) people who work in museums, people who visit museums, and people who like to read about museums will unite across the world during Museum Week 2018. (There's probably a not very complicated Venn diagram of that previous sentence, since people who work in museums generally fall into the other two categories as well.) This year's overall theme is "Living together, citizenship and tolerance."

The daily hashtags, starting with Monday, Apr. 23, are: #womenMW, #cityMW, #heritageMW, #professionsMW, #kidsMW, #natureMW, and #differenceMW (more info on each). Sites on the Trails of History generally post at least some days during Museum Week; @PHMC will be retweeting, as will I (@AmyKFox). Or follow your favorite museums on Twitter (if you don't already) to see what they're posting. You don't have to work in a museum (or be officially registered) to participate. Just have fun!

Tyler Gum, director of the PA Military Museum, welcomes guests to the PA Museums Awards Ceremony (photo courtesy @museumnotations via Twitter)

Museums from around the state met earlier this week in the State College area during the PA Museums annual conference. Sessions took place at the American Philatelic Society's facility in Bellefonte, with an opening reception held at the Centre Furnace Mansion in State College. The PHMC's Pennsylvania Military Museum in Boalsburg hosted the PA Museums Awards Ceremony, where 11 institutional and 2 individual awards were presented.

Crane moving Niagara’s mainmast into place.  Before work ended, the shrouds (hanging) needed to be secured to stabilize the mast. (Photo: Linda Bolla)

Frequent Trailheads guest blogger Linda Bolla, Erie Maritime Museum and U.S. Brig Niagara, provided photos and an interesting story from this year's uprig of the ship.

As a sailing ship is built, it is traditional to place a coin beneath her mast as it is stepped. This practice is said to have begun with ancient Romans so that, should the ship sink, sailors would have coin to pay Charon the ferryman to cross the River Styx into the afterlife. The tradition may have even older origins, however, as underwater archaeology has found non-Roman vessels to have coins beneath the mast. Today, we continue the tradition with the hope for good luck for this ship and her crew.

Coins placed beneath Niagara's mainmast 2018

Two coins were recovered and cleaned by Niagara’s Carpenter Adam Stanisz when the mainmast was removed late in 2017. A 1990 “Walking Liberty” silver dollar (upper left in above photo) was placed beneath the mainmast when this Niagara was first built. When the mainmast was removed and stepped again in 2000, a golden Sacagawea dollar from that year was added (lower left).

This year three new coins were added. Flagship Niagara League (FNL) Trustee and volunteer crew member Pat Federici donated a Sea Services Challenge Coin (lower middle in above photo) made especially for War of 1812 Bicentennial events at Detroit, MI in September 2012. This coin honors the services of the U. S. Navy, U.S. Marine Corps and U.S. Coast Guard. FNL Trustee Emeritus and long-time Erie Maritime Museum volunteer docent Ed Bolla offered an 1813 silver fifty cent coin (right). Finally, a stunning silver commemorative medal (upper middle) struck for the 2013 Bicentennial of the Battle of Lake was added. The medal was published by Dave Hayes and John Dean and designed and minted by Daniel Carr at Moonlight Mint in Colorado. On the obverse, Carr’s design features a bust of Oliver Hazard Perry, the International Peace Monument at Put-In-Bay, and flags of the United States, Canada, and Great Britain, representing lasting peace. The reverse features U.S. Brig Niagara in action.

Five coins in place awaiting resetting of the ship's mainmast

Coming up this weekend

• Anthracite Heritage Museum
  April 21: Landscape and Environment Month Lecture—Robert Hughes of the Eastern Pennsylvania Coalition for Abandoned Mine Reclamation (EPCAMR) will present "The Sustainability Factor of Coalfield Community Groups in both the Anthracite and Bituminous Regions of PA and EPCAMR's Role Throughout NE & NC PA" (more info here). Lecture is free. 2 pm.
• Conrad Weiser Homestead
  April 22: Living History Sunday—enjoy an afternoon of living history; guided tours offered. Noon-4 pm.
• Daniel Boone Homestead
  April 21: Sheep and Fiber Day—the Homestead sheep will be sheared and artisans will demonstrate various steps of the textile production process (more info on Facebook event page). Vendors will be on hand with items made from alpaca and sheep's wool. Food will be available for purchase throughout the day. Cost is $7 for ages 16 and up, $4 for ages 5-15, free for Friends members and children age 4 and under. 10 am-4 pm.
• Ephrata Cloister
  April 22: Ephrata Cloister Chorus Spring Concert—the concert will be held at Church of the Apostles United Church of Christ in Lancaster (more info on the website). Included on the program is a composition from the 1740s, newly transcribed from a copy found in the Ephrata Cloister archives. 4 pm.
• Landis Valley Village and Farm Museum
  April 21: Spring Benefit Auction—silent and live auctions, plus yummy food (see website for more details). Preview and silent auction begin at 4 pm, live auction begins at 6.
• Pennsbury Manor
  April 22: Bitters, Blubs and Brewing—enjoy a private tour of the kitchen garden, focused on the medicinal role of plants in the 17th and 18th centuries. Then a mixologist will teach you how to make your own bitters to take home. Must be at least 21 to participate. Cost is $20, which includes all materials and grounds admission (info on registering).
• Pennsylvania Lumber Museum
  April 21-22: Spring Antique and Collectible Show and Sawmill Run—vendors from all over the U.S. will be selling a variety of wares. The museum's sawmill will be in operation on Saturday, and the birch still will be demonstrated both days. Admission charged, includes access to museum exhibits. Food and drink will be available for purchase. 10 am-4 pm both days.
• Somerset Historical Center
  April 21: Common Threads Symposium—this program is offered in conjunction with Laurel Arts and features Sally C. Fink, fabric artist and author, and Mike Taylor, spinning wheel collector and author. Fiber artists will display and/or sell their work throughout the visitor center exhibit. Tickets are $5 and may be purchased at the door (more info on the Facebook event page). (In conjunction with the symposium, there will be a quilt sale/fundraiser to generate funds for quilters and the Somerset Historical Center; contact c-Kross@pa.gov for details and to register.) 9 am-4 pm.