Along the Pennsylvania Trails of History, May 17-30

Many, but not all, Trails of History sites will be open May 27 for Memorial Day. Sites planning to be open on Memorial Day are noted below, but please check ahead with the site you want to visit to make sure they will be open when you want to be there.

Learn about colonial housekeeping chores at Graeme Park's Living History Sunday on May 19 (see below for more information)

Anthracite Heritage Museum
May 27: Memorial Day—open 9 am-5 pm.

Brandywine Battlefield Park
May 19: History in the Neighborhood—learn about Brandywine Battlefield Park and other historic sites in the area. Included in regular admission. Noon-4 pm.
May 27: Memorial Day—open 9 am-4 pm.

Bushy Run Battlefield
May 25: Bushy Run Market—on the fourth Saturday of each month through September, a variety of vendors and concessionaires will be on hand. There is no charge to visit the market; vendors can find info on the website. 8 am-noon.

Cornwall Iron Furnace
May 27: Memorial Day—open 9 am-5 pm.

Daniel Boone Homestead
May 26: French and Indian War Militia Drill and Instruction—learn about soldier life in the mid-1700s (more info on website). Included in regular admission. 11 am-3 pm.

Drake Well Museum and Park
May 18: MEET-U in 5 & 1/2—enjoy a 5-mile or 13-mile (half marathon) run through the grounds of Drake Well Museum and Oil Creek State Park and help the museum’s MEET-U educational outreach program. Registration is required; registration form is on the web. You must register by May 5 to guarantee a race shirt.
May 25: Something More Saturday—special activities in addition to the museum's core and changing exhibits (indoor and outdoor). This month's focus is "Cooking in the Oilfield." Blacksmith demonstrations will also be offered. Included in regular admission. 10 am-3 pm.
May 27: Memorial Day—open 9 am-5 pm.

Eckley Miners' Village
May 27: Memorial Day—open 9 am-5 pm.

Ephrata Cloister
May 24-26: Printmaking Workshop—printmaker Dan Welden will lead a workshop on "solarplate" printing (more info, including how to register, in an article from Lancaster Farming). Fee charged. 10 am-4 pm.
May 27: Memorial Day—open 9 am-5 pm.

Erie Maritime Museum and U.S. Brig Niagara
May 27: Memorial Day—open 9 am-5 pm.

Fort Pitt Museum
Please visit the website for information on events and schedules this month.

Graeme Park
May 19: Living History Sunday—learn what it took to keep a colonial household running. Living history demonstrations are free of charge; admission fees apply to tour the Keith House. Noon-3 pm.

Hope Lodge
May 19: Site open—Hope Lodge is open for tours most Sundays through October; they will be closed on May 26. Admission is charged. Site is open 1-4 pm; guided tours are offered at 1 and 2:30.

Landis Valley Village & Farm Museum
May 27: Memorial Day—open 9 am-5 pm.

Old Economy Village
May 25: Blacksmithing Class - Beyond the Basics—this class is for you if you've taken OEV's intro to blacksmithing or already have basic blacksmithing skills and want to move on to an intermediate level (more details). Class is free, but space is limited; please register by May 15 by calling David Miller, 724/266-4500 x110. 10 am-1 pm.

Pennsbury Manor
May 19 and 26: Sunday Programming—May 19, "Open Hearth Cooking: Old Recipes and Old Friends" and May 26, "Beer Brewing and Garden Highlights." Included in regular admission. 1-4 pm.
May 27: Memorial Day—open 9 am-5 pm.

Pennsylvania Lumber Museum
May 25: Community Yard Sale—yard sale will be set up near the Route 6 entrance to the museum grounds. Call Bob at 814/435-2652 to register for a space. 9 am-5 pm.
May 27: Memorial Day—open 9 am-5 pm.

