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The holidays are upon us and the year 2000 is almost past. Prompted by the uncertainty of Y2K glitches that never really materialized more people than ever stayed home and watched TV to ring in this New Year. The New Year was televised in all the time zones as the clock struck 12 midnight. The happenings in Greencastle-Antrim were uneventful as time crossed into a new millennium on January 1, 2000.

But the happenings at Allison-Antrim Museum, Inc. (AAMI), throughout this year, have not been uneventful because of your continuing support. What have you done for AAMI this year? You have supported AAMI with your very generous donations, without which we would not be this far. You have supported AAMI with your annual and lifetime memberships. You have served on the board of directors and held offices. You have chaired committees and been members of committees. You have given artifacts, archives, and items on loan, and underwritten projects. You have opened and closed the museum and taken my place as docent in the parlors that allowed me a "vacation" a couple of times this year. You have supported AAMI through your attendance at the monthly meetings and visits to the museum during open houses. You have expressed interest and participated in our first docent-training program. You have been a volunteer and docent during open houses and special guided tours. You have generously shared your collections with the community, at large, during open houses. You have worked on continuing projects. You have helped wash windows, met service people, taken care of the new flowerbed, helped get mailings out, lined up and provided refreshments, scheduled speakers, and taken over duties that keep the museum operating on a daily basis. You have been there when I needed advice and input on matters. Whatever part you have played this year at Allison-Antrim Museum, please accept a very, well-meant ‘thank you’ because you deserve it. This is not a one-person organization but a community organization.

I have not mentioned anyone by name lest I forget someone. But, if you allow me on a personal note, I would like to thank my husband, Ken. Without his help and support from the beginning of my involvement back in 1997, AAMI would not be where it is today. His extensive knowledge of computers has enabled AAMI to have an outstanding Web site that enables us to reach out and share our museum and community with the world. He laid out the design of our letterhead, the membership cards, and the newsletter. He hooked up AAMI’s computer and set up the computer files. He has scanned and saved many pieces of fragile archival material. He has helped me research history books for answers to email questions and video taped general meeting speakers for our archives. He has been my right-hand maintenance person at the museum from taking care of the water softener, changing light bulbs, electrical work, locksmith, putting shelves together, moving things, and fixing this or that. And, most importantly, he has supported and encouraged me all along my journey as president of AAMI.

Thank you all. You have done a lot for AAMI in 2000.

The September newsletter’s "From the President’s Desk" message focused on the museum’s oldest archive – a William Penn land-document dated March 10, 1715/16 signed by James Logan. Unfortunately, in today’s world of electronic transmission and "cut and paste" layout while putting the newsletter together, the most important part in regard to "Who was James Logan?" got lost - somewhere. That’s one thing with which people living in the 1700’s didn’t have to deal. Please go back and re-read the article along with the following information. The newsletter can, also, be found in its entirety on our Web site at greencastlemuseum.org. Here follows the thumbnail sketch describing who James Logan was.

Who was James Logan? James Logan, 1674-1751, born in Ireland, was a Scot-Irish Quaker. His physical appearance is described as having been tall, graceful, and grave. From the "History of Franklin Co., Pa. 1887": "…James Logan, a man of singular urbanity and strength of mind, and withal a scholar." Upon Penn’s second return to Pennsylvania in 1699, he brought with him James Logan who made his home in Stenton, near Germantown.

He was an author with several works published in Latin, well trained in the ancient languages and sciences, and America’s first physiological botanist. Logan was Penn’s loyal secretary and was appointed the Confidential Agent for the Penn family thereby handling their legal affairs. His love of learning led him to collect a vast library. Upon his death, his collection was bequeathed to the people of Pennsylvania and it is now known as the Loganian Library.

In 1701, Penn chose James Logan for Secretary of the province and Clerk of the Council. Logan’s public service record included: being elected mayor of Philadelphia; Chief Commissioner of Property; Agent for the purchase and sale of lands; Receiver General; Member of Council; President of Council; Chief Justice, and was acting governor from 1736 – 1738. He was a man of great influence and dedicated himself to the interests of the Penn family. His influence and many positions of public office provided continuity to the affairs of state during some very turbulent times under Governors Evans, Gookin, Keith, Gordon, Thomas, and Hamilton.

Courtesy of David Thomas and The Fairfield Inn, "Make-do’s" will be the featured exhibit during our Sunday, November 12 open house from 1 – 4 pm.

The economic systems in the United States have changed many times since its beginnings. So much so that most us have lived in a throwaway society for so long that it’s hard to remember what the word frugal means. But looking back to America’s beginnings and well into the 1800’s, it was "waste not, want not". Recycling was an every day way of life. Make-do’s were born from economic necessity. The economy of rural America during the Colonial period and post Revolutionary time was one of barter. Many of those who settled the colonies did not have a lot of ready cash - coin or paper currency. So they relied on the barter system of exchanging goods, produce, or services for what they needed. From the February 2000 issue of "Early American Homes", "A cash economy is geared to producing wealth; with barter people sustain their lives and even improve them, but no one gets rich."

When something broke it was fixed, used, or changed – reincarnated into a new object with possibly a completely different use. It’s the Yankee ingenuity used to create make-do’s and the new object’s renewed breath of life that make make-do’s so fascinating.

