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News and Comment NEWS AND COMMENT By DONALD H. KENT Pennsylvania Historical and Museum Commission HISTORICAL SOCIETIES At the meeting of the Adams County Historical Society on May 5, the Rev. Norman Wolf of Gettysburg spoke on his expe- riences of home life and teaching in Adams County about the turn of the century. The June meeting consisted of a tour of the few remaining covered bridges in the county, including the bridge near Fountaindale over a branch of Toms Creek and one near New Oxford over Swift Run. Hugh Mcllhenny gave details of the structures at each location. From March 29 to April 15, 1964, the Historical Society of Berks County co-sponsored with the Berks Camera Club a photo- graphic exhibit of "Five Years of Space." The building of the society was chosen by the Photographic Society of America for this tri-county display of the traveling exhibit of the work of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration. A dramatic pres- entation of "Women in Shakespeare" was given at the annual luncheon meeting of the Women's Auxiliary of the society, held on April 14 at the Wyomissing Club. Classes on antiques and art appreciation were held by the Women's Auxiliary in the society building on Wednesday mornings from March 4 to May 6. By popular demand these classes will be repeated again next year. In observance of the fiftieth anniversary of the incorporation of Wernersville, the south wing of the first floor of the society's build- ing was devoted to a display of articles relating to that section of Berks County. Dr. John E. German of the special exhibits committee of the society, together with a special committee ap- pointed by the Borough of Wernersville, collected and arranged an attractive display of quilts, pictures, furniture, and household articles from local residents. In addition, Dr. Arthur D. Graeff. editor of the society's quarterly magazine, featured "Wernersville's Golden Jubilee" in the summer issue of the Historical Review of Bcrks County. 352 NEWS AND COMMENT 353 The fifty-ninth annual pilgrimage of the society, held on June 10 under the direction of Dr. John E. German, proved most suc- cessful. Traveling by bus, the members and their friends toured neighboring Lancaster County. They visited the "Amish Farm and House," rode on the Strasburg Railroad, stopped at General Edward Hand's home at Rock Ford and President Buchanan's home at Wheatland, were welcomed by J. W. W. Loose at the Lancaster County Historical Society, and toured the North Mu- seum at Franklin and Marshall College. Gerald S. Lestz gave an illustrated lecture on historic Lancaster at their luncheon. The Baker Mansion, museum of the Blair County Historical Society in Altoona, was opened for the season on June 13. Until next October the hours will be from 1:30 to 4:30 p.m. each Saturday. During the spring the society was involved in much expense in keeping up the building, including a new roof which cost almost $2,000. The Altoona Woman's Club contributed $150 toward this improvement. The "Castle" committee of the Brownsville Historical Society sponsored a strawberry festival on the grounds of Bowman's Castle on June 11. All funds accruing from the event will be used to re- pair the porch floor at the entrance to the old "trading post" room. On June 26, the American Legion Band of Uniontown gave a free concert on the grounds. The board of directors of the Bucks County Historical Society is currently studying for adoption a policy for the administration of the Mercer Museum and of society affairs. Many former policy decisions had been buried in the minutes of meetings. The present policy statement will contain all necessary material for easy ref- erence by board and staff members. The autumn meeting of the society will be held in the area of the new regional state park near Haycock Mountain in northern Bucks County and will be de- voted to the history of the early structures to be flooded by the new five-mile-long lake. On June 13, the society's first traveling ex- hibit will be opened at Stover's Mill in Erwinna. The exhibit deals with the history of the society under its first three presidents, General W. W. H. Davis, Dr. Henry C. Mercer, and Dr. B. F. Fackenthal, Jr. The exhibit will continue through July 5. 