Pennsylvania Military Museum
May 19: A Celebration of Service—US Army reunion and memorial service sponsored by the PA National Guard and held on the museum grounds (photos of previous programs). Museum is open 10 am-5 pm (ceremony begins at 12:30 pm, but military vehicles, helicopters, and equipment begin arriving earlier in the day).
May 25: Military Museum Murph—the "Murph" is a Crossfit workout named for Lt. Michael P. Murphy, a Navy SEAL killed in action in 2005. This is the Military Museum's first Murph event. Online registration and more info can be found on the museum website. There is a cost to participate but parking for athletes is free. Spectators are welcome ($5 charge for parking). 9 am-3 pm.
May 25-26: World War II Revisited—Allied and Axis WWII reenactors will be bivouacked on the museum grounds portraying field life in the European Theater of Operations, 1944-45. This year's event will include representation of the 111th Naval Construction Battalion (Seabees) and their role during the D-Day invasion (75 years ago). There will also be several temporary exhibits exploring aspects of WWII, including the role of women (more info in Altoona Mirror article). Grounds will be open 10 am-4 pm each day. There will be a short program followed by a tactical demo at 12:45 pm each day.
May 27: Memorial Day—the museum will be open 10 am-5 pm.
May 27: Allegheny Mountain Region AACA Car Show—kick off summer with pre-war through modern classics on the grounds of the museum. $5 for on-site parking. 9 am-4 pm.

Railroad Museum of Pennsylvania
May 27: Memorial Day—the museum will be open 9 am-5 pm.

State Museum of Pennsylvania
Visit the website for a complete schedule of this month's Planetarium shows.
May 29: Documentary—the WITF documentary "Penn's Woods: Cradle of Conservation" will be screened, followed by a panel discussion on Pennsylvania's environmental history (more info on the website). 5-7 pm (reception at 5, screening starts at 5:30).

Washington Crossing Historic Park
Please visit the website for information on this month's events and schedules.

The Things We Save - Lumber Edition

Be sure to check last week's post for events coming up between today and July 19 or the July program page if you're planning further ahead.

To see additional photos from the Bark Peelers' Festival, I've saved some on a separate page or visit the PA Lumber Museum's Facebook page.

One of the steam engines that powers the PA Lumber Museum's sawmill (photo AKF - I thought it looked cool as a black and white photo so I converted it)

I'm somewhat embarrassed to admit that my visit to the Pennsylvania Lumber Museum's Bark Peelers' Festival last weekend was my first time at this long-standing annual event. It won't be my last, I hope. I am always inspired by the work of my colleagues at PHMC's historic sites and museums, staff and volunteers. These major public events, however, are a reminder of the tremendous effort that goes into welcoming visitors and showcasing the gems that make up the PA Trails of History. Gorgeous weather aside, it was a treat to see all the activity on site and to experience the sawmill in operation. I had seen video and photos but to be there in person and feel the rumble of all the machinery (steam engines below and various saws on the main floor) was something new.

Sawmill equipment in operation for Bark Peelers' Festival visitors (photo AKF)

The festival is inspired by the bark peelers' "conventions" of the late 19th and early 20th centuries where loggers and others got together to celebrate the Fourth of July and compete in tests of skill. Among the many activities are blacksmithing demonstrations and displays of "woodhick" skills by Bill Simcox and family. The full program from the festival is available online and I highly recommend it for reading more about the event, the museum, and the history of logging and forest management.

Demonstration of a two-man crosscut saw (photo AKF)

A special part of this year's Bark Peelers' Festival was the dedication of the Bob and Dotty Webber Cabin, built in 1961 overlooking Pine Creek (near Slate Run). The Webbers lived "off the grid" in this cabin, but as one of the museum board members who knew them told me, they were far from isolated. Bob Webber was instrumental in building forest and hiking trails throughout the region and inspired many current and former staff of the PA Dept. of Conservation and Natural Resources (DCNR). (You can read more about this project of the museum's website.) The Webbers received lots of visitors at their 500-square foot cabin and are fondly remembered by family and friends. Bob Webber passed away in 2015, and there was considerable concern about what would happen to the now-uninhabited cabin. A joint venture between DCNR and the PA Lumber Museum, the PA Lumber Museum Associates (PALMA), and PHMC resulted in the cabin's disassembly at its original location and reconstruction on the grounds of the Lumber Museum.

