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September 2001, Volume 4, Issue 6

From the President's Desk

This issue's letter from the President is twofold.

Reflections on the 34^th Triennial Old Home Week - Enclosed with this September newsletter is a copy of the special Old Home Week issue of the Annals that was given to visitors to the museum during OHW. The two inside pages contain information that has never been published before concerning Alexander L. Irwin who built the museum house in 1860.

Old Home Week 2001 is not just a memory. It is a photo album of snapshots in our minds that each participant can look at again and again. And when we do, we feel that special Old Home Week Spirit all over again and look forward to 2004 with great anticipation, just as we did this year.

Someone from Mechanicsburg asked me what the highlight of OHW was. Was it the awe-inspiring cantata, the official Unofficial Opening, the pageant, Reminiscing which someone called the "essence of Old Home Week", the Loyal Daughters' Meeting, the photo on the square, the parade, the music, the spectacular fireworks, participation by the younger generation, or greeting friends on the street? The highlight was the whole week, from beginning (the Fred Kaley 5K) to end (the Duck Derby).

There were several firsts this year among which were the first OHW tee shirts available to the general public (a sold-out hit) and the first colored picture on the square - befitting of the first OHW in the new millennium; and, there was a last. This OHW was the last one to be celebrated before the event turns 100 years old in 2002.   2004 will mark the 100^th anniversary of Old Home Week! What a remarkable, unique legacy OHW is for this community. I hope each and every one of you caught the Old Home Week Spirit and is willing to carry it forward for future generations. I just know that in 2102 Old Home Week will still be.

Photo:  Katty Grosh's Old Home Week badge and program collection from 1905 - 2001

"'Tis a puzzlement," often, to me about what I will write for this column. I'm always waiting for inspirations to occur.

I've discovered that today's experiences can unexpectedly time warp us directly into our ancestors' yesterdays. The end of June at about 9:45 p.m. on a Sunday evening, our electric power went out. It flickered three or four times and then stayed off. I called the power company right away from the computer phone line by flash light to let them know about the outage. For those of you who are city dwellers, you many not know what a power outage means to those of us living in the "country". It means more than not having electricity; we have no water (if one only has a well), no phone if the phone is one of the "new-fangled" cordless ones, and no "modern" necessary facilities.

This June wasn't, of course, the first time that I experienced a power outage, but it was one of the first times that I was really cognizant of what was happening around me. It was quiet, very quiet. The silence was amazing. There was no hum of the refrigerator motor, no computer or disc drive noises, no voices from the TV or radio in the background. The only sound was the constant, rhythmic tick…tick…tick of the 1800's hand-wound mantel clock. It is the only running thing in our house that doesn't require electricity to make a noise - what enlightenment! How peaceful and serene nighttime must have been in our ancestors' lifetime.

Speaking of light…if you live in the country, it’s wise to always have at hand either a flashlight with good batteries, candles and matches, or an oil lamp. This power outage was widespread throughout the "neighborhood". I was in awe of just how black the world is without electricity. The stars are brighter than bright - the way our ancestors saw them. I could not, without moonlight or candle light, see one foot in front of the other. Without the sense of sight, the sounds of nature are much more evident. The cacophony of songs from the chorus of crickets predominated.

Without the luxury of forewarning as usually occurs with a snowstorm, we didn't know on this Sunday evening to draw extra amounts of water for drinking or flushing the toilets. Without electricity the well pump does not work to replenish what is drawn from the line if a faucet is turned on. Just less than a hundred years ago our ancestors would have had water. They would have hand pumped it for a variety of uses - drinking, bathing, and washing clothes and dishes. The hand pump could have been outside or inside the house. I remember the hand pump just inside the kitchen door of my Grandparents' Fitz farmhouse. It pumped water from the cistern. What was curious to me at the time, though, was they could pump water from inside the house but it had to be pitched outside or poured down the other sink (that came later) because there was no drain to discard it at the pump - it was a dry sink. There would not have been a "Hot" water faucet, only cold. Water would have been heated on the stove.

