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From the President's Desk As the year 2000 quickly approaches, we at Allison-Antrim Museum look toward it and the coming century with great anticipation. There are still more goals to be attained and so many exciting adventures on the horizon to explore. It sometimes feels like there is not enough time in which to do it all. Allison-Antrim Museum has moved at an amazing pace over the last couple years. We (the AAMI membership and the community at large) went from just talking and dreaming about a museum to actually making it happen. You did it. It is a reality. Kudos to all of you who played any part (from monetary donations to gifts of artifacts to sweat equity to volunteer time) in making it happen. I have no doubt that Allison-Antrim Museum will be around well into the next century so that future generations can proudly look back at the rich history that belongs to our Greencastle-Antrim community. I wonder though what Henry P. Fletcher, Walter Washington Smith, John Allison, James Logan, Nellie Omwake, Frances Winger, George Hamilton, John T. Koons, Jasper McLanahan, Sue Crunkleton Brumbaugh, Joseph P. Crowell, H. S. Walck, Julia C. McLaughlin, Jemma Annabel Craig, Emmanuel Synder, the Iroquois and Algonquian Native Americans, Dr. Adam Carl, the unknown WWI veteran and Antrim Township farmer would say if they could walk through the rooms at the Allison-Antrim Museum today and see the items on display that they used and touched with their own hands during everyday life? I think they would be amazed, to say the least, and also very proud to be a part of our heritage. And, I know there are many of our lifetime who will also follow in their footsteps. Bonnie A. Shockey
Electronic Field Trips Our first joint venture with the Greencastle-Antrim School District is under way at the middle school. Colonial Williamsburg has a seven-series electronic field trip program that's offered to school districts. The programs can be seen via cable stations that carry the programs or by satellite. Allison-Antrim Museum and the G-A School District are sharing the cost of the seven-month series. During the field trips, students will be able to interact live with the Williamsburg staff of interpreters and historians by calling in questions about what they see without even leaving Greencastle. In October students were able to experience different transportation modes of the 18th century such as walking, horseback and carriages. November's field trip will examine slavery in the British Colonies, indentured servitude and apprenticeship in Colonial America. George Washington will speak to students in December relating his experiences as a young soldier and politician in Virginia. In January, a Colonial Williamsburg day-in-the-life of an apprenticed boy, a well-to-do young lady and a slave boy will be experienced. February's Trail of Whispers field trip will relate how African-Americans kept their communities close through the networks of "whispered" news that helped them survive slavery. What was it like to be a young man in the 18th century and be called to arms for a country that didn't exist? In March, students will walk with a boy as he goes off to war. April will conclude the 1999-2000 series with the secrets of 18th century builders being rediscovered as tradesmen and researchers restore and rebuild houses and structures of Colonial Williamsburg. Teachers receive:
MPT is carrying the series on the following dates at 10 am - November 4, 1999, December 2, 1999, January 13, 2000, February 17, 2000, March 16, 2000, and April 13, 2000.
Docent Training Workshop What is a docent? Webster's definition is teacher, lecturer. In today's culture, docent is associated mostly with the volunteers who work in museums or historical buildings who share their knowledge of the particular items on display. AAMI has been doing a loosely organized docent program for about a year. Members, if they are willing when called, are given information to study on the artifacts in a particular room in the museum so they then can give guided tours to visitors during open house times. We are now preparing for an official docent training workshop that is being put together by Ted Alexander. This will be an annual workshop so that we can formally train those who wish to volunteer at the museum in this capacity. This does not mean that someone "new" cannot start giving guided tours between the annual workshops. We will try to be as flexible as we can, knowing that everyone has very busy schedules. Individuals may choose how many times per year and when they want to participate in the docent program. Everyone will be familiarized with all the exhibits in the museum, but if they want to focus on just one particular room they may do so. Ted's preliminary outline includes the following. The workshop will be held on two consecutive Saturdays in March from 8:30 am to 3:30 pm. Topics to be covered during the two days will be: The Roots of Greencastle-Antrim; The History of the Greencastle-Antrim Community; Why did They Dress that Way; The Historic Architecture of the Cumberland Valley and the Allison-Antrim Museum; The Military Heritage of the Greencastle Area; The African-American Heritage of Southern Pennsylvania; Agriculture and Industry in Southern Pennsylvania; The Religious Heritage of the Greencastle-Antrim Area. Local and regional speakers will be invited to present the above topics. Specific presenters will be announced at a later date. Also included, will be a tour of the museum and Ted Alexander will also present "Interpreting the Museum". This training workshop may also pave the way for allowing the museum to be open for a few hours on an additional day in the month or on a weekly basis other than our usual second Sunday of the month. Those who complete the workshop will be awarded a certificate and receive an "Allison-Antrim Museum Docent" pin to be worn while volunteering at the museum. Tentatively mark your calendars for this educationally exciting opportunity. If you are interested please call either Bonnie at 597-9325 or Ted at 597-7086.
