From the President's Desk

My apologies for not getting a second newsletter out before now. A lot has been happening over the past months. I'm sure you have read the great news articles that appeared in the local newspapers. Our thanks to the Echo Pilot, The Record Herald, The Morning Herald and the Public Opinion.

As you are aware by now, Allison-Antrim Museum, Inc. received a very generous donation of $200,000 which was used to purchase the house and over one acre of land at 365 South Ridge Avenue on April 30, 1998. The property is ideal: the location is easily accessible; located across from the school district campus; on and off-street parking availability; the size of the property; structurally sound; unique architectural interests outside and in.

A capital campaign was kicked off on March 2, 1998. Why do we need to conduct a capital campaign when we have been given such a large sum of money? The answer is, as you are aware if you are a homeowner, there are many expenses that go along with owning a house. It is the board's goal to raise a sufficient amount of money through donations to be placed in an endowment fund; the interest from which, hopefully, will be enough to cover the annual expenses. Otherwise we may end up doing many small fund raisers throughout the year just to pay the utilities, insurance, office expenses, program speakers, restoration and care of artifacts, etc.

The capital campaign drive is approaching large and small businesses, corporations and individuals in the Greencastle-Antrim area because the museum needs the support of the whole community. The Allison-Antrim Museum will exist for the benefit of the community but in turn the museum cannot exist without the support of the community. We have to date received some very generous donations.

The endowment fund will make certain that the museum will be taken care of far into the next century. It will provide opportunities for individuals to make provisions in their wills for gifts to the museum. As the principle continues to build it further insures the stability of the museum.

Anyone - individual, business, corporation, or organization - who gives a donation to the Capital Campaign Fund will have their name listed in a book of contributors. Those giving $1,000.00 or more, unless it is an anonymous gift, will be recognized on a plaque. Both the book and plaque will be on public display.

If you would like to make a special contribution to Allison-Antrim Museum's Capital Campaign Fund, you may do so by sending a check to P.O. Box 694, Greencastle, PA 17225-0694. Your contribution will be greatly appreciated.

Bonnie A. Shockey

The Grand Opening of the Allison-Antrim Museum will be held on Saturday, August 1, 1998 beginning at 1 PM. The schedule during Old Home Week will be: August 1: 1 PM - 4 PM; August 2: 1 PM - 4 PM; August 3: 4 PM - 7 PM; August 4: 1 PM - 4 PM; August 5: 4 PM - 7 PM; August 6: Noon - 3 PM; August 7: 1 PM - 4 PM; August 8: 1 PM - 4 PM (Closed if the parade rain date is used); August 9: 1 PM - 4 PM.

Artifacts so far donated for exhibit are: 15 Walter Washington Smith paintings and perhaps a couple more on loan; numerous archival pieces of Walter Washington Smith; Phillip Baer's grand piano donated by Joe Henson and his family; a piece of original sheet music from Phillip Baer donated by Isabelle Barnes; several pieces of porcelain ware, mid 1880's, from the L. Roy Pensinger family donated by Lorraine Pensinger Phillips; hand-forged ladle, fork, and several spatulas made by Emmanuel Snyder, a blacksmith of Antrim Township in the late 1880's also donated by Lorraine Pensinger Phillips; a couple baptismal certificates.

If you have any items that you would like to donate or loan that fit under the guidelines of our Scope of Collections, please contact Sean Guy, Acquisitions Chairman, at 597-2817.

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Board member Nan Flaherty has made and donated a hand pieced and quilted wall-hanging size quilt in mauve and rose colors. Another wall-hanging size quilt has been made and donated by Geneva Kiser and Alice Harbaugh members of the Church of the Brethren on South Carlisle Street. The colors of their quilt are red, white and blue and is in the town square pattern. Sean Guy, AAMI board member, and his wife Alice have donated a full-size log cabin patterned quilt.

The quilt drawing will be held at noon on Thursday, August 6 at the museum. Tickets sell for $3.00 each or six for $15.00 Each ticket will give you three chances to win. Tickets may be purchased at Carl's Drug Store, from any board member or by contacting Louise Mowen at 597-5341.

Allison-Antrim Museum opened a website in January 1998. Our address is www.greencastlemuseum.org. The website is updated often and keeps visitors informed of what is going on with the museum.

If you are a member of a Greencastle-Antrim non-profit organization such as Rotary, Exchange Club, Lions, Lioness, etc. and your group is interested in establishing a page on our website for a nominal fee of $2.00 per month, please call 597-9325 for more information.

Old Home Week currently has a page full of information.

The board of directors regretfully accepted the resignation of Brad Willow as both treasurer and board member in April. Brad accepted a new position with Dauphin Bank. We appreciate the time, work and guidance which Brad gave during the beginning years. We wish him good luck in his new job.

Kelly Scott was appointed to fill the un-expired term of Brad Willow and was also voted treasurer. We look forward to working with her.