Today in the country if the power's off, each commode has a limit of one flush if additional water isn't available to flush with a bucket. Our ancestors would have had chamber pots for use inside or they would have made a trip outside (in all kinds of weather) to the "necessary".

We lit candles and an oil lamp. In the interim until the power came back on, I decided to pick up my needlework. There wouldn't have been too many options for illumination in our ancestors' times. I found it impossible, even with my bifocals, to see what I was doing by oil lamp which produces more light than several candles together. This is quite perplexing. The ladies surely wouldn't have used daylight to stitch by when there were many daily housekeeping necessities and chores that needed to be done. How did they do their needlework at night?

I was suddenly pulled back into the 21^st century when the rumbling sound of the generator's motor shattered the silence of the 19^th century illusion. My husband Ken couldn't resist starting the generator just to see if it still worked. It allowed us to draw drinking water, chill the refrigerator, and use the bathroom. I guess a generator should be added to the "on hand" list for country power outages. The power came back on about six hours later.

The next time you may have the unexpected opportunity to find yourself stuck in a 21^st century happening, live the moment and contemplate what your ancestors would have to do or not have to do in such a situation. You might find yourself there while stuck in a traffic jam, at the end of a long checkout line, or… a power outage.

Allison-Antrim Museum was the winner of the Tenderloin Challenge for non-profit organizations sponsored by Mrs. Gibble's Restaurant. The museum's membership redeemed more tenderloin tickets than any other Greencastle-Antrim organization. Kim Eshleman presented the winning $500 check to Bonnie on Thursday, August 23.

Thank you to all the museum members who helped win the top prize! And, thank you to Mrs. Gibble's Restaurant.

• Jim Thomas for cleaning out the fence rows along the museum's property.
• Marvin Rice for tending the kitchen porch flowerbed.
• Cim Unger and Kim Unger-Pearl , sisters from Waynesboro with family ties to Greencastle, who volunteered their time to paint the reproduced plaster molding in the hallway.
• Donna Grosh, Greencastle True Value, who matched the original colors by sight and donated the paint for the molding.
• Earl Bodes and Dick Walck for getting electricity run to the museum's sign the Friday night before Old Home Week. It is very nice to see the sign illuminated in the evening. They will be returning to up-light the maple tree and wash the south face of the house with light at night.
• Bob Chaney for allowing the museum to use his windows for display during Old Home Week.
• all the Greencastle-Antrim families who graciously loaned the use of their quilts, comforters, and coverlets for the museum's window display, "A Stitch from Time - A Tribute to Women and Mothers of Our Past". The display was a favorite among the OHW visitors. Some even tried to buy the heirlooms with the cash in their pockets.The board decided to participate in the OHW window displays but not to be considered in the judging of the windows.

• the Greencastle-Antrim Organized Youth Foundation and Karin Johnson, president, for hosting the overwhelmingly popular Reminiscing program during OHW. The GAOYF owns the highline train station.
• Charlie Smith, Greencastle, who at 10 p.m. (underline pm) on Monday, August 6 wired the last needed part, a breaker donated by David Campbell, Fairplay, Maryland, in order that the train station would be air conditioned by Tuesday morning for the second day of Reminiscing. With the heat index reaching between 100 - 110 degrees we are ever grateful to both men.
• all the interviewees who participated in Reminiscing and to Ted Alexander, Greg Hoover, Ben Thomas, and Bob Thomas who were the interviewers.
• Mr. Dick Besecker for filling in at the last minute (in the middle of his busiest five days of OHW) for Mr. John Grove on Monday's Reminiscing schedule. A special Reminiscing will be scheduled with Mr. Grove in the future.
• Marty Zimmerman (III) and Sean Guy, Jr. for pushing the McLaughlin Hotel baggage cart for the museum's entry in the parade. They now have a greater appreciation for the job performed by George Hamilton.
• everyone who gave their time to be on duty at the museum during 27 hours of open house.
• Joanne Thomas for making the ribbon rosettes for the card table exhibit.
• Nancy Pensinger, Evelyn Pensinger, Vince Phelan, and Jim Craig for assisting in packing up and then replacing all the items in the corner cupboard, dining room display case, and the Carl's Drug Store display cupboard the days just before OHW in order that the floors could be worked on.

