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2002 November
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    Volume 5, Issue 5

From the President’s Desk

As we approach the end-of-the-year holiday season, our focus is turned to the blessings we enjoy.  The first Thanksgiving was a feast at which the Pilgrims expressed their thankfulness for the bounty of the growing season and the help they received from the Native Americans.  Although the feast was probably meager compared to the standards of today’s Thanksgiving table, the participants were very grateful for what they did have.

The Harvest Home exhibit at the November open houses will display the abundance of the summer’s harvest arranged in antique baskets, firkins, and buckets.  Baskets of all kinds from the collection of Ada Leckron, Waynesboro, will comprise the core of the exhibit.  Enhancing this exhibit will be baskets, firkins, and buckets on loan from AAMI members, Dr. James H. Craig, Jr., Ginny Fitz, Evelyn Pensinger, Nancy Pensinger, Mrs. Jack Burns, Clarisse Hicks, and Bonnie Shockey and Greencastle resident, Jean Marsh.

Americans over the past year and couple months have been through the most catastrophic events imaginable.  In spite of this and by the grace of God, America and her people are still truly the most blessed people on Earth.  Let us continue to move forward, make a list of the things for which we are grateful, and then share our abundant blessings in some manner with those who are in need.

As a community service, Allison-Antrim Museum is providing an opportunity for its November open house visitors to share with those who do not have as much.  The continued recession has affected many families in our area.  When you visit the museum during open house, you are invited to bring hats, scarves, gloves, or mittens of any size and for either gender.  These items will then be given to the Chambersburg Salvation Army Christmas Assistance Program. They will then be given away at Christmastime to those in need. 

In addition, the museum will also be accepting monetary donations which will be given to the Exchange Club of Greencastle.  The Greencastle-Antrim School District assists the Exchange Club by giving them the names of children from families in financial need.  With this information, the Exchange Club is able to purchase a special gift for each child that will be given to them during the Christmas season.

Come enjoy the antique basket exhibit, the bounty of the season, and also share your blessings.

Holiday Membership Meeting

Allison-Antrim Museum’s holiday membership meeting will be held on Tuesday, December 3 beginning at 6:30 p.m. at the Antrim House Restaurant.  Guests will serve themselves from a special buffet set up for AAMI.  The cost will be $10 per person.

Dennis Frye, the assistant producer and the chief historical consultant for the forthcoming movie “Gods and Generals”, will be the special guest speaker for the evening.  Frye, currently a resident of Sharpsburg, Maryland, was a graduate of Boonsboro High School and received a BA degree from Shephard College.  Frye is a freelance historical consultant and writer and is the author of several books and hundreds of articles on the Civil War.  His career resume includes being the former chief historian at Harpers Ferry National Historical Park, the former president of the Association for the Preservation of Civil War Sites, a consultant for a PBS documentary on John Brown, and commentator for the History Channel’s program, Civil War Journal.

Frye will discuss the making of the movie “Gods and Generals” which is based on the book of the same title.  “Gods and Generals”, filmed mostly around Sharpsburg, is the prequel to the 1974 novel The Killer Angels upon which the movie “Gettysburg” was based.  “Gods and Generals” tells about the pre-Civil War daily lives, emotions, and convictions of four Civil War Generals – Lee, Jackson, Hancock, and Chamberlin – and the early part of the Civil War including the Battles of Bull Run, Antietam, Fredericksburg, and Chancellorsville that led up to the Battle of Gettysburg.  Frye will tell of both the humorous and poignant moments in the making of the movie which is scheduled for general release on February 21, 2003.  Robert Duvall and Stephen Lang portrayed Lee and Stonewall Jackson respectively.

Reservations for the buffet dinner at $10 per person are requested by Saturday, November 30 by calling Bonnie A. Shockey at 597-9325. Guests are welcome and the meeting is open to the public. Reservations are not required if attending only the meeting. The buffet includes broiled haddock, stuffed chicken breast, vegetables, salad, dessert, & drink.

Annual Election of Board Members

At the annual membership dinner meeting held on October 10, Dr. James H. Craig, Jr., P. Sean Guy, Marvin Rice, and James Thomas were all re-elected to another three-year term that will end December 31, 2005.  I thank each one of them for their continued willingness serve on the board of Allison-Antrim Museum. 

