Shorts

Opening September 17 [1988] at the Brandywine River Mu­seum, “An American Vision: Three Generations of Wyeth Art” will showcase the art­works of N. C. Wyeth, his son Andrew and his son, James, popularly called the “Wyeth Dynasty.” The exhibit – which appeared in Leningrad, Tokyo, Milan and major United States cities during its international tour – highlights more than one hundred pieces by the prolific painters. The exhibit will remain on view through November 20. For additional details, write: Brandywine River Museum, P.O. Box 141, Chadds Ford, PA 19317; or telephone (215) 388-7601 or 459-1900.

An evening candlelight tour will be held at the Peter Wentz Farmstead, a mid­-eighteenth century Georgian­-style country residence, on Saturday, December 3 [1988]. For additional information, write: Peter Wentz Farmstead, P.O. Box 240, Worcester, PA 19490; or telephone (215) 584-5104.

The Pioneer Steam and Gas Engine Society of Northwest­ern Pennsylvania will conduct a three day event at Drake Well Museum, September 8-10 [1988]. Drake Well Museum is the site of the world’s first oil well drilled in 1859 by Edwin. Drake. Additional in.formation is available by writing: Drake Well Museum, R.D. 3, Titus­ville, PA 16354; or by telephon­ing (814) 827-2797.

A reenactment of David Bradford’s escape from the federal troops, sent to arrest him for his part in the Whis­key Rebellion of 1794, will be held Sunday, October 23 [1988], at the David Bradford House in Washington. To obtain further information, write: David Bradford House Historical Association, 175 South Main St., Washington, PA 15301; or telephone (412) 222-3604 or 222-1374.

The fifth annual Restora­tion Fair, co-sponsored by the Ebenezer Maxwell Mansion and the Preservation Coalition of Greater Philadelphia, will be held Saturday, October 29 [1988], at the First Bank of the United States, Philadelphia. The event will offer information about architectural styles, preservation and conservation techniques, historic registra­tion and historic preservation legislation. Agenda informa­tion may be obtained by writing: Ebenezer Maxwell Mansion, 200 West Tulpe­hocken St., Philadelphia, PA 19114; or by telephoning (215) 438-1861.

A day-long “Festifall” will be hosted by Friendship Hill National Historic Site in southwestern Pennsylvania on Sunday, October 2 [1988]. Friendship Hill, originally the home of statesman and diplomat Al­bert Gallatin (1761-1849), is now administered by the Na­tional Park Service. For more information, write: Friendship Hill NHS, Box 149-A, R.D. 1, Point Marion, PA 15474; or telephone (4l2) 725-9190.

The Newtown Historic Association, Bucks County, will host its tenth annual “Market Day” on Saturday, September 17 [1988], with a street fair, more than sixty-five ex­hibitors skilled in traditional crafts, refreshments and per­iod music. To obtain more information, write: Newtown Historic Association, Centre Ave. and Court St., P.O. Box 303, Newtown, PA 18940; or telephone (215) 968-4004. There is no admission charge.

On Sunday, October 9 [1988], Dr. James Oliver, a professor of history at Indiana University of Pennsylvania, will present a talk on medicine in America at the Silas M. Clark House, the headquarters of the Historical and Genealogical Society of Indiana County. For more in.formation, write: Historical and Genealogical Society of Indiana County, Sixth St. and Wayne Ave., Indiana, PA 15701; or telephone (412) 463-9600. There is no admission charge.

The twenty-second annual Duquesne History Forum will be held October 26-28 [1988] at Duquesne University, Pitts­burgh. A major focus of this year’s conference will be “the history of the family.” For additional information, in­cluding conference agenda, write: 1988 Duquesne History Forum, Department of His­tory, Duquesne University, Pittsburgh, PA 15282; or tele­phone (412) 434-6470.

“Properly Dressed,” an exhibition of eighteenth cen­tury clothing styles, using reproductions and offering comparisons with those worn by Bethlehem’s Moravian community, will be on view from November 19 [1988] to Decem­ber 31 [1988] at the 1761 Tannery in Bethlehem’s eighteenth cen­tury industrial area. For more information, write: Historic Bethlehem, 459 Old York Rd., Bethlehem, PA 18018; or tele­phone (215) 868-6311.

Members of various mili­tary reenactment groups will re-create the drama of the Whitemarsh Encampment on the grounds of Hope Lodge during the weekend of No­vember 5-6 [1988]. Additional infor­mation is available by writing: Hope Lodge, 553 Bethlehem Pike, Fort Washington, PA 19034; or by telephoning (215) 646-1595 or 646-1641.

