Shorts
Written by PA Heritage Staff in the Shorts category and the Fall 1986 issue Topics in this article:Landscape paintings and drawings of Bethlehem and the extensive buildings and works of the Bethlehem Steel Company, rendered by artist Michael Schemeley, will be on display at the Annie S. Kemerer Museum, Bethlehem, from October 10 [1986] until November 23 [1986]. More information is available by writing: Annie S. Kemerer Museum, 427 North New St., Bethlehem, PA 18018; or by telephoning (215) 868-6868.
The Heritage Center of Lancaster County invites the public to bring hand-painted or printed Pennsylvania German fractur to the museum for free curatorial identification and conservation advice. The center will photograph each fractur for its permanent research files. The “Fractur Harvest” will be conducted on Saturday, September 27 [1986], at the center’s headquarters on Penn Square in downtown Lancaster. Additional information may be obtained by writing: Heritage Center of Lancaster County, Penn Square, P.O. Box 997, Lancaster, PA 17603; or by telephoning (717) 299-6440.
The battle of Germantown will be reenacted on Saturday, October 4 [1986], the date on which it actually occurred two hundred and nine years ago, as the climax of Germantown’s Founders Week. Sponsor of the event, the Upsala Foundation, will also host a “Country Fair.” Additional information and traveling directions are available by writing: Upsala Foundation, 6430 Germantown Ave., Philadelphia, PA 19119; or by telephoning (215) 886-4857.
“Support the War Effort: Philadelphia and the Homefront, 1917-1919,” an exhibit exploring the city’s role in supporting the war effort through arms production at the Frankford Arsenal and the Navy Yard, propaganda rallies and bond drives, will open September 26 [1986] at the Philadelphia Branch of the National Archives. For additional information, write: National Archives – Philadelphia Branch, Room 1350, Ninth and Market Sts., Philadelphia, PA 19107; or telephone (215) 597-3000.
The Highlands Historical Society will fill all three floors of its two hundred year old mansion in Fort Washington with skilled craftsmen during the fifth annual country crafts show the weekend of October 18-19 [1986]. For additional details, write: Highlands Historical Society, 7001 Sheaff Lane, Fort Washington, PA 19034; or telephone (215) 641-2687.
The Dutot Museum, a Poconos attraction, will sponsor its twenty-second annual “Flaming Foliage Arts and Crafts Show” during the weekends of October 4-5 [1986] and 11-12 [1986]. The event will feature local artists and craftsmen. Additional details are available by writing: Dutot Museum, Main St., Delaware Water Gap, PA 18327; or by telephoning (717) 476-0046.
“Southwestern Pennsylvania’s Covered Bridge Festival,” celebrating seven historic covered bridges in Washington County and a roofed span in Greene County will be held Saturday and Sunday, September 20-21 [1986]. For more information, write: Washington County Tourism, P.O. Box 877, Washington, PA 15301; or telephone (412) 222-8130.
During the first three weekends in October [1986], the Wayne County Chamber of Commerce will sponsor “Fall Foliage Rail Tours” on the Stourbridge Line. The fifty-mile journey begins in Honesdale and passes through some of Pennsylvania’s most scenic and historic countryside before reaching Lackawaxen-on-Delaware, where visitors may visit writer Zane Grey’s home and museum and the Delaware and Hudson aqueduct bridge, a National Historic Landmark. To obtain more information, write: Wayne County Chamber of Commerce, 865 Main St., Honesdale, PA 18431; or telephone (717) 253-1960.
“Altoona: In Our Own Image,” an exhibit celebrating Altoona’s days as the world’s largest railroad shop complex, will feature two hundred rare photographs recovered from the Pennsylvania Railroad’s collection of glass-plate negatives. Sponsored in part by a grant from the Pennsylvania Historical and Museum Commission, the exhibit will be on view at the Railroaders Memorial Museum through December 31 [1986]. More information is available by writing: Railroader’s Memorial Museum, 1300 Ninth Ave., Altoona, PA 16602; or by telephoning (814) 946-0834.
On Friday, October 31 [1986], historic Pennypacker Mills will host an old fashioned Halloween party in the tradition of the turn-of-the-century affairs given by the Pennypacker family for the community of Schwenksville, Montgomery County. For more details, write: Pennypacker Mills, 5 Haldeman Rd., Schwenksville, PA 19473; or telephone (215) 287-9349.
