Well, that was August, I guess

The September program page is now available and will be updated as events are added. For online activities available 24/7, check out the Trailheads Rec Room (to the right of your screen).

August has been a blur, and I guess that's not unusual. But we're all dealing with some degree of upheaval and disruption, some of us more than others (I realize what an understatement that is). The Commonwealth of PA website has gathered mental health resources, if you're looking for some help with coping.

Life on the Trails of History continues - it's mostly online, but it continues. This has been a big week for anniversaries and commemorations.

Replica oil derrick at Drake Well Museum and Park (via Facebook)

Normally, Drake Well Museum and Park marks Drake Day (the anniversary of the first successful oil well) with an onsite program the weekend closest to August 27. Recent years have included a 19th-century traveling circus, with a glimpse of life in the oil region, and the Carnegie Museum of Natural History's "Spinosaurus Encounter," exploring the geology of the oil fields. This year's Drake Day featured an online presentation by museum curator Sue Beates, who recounted the history of the industry that started at Drake's well and the development of the museum.

A new monument in Harrisburg honors the Old 8th Ward, a predominantly Black and immigrant neighborhood that was removed to make way for what is now the Capitol Complex, home to (among many other state agencies) The State Museum of Pennsylvania, the Pennsylvania State Archives, and PHMC's headquarters offices. The monument dedication was held on Wednesday to coincide with the 100th anniversary of the 19th Amendment and the 150th anniversary of the 15th Amendment. (In 2015, one of PHMC's Keystone Interns wrote a guest post for Trailheads about a walking tour that included part of the Old 8th Ward.)

Yesterday at the Capitol Complex, we dedicated a monument honoring the city’s Old 8th Ward. This diverse and densely...

Posted by Governor Tom Wolf on Thursday, August 27, 2020

Last week's post (and the week before) included news about the commemoration of the 19th Amendment, which opened the way for women to vote. With the 100th Anniversary on Aug. 26, a number of sites posted in honor of the day, also known as Women's Equality Day.

The ratification of the 19th Amendment became official on August 26, 1920, but what came next? Following Pennsylvania's...

Posted by The Somerset Historical Center on Thursday, August 27, 2020

Today, on #nationaldogday and #womensequalityday, one of our research assistants decided to check out the autobiography...

Posted by Pennsbury Manor on Wednesday, August 26, 2020

The 19th Amendment and women's right to vote turn 100 years old today! We're honoring this milestone in American history...

Posted by Historic Ephrata Cloister on Wednesday, August 26, 2020

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!

Wrapping Up March

The March program page gets you through tomorrow (I've highlighted some events below) and the April page is ready to go. Please note that Trails of History sites will be closed on Sunday, April 1, for Easter (with the possible exception of Washington Crossing Historic Park - please check their website before heading there).

So, we're at the end of March. I thought I'd share a few items that have come across the radar here at Trailheads HQ but haven't made it into previous posts.

Close-up from tinsmithing workshop at Somerset Historical Center (via Facebook)

I really love this photo. It was posted along with several others from Somerset Historical Center's recent tinsmithing workshop. Roy and Sharon Phillips helped workshop participants learn how to make a variety of tinware forms, including a candle sconce, a drinking mug, and a 3-sided lantern. They used tools from several different eras of tinsmithing, so participants learned skills as well as the history of the craft. Check out Somerset Historical Center's calendar of events for more hands-on classes coming up this spring and summer.

Leadership Lackawanna Core Program participants learn leadership, interpersonal, and managerial skills, as well an understanding of community issues and topics. Jim Lockwood, of the Times-Tribune, recently reported that the Class of 2018 is working with the Anthracite Heritage Museum to mark 250 years of anthracite mining in the U.S. The class members will be procuring a commemorative plaque to be placed at the museum, which documents and interprets Northeast Pennsylvania's history of hard-coal mining, as well as its related industries, businesses, and immigrant culture. The plaque will be dedicated at a cocktail reception on May 10.

As we lurch fitfully into spring (surely, we're just about there), many thoughts turn to gardens and gardening. Chef Walter Staib posted earlier this week that he is preparing an episode of his award-winning Taste of History program featuring the gardens at Pennsbury Manor. Staib's show focuses on 18th-century cuisine and cooking throughout the world, and he filmed scenes for two episodes at Pennsbury back in November (see photos from the shoot). I'm not sure when either will air, but we'll be sure to let you know.

The PHMC has approved 16 new historical markers, commemorating a wide range of people and topics from Pennsylvania's history (full list in press release). To learn more about the Historical Marker Program, including how to submit a person, place, or event for consideration, visit the State Historic Preservation Office marker page. And since we're saying goodbye for now to Women's History Month, check out this list of current markers related to women's history.