There are four main types of make-do’s. The first type being a portion of an object that is altered into something completely different. An example might be a tin cup crushed on one side and no longer usable from which to drink. What if someone then poked holes in one side to allow grating of spices or cheese. The former tin drinking cup is now a grater.

The second type of make-do is when part of an object was broken a totally different material was substituted to make the repair. How many china teapots have been pitched out in the last century because the lids were broken? There were traveling tinsmiths that for room and board, would repair household items in exchange. The tinsmith could possibly have made a new tin lid for the china teapot.

The next type is the union of parts from two diverse objects that are joined to make a third object that can still be used for one of the original uses or a completely different use. Such an example was given in the February 2000 issue of "Early American Homes". A "new" utensil was made when the handle of a dinner fork was riveted to a round tin spice can that lost its lid. When the handle was attached it became a scoop or measuring tin.

The last type of make-do involves a difference in craftsmanship between how the original piece was created and how the repair was made. Perhaps a settler brought with her to the colonies a fine English porcelain pitcher but the pitcher became cracked. A tradesman -silversmith, pewterer, or tinsmith would be able to salvage the pitcher by ingeniously making "straps" of metal around the neck and foot of the piece to hold it together making it useable again.

The combinations and possibilities are innumerable. This is a must-see collection. We thank Mr. Thomas for sharing, with us, part of his curious and unique collection of make-do’s. Thanks, also, to Shirley Baker for placing the exhibit.

For whom do you think Pennsylvania was named?

Well, I was taught in school that it was William Penn, the founder of Pennsylvania. But through my research on the Logan document, which in turn led me to review the early history of Pennsylvania, I discovered Pennsylvania was named in honor of Admiral William Penn, the founder’s father. And, it was not William Penn, the founder, who named Pennsylvania but King Charles II. In fact, William Penn, being a modest Quaker, was somewhat embarrassed by the name Pennsylvania because he was afraid that people would assume he was a vain man. Penn went so far as to try "bribing", with 20 guineas, the Under Secretary of England to change the name; but he refused and the King had the last word.

Pennsylvanians could have been living in New Wales had Penn had his way. Would we have been known as New Welshmen?

At the annual membership meeting of AAMI on Thursday, October 12, Ted Alexander, Harry Myers and Bonnie Shockey were re-elected to three-year terms that will end in 2003.

A fourth seat on the board became open when Ray Mowen, a charter member of AAMI, regretfully decided not to run again. His term will end December 31, 2000. Ray has held the position of chairman of the Building and Grounds Maintenance Committee. He plans to still be involved with the museum.

We welcome David Rajtik, of Antrim Insurance on Center Square, who consented to accept the open seat on the board.

September 19: Bonnie and Pat Faust met with Dennis Guyer to discuss setting up an endowment.

September 20: Pat and Jim Craig met with Brent Layton, the new trust officer at the First National Bank, to discuss the museum’s trust fund and establishment of an endowment.

October 10: Museum tour for Susan Rotondo, former Greencastle resident, who was visiting Greencastle doing research on the early Mormon settlement near the Conococheague Creek.

• From Central Point, Or., information was sought, but nothing found, on Henry E. Neibert and Maria A. Horine who lived in Greencastle during the later part of the 1800’s.
• Received an inquiry from Atascadero, Ca., for information on Edward L. Kelley and Anna Mary Arendt, married in 1881, who lived in or near Greencastle.
• Information was sought on Oscar Zimmerman who owned a restaurant on East Baltimore Street during the late 1800’s or early 1900’s.
• Two Web browsers emailed with positive comments on the Web site and the museum.
• Susan Rotondo is looking for information on the Mormon settlement that was along the East Branch of the Conococheague just a mile west of town. She’s working on a mystery novel set in a town similar to Greencastle.

A sign directing motorists down South Ridge Avenue in the direction of the museum has been erected. The sign, white with green lettering, is just below and on the same signage pole as the G-A School District campus sign. It is located opposite the Besore Library on Baltimore Street going west. It will catch the attention of travelers coming into town off the interstate.

the three, white kaolin, clay artifacts found on museum property dating back to the Revolutionary War period? What are they?

The answer to September’s "Have You Seen" is - the outhouse. Outhouses were also called necessaries for the obvious reason.

• Half pint and quart Greencastle Sanitary Dairy bottles and a Johnston’s Whiskey bottle – gifts from Harry Myers
• Wedding dress and shoes of Elsie Guemp Bert great aunt of Grace Bert Cannon – a gift from Charles White

November 2: "Potions, Ails, and Smallpox Tales" Williamsburg Electronic Field Trip; Check the MPT listing for time.

November 12: Open House, 1 – 4 pm, "Make-do’s" courtesy of David Thomas and The Fairfield Inn (see article) – unique, must-see collection.

November 30: Holiday dinner meeting, Antrim House Restaurant, 6:30 pm, Nan Flaherty and Jim Craig - "Saturday Night Live in Greencastle - The Hotel McLaughlin and the Gem Theater", reservations required by November 27.

December 8: Heritage Christmas Evening Open House 6:30 – 8:30 pm featuring Dr. Terry Musselman playing traditional lap dulcimer music; light refreshments will be served; self-guided tours.

December 10: Open House, 1 – 4 pm, never before seen Carl family toys, Craig toys and doll houses, Shirley Baker’s 1800’s children’s books and antique dolls.