Special holiday tours of the Baldwin-Reynolds House Museum, 639 Terrace Street, Meadville, will feature a display of decorated Christmas trees in twelve of the 1843 historic mansion’s twenty-seven rooms. “Trees of Christmas” will be open during Thanksgiving week, November 22-30 [1986], together with a holiday boutique offering original and unusual gifts. More information may be obtained by writing: Crawford County Historical Society, 848 North Main St., Meadville, PA 16335; or by telephoning (814) 724-6080.
The integral role of the watercolor in the history of art is the subject of an exhibition, “Watercolors!,” which may be seen at the Museum of Art of the Pennsylvania State University, University Park, from October 19 [1986] through January 18, 1987. For additional information, write: Museum of Art, Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA 16802; or telephone (814) 865-7672.
The Print Club, Philadelphia, will present the sixty-second annual International Competition of Prints and Photographs, a juried competition; the works will be on display at The Print Club from October 22 [1986] through November 29 [1986]. To obtain more information, write: The Print Club, 1614 Lattimer St., Philadelphia, PA 19103; or telephone (215) 735-6090.
A talk concerning John Mitchell, one of the foremost labor leaders in the United States, will be given by Bloomsburg University history professor James Sperry on Sunday, October 26 [1986], at Eckley Miners’ Village. The program begins promptly at 3 P.M. For further information, write: Eckley Miners’ Village, R.R. 2, P.O. Box 236, Weatherly, PA 18255; or telephone (717) 636-2070.
Wednesday, September 17 [1986], is the one hundred and ninety-ninth anniversary of the U.S. Constitution. To celebrate the anniversary, Friendship Hill National Historic Site, Fayette County, will sponsor a special program highlighting western Pennsylvania’s role in the historic event on Sunday, September 14 [1986], at 2 P.M. For more information, write: Friendship Hill NHS, c/o Fort Necessity NB, P.O. Box 258, R.D. 2, Farmington, PA 15437; or telephone (412) 725-9190.
The annual Fall Flower Show at Phipps Conservatory in Schenley Park, Pittsburgh, will be held November 9-30 [1986]. More information is available by writing: Phipps Conservatory, Schenley Park, Pittsburgh, PA 15213; or by telephoning (412) 622-6915.
Pennsbury Manor, the recreated country plantation of William Penn, will host the twenty-first Pennsbury Forum on Friday and Saturday, October 24-25 [1986]. The theme of this year’s academic symposium is “Quakers in the Delaware Valley.” For program and registration information, write: Pennsbury Manor, 400 Pennsbury Memorial Rd., Morrisville, PA 19067; or telephone (215) 946-0400.
“Stop, Look, and Listen: Railroads in York County,” an exhibition chronicling the development of railroads in the county during the nineteenth century, is on view at the Historical Society of York County through November 16 [1986]. To obtain additional details, write: Historical Society of York County, 250 East Market St., York, PA 17403; or telephone (717) 848-1587.
“Ethnic Images in the Comics,” an exhibit tracing the use of ethnic stereotypes, is on display at the Balch Institute for Ethnic Studies, Philadelphia, through January 25, 1987. Since comics are a persuasive form of popular culture, changes in the depiction of ethnic characters have affected and reflected the changes in popular attitudes. For additional information write: Balch Institute for Ethnic Studies, 18 South Seventh St., Philadelphia, PA 19106; or telephone (215) 925-8090.
Special holiday tours of Lancaster’s elegant Rock Ford Plantation-festively decorated with greens-will be offered on Saturday and Sunday, November 29-30 [1986]. To obtain additional information, write: Rock Ford Plantation, 881 Rock Ford Rd., Lancaster, PA 17603; or telephone (717) 392-7223.
“Mellinger/Kriner Photographs, 1880-1910,” a collection of photographs of rural life and country scenes in western Lancaster County, will be displayed at the Sykes Gallery of Millersville University, from September 29 [1986] through October 24 [1986]. An opening reception, September 29, will be open to the public. Information is available by writing: Art Department, Millersville University, Millersville, PA 17551; or by telephoning (717) 872-3298.
On Saturday, November 1 [1986], the Chester County Historical Society and West Chester University will present their 1986 fall conference at the university. This year’s symposium is entitled “Collectors and their Collections: Obsession, Instinct, Taste?” For registration information, write: Chester County Historical Society, 225 North High St., West Chester, PA 19380; or telephone (215) 692-4800.