Coming up tomorrow, March 31

• "Easter at the Homestead," Daniel Boone Homestead (info on the Facebook event page), 10 am-4 pm
• "Something More Saturday," celebrating Edwin Drake's 199th birthday, Drake Well Museum and Park (info on Facebook), 10 am-3 pm

On This Day in History, March 30

• 1870 - Following ratification by 3/4 of the states, the 15th Amendment was formally adopted, granting African-American men the right to vote. (Read about the far more complicated story of the 15th Amendment and the 1964 Voting Rights Act.)

Now That You Mention It

The October program page has info on upcoming events on the Trails of History (this weekend's highlights below). Please note that most sites will be closed on Monday, Oct. 9, for Columbus Day, but Drake Well Museum and Park, Fort Pitt Museum, and the Railroad Museum of PA will be open (to the best of my knowledge, it's always a good idea to check ahead to make sure).

If you missed last Friday's guest post from Rachel Yerger about a collection of military medals from World War I, you can still find it here, "The Extraordinary Heroism of Ordinary People."

I spend a fair amount of time keeping up with the social media posts that Trails of History sites put out so that I know what they're doing and can help spread the word. But I also try to pay attention to the times when other people's social media accounts mention a Trails of History site. This past week or so, I noticed several mentions (I'm sure there were more) so I'm sharing.

Historic Hope Lodge, Montgomery County (from Facebook)

The "Historic Trades & Skills of Colonial Williamsburg" page on Facebook posts all kinds of stuff about the various shops throughout the historic area. Lately the Joinery folks have been posting photos of noteworthy colonial era historic houses that are not part of Colonial Williamsburg. In late September, they included our own Hope Lodge, showcasing its Georgian symmetry, the history of ownership, and its side-by-side interpretation of the 18th century and the 20th Century Colonial Revival era.

The current issue of Mountain Home magazine includes an article on the Pennsylvania Lumber Museum as a wedding and meeting venue. The writer interviewed staff of the museum as well as the first couple to hold a wedding there, in August 2015, shortly after the renovated museum visitor center was dedicated. One of the goals of the renovation and expansion was to create more space for community meetings and events in an area where rental facilities are fairly scarce.

Earlier this week, PennLive posted a story highlighting "35 of the Best PA Small Towns." The blurb for Coudersport, Potter County, included mention of the PA Lumber Museum (which sits between Galeton and Coudersport on Route 6), and the note about Somerset included the Somerset Historical Center. Thanks, PennLive, for recognizing the importance of local museums to making small towns distinctive and visit-worthy.

This weekend (including today)...
Drake Well Museum and Park
Oct. 7: Lantern Tours at Pithole—explore the remains of a 19th-century oil boomtown and learn about the colorful characters who lived there during its brief existence (see article in the Titusville Herald). This is an all-weather event and takes place primarily outdoors, so please dress accordingly. Tickets are $10, and space is limited (more info and online ticketing). Tours set out from the visitor center at 10-minute intervals from 6:30 to 9:30 pm; as of yesterday, the 6:30, 7, 7:30, and 8 pm tour times are sold out. Advance ticket sales will be cut off at 3 pm today (10/6).

Ephrata Cloister
Oct. 6-7: Apple Dumpling Sales—enjoy a delicious PA Dutch tradition and support the Back to the Cloister Fund (which helps to return original furnishings and objects to the site). Dumplings, from Aschenbach's Bakery, are $4 each and are referred to as "meal-sized." There is no admission charge to buy apple dumplings (regular admission applies if you want to tour the site). Free local delivery can be arranged for advance orders of 20 or more; call 717/733-6600. Fri., 9:30 am-4 pm, Sat., 9:30 am until sold out.
Oct. 8: Day of Music—the Ephrata Cloister Chorus will perform in the Saal at 2, 3, and 4 pm. Included in regular admission, site is open noon-5 pm (guided tours will be available).

Landis Valley Village and Farm Museum
Oct. 7-8: Harvest Days—a classic special event and a great way to celebrate the coming of fall. Loads of demonstrations and activities for the whole family in a beautiful setting. New this year, a maze cut into a field of sorghum (see video). (Details in this article from LancasterOnline.com.) Admission: adults, $12; seniors, $10; age 6-11, $8; free parking. 11 am-5 pm.

Old Economy Village
Oct. 7-8: Erntedankfest - A Harvest Festival—celebrate the fall harvest as artisans throughout the village cook, bake, and demonstrate their craft skills. Music, food, and family activities make this a great tradition. Included in regular admission. Sat., 10 am-5 pm; Sun., noon-5 pm.

Pennsbury Manor
October 8: Sunday programming—this week, Living History Theater presents the wedding of John Sotcher and Mary Lofty, William Penn’s steward and housekeeper, following 17th-century Quaker customs. Included in regular admission. 1-4 pm.

Pennsylvania Lumber Museum
Oct 7-8: Annual Fall Antique and Collectible Show—this event features dozens of vendors and supports the programs of the Lumber Museum. Other activities include sawmill operation (Saturday only), birch still and blacksmithing demos, and food for purchase in the community room. $5 admission ($3 for kids) includes the show and all museum exhibits and activities. 10 am-5 pm.