Archeological Dig Some of the pieces found during the archeological digs are on display in the case in the dining room. Among the items are: pieces of glazed redware from at least five different vessels; yelloware - brown sponged; two pieces of whiteware from two different vessels; a piece of blue transferware; a piece of a pewter table utensil; various nails; and the most exciting pieces so far are three pieces from two different white Kaolin clay pipes that date to the Revolutionary War period . Check out the Archeological Dig page on our website at www.greencastlemuseum.org.
What's Been Happening Bonnie completed the following: *responded to three web site questions on family genealogy questions - two from Waynesboro and one from Missouri *responded to comments on the website by a 1960 Greencastle High graduate *updated AAMI data for the American Association of Musems and for the Encyclopedia of Associations published for Regional, State, and Local Organizations Bonnie and Ray Mowen completed a survey form for the Museum Trustee Association. We received an email from a freshman at Penn State Mont Alto who is interested in the archeological dig going on at the museum. He participates as his schedule permits.
Recent Acquisitions AAMI has made its first acquisition purchase of a H.S. Walck grain cradle. It was found in one of the Chambersburg antique malls. It is now on display for the public.
Grant Writer Bonnie met with grant writer, Mary Steel of Fayetteville, to discuss funding for projects that are included in the three-year long-range plan. Steel is very impressed with the accomplishments that Allison-Antrim Museum has already achieved in a short period of time since buying the property. She also feels that there is money available through foundations, organizations and private sources for our future projects. We will keep you updated on further developments.
The Restoration of the Smith Paintings Continues The last six of the Smith oil paintings in AAMI's collection were delivered to Bruce and Craig Etchison in October for restoration and cleaning. The watercolor floral paintings are being re-matted and framed with UVA/UVB protective glass. We will let you know when they are all completed.
Real Estate Tax Appeal With the help of Attorney Tim Misner, Waynesboro, AAMI has successfully appealed the real estate taxes for AAM I except for the tax levied on the garages because we rent them out. This will be a savings for the museum of about $1,700 each year. The taxes were repealed because of a section in the law that exempts museums from paying taxes. We wish to thank Tim Misner for all his work and guidance which was done gratis. AAMI's attorney, Dennis Guyer, was unable to help us on this matter because of a conflict of interest in so much as he is the solicitor for the Borough of Greencastle.
Election of Directors The annual election of officers was held at the October quarterly meeting. AAMI has 15 board members, 14 of whom are elected and the 15th, the Historian, is appointed. Five director positions are voted upon for two years and the third year four are voted upon. At the October meeting, the following directors were elected to fill positions that will end in October 2002 - Sharon Baumbaugh, James Craig, Sean Guy, Marvin Rice and James Thomas. Jean Oliver was elected to fill a position that will end in October 2001. Executive Board Officers will be elected at the November 11 board of directors meeting.
Resignation of Board Members It was with much regret that the board of directors accepted the resignation of Sandra Kirkpatrick and Marty Zimmerman. Sandy has been a member of AAMI since its founding, Secretary for several years and has been one of my right-hand people. She has performed the duties of Secretary very efficiently and can always find the answer to a question from past meetings when my memory is a little foggy. I will greatly miss her help but have no doubt I will still be emailing her with questions in the future. Marty Zimmerman came onto the board to fill a un-expired term a couple years ago. He was very helpful during the three-year long-range planning process over the past year. But for business reasons he decided not to seek reelection to the board. His input will be missed. Have You Seen… …the horse drawn farming implement in our collection? What was it used for? The answer to September's issue "Have You Seen…" question is "Snowing".
Did You Know… There is one museum for every 16,500 Americans. $4.3 billion will be spent on museum infrastructure from 1998-2000
Calendar of Events Thursday November 11, 1999: monthly meeting, 7 pm, Evangelical Lutheran Church, Charles White presenting "Tayamentasachta's Place in Greencastle's History". Sunday, November 14, 1999: open house, 1 pm - 4 pm; display of Veterans uniforms Tuesday, November 30, 1999: annual Christmas dinner, 6:30 pm, Antrim House Restaurant, Ed Bearss, nationally known Civil War historian, will speak on "The 126th PA at the Battle of Fredericksburg". Dinner reservations requested by Saturday, November 27 by calling Bonnie at 597-9325. Friday, December 10, 1999: Heritage Christmas Open House from 6 pm - 8 pm; light refreshments will be served; Christmas Celtic music will be playing; visitors may take self-guided tours. Sunday, December 12, 1999: Christmas open house, 1 pm - 4pm, special display of miniature soldiers |