“Fort Hunter Day” will be held at the Fort Hunter Mansion, just north of Harrisburg on the banks of the Susquehanna River, on Sunday, September 21 [1986]. For more information, write: Fort Hunter Mansion, 5300 North Front St., Harrisburg, PA 17110; or telephone (717) 599-5751.
The Sun Inn Preservation Association, in conjunction with Moravian College, will sponsor a symposium to explore the cultural interchange between the Indians and the Moravians, at Bethlehem on Friday and Saturday, September 26-27 [1986]. “American Indians and the Moravians: A Meeting of Culture” will include related exhibits and field trips in its program. For registration information, write: Sun Inn Preservation Association, 564 Main St., Bethlehem, PA 18018; or telephone (215) 866-1758.
The Welsh Valley Preservation Society will offer a special interpretive tour of Lansdale’s seventeenth-century Morgan Log House the week of November 22-30 [1986]. The Morgan Log House, built in 1695 and recently restored, is located on Weikel Road in Towamencin Township near Kulpsville. For additional information regarding the special tour, write: Welsh Valley Preservation Society, P.O. Box 261, Kulpsville, PA 19443; or telephone (215) 368-2480.
“Popular Pastimes” is the theme of an exhibit at the Perelman Antique Toy Museum, Philadelphia, that continues through September 20 [1986]. For additional details, write: Perelman Antique Toy Museum, 270 South Second St., Philadelphia, PA 19106; or telephone (215) 922-1070.
An old fashioned crafts fair – complete with examples of folk art, local history exhibits and demonstrations – will be held by the Middletown Area Historical Society and the Middletown Area Arts and Crafts Guild on Sunday, October 19 [1986]. Tours of the Ferry House and the Liberty Band Hall, two community landmarks, will be conducted. For more information, write: Middletown Area Arts and Crafts Guild, 44 West Water St., Middletown, PA 17057; or telephone (717) 944-0232.
“Chairs: 1924-1957” is the theme and subject of an exhibition mounted by the Wharton Esherick Museum, Chester County, which will open October 1 [1986] and continue through December 31 [1986]. Twelve handcrafted chairs by Wharton Esherick (1887-1970), Pennsylvania sculptor and craftsman, combine wood and leather in art nouveau, art deco and free form styles. To obtain additional details, write: Wharton Esherick Museum, Horseshow Trail, P.O. Box 595, Paoli, PA 19301; or telephone (215) 644-5822.
The annual crafts festival, “Laernswaert” – Pennsylvania German for “worth learning” – will be held at the Peter Wentz Farmstead, Worcester, Montgomery County, on Saturday, October 4 [1986], from 10 A.M. to 4 P.M. Wherever possible, craftspeople will invite visitor participation. Additional details are available by writing: Peter Wentz Farmstead, Schultz Rd., Worcester, PA 19490; or by telephoning (215) 584-5104.
On Sunday, November 1 [1986], the Shippensburg University Fashion Archives will sponsor its first “Workshop for Area Clothing Collectors and Enthusiasts,” featuring basic conservation techniques for admirers of vintage and collectible modern fashions. For registration and detailed program information, write: Shippensburg University Fashion Archives, Shippensburg, PA 17257; or telephone (717) 532-1239.
The Burtner House, Natrona Heights, will open for tours on Saturday, October 11 [1986], in celebration of farm life prior to 1850 and as part of “A Harvest Time Festival.” More information regarding these activities is available by writing: Burtner House Restoration, P.O. Box 292, Natrona Heights, PA 15065; or by telephoning (412) 224-7537.
Best-selling author E.L. Doctorow will deliver the second in a series of four U.S. Constitution bicentennial lectures sponsored by the Pennsylvania Humanities Council. The lecture will be given Friday, September 19 [1986], at 5:30 P.M. in the auditorium of the Visitors Center at Independence National Historical Park, Philadelphia. For additional details, write: Pennsylvania Humanities Council, Suite 818, 401 North Broad St., Philadelphia, PA 19108; or telephone (toll free) 1-(800) 462-0442.
A selection of rare and antique soup tureens, on loan from the Campbell Museum Collection, will be on display at the Hershey Museum of American Life from September 13 [1986] through October 19 [1986]. The collection includes tureens made of silver, porcelain and china. For additional information, write: Hershey Museum of American Life, P.O. Box 170, Hershey, PA 17033; or telephone (717) 534-3439. The museum is located adjacent to HersheyPark. Admission is charged.