Pennsylvania Military Museum
Oct. 7: Keeping It Clean: A History of Arms & Cleaning Techniques—learn about the history of a variety of military weapons, their use, and appropriate care. Donation requested. Noon-3 pm.

State Museum of Pennsylvania
Oct. 6: Last Day - Archaeology at Fort Hunter—this season's excavations by State Museum archaeology team wrap up today. You can drop by between 10 am and 3 pm to see what's up.
Oct. 6: StoryTime—today's program, designed for kids age 3-5 with an adult, takes place in Ecology Hall to learn about squirrels. The book is Frisky Brisky Hippity Hop, by Alexina B. White. Included in general admission. 10-11 am.

Preservation in Many Forms

The July program page has info for the remainder of the month; I've highlighted some events below for this weekend.

This week's post has something resembling a theme. Maybe it's more of a thread. I noticed a bunch of posts in my Facebook feed that highlighted the multiple ways the PHMC's Trails of History sites help to preserve historic structures, landscapes, and lifeways. That's probably true most of the time, since, y'know, that's what we do. But it felt like a convergence, so I'm sharing.

But first, your moment of Justin Trudeau...

Since late June, the U.S. Brig Niagara has been away from the Erie Maritime Museum, visiting U.S. and Canadian ports around the Great Lakes. This week they are in Quebec City for a tall ships event, one of a series of "Rendez-vous 2017" festivals celebrating the 150th birthday of the dominion of Canada (created in 1867 as a confederation of British colonies Canada, Nova Scotia, and New Brunswick). Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau was on hand Wednesday to help launch the Quebec City festival and posed with crew members from the ships, including Niagara captain William Sabatini (2nd from left in front row in the tan shirt). Pretty cool.



Now that we've gotten that out of the way, Eckley Miners' Village shared a post about a visit from two historians from the Historic American Buildings Survey (HABS) program. Camille Westmont and Lisa Pfeuller Davidson were on site to document four types of worker housing as part of a study of anthracite mining towns in northeastern Pennsylvania. The HABS program was created in 1933 through an joint agreement of the American Institute of Architects, the Library of Congress (which houses the documentation), and the National Park Service to preserve through documentation a complete range of American building types "from the monumental and architect-designed to the utilitarian and vernacular, including a sampling of regionally and ethnically derived building traditions." HABS is now one of the National Park Service's Heritage Documentation Programs, along with the Historic American Engineering Record (HAER) and the Historic American Landscapes Survey (HALS).

In 1937, HABS worked to document Hope Lodge, a Georgian mansion owned at the time by William and Alice Degn and now part of the Trails of History. According to the site guidebook, the Degns received a certificate from the Dept. of the Interior the following year declaring Hope Lodge an outstanding example of Colonial architecture. Hope Lodge recently shared some photos from the HABS project via the Library of Congress. You can search or browse more HABS/HAER photo collections in the Library of Congress online.

(Incidentally, "Habs" is also a nickname for the Montreal Canadiens hockey team, no doubt a favorite of Prime Minister Trudeau. Who says there's no serendipity in a Google search?)

Staff and volunteers of Landis Valley Village and Farm Museum's Heirloom Seed Project (photo above) have been busy cultivating and weeding as we move into the heart of the summer. The site's Facebook page has had numerous posts with lovely photos of the flowers and vegetables that are to be found growing around the site.

On a somewhat darker note, the Pennsylvania Lumber Museum shared info about a new documentary, Cathedral: The Fight to Save the Ancient Hemlocks of Cook Forest, which will have showings Friday and Saturday, July 28 and 29, at the Cook Forest Sawmill Center for the Arts (info, trailer, and online tickets). Rangers from Cook Forest State Park will take questions from the audience about the ongoing battle against the hemlock woolly adelgid.

And I'll bookend that with this video clip from Pennsbury Manor's garden. This Sunday you will find the gardeners there, ready to talk about what's growing and ready to pick (see listings below for more info).


Coming up this weekend...

Landis Valley Village and Farm Museum
July 22-23: Civil War Weekend—the site is transformed into a rural Pennsylvania village during the Civil War, with reenactors portraying soldiers and civilians (more info). The Landis Collections Gallery will have an exhibit on Abraham Lincoln's visit to Lancaster in 1861. Admission charged; tickets are available online. Food will be available for purchase at the museum store. (Read more in this LancasterOnline article.) 10 am-4 pm both days.

Old Economy Village
June 22: Saturday Spotlight—this week, decorative arts. Included in regular admission. 11 am-4 pm.

Pennsbury Manor
June 23: Special Sunday Programming—this week, chat with the gardeners and the brewers and see what they're up to. Included in regular admission. 1-4 pm.