On September 25 [1988], the Con­rad Weiser Homestead will celebrate the sixtieth anniver­sary of its opening as a historic site with special interpretive talks, music and crafts demon­strations. The homestead honors Conrad Weiser, colo­nial Pennsylvania’s ambassa­dor to the Iroquois and the key to peaceful relations between the white settlers and the Native Americans for nearly thirty years. For additional information, write: Conrad Weiser Homestead, Box 28, R.D. 1, Womelsdorf, PA 19567; or telephone (215) 589-2934.

From November 26 [1988] through January 4, 1989, “Christmas at Passavant House” will be held by the Zelienople Historical Society, during which both the interior and exterior of the Federal style structure will be decorated by Pittsburgh area decorators. Additional infor­mation is available by writing: Zelienople Historical Society, 243 South Main St., Zelieno­ple, PA 16063; or by telephon­ing (412) 452-9457.

On view from October 28 [1988] through March 17, 1989, at the Library Company of Philadel­phia will be a selection of sixty historic photographs of Phila­delphia juxtaposed with photographs of the same sites taken recently. The photographs range from the mid-nineteenth to the mid­-twentieth centuries. The images depict a variety of subjects, including historic sites, hospitals, residences, businesses, parks, streets, and events such as the Mummers’ Parade. Several types of pho­tographic methods will be represented, including albu­men prints, platinum prints, stereographs and lantern slides. A catalogue will accom­pany “Philadelphia: Then and Now.” Admission is free. For more information, write: Library Company of Philadel­phia, 1314 Locust St., Philadel­phia, PA 19107; or telephone (215) 546-3181.

A “Colonial Crafts Celebra­tion” will be held at the Stoy Museum, administered by the Lebanon County Historical Society, during the weekend of November 19-20 [1988]. Costumed craftsmen will demonstrate scherenschnitte, stained glass making, blacksmithing, calligraphy and furniture making. For more information, write: Lebanon County Historical Society, 924 Cumberland St., Lebanon, PA 17042; or tele­phone (717) 272-1473.

Historic Rittenhousetown will conduct its Harvest Festi­val on Saturday, September 17 [1988], with colonial period crafts demonstrations at the site of Philadelphia’s oldest paper mill on the Wissahickon Creek. To obtain additional information, write: Historic Rittenhousetown, 207 Lincoln Dr., Philadelphia, PA 19144; or telephone (215) 843-0943. Admission is free.

Opening Saturday, Sep­tember 17 [1988], at the Art Associa­tion of Harrisburg is a selection of works by member artists in oil, acrylic, photogra­phy, sculpture and mixed media for the fall membership exhibition. Continuing through October 22, the ex­hibit showcases both profes­sional and avocational artists. Admission is free. To obtain additional information, write: Art Association of Harrisburg, 21 North Front St., Harris­burg, PA 17101; or telephone (717) 236-1492.

On view through December 4 [1988] at the Carnegie Museum of Art, Pittsburgh, is an exhibition of artists’ por­traits from the museum’s collection. Featuring works from several centuries, the exhibition showcases the ways artists portray themselves and their contemporaries in a wide range of media, including painting, sculpture and pho­tography. For more informa­tion, write: Carnegie Museum of Art, 4400 Forbes Ave., Pitts­burgh, PA 15213; or telephone (412) 622-3328.

Celebrating the history of York’s venerable Golden Plough Tavern, the Historical Society of York County will host an Oyster Festival on Sunday, October 23 [1988]. Addi­tional information is available by writing: Historical Society of York County, 250 East Mar­ket St., York, PA 17403; or by telephoning (717) 845-2422.

Demonstrations of early crafts and a reenactment of a 12th Pennsylvania Regiment encampment will be featured during this year’s Heritage Days by the Warrior Run-Fort Freeland Heritage Society the weekend of October 1-2 [1988]. Addi­tional information is available by writing: Warrior Run-Fort Freeland Heritage Society, R.D. 1, Turbotville, PA 17772; or by telephoning (717) 538-1417.

Eleven historic house mu­seums in the Germantown section of Philadelphia will open their doors December 8-10 [1988] as part of Historic German­town Preserved’s special holiday tours. Each building will be decorated in a style representative of its period and with historical accuracy. For more information, write: Historic Germantown Pre­served, c/o Cliveden, 6401 Germantown Ave., Philadel­phia, PA 19144; or telephone (215) 848-1777.

The seventh annual Cov­ered Bridge and Arts Festival, showcasing the region’s nine­teenth century covered bridges, will be held the week­end of October 8-9 [1988] in Elys­burg. There is no admission charge. For complete details, write: Columbia-Montour Tourism Promotion Agency, Box 109, R.D. 2, Bloomsburg, PA 17815; or telephone (717) 784-8279.