	Clyde, Ed, and Frank Bittner reminiscing about growing up in Bushtown and the south end of Greencastle.

• The windows inside and out and downstairs and upstairs were cleaned in preparation of Old Home Week.
• The rejuvenation of the downstairs floors, stairs, and upstairs hallway was started. They need yet to be "abraded" with steel wool to take the shellac down to a satin finish. Two coats of wax will follow. The bedroom floors upstairs still need to be done.

When the solutions used for rejuvenation were applied one of the results was extremely creaky floors. Hopefully when they dry out again the sound will soften.

• A small book written by Myrtle Long Haldeman about her experiences teaching at the White Pine one-room school house in Coseytown is on sale at the museum for $5 with $.50 from each sale going to the museum.

• Former Governor Robert P. Casey's signature - a gift from State Representative Jeffrey Coy. With Casey's signature AAMI has all of the signatures of the Governors of Pennsylvania from the 20^th century and every governor's signature, consecutively, dating back to the 80^th term of John F. Hartranft whose term began in 1873. The search for Gov. Casey's signature was undertaken by Michele Emmett, Greencastle.
• One WW II, U.S. Navy Aviator's flight jacket, a Hamilton navigational stopwatch, two aviator's log books recording all flights by and - are gifts from Richard H. Gingrich.
• Two Greencastle High School Spotlights, and a day ledger of Elmer Fries Dry Goods store dated July 1, 1929 to October 26, 1931 - a gift from Frances Diehl
• Cumberland Valley Chronicles - A Bicentennial History published by the Shippensburg Historical Society - a gift from Alice M. Brumbaugh
• A Masonic Knight Templar Sword belonging to H. R. Gaff - a gift from Jane Stuart Jewett, Florida, great-granddaughter of Gaff
• One 1963 commemorative centennial coin honoring Corporal William H. Rihl - a gift from Nikki Shockey
• The Farmer's Manual which was given to Preston D. Hykes when he started farming in 1927 from his father Henry - a gift from Genevieve Kiser
• One hand-crafted and painted mantel clock made by David Warren - a gift from his children, Gerald, Lee, Wayne, Donald, Kirby, Lorraine Hess, Janice Bartles, and Carolyn Bingaman
• A light blue shell-shaped vase with flowers on both sides and gold trimmed edges which was originally bought at Hostetters when the store closed. The sticker is still on the bottom of the vase. - a gift from Phyllis Brenner
• One book printed in London, England in 1630 by George Miller for William Aspley at the signe of the Parot in Pauls Churchyard. It is "An Exposition of the Dominicall Epistles and Gospels used in our English Liturgie throughout the whole yeere. Written by Iohn Boys, Doctor in Divinitie, and Deane of Canterburie" The name Henry Pawling is printed on the inside cover. This book of liturgy was brought to America with the first Henry Pawling who arrived about 1670 from Padbury, Buckinghamshire, England. He died between 1691 - 1695 in Marbletown, Ulster County, New York. - a gift from Claude I. Coffey, Vivian Coffey Scull, Helen Coffey Donaldson, William, Edward, and Brian Donaldson, descendents of Henry Pawling

Please make a note on your calendar as a reminder to visit during one of our September open houses to see all the recent acquisitions.

• The mustering in paper of Francis Hoffman into Company H of the 112^th Pa. Volunteers, signed in Greencastle on April 9, 1865 by B. F. Winger, Lt. Col. - on permanent loan from George F. Hoffman, great-grandson, on behalf of Francis Hoffman's grandchildren - Anna Oberholzer, Charles Hoffman, and George S. Hoffman.
• An original Antrim House Hotel register dating from mid 1899 to mid 1902 - on permanent loan from Harold Stine

September: Open Houses on September 6 and 9 will feature an antique teacup and tea strainer and contemporary teapot exhibit. The teapot collection is Kathleen Forney's; the teacups are from the collections of Ruth Coldsmith, Hazel Sellers, and Bonnie Shockey; the tea strainer collection is that of Bonnie Shockey; and the silver tea service belongs to Ruth Coldsmith.