Pennsylvania Military Museum
July 21: Lecture—as a lead-up to this weekend's living history event, Dr. Ron Lenox, museum volunteer and retired Armstrong chemist, will present "Napalm and Agent Orange: Two Iconic Chemical Weapons of the Vietnam War." 6:30-7:30 pm.
July 22-23: VIETNAM Revisited—living historians will be on the grounds portraying American combat and support troops “in country” in the late 1960s (more details and photos from previous events are on the website). Julie Decker, DNP, RN, of the Penn State School of Nursing, will present "The Real China Beach: U.S. Army Nurses in Vietnam" at 10:30 am on Saturday in the museum auditorium (regular admission rates apply for the lecture). Folks from public media organization WPSU will also be on hand to talk about their upcoming film, A Time to Heal, which documents the experiences of Pennsylvanians during the Vietnam era (see promo above and more info on Facebook). 10 am-4 pm (tactical demo at 1:30 pm each day).

Somerset Historical Center
July 22: Exhibit opening—"Unraveling the Woof" is this summer's exhibit. Included in regular admission.

State Museum of Pennsylvania
July 21: Free Summer Friday and Learn at Lunchtime—admission is free today, 9 am to 5 pm, and there will be a paleontology program in Nature Lab, 12:15-12:45 pm.
July 21: 3rd in the Burg—enjoy light refreshments and a tour of the Art of the State exhibit(on view thru Sept. 10), then visit the Susquehanna Art Museum (SAM) for a tour. SAM's Director of Education, Tina Sell, will conduct the "Art of the State Tour," and Ophelia Chambliss, artist and PHMC Commissioner, will conduct the tour at SAM as part of a program called "The Great Summer Switch" (info on Facebook). Admission is free for this event. 5:30-7:30 pm (State Museum tour starts at 6 pm, SAM tour starts at 7:30).

Washington Crossing Historic Park
July 21-23—celebrate the Park's centennial, learn to fish, and gaze at the stars, not necessarily in that order. More info on the website.

U.S. World War I Centennial Continues and Other News

The May program page has info on upcoming events on the PHMC's Trails of History.

Updates on World War I Centennial on the Trails of History

Among the events happening this weekend is a military history timeline at Conrad Weiser Homestead, with reenactors representing PA German units who fought in US conflicts from the French and Indian War up through WWI. A highlight of the event will be the "American doughboy" statue honoring men of the Tulpehocken Valley who served during WWI. Over the years, the statue had become dirty, and the surface was invaded by algae. Professional conservators from the firm of B.R. Howard and Associates (under contract to PHMC) cleaned the statue and treated it with a biocide to kill the algae. Now it looks much better, more like its original appearance, and just in time for the centennial of U.S. entry into World War I.

(Top) Doughboy statue during cleaning
(Bottom) Statue after cleaning and treatment with biocide (photos B.R. Howard & Associates)

I remember one of my grandmothers, who was born in 1907, talking about knitting socks for the soldiers in WWI. Knitting for the soldiers has been an important part of home front activities in many American wars. It strikes me as a highly personal connection between the knitters and the recipients, who may know each other well or who may never ever meet in person. Kudos to Somerset Historical Center for a hands-on lesson about the home front.

Community Connections

It is a truth universally acknowledged that a historic site with beautiful grounds must be in want of throngs of prom-goers lining up to take photos (sorry, Jane). This spring, Ephrata Cloister embraced that truth and decided to reach out more systematically to local high schools. They've scheduled the photo opportunities, staffed information tables to promote programs and membership, and provided complimentary snacks and refreshments. The first weekend drew about 375 people (including prom-goers and families). The primary purpose of this effort was to be a good neighbor, but there have been benefits as well in the form of museum store sales and greater community awareness and appreciation of the site, its beauty, and its history.

On May 2, members of the Pennsylvania Cultural Response Team (PCRT) were at the Pennsylvania State Archives for a hands-on disaster recovery exercise. Along with Archives staff, the team of emergency management and cultural professionals simulated a flood response involving archival and library materials. The PCRT members have been trained in recovery and preservation techniques so that they can assist anywhere in the state when cultural and heritage collections are affected by flooding, fire, or other disasters. They shared some video of Tuesday's drill on Facebook (see below). Staff from the State Archives will also be assisting communities in June with their popular "Archives Without Tears" workshop designed for anyone who is responsible for archival and/or historical records (program brochure and registration info.)



The Pennsylvania Lumber Museum recently posted a thank you to several Galeton businesses who sponsored a visit to the museum by the Gale-Pride after school program.

Drake Well Museum and Park has received funding from the Oil Regional Alliance Educational Mini-Grants Program and the Bridge Builders Community Foundation to fund their new "Transportation Scholarship" program. The funding will subsidize transportation costs for some 800 6th graders in 10 public schools within the Oil Regional National Heritage Area so that they can participate in the Museum's School Tour program.