354 PENNSYLVANIA HISTORY Robert F. Pruner was re-elected president of the Cambria County Historical Society at its annual dinner meeting on April 22, and the other officers and directors were also re-elected. The speaker was Dr. Paul A. W. Wallace, associate historian, Penn- sylvania Historical and Museum Commission, whose subject was "The Seven Wonders of Pennsylvania." Dr. Wallace was intro- duced by County Commissioner Raymond B. Johnson, one of his former students at Lebanon Valley College. The first permanent display of the Cameron County Historical Society was opened in the county courthouse at Emporium on May 17. The display of artifacts, documents, and writings shows interesting facets of the county's past history, and even includes the pen with which Governor William F. Packer signed the act creating the county on March 29, 1860. The Cameron County Commissioners provided the seven glass cases for the small museum and made space available. At the meeting of the Chester County Historical Society on April 21, Edward Shenton spoke on "150 Years of a Bank and People," dealing with the history of the National Bank of Chester County and Trust Company. At the women's committee meeting on April 14, Miss June Wilke of the Agricultural Extension Service, Home Economics Division, discussed the restoration and care of furniture and antiques. On May 19, Paul N. Perrot, di- rector of the Corning Museum of Glass, gave an illustrated lecture on "American Glass." The society has announced the appointment of Edward F. LaFond, Jr., to the newly created position of curator of the society, beginning his duties on or about July 1. 'rhe Clarion County Historical Society held its regular meeting in the courthouse on Tuesday evening, June 9. The program was presented by the Fryburg Lions Club with Robert A. Obenrader and John E. Hargenrader narrating the history of Fryburg and the surrounding area, and with Bernard M. Faller showing slides of historical interest. The society is sponsoring a Junior Historian from the county to attend the Institute of Pennsylvania Life and Culture at Landis Valley. Plans were made for this summer's an- nual out-of-county historical tour. NEWS AND COMMENT 355 The Clearfield County Historical Society held its spring meet- ing on May 2, with 150 members and guests in attendance. The speaker was Brigadier General William E. Hipps, USAF, a native of Clearfield County, who gave an interesting description of the activities of the Tactical Air Command. On May 9, in co- operation with the Susquehanna Chapter, Daughters of the Amer- ican Revolution, a tree was planted on the society property in Clearfield in memory of William Bigler, the only citizen of the county to serve as governor of Pennsylvania. On June 2, the society was represented in a meeting of local leaders when Sec- retary of Forests and Waters Maurice K. Goddard announced the initial steps in the development of Otocsin State Park. The April 13 meeting of the Clinton County Historical Society featured travel slides presented by Mr. and Mrs. George F. B. Lehman. Dr. F. Clark Skelly was inducted as president. The an- nual picnic was held on June 8 at the National Guard headquarters at Lockport. At the annual meeting of the Columbia County Historical So- ciety on May 27, a reorganization was effected to reduce the number of directors and thus make the organization less cumber- some and more effective. There are now five directors elected by the membership for three-year terms on a rotating basis, with the addition of the president and secretary who are to be elected annually. A countywide representation is to be secured by com- mittee memberships. E. M. Barton was re-elected to his second term as president, and the other officers are Dr. G. Paul Moser, vice-president; and T. A. Williammee, secretary. The new di- rectors are Clark Kirkendall, Mrs. Leona Savage, Mrs. Leah Rarig, Norman Hoffman, and E. Eugene Eves. As a special feature, a film entitled The Village was shown, depicting the development of Grand Rapids, Ohio, whose history parallels the development of Columbia County in many ways. The annual meeting of the Crawford County Historical Society was held on June 4 in its newly-acquired historic house, the Baldwin-Reynolds home on Terrace Street in Meadville. Reports were made on the progress in converting the house into a public 356 PENNSYLVANIA HISTORY museum. Commenting on the effort involved in raising $27,000 for the house, the Meadville Tribune for June 8 editorialized: "Men and women with a sense of history and faith in the com- munity have accomplished the seemingly impossible, but they can- not carry on alone. Preservation of the Baldwin-Reynolds House has become a major community project." The Cumberland County Historical Society and Hamilton Li- brary Association held its seventh recognition dinner at Allen- berry on May 7, honoring Robert Grant Crist as "Historian of the Year" for his contributions to local history. Mr. Crist pre- sented a paper on "George Croghan of Pennsborough Township." Other papers of Mr. Crist published by the society include "The Land in Cumberland Called Lowther," "Robert Whitehill and the Struggle for Civil Rights," "Captain William Hendricks and the March to Quebec, 1775," and "Confederate Invasion of the West Shore, 1863." At the same meeting a tribute to the late Hubertis M.
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