Tea was not introduced into Europe until the Portuguese traders brought it back in the mid-1500's. In the beginning, tea was sold by apothecaries along side the rare spices and flavorings such as ginger and sugar. The large demand and easier access lowered its cost allowing tea to be sold in common food shops by 1675. In England, the passion for anything Oriental raised the importation level from 40,000 pounds annually in 1699 to 240,000 by 1708.

In China and Japan, tea was regarded from an introspective and religious point of view. But, in Europe tea inspired elaborate serving traditions that emphasized tea's exotic origins and the server's wealth. Tea caddies that were often locked, special vessels from which to serve it, measuring spoons, and other instruments were invented to display and show refinement.

In the 1600's, strainer mote (debris) spoons were devised to remove leaves, stems, grit, and other debris quite often found in the beverage after it had been poured. The bowl of the spoon was perforated and pointed ends were used to clear the teapot spout.

The cup strainer made its appearance toward the end of the 18^th century. It was a smaller version or adaptation of the larger wine and punch strainers used to remove lemon and orange pieces from other beverages. The cup strainer had one or two handles or a wide rim that straddled the cup straining the debris as it was poured. The cup strainers were made of silver, white metal, woven brass, tin and screen, granite ware, enameled, fine bone china, and other materials.

By the 19^th century, silversmiths and manufacturers, competing against each other, devised many new tea wares. The designs ranged from practical to very decorative forms, from clasps that clipped the strainer on the teacup edge to stands for the strainers that caught the drips, and teapot spout strainers. Tea balls or infusers became the most popular devise in the mid-1800's in Europe and in the United States by 1880 into the early 20^th century. They are perforated, spherical shapes made with two hinged and clasped pieces that self-contain the tea within the pot. The last tea straining/containing devise was the stick infuser or spoon infuser that has a covered spoon-shaped bowl being perforated on both the lid and spoon. This devise was used for one or two-cup brewing instead of a full pot. Artistic imagination led to many varied shapes from a ball, heart, pipes, and even a golf club.

It was only by accident in 1908 that the tea strainer era came to an end. Thomas Sullivan, an American tea dealer, in an effort to save on shipping charges, started packaging small-sized tea samples in silk bags for his customers. His customers, thinking that they were to dip the silk bags directly into hot water, began ordering the tea bags from him thus ending the mass production of ingenious, attractive, tea strainers.

The Europeans' passion for anything Oriental caused a preference for Chinese porcelain for tea ware - teapots and teacups. Basically, what the Europeans saw Chinese porcelain as was cobalt blue decorations on white ware. As it was very costly to buy and import, Europeans attempted to make their own version that turned out to be nothing more than artificial porcelain because they did not know the formula.

True porcelain (hard paste) is white china clay and feldspar. Artificial porcelain (soft paste) is clay, glass, sand, and other stuff. Fluxed porcelain (bone china) is white clay, feldspar, and bone ash.

An easy way that curators and collectors use to tell the difference between pottery and porcelain table, tea, and toilet wares is whether or not one can see light through the body material, as long as it is not too thick. If light shines through, it is porcelain.

Where and when was a piece made? In Britain, registration marks where authorized between 1842 - 1883. After 1883, a consecutive set of numbers was used. In 1891, the U.S. Congress passed the McKinley Tariff Act which required that anything imported into the United States after 1891 must have printed on it in English, the name of the country of origin. Therefore, if it says "Made in Germany", the piece was made after 1891. There are many marks or back stamps and registration books on the market to help in the identification and dating process.

A video on tea produced by McCormick will be continuously running during open house hours.

a late summer tea party for ladies, young and old, on Sunday, September 9, 2001 on the lawn of Allison-Antrim Museum between the hours of 1 p.m. and 4 p.m.. Tables will be set up under canopies. You are invited to wear your best Sunday afternoon tea clothes. Vintage clothing or reproductions from any era will also be appropriate.

So as not to exclude the gentlemen, for their Sunday afternoon enjoyment, they may participate in a game of horseshoes while the ladies partake of tea.