Last week, in the midst of getting the ship ready for the sailing season, the crew of U.S. Brig Niagara helped with waterfront cleanup in the area around the Erie Maritime Museum and shared some photos on Facebook.

Niagara crew with their clean-up haul (via Facebook)

In the News and Coming Up

There's still stuff to do in September on the Trails of History - check out the monthly program page. I plan to have the October listing available next week.

(from left) Julia Rose, AASLH Chair; Josh Roth, site administrator, PA Lumber Museum; John Dichtl, AASLH President and CEO (photo via AASLH Facebook page)

The Bradford Era picked up the story of the Pennsylvania Lumber Museum's core exhibit receiving a Leadership in History Award from the American Association for State and Local History (AASLH). Site administrator Josh Roth was in Detroit last week to receive the award on behalf of the museum and PHMC.

The Ephrata Area Chamber of Commerce is holding a history-themed murder mystery event on Oct. 1 (since I won't have the October program listing up until late next week, I'm mentioning it now). The action of the story is set in 1941, the year Ephrata celebrated its 50th birthday (they're celebrating their 125th this year) and the beginnings of restoration work at Ephrata Cloister were getting underway. Michael Showalter, museum educator at Ephrata Cloister, wrote the script for the murder mystery event, weaving together borough and Cloister history - some vignettes will take place at Ephrata Cloister. If you're interested in attending, you can find out more info in an article in the Ephrata Review.

The Daily Item (Sunbury) last weekend included two articles on a new children's exhibit and education area at the Joseph Priestley House, which explores what life was like for families other than the Priestleys who lived in Northumberland and surrounding areas in the late 18th and early 19th centuries. In other Priestley House developments, the third in a series of videos about Dr. Priestley's scientific work identifying and isolating various gases is now available. Each video provides historical information on Priestley's work and shows experiments in a modern laboratory. The most recent video focuses on nitrous oxide and was partially funded by the Dept. of Anesthesiology at Penn State Milton S. Hershey Medical Center (previous videos covered carbon monoxide and ammonia).

Walter's Mill Covered Bridge at Somerset Historical Center (photo by Janice Mullin)

Earlier this week I got around to checking my Google Alerts folder (it had been several weeks), I found an article from the Fort Morgan (Colorado) Times about a local 4-H group that visited western Pennsylvania in July. Among the many sites they visited was Somerset Historical Center, and the article includes a photo of the students in front of the Walter's Mill Covered Bridge. Coincidentally (?) there was a more recent story about a new self-guided tour brochure for Somerset County. The Bridges of Somerset County brochure and map, supported by the Somerset County Tourism Grant Program, lists covered bridges and historic sites as well as recreational trails and other points of interest (you can download a copy of the brochure online).

Whooosh!

Summer is speeding by, and I probably always say that right about this time. But this year, I mean it! The August program page will provide you with lots of ideas for making the most of the last full month of summer. If you're still looking for something to do this evening (8/5), call Cornwall Iron Furnace to see if tickets are available for their Blast! event, featuring beer, wine, and a pig roast next to the iron furnace building.

On Thursday, July 28, Pennsbury Manor provided a beautiful setting for 47 people from 21 countries to become naturalized American citizens. As the Democratic National Convention was in its final day in nearby Philadelphia, some reporters covering the event asked many of the new citizens about their new right to vote. (You can see more from the Bucks County Courier Times or ABC6 news.) This was not the first time that Pennsbury has hosted a naturalization ceremony; the most recent was in July 2014.

The Pittsburgh Post-Gazette has an ongoing series devoted to National Park Service sites in Pennsylvania in honor of NPS's Centennial this year. The most recent entry in the series looks at the Oil Region National Heritage Area, located in northwestern PA. One of the stars of the piece is, of course, PHMC's own Drake Well Museum, which tells the story of the birth of the oil and gas industries and features a replica of Edwin Drake's oil well. The author notes that the best souvenirs in the region are PA crude oil or pieces of the Marcellus Shale sold in Drake Well's museum store. There is also video of oil field machinery (be sure the speakers on your computer or device are on).

The Pennsylvania Military Museum held its annual "Vietnam Revisited" program this past weekend. Exploring the combat and non-combat experiences of serving in Vietnam, the event featured a bivouac and simulated jungle patrols. Among other features was a map of Vietnam that veterans could sign to show where they were during the war (see photo below and check out PMM's Facebook page for more).

Vietnam Remembered (via PA Military Museum Facebook page)

If you're reading this Friday morning (Aug. 5) you might still have time to get to the State Museum for a lunchtime talk on the newly renovated Carboniferous Forest exhibit on the museum's 3rd floor (even if you miss the talk, you can see the reopened gallery). Get details on the museum's website; museum is open 9 am to 5 pm, the gallery talk is 12:15-12:45 pm (or come at come at 11:30 am to learn about new plans for Mammal Hall). Programs are included in general admission.