With regrets, the board accepted the announcement in September that Sharon Baumbaugh decided not to run for another term. Sharon came on the board in 1997 and in addition to the duties of a board member she has taken care of publicity, the refreshment committee, and making arrangements for the cleaning of the museum.  She will still handle the duties of publicity for the museum and continue to help in other ways when she can.  Her announcement left a blank line on the ballot.

Gratefully, the fifth line on the ballot was filled by Susan Rotondo.  She and her husband, Nick, have been members of the museum since 2000, albeit long distance from Wilmington, Delaware until July of this year.  Although they are not natives, they are former residents of Greencastle and they moved back “home” this summer.  Susan is anxious to become more involved with the museum and I am looking forward to working with her.  After the beginning of the year, we’ll continue tackling the task of cataloging the items in the museum’s collection.  Those who checked that particular box on the volunteer card last January will be getting a call in the near future.

We welcome Susan to the board.

Holiday Gift Idea

For that person on your gift list who is hard to buy for or for the family member or friend who no longer lives in Greencastle-Antrim, an Allison-Antrim Museum membership would provide a connection to home that helps keep one in touch with what is happening not only at the museum but around town.

Fill out the membership form printed in this newsletter and return it to the museum with a check.  We will then send you a gift card that you can give to the recipient along with the membership card.

Special Holiday Storytelling Time

Bob Gingerich, York, visited the museum during October’s Sunday open house, at which time he graciously offered both his and his wife, Barb’s, talents as storytellers.  He will be doing a book signing at the Willow Tree Gift Shop on Baltimore Street on Saturday morning, December 7 for his book, The Birthing Day Tree.

He and his wife are researching and compiling stories for another book on U.S. Presidents and White House Christmas Trees.  Beginning at 1:30 p.m. at the Greencastle High Line Train Station, he and his wife will share the history of the Christmas Tree and German glass ornaments followed by a selection of interesting and poignant stories about some of our U.S. Presidents and their White House Christmas Trees. 

Grownups will find this story time as fascinating and interesting as children.

Bob is the immediate past president of the Pennsylvania Federation of Museums and Historical Organizations and he and Barb have recently been added to the Pennsylvania Council for Arts list of performing artists. Barb, is a Greencastle-Antrim native and the sister of AAMI member, Mary Jane Crunkleton.

Light refreshments will be served following the Gingerichs’ presentation.

Recent Acquisitions

One velvet display cloth from the Bloser Jewelry Shop window. 
Bloser’s was located on the southwest corner of the square in the
office currently occupied by the Record Herald.                                              
    A gift from Evelyn Pensinger

One book of postcards, “Happy Birthday, America 1776-1976”
    A gift from Evelyn Pensinger

Adult-size ermine hand muff and pippets.
    A gift from Cynthia Lawrence Fink from her family,
the Lawrence’s

One painting, “Hornets Nest”, by the late Goldie Reichard. 
    A gift from her daughter, Ina Reichard Shreiner

Milton Wright Memorial Home archives – 73 “Home messenger” bi-monthly newsletters dating from March 1, 1938 to September 7, 1951; nine postcards; agenda booklet of the 59^th Annual Franklin County Sunday School Association Convention that was held at Rhodes Grove; four pamphlets on purchasing Milton Wright Memorial Home life annuity bonds; two brochures and one leaflet on the proposed new dormitory; one copy of the charter and by-laws; the audit report for the three-year period ending December 31, 1938.  
    A gift from Mary Jane (Coldsmith) Carbaugh

What’s old is new again - one wooden small child’s handmade scooter. 
    A gift from Mr. and Mrs. Ben Risser

The 1998 and 2000 Old Home Week Greencastle U.S. Post Office cancellation stamps. 
    Gifts from the Greencastle U.S. Post Office

Recent Purchases

A small booklet, Three Cumberland County Wood Carvers – Schimmel, Mountz, Barrett written by Milton E. Flower.  Hopefully, there will, some day, be a book written on Frank Feather.

Web Site Inquiries

From England, someone wondering how the term “Old Home Week” originated.

An inquiry about the Dunkard families from the Brown’s Mill, Antrim Township area.