An “Old Time Christmas” will be held in Jim Thorpe­ – known at the turn of the cen­tury as the “Switzerland of America” – the weekend of December 2-4 [1988]. Originally founded as Mauch Chunk, the community features numerous historic buildings and struc­tures, the most famous of which is the Asa Packer Mansion, the elegant resi­dence of the founder of the Lehigh Valley Railroad and Lehigh University. Additional information may be obtained by writing: Jim Thorpe Area Commerce Association, P.O. Box 164, Jim Thorpe, PA 18229; or by telephoning (717) 325-4563.

Highlighting a selection of case furniture acquired by the Chester County Historical Society since the late nine­teenth century, “Clocks, Desks and Tables: Chester County Craftsmanship,” opening November 19 [1988], will feature items made, owned or used in the county from the seven­teenth century to the present. The exhibit will include both stylish and utilitarian furnish­ings, such as a cedar table with rope turned legs brought by eighteenth century immi­grants and a chest outfitted to carry the personal belongings of Civil War hero, Galusha Pennypacker. “Clocks, Chests and Tables” will remain on view through fall of 1989. For more information, write: Chester County Historical Society, 225 North High St., West Chester, PA 19380; or telephone (215) 692-4800.

“Over There: Mementos of World War I,” on view from October 1 [1988] through November 13 [1988] at the Packwood House Museum, Lewisburg, will feature local collections of memorabilia pertaining to the first World War. On view will be medals, posters, awards and weaponry. For more infor­mation, write: Packwood House Museum, 15 North Water St., Lewisburg, PA 17837; or telephone (717) 524-0323.

Pennypacker Mills, the Montgomery County resi­dence of Gov. Samuel W. Pennypacker (1843-1916), will offer a lecture on September 8 entitled “Looking through Grandma’s Attic: Victorian Clothing,” and a September 11 [1988] program, “Tea and Music on a Victorian Veranda.” Penny­packer Mills is a Colonial Revival-style mansion over­looking the Perkiomen Valley. Admission to both events is free. For more information, write: Pennypacker Mills, 5 Haldeman Rd., Schwenks­ville, PA 19473; or telephone (215) 287-9349.

“Home Brewed is Best: The Brewery at Wyck, 1795-1840,” on view through November 30 [1988], is an exhibit which focuses on the artifacts and objects used in the making of beer at Wyck, one of the oldest houses in Philadelphia. An archaeological team of the University of Pennsylvania excavated the brewery site in 1979, and its findings will also be treated in the exhibit. To obtain further information, write: Wyck, 6026 German­town Ave., Philadelphia, PA 19144; or telephone (215) 848-1690.

On Saturday, September 10 [1988], the one hundred and seventy-fifth anniversary of the Battle of Lake Erie (see “The Battle of Lake Erie: A Victory for Commodore Perry” by James E. Valle in the fall 1988 issue) will be celebrated in Erie. Highlight of the day’s ceremo­nies will be the launching of the restored United States Brig Niagara. For more infor­mation, write: Bureau of His­torical and Museum Services, Pennsylvania Historical and Museum Commission, P.O. Box 1026, Harrisburg, PA 17108-1026; or telephone (7l7) 783-5406.

A special traveling exhibit devoted to the life and chemis­try of Joseph Priestley – best remembered for his discovery of oxygen – has recently been installed at the Joseph Pries­tley House in Northumber­land as a permanent exhibit. Developed by the Beckman Center for the History of Chemistry of the University of Pennsylvania, the exhibit has completed an international tour. Additional details are available by writing: Joseph Priestley House, 472 Priestley Ave., Northumberland, PA 17857; or by telephoning (717) 473-9474.

More than fifty demonstra­tions of early crafts and tradi­tional harvest activities will be highlighted during the Landis Valley Museum’s popular “Harvest Days” during the weekend of October 1-2 [1988]. Cos­tumed guides and craftsmen will demonstrate tinsmithing, weaving, blacksmithing, com shelling, butchering and quilt­ing at the outdoor complex of rural Pennsylvania German life. To obtain more informa­tion, write: Landis Valley Museum, 2451 Kissel Hill Rd., Lancaster, PA 17601; or tele­phone (717) 569-0401.

From October 22 [1988] through November 20 [1988], the Railroaders Memorial Museum in Altoona will show “Family Folklore,” an exhibit mounted by the Smithsonian Institution Trav­eling Exhibition Service (SITES) which explains vari­ous aspects of family folklore, its stories, traditions, customs and expressions. Throughout the exhibition’s run, oral histo­ries and photographs will be collected by the museum. For more information, write: Rail­roaders Memorial Museum, 1300 Ninth Ave., Altoona, PA 16602; or telephone (814) 946-0834.