Somerset Historical Center has announced the upcoming publication of a book on the Shade Furnace, a 19th-century iron furnace and community located in the northern part of Somerset County. Pre-publication orders are now being accepted (see form for more details).

The PA Lumber Museum reminds us that the first in a series of local Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC) reunions is scheduled for Saturday, Aug. 13, at Leonard Harrison State Park. As you may know, the Lumber Museum's core exhibit includes a history of CCC activity in PA and the outdoor exhibits include a CCC-built chestnut cabin and statue honoring CCC workers. (On a side note, the Lumber Museum has a couple of on-site programs coming up this month that I initially left off the August program page but have now remedied, so please check that out, too. Thx.)

Where would I be without Facebook?

There's always a lot of activity on the PHMC's Trails of History. We have regular operating hours with guided tours and "free range" visitor experiences. We have special events and public programs (see the June program page, for example). I've highlighted a few of these below, in addition to some things that don't really fit into an easy category. But I thought you might be interested, if you haven't already run across them.

Photo courtesy of PA Lumber Museum Facebook page 

To entice all you hikers and walkers, the Pennsylvania Lumber Museum posted photos of trails on the museum grounds and adjacent Susquehannock State Forest. If you go, don't forget to check out the Visitor Center, Logging Camp, Sawmill, and other great venues on the site as well. And remember that the annual Bark Peelers' Festival is coming up July 2-3.

Somerset Historical Center is hosting an exhibit of winning entries in the Laurel Highlands Photography Club's 2016 contest. An opening reception was held earlier this week, where the winning entries were revealed. Entries were submitted by amateur and professional photographers in about a dozen categories (you can find the list on the club's Facebook page). The exhibit will be up through June 28.

If you're planning to attend Brews and Bites at Pennsbury Manor tomorrow evening, June 18 (tickets are still available by phone), you'll have a chance to taste a bit of the 17th century. In addition to a wide array of local brews, you can sample cider made from a recipe belonging to Gulielma Springett Penn, William's first wife. "Penn's 74" is made by Blackledge Winery. You can also sample site-brewed beer based on 17th-century recipes (brewing demos are offered on Sunday afternoons through much of the year, but you normally don't get to sample the product).

Photo courtesy of Landis Valley's Facebook page

Earlier this week, as part of Landis Valley Village and Farm Museum's Summer Institute, volunteer Bob Goodhart (in short-sleeved plaid shirt) led a tour of the kitchen gardens on a lovely summer evening. Check out Landis Valley's Facebook page for more photos of Summer Institute activities.

On Wednesday, June 22, The State Museum of PA will host a lunchtime talk by author and archivist Valerie Frey, who will share her insights on preserving family recipes and analyzing the history found in them. She will also sign copies of her book, Preserving Family Recipes: How to Save and Celebrate Your Food Traditions. The program is part of the Museum's "Learn at Lunchtime" series (included in general admission) and will take place in Village Square from noon to 1 pm.

Photo courtesy of Cornwall Iron Furnace Facebook page

Members of the 2016 class of Leadership Lebanon Valley toured Cornwall Iron Furnace this week to learn more about the history of the region. In the photo above, board member Sue Dieffenbach (left of photo near the great wheel) explains how air was blown into the furnace to help it reach the temps necessary for producing iron.

And finally, a public service announcement. The Railroad Museum of Pennsylvania, in cooperation with the Central Pennsylvania Blood Bank, will host a community blood drive next Friday, June 24, from 10 am to 4 pm. All blood types are needed; generally anyone 16 or older, weighing at least 110 pounds, and in good health can donate (more details). As a thank you, blood donors will receive a coupon for a donut from Sugar on Top bakery in Strasburg (good thru 7/31/16) and a free adult admission to the Railroad Museum (good thru 12/31/16). Please consider donating if you can. UPDATE: I just saw that donors also get a free adult admission to the Choo Choo Barn, which is just up the road from the museum.

Cool stuff at which to look

Psst!! Over here. You look like someone who appreciates the finer things in life. Check out this list of programs on the PHMC's Trails of History.

LancasterOnline put together a nice visual to go along with their article on the weathervane exhibit at Landis Valley Village and Farm Museum. I had a chance to see the exhibit a couple of weeks ago and highly recommend it.

Learn all about #weathervanes at @LandisValley's new exhibit.@LNPFood_Living #folkart #art https://t.co/bDsMBP9rdO pic.twitter.com/duDrSuS08X

— Erin_Negley (@Erin_Negley) June 2, 2016

In a recent article in Somerset's Daily American, Mark Ware shares his memories of maple sugaring and talks about current programs keeping the public informed about the county's maple industry. Ware is director of the Historical and Genealogical Society of Somerset County, PHMC's partner organization in the management and operation of the Somerset Historical Center. The article features photos of the recreated maple sugar camp at the center.

