Mailbox

An unsigned American primitive painting, The Old Almshouse on Almshouse Road, depicting several well-known Doylestown landmarks at the turn-of-the-century is currently the subject of research. A recent accession by the newly established James A. Michener Arts Center of Bucks County, the painting depicts the Rodman House, Neshaminy Manor and the Bucks County Almshouse, adjacent to Route 611. The painting, which meas­ures thirty by twenty-four inches, is of special interest to the center because writer James A. Michener spent periods of time at the county poor house during his youth, and wrote about it in his book, Fires of Spring. The Rodman House served for many years as headquarters for Bucks County’s first center for the arts. Except for the almshouse, most of the structures depicted in the painting remain intact today. Individuals or institutions able to assist in the attribution of The Old Almshouse, or who have knowledge of similar paintings (for comparison) are urged to write: Linda Constant Buki, Director, James A. Michener Arts Center, 138 South Pine St., P. O. Box 2213, Doylestown, PA 18901; or telephone (215) 340-9800.

The Conklin farm wagon, known to have been sold by at least one company in Gregg Township, Union County, about 1900 is currently the subject of research. Information and photographs may be shared with: Gary L. Weaver, Musser Lane, Box 259, R. D.3, Muncy, PA 17756.

For a future publication of the Erie County Historical Society, Lost Erie, several historical views of the city and various activities are being sought as possible illustrations. Necessary for compila­tion of this major undertaking are photographs of the Lawrence Hotel, German Savings Institution, Keystone Carriage Works, Burdett Organ Factory, Erie Brass Foundry, Strong Power Station, the Park Opera House and Erie City Passenger Railway Com­pany, as well as scenes of harvesting ice in the bay and commer­cial fish houses. Correspondence should be directed to: Lost Erie, Erie County Historical Society, 417 State St., Erie, PA 16501; or telephone (814) 454-1813.

Portraits of Lancaster County children by artists known to have worked in the county are being sought by the Heritage Center of Lancaster County for a major exhibition scheduled for this year. Works in all media – oil, watercolor, pencil, pen and ink, pastel and sculpture – executed between 1750 and 1925 are desired. Artists known to have worked in Lancaster County during this period include Jacob Eichholtz, Arthur Armstrong, John Jay Libhart, William Williams, Benjamin West, Charles Demuth, Leon von Ossko, J. A. Danner, Caroline Peart, Lloyd Mifflin, Lewis Towson Voight and Jacob Maentel. Persons or organizations having knowledge of appropriate works for exhibi­tion are asked to write: Patricia Keller-Connor, Director, Heritage Center of Lancaster County, Box 997, Penn Square, Lancaster, PA 17603; or telephone (717) 299-6440.

For a graduate research project on Gov. George H. Earle III (1935-1939) and Pennsylvania’s “Little New Deal,” personal inter­views are desired with individuals having primary knowledge of either. Original unpublished photographs and campaign memo­rabilia, in addition to material related to the Commonwealth’s “Little New Deal,” are also of interest. Please write: Randolph H. Bates, 2900-B Greenwood St., Harrisburg, PA 17111-1695; or tele­phone (717) 564-1865.