Thank you to Charles Rake, Coffee Roasters, Greencastle who is providing the tea; Wolf's Baked Goods for providing the tea pastries and cookies; Megan Wertner for providing classical music accompaniment on the marimba; and to the Greencastle-Antrim Organized Youth Foundation for the use of the canopies.

The museum events for the month of October will be centered around Frank Feathers and tramp art.

Shawn Meyers, a Mercersburg attorney, will be the guest speaker at the October quarterly dinner meeting on October 11. (See Calendar of Events for details.) Meyers, a local authority on Frank Feathers, will share his knowledge of Feathers, his carvings and tramp art. Guests are welcome to bring with them pieces that they may have for appraisal by Meyers.

The open houses on Sunday, October 14 and Thursday, October 18 will feature the collection of tramp art belonging to William E. Diehl, Greencastle. Mr. Diehl was very kind to loan his collection to the museum a day or two just before it opened on August 1, 1998. It was greatly appreciated at the time, as the museum had much less in the way of donations and exhibits as compared to today.

Mr. Diehl's collection includes four tramp art boxes and four Frank Feathers racks - one letter, one paper, and two brush and comb racks.

Your 2001/2002 membership card is enclosed with this issue of the Annals. If your card is not enclosed, please use this as a reminder to fill out the membership form, now, and return it. Allison-Antrim Museum exists for the community at large but it cannot exist without the help of the community. Your membership donation helps pay the annual utility and operating expenses. Thank you all for your membership support.

One copy each of Memories by Mildred Toms printed in 1976 and More or Less Personal by G. Fred Ziegler printed in 1986 were purchased during the Old Home Week season for the AAMI library.

Thursday, September 6, 2001, noon to 3 p.m. & Sunday, September 9, 2001, 1 - 4 p.m.: Open Houses - antique teacup and tea strainer and contemporary teapot exhibit, and on Sunday, a tea party for ladies, young and old; and for the gentlemen, a game of horseshoes.

Thursday, September 13, 2001: Monthly meeting, 7 p.m., Evangelical Lutheran Church downstairs social room, wheel chair accessible. Ted Alexander will present "Part II of When War Passed This Way".

Thursday, October 11, 2001: Annual Membership Meeting, Antrim House, 6:30 p.m., Shawn Meyers, a Mercersburg attorney, will speak on Frank Feathers and his canes. Guests are invited to bring their pieces for sharing and appraisal. Reservations required by Monday, October 8, 2001 by calling Bonnie at 597.9325.

Sunday, October 14, 2001, 1 - 4 p.m. and Thursday, October 18, 2001, noon to 3 p.m.: Open Houses - tramp art exhibit from the collection of William E. Diehl, Greencastle

Sunday, November 11, 2001, 1 - 4 p.m. & Thursday, November 15, noon - 3 p.m.: Open Houses

Thursday, November 29, 2001: Holiday dinner meeting, Antrim House, 6:30 p.m.; Battle of the Bulge panel; reservations required by Monday, November 26, 2001 by calling Bonnie at 597.9325.

the Civil War era cleaning instrument made from bone?

The answer to July's "Have You Seen…" is this issue's fifth "Recent Acquisition". The Masonic Knight Templar sword belonged to Hezikiah R. Gaff. Gaff was co-owner with James Shirey of the Franklin Hotel. The business was bought in 1879 from John Adams (one of whose hotel registers the museum has on display). That same year they dismantled the frame structure and built the current three story brick building on North Carlisle Street that they named the Crowell House in honor of J. B. Crowell.

Gaff was a charter member of the Greencastle Mount Pisgah Masonic Lodge, No. 443 that was organized on August 26, 1869 and served as treasurer of the organization.

Swords, such as this one, were given to men who attained the highest position within Knight Templar.

• AAMI received a complimentary email about our Web site from one of the administrators in the Whangarei Museum, an exhibiting museum, in New Zealand! There are so many places to visit and so much to explore on the Internet. Check it out.
• An inquiry about the Witherspoon and Wolfkill families of Greencastle.
• A link from our Web site was established to a Web site about Samuel Snively of Antrim Township who moved to Duluth, Minnesota in the late 1800's and became well known and made a fortune. Very interesting. The Web master of the Snively site found AAMI's site first.