"You know you're getting old when a locomotive that has hauled passenger trains on which you've ridden as an adult winds up in a museum." So states William C. Vantuono, editor-in-chief of Railway Age, in a May 27 post about the Amtrak AEM-7 locomotive now in the collection of and on exhibit at the Railroad Museum of PA. I hear you, dude. As a commuter between Lancaster County and Harrisburg the past 6 years, I have ridden behind "toasters" before they were replaced with the sleek new "Cities Sprinter." You can see the AEM-7 and many other locomotives and railroad cars at the museum, along with this year's special exhibit, "Safety First: The Evolution of Railroading Safety Practices."

Eckley Miners' Village shared some charming student artwork on their Facebook page recently, the result of school group visits to the site. They also shared some aerial footage of the site, taken by Dave Edwards in accordance with PHMC's unmanned aerial vehicle policy.




And one final item. What does Winnie the Pooh, that silly old bear, have to do with World War I? Find out at a lecture and film showing at the PA Military Museum this Saturday, June 11, at 1:30 pm.

Winnipeg the bear with unnamed Canadian soldier, 1915 (via Wikimedia Commons)

And the roundup continues...

I keep seeing interesting things I want to share here, so that's what I'm doing. The May program page is available if you're looking for something to do this weekend. And if you're one of those people that plans ahead (you know who you are), there's a list of sites that will be open on May 30 for Memorial Day.

Voting ends at midnight tonight (May 6) for Washington Crossing Historic Park's "Parkitecture" photo contest. They've posted the finalists on Facebook.

Nicole Belolan tweeted this and other photos from Somerset's coopering workshop

Somerset Historical Center held their annual coopering workshop last weekend. Experienced coopers teach their skills to folks who come from far and wide and leave with a finished (or nearly finished) maple sap bucket (or "keeler" as it's called in Somerset County). Nicole Belolan, a Ph.D. candidate in the History of American Civilization program at the Univ. of Delaware, attended with her husband, Tyler Putnam, and tweeted a number of photos as the weekend progressed. As it happens, Nicole is also a former PHMC Keystone intern. The Somerset Daily American also shared photos from the workshop, which continues to draw participants with a variety of reasons for learning this centuries-old trade.

PHMC's info specialist Sean Adkins and PA Heritage editor Kyle Weaver took one of their signature Trails of History road trips last week, visiting Pennsbury Manor. Lots of behind-the-scenes photos and video on Twitter, gathered on Storify for easy viewing.

Museum educator Michael Showalter recently spoke with abc27's Amy Kehm about one of Ephrata Cloister's historical personalities, Mother Maria Eicher. Michael explained Eicher's leadership in the community and its relation to Conrad Beissel's belief system. You can watch it here on abc27's website.

Global War on Terrorism memorial at PA Military Museum (photo by Charlie Fox)

A new monument was recently installed on the grounds of PA Military Museum - The 28th Infantry Division Global War on Terrorism Memorial. Funds for the memorial, which honors soldiers of the 28th killed in designated anti-terrorism operations since Sept. 2001, were raised through donations. The memorial will be dedicated at the annual Celebration of Service event at the Military Museum on Sunday, May 22, 2016. (You can find photos from PMM's recent WWI event, "The Great War Remembered," on Facebook.)

Once every 4 years (usually)

Woo hoo! We get an extra day of February this year. But it's a Monday, so maybe not so much fun. (Curious about the whole leap year thing? Thank goodness, for Wikipedia.)

But seriously, it does give you an extra day to get in on the Eckley Miners' Village Winter Wonderland photo contest, which has an entry deadline of March 1 (all the details you need).

Somerset Historical Center has shared photos of their latest hands-on workshop, where participants learned about tole painting and decorated a wooden box to take home. A staff project will stay at the site to accept donations to support this and other programs. If you're in the area (or like to travel), you might like the Pysanky egg workshop coming up on March 19.

As you probably know if you're familiar with Ephrata Cloister, music was vital to community life historically and is an important component of the site's programming today. On two recent weekends, student musicians played classical arrangements of Ephrata music in the Visitor Center as a part of a senior project. [Smooth segue alert!] And speaking of students, 2015 summer intern Kendra Ressler recently participated in Ephrata's Winter History Class, sharing a report of her research project on an autograph album acquired for the collection (she wrote about it for Trailheads in August).

The annual celebration of George Washington's birthday took place last weekend at Washington Crossing Historic Park and it looks like a good time was had by all (photos on Facebook). It was recently announced that management of WCHP has been transferred from PHMC to the PA Department of Conservation and Natural Resources. The site remains part of the PA Trails of History.

Wintertime is sail training time for volunteers at the Erie Maritime and U.S. Brig Niagara (named the top sail training program in the country for 2015). The museum recently shared photos on Facebook of trainees practicing seizings. Yeah, I had to look it up, too.