Speakers at the cabin dedication included PA Lumber Museum site administrator Josh Roth (left) and PHMC executive director Andrea Lowery (center) (photo AKF)

Speakers at the ribbon-cutting ceremony spoke movingly about the Webbers and their impact on Pennsylvania's forests and the people who spend time in them. Plans for the cabin include the installation of exhibit panels to tell more of the story of forest stewardship, forest recreation, and ways all of us can help save the forests (and other parts of our environment) for future generations. During his remarks, Jim Hyland, a forest program specialist with DCNR who was one of the guiding forces behind this project, talked about the process of moving the cabin. As part of clearing the cabin from its original site, the team sorted through items that had been left in a shed. Among the finds were two pairs of well-worn boots that had belonged to Bob and Dotty Webber. Placed in the cabin after the ribbon was cut and visitors were allowed in, these boots were tangible reminders of the people who built the cabin with their own hands and lived in it for decades. And, for me, they were also a reminder of the power of objects to help us tell stories about the past, the present, and the future. I'd like to thank everyone who made this project possible and all the people who came out to show their support. It was an inspiring moment that I hope will continue to resonant for others as it does for me.

And with that, I'll leave you with Bob and Dotty's boots...

Quite a week

The September program page has info on events coming up this weekend through the end of the month. There have been some updates to the page since it was initially posted, and I've highlighted some events below.

Frank Gillespie demonstrated railroad-related blacksmithing at Railroad Heritage Days last weekend (photo from Railroad Museum of PA's Facebook page)

Last Friday in Austin, TX, two Trails of History sites were honored with Leadership in History Awards from the American Association for State and Local History (AASLH). AASLH honored The State Museum of PA for its exhibit on the history of the Pennsylvania Turnpike and the Somerset Historical Center for its recent publication, Shade Furnace: An Early 19th-Century Iron Making Community in Somerset County, Pennsylvania. Congratulations!

A reenactment of the Battle of Brandywine is on tap for this weekend at Sandy Hollow, Birmingham Township (more details on the web). The folks at Brandywine Battlefield Park have been involved with a host of other organizations to plan this event in honor of the 240th anniversary of the battle that took place on September 11, 1777. On the actual anniversary, a cast of historical characters tweeted throughout the day to provide multiple perspectives in real time (well, real time 240 years later). I wasn't able to follow the whole day, but checked in from time to time. I thought it was pretty compelling and very interesting. It garnered some good attention from other Twitter accounts as well, which expanded the reach of the project. Search #BoB1777 on Twitter to see the tweets.

Last week, Philadelphia's CBS affiliate, CBS3, had an exclusive report revealing the names of Pennsbury Manor's recently adopted lambs. Reporter Vittoria Woodill met Lavender and Sage and spoke with staff and volunteers about the site and the animal program. You can watch the report below or find it at CBS Philly's website.



This weekend on the Trails of History...

Brandywine Battlefield
Sept. 16-17: On Hallowed Ground—to commemorate the 240th anniversary of the Battle of Brandywine, Birmingham Township is presenting a two-day reenactment event. Please note that the event takes place at Sandy Hollow, not at our Trails of History site (loads of details are available on the event website).

Conrad Weiser Homestead
Sept. 16-17: Change in weekend schedule—the site will be closed on Sat., Sept. 16, but open on Sun., Sept. 17, noon-4 pm.

Drake Well Museum and Park
Sept. 16: Fall Gas Up—the museum hosts the Pioneer Steam and Gas Engine Society's display of antique gas engines, oil field and farm equipment, and more. 9 am-3 pm.

Graeme Park
Sept. 15: An Evening with the Graemes—enjoy an evening of 18th-century entertainment, including dancing, card games, skits, and refreshments. Children age 13 and older are welcome to attend. Tickets are $12 and may be purchased on Eventbrite. Period attire is welcome but not required. 7-9 pm.
Sept. 17: Living History Sunday—today's event explores slavery in colonial Pennsylvania and at Graeme Park. The Keith and Graeme families were slave holders, as were many of their contemporaries. Noon-3 pm.

Hope Lodge
Sept. 17: Site open—enjoy the grounds and take a guided tour of the mansion. Admission charged. 1-4 pm (tours at 1:00 and 2:30 pm).