Six inquiries about artifacts featured in AAMI’s “Special Exhibits” section on the Web site:

1. One from California about a Juniata County, Pennsylvania Jacquard woven coverlet (Woven Coverlets-March/April 2002).  I was able to identify the weaver, Michael Eichman, and give the lady his biography from the book, American Coverlets and Their Weavers, which was mentioned as a recent resource purchase in the September “Annals”.
2. Again from England, an inquiry about identifying a tea cup and saucer (Tea Cups and Strainers-September 2001).
3. An inquiry about a One Penny (Dip) Ink Pen (Antique Writing Instruments-February 2001).
4. And yet another question about milk glass Easter eggs (Easter Eggs-April 2001).
5. A lady searching for a cross stitch chart for one of the antique samplers exhibited during May 2001.
6. Permission was requested from a 9^th grade student in Winnepeg, Manitoba, Canada to print out images from our Web site concerning Antique Writing Instruments.

·        A question on who to contact about membership in Greencastle’s Masonic Lodge.

·        The Dollywood (yes, Dollywood) Special Events Manager emailed to ask how to get in touch with Doug Watson, Greencastle, who was the 1999 National and 2000 World Marbles Champion.  We put them in touch with each other and Doug was invited down to spend a weekend at Dollywood demonstrating and teaching the game of marbles to the visitors of the theme park.

·        A question about Greencastle’s train stations.

Inquiries

Does anyone have information on Nathaniel K. Fair who sold “Fair’s Oil:” a “medicine” for arthritis?  It was sold in a green bottle with a cork. 

Photographs, engravings, or sketches of Greencastle buildings or landmarks from the
Civil War era for an upcoming book on the Gettysburg Campaign.

If anyone has any information on the above inquiries, please call 717.597.9010.

What’s Been Happening

·        Marty Zimmerman represented Allison-Antrim Museum by manning an information table at the Festival of the Arts event at Renfrew, which for the first year included the promotion of Franklin County’s museums and historical organizations.

·        A financial survey for the American Associations of Museums was completed.

·        Ted spoke at the Fort McCord Ceremony of Remembrance of 27 people taken by the Indians on April 1, 1756 who were either killed or held prisoner.  Jim McCord emailed with a request for someone from AAMI to attend the McCord family reunion and speak on the Scot-Irish.  Ted consented to be our representative.  Mr. McCord has a wealth of McCord genealogy information with ties to the Allison family.  Mr. McCord and his wife have since joined as members of AAMI.

Calendar of Events

Thursday, November 7, noon - 3 p.m. and Sunday, November 10, 1 – 4 p.m.: Open House – Antique Baskets, firkins, and buckets with a Harvest Home display.  Donations will be accepted of hats, scarves, gloves,  or mittens.  Clothing will be given to the Salvation Army.  Monetary donations will be accepted and given to the Greencastle Exchange Club with which to purchase special Christmas gifts for needy G-A children at Christmastime.

Tuesday, December 3, 6:30 p.m., Antrim House Restaurant: 2002 Holiday dinner meeting.  Dennis Frye, assistant producer on the movie “Of Gods and Generals”, will be the speaker. Meal reservations are required by November 30 by calling 717.597.9325.

Thursday, December 5, noon – 3 p.m. and Sunday, December 8, 1 – 4 p.m.: Open House – traditional cedar tree decorated as one would have been during the Civil War era and a special Christmas exhibit.  The Carl family train, in running order, will be placed around the Christmas Tree as it has been for a number of years.

Friday, December 6, 6:30 – 8:30 p.m.: Special Heritage Christmas open house with guest Dr. Terry Musselman playing traditional holiday music on the dulcimer.  Light refreshments will be served – a hot mulled drink, cold punch, and cookies.  Luminaries will light the way to the front entrance.

Saturday, December 7, 1:30 p.m.: Christmas storytelling by Bob and Barb Gingerich sponsored by Allison-Antrim Museum at the Greencastle Train Station for the young and young-at-heart. Light refreshments will be served.

Sunday, December 8, 1 – 4 p.m.: Christmas open house – see December 5

Sunday, January 12, 1 – 4 p.m. and Thursday, January 16, noon – 3 p.m.: Open House – Allison-Antrim Museum’s Brumbaugh Collection of Pennsylvania Governors’ Signatures.