And last but definitely not least. We recently received word that the visitor center expansion and new core exhibit at the Pennsylvania Lumber Museum will receive an Institutional Achievement Award from PA Museums at their annual conference in April. This was a major project that required the work of many people over many years, and we are really pleased that it is being recognized by our peers.

Coming up between now and the end of the month...

Erie Maritime Museum and U.S. Brig Niagara
Feb. 29: Storytime at the Maritime—children and their accompanying adult(s) enjoy a maritime-themed story and participate in a related activity. Program is free. 10 am.

Landis Valley Village and Farm Museum
Feb. 27: Heirloom Seed Project workshops—sessions cover a variety of topics (visit website for class descriptions and registration info). Registration deadline was Feb. 19, so it may be filled.

State Museum of Pennsylvania
Feb. 26: Storytime at Curiosity Connection—the winter series kicks off with a reading of Roadwork, by Sally Sutton. The program also includes a related play activity and a visit to one of the museum's galleries. Included in regular admission. 10 am.

Washington Crossing Historic Park
Feb. 27-28: History Conference—Mrs. Boice's Historie Academie and the Friends of Washington Crossing Park will present a two-day conference, "Beyond Boom-Boom Sticks and Fancy-Dress Balls: Women's Lives in Early America." The program includes lectures and hands-on workshops; registration fee is $75 plus $15 per workshop. For more details and to register, visit Mrs. Boice's Historie Academie online.

What does the groundhog say?

Please be sure to check out the February program listings to find your favorite Trails of History site.

So, Groundhog Day (#GHD130) was Tuesday. You've probably heard what Punxsutawney Phil had to say, since he has a robust media operation. Lancaster County's Octoraro Orphie agreed with Phil that we should look for an early spring (they don't always agree). That's a good thing, in my opinion, since Winter Storm Jonas brought Lancaster County (where I live) all of its average yearly snowfall in one fell swoop (or swell foop, as one of my grandfathers used to say).

The folks at Somerset Historical Center had to delay their 18th-century cap workshop by a week due to the storm, but a small group gathered last Saturday to learn hand-sewing techniques while making an authentic cap. SHC will offer a tole painting workshop on Feb. 20, a pysanky egg workshop on March 19, and a weekend-long coopering workshop starting April 29.

(Top) Workshop participants making progress on their caps (photo courtesy of Elyse Bennett)
(Bottom) A finished cap by one of the attendees (photo courtesy of Linda Marker)

This week marked the centennial of the Commonwealth of PA's acquisition of the property we now know as Old Economy Village. As the result of a court case, the land and buildings that comprise the historic site were awarded to Pennsylvania on Feb. 3, 1916. It was, in fact, the first historic site to come under the direct ownership of the state and opened to the public in 1921. There will be commemorative programs throughout the year and you can follow Old Economy on Facebook to learn "100 facts for 100 years." State Rep. Rob Matzie, whose legislative district includes Old Economy Village, sponsored a resolution in the General Assembly to honor the occasion. (UPDATE: The Beaver County Times online has a nice article about the event.)

Happy 100th Anniversary to Old Economy Village!#beavercounty @phmc @Harmonist1 pic.twitter.com/ad9WMImwaX

— Rob Matzie (@RobMatzie) February 3, 2016

Well, they called that one right!

You'll find the January program page has some updated info. The February listings are up now, too, and I'll update them as info comes my way during the month..

In last week's post, I posed a question about whether the forecast snowstorm would be historic or a bust (I also misspelled "snowmageddon"). After closing Trails of History sites in the lower part of the state for the weekend and into the early part of this week, I think we know the answer. #Snowmageddon indeed.

Our offices in Harrisburg were closed Monday and Tuesday, so I am still playing catch-up. As I am prone to doing, I've trolled Facebook to glean some items of interest that I will share with you now. Starting with some lovely photos of snow.

(Top) Pennsbury Manor
(Middle) Somerset Historical Center
(Bottom trio) Washington Crossing Historic Park

Despite some snow (though not the "apocalyptic" (too much?) amounts we got in some parts of the state), the Knox Mine Disaster commemoration went on as planned at the Anthracite Heritage Museum in Scranton. They had good attendance and honored both those lost and those who survived (read more in this Citizens Voice article). In other Scranton news, the Scranton Iron Furnaces received a 2015 Happie Award from Happenings Magazine (Northeast PA) for Best Event Venue (they host numerous arts and cultural events each year).

Voting has opened for the 2016 Montgomery County Happenings List, and both Graeme Park and Hope Lodge are candidates for best historic spot (vote on the digital magazine's website). I mentioned last week that Washington Crossing Historic Park is in the running for the Bucks County Happening List in two categories, best historic spot and best scenic view (Bowman's Hill Tower).

This week's "PA Treasures" features a telescope that belonged to Dr. Joseph Priestley and is included in the State Museum's "PA Icons" exhibit. As you know, Dr. Priestley's American home and laboratory are part of the Trails of History.