Landis Valley Village and Farm Museum
Sept. 16: Wool Frolic—celebrate the fiber arts and the people, plants, and animals that make them possible. Enjoy activities for the kids and shop for deals on yarn, patterns, and paraphernalia. Admission charged. 10 am-4 pm.

Old Economy Village
Sept. 16: Saturday programming—this week's offering is Decorative Arts. Included in regular admission, so please start at the Visitor Center. 11 am-4 pm.

Pennsbury Manor
Sept. 17: Sunday programming—this week, Open Hearth Cooking features the bake oven. Included in regular admission. 1-4 pm.

Pennsylvania Lumber Museum
Sept. 17: 3rd Sunday Program—this month's program is "The CCC in World War II." Mike Schultz, author of From the Forest to the Battlefield: Forty Civilian Conservation Corps Members Awarded the Medal of Honor during World War II, will discuss ways service in the CCC prepared enrollees for wartime military service. He will be joined by John Eastlake, retired DCNR forester and fellow CCC historian. 1-3 pm.

State Museum of Pennsylvania
Sept. 15 and 17: Fort Hunter Excavations—this month's 3rd in the Burg will take place at Fort Hunter Sept. 15 from 4 to 6 pm, and archaeologists will be on hand Sept. 17 for Fort Hunter Day.

A Brand New Month

The full August program page is available for those of you who like to plan ahead. I've highlighted events coming up this weekend and next week in the space below.

Anthracite Heritage Museum
Aug. 5: Labor Heritage Day—commemorating the coal miners' and laborers' strike of Aug. 1, 1877. At 2pm, an original play, After the Shots were Fired, by Margo L. Azzarelli, Marnie Azzarelli and Alex Lotorto, will be presented in the auditorium. The one-act play commemorates the 140th anniversary of the 1877 riot on Lackawanna Avenue where four men lost their lives during a time of labor unrest in the country. (After the Shots were Fired is funded by a Lackawanna County Arts & Culture Community Project Grant.) The day will conclude with various labor related literary submissions being read from members of our local community. Light refreshments will be served. The heritage day events are free; museum admission is charged to view the core exhibits. Noon-4 pm.

Bushy Run Battlefield
Aug. 5-6: 254th Anniversary of the Battle of Bushy Run—there are two battle reenactments (morning and afternoon), so you can learn about the events of August 5 and 6, 1763, all in one day. You'll also find military camps, period craftspeople, and food vendors at this annual event. Admission is $8 for ages 13+, $5 for ages 4-12. 10 am-4 pm both days.

Conrad Weiser Homestead
Aug. 6: Living History Sunday—learn about life in Berks County in the mid-18th century. Guided tours offered. Noon-4 pm.

Cornwall Iron Furnace
Aug. 8: Lecture—Jim Polcynski will present "Transition from Grubbs to Colemans." Learn about the transition of ownership of the Cornwall Furnace, Ore Banks, and related properties from the Grubb family to Robert Coleman in the late 18th century. Part of the Friends of Cornwall Iron Furnace lecture series, the program takes place in the auditorium of Freeman Community Center at Cornwall Manor. 7 pm.

Daniel Boone Homestead
Aug. 5: Colonial Games and Gambling—learn about and try your hand at a variety of early American games, such as cards, hazard, draughts, dice, and backgammon. Peanuts will be used for wagering. 2 pm.
Aug. 9: Sawmill Operation Day—subject to staff availability, there will be demonstrations of the site’s water-powered sawmill at 11 am and 2 pm. Free of charge (admission rates apply to tour the historic area.)

Drake Well Museum
Aug. 5-6: Historic Pithole Open—the visitor center will be open, so enjoy the orientation film and the excellent diorama that shows the town in its heyday. Admission charged. 10 am-4 pm.
Aug. 6: Drake Well Marathon and 1/2—this is a qualifying event for the Boston Marathon. Both races (full marathon and half marathon) begin and end at the Museum and make use of Titusville streets and the bike path in Oil Creek State Park. Proceeds benefit Drake Well Museum and Park. You must register to participate.

Eckley Miners’ Village
Aug. 5-6: 1940s Weekend—learn about life during World War II through home front and military displays, music, food, and more throughout the site. Off-site at 6 pm on the 5th, there will be a Swing Dance at Freeland Public Park Pavilion. Admission charged (separate fee for dance). 10 am-5 pm.

Ephrata Cloister
Aug. 6: Ice Cream Social—ice cream (courtesy of Turkey Hill and dipped by PA State Representatives Mindy Fee and David Zimmerman) and an old-fashioned sing-along in a beautiful setting. K-Pets therapy dogs will be visiting, and the winning ticket for quilt raffle will be drawn. Admission is $5 per person for ages 6 and up (younger than 6 get in free). 1-4 pm.

Erie Maritime Museum and U.S. Brig Niagara
Aug. 8: Erie Gives—you can support the museum and ship and stretch your donation by participating in Erie Gives Day. Online giving only, 8 am-8 pm, on the Flagship Niagara League's Erie Gives page.

Fort Pitt Museum
Aug. 5-6: Guided Tours—docents will lead one-hour tours of the museum exhibits twice daily on weekends this summer. Visit Fort Pitt's Facebook page for this weekend's tour times.
Aug. 5 and 6: Living History Programs—this "Artillery and Artificers" explores the fort's artillery, the people who fired it (with demos during the day, weather permitting), and the people who made it; 11 am-4 pm both days. The Fort Pitt Fife and Drum Corps will be on hand Sat., Aug. 5, from noon to 4 pm.

Graeme Park
Aug. 6: Hearth Cooking Class—today's class, "Let Food Be Thy Medicine," is the first in a series of four offered this month. Each class is $45 per person ($35 for members), but there are discounts for taking multiple classes. Check out Graeme Park's e-newsletter for details on the other classes and for a link to register for one or more.

Hope Lodge
Aug. 9: Movie Night—bring a blanket or lawn chair and settle in to watch Raiders of the Lost Ark (1981). Presented by Whitemarsh Township Parks and Recreation. Admission is free, snacks available for purchase. Starts at dusk. (Raindate is Aug. 10.)

Joseph Priestley House
Aug. 6: Oxygen Day—in honor of Dr. Priestley’s best known scientific contribution, this program features costumed docents throughout the house and chemistry demonstrations (more info on the website). Admission is free. 1-4 pm; chemistry demos at 1:30 and 2:30 pm.

Landis Valley Village and Farm Museum
Aug. 8: Hands-On History Day—experience chores, games, and crafts from the past, take a wagon ride, and learn your lessons in the one-room schoolhouse (more info and online ticketing on website). Cost is $11 per person (FREE for Landis Valley Associate members and kids age 5 and under). 10 am-3 pm.

Old Economy Village
Aug. 5: Spotlight Saturday—glimpse life and work in the 19th century through demonstrations and tours. This week's focus is blacksmithing. Included in regular admission, so please start at the Visitor Center. 11 am-4 pm (site open 10 am-5 pm).

Pennsylvania Military Museum
Aug 5-6: Guided Tours—the 1 pm guided tour each day is included in museum admission.

State Museum of Pennsylvania
Aug. 4: Free Summer Friday, StoryTime, and Learn at Lunchtime—admission is free all day on Fridays in the summer; timed tickets will be available for 45 minutes of play in Curiosity Connection; regular fees apply for the Planetarium. Today's StoryTime program (10-11 am) will include a tour of selected works in the "Art of the State" exhibit and a reading of Perfect Square by Michael Hall. Today's Learn at Lunchtime program (12:15 pm in Nature Lab) is "Pennsylvania Birds."
Aug. 6: Artist's Conversations—take an informal tour of this year's "Art of the State" exhibit with artist Michael Brolly, first prize winner in the Craft category, and Collections Advancement Project curator Carol Buck. Included in general admission. 2-3 pm.
Aug. 7-10: Nature Lab and Planetarium—visit the Museum's events page for details.

Washington Crossing Historic Park
Aug. 6: Kayak the Canal—all equipment will be provided and no kayaking experience is required for this leisurely paddle along the Delaware Canal. Cost is $5 per person and you must pre-register. Register online for either the 10 am-noon paddle or the 1-3 pm paddle.