Lantern Tours at Graeme Park
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The Graeme Park Gazette O CTOBER - DECEMBER 2016 Lantern Tours at Graeme Park Ask any local what they know about Graeme Park and most will tell you it’s haunted! Our staff and volun- teers have experienced many sights, sounds, and smells over the years and we’ve had paranormal inves- tigators out to delve into the rumors that a ghostly Elizabeth may still reside at Graeme Park. Tour the house INSIDE THIS ISSUE: by lantern light FROM THE PRESIDENT 2 OF THE FRIENDS with a guide who NEWSBRIEFS 3 will tell you some of the stories of haunted Graeme Park on PARK CREEK 3 these free tours. Campfire and CONTINENTAL 4 snacks available (weather depend- CHRISTMAS ent). DR. GRAEME & 5 PENNSYLVANIA HOSPITAL Please note this is not the same LUNCH & LEARN 7 scripted/costumed production we’ve done in the past. It is a spooky history tour with a UPCOMING single tour guide telling some of the para- EVENTS October 29 normal experiences we’ve had in the house. OCTOBER 29 6:30, 7, 7:30, 8, Lantern Tours Bring a small flashlight if you’d like. Tour 8:30, 9 p.m. times are 6:30, 7, 7:30, 8, 8:30, and 9 pm. Tick- NOVEMBER 26 Donations Appreciated ets are first come, first served. Donations ap- Continental Christmas preciated. Page 2 From the President of the Friends GRAEME PARK After a very long, hot and dry summer, fall is finally here with its more moderate temperatures. With the cooler weather, we’re able to conjure up the energy that escaped us in the heat and humidity of the previous months. At Graeme Park, we had weddings even on some of the hottest days. But our brides were happy and didn’t let the heat ruin their day. Graeme Park is the site of the Keith House, an 18th-century historic And due to the financial support the Friends have seen from the wed- house, the only remaining home of a dings, we are able to offer smaller, mission-related programs at little governor of colonial Pennsylvania. It or no cost to the public. Two free programs which Graeme Park has is administered by the Pennsylvania Historical and Museum Commission on the calendar this fall are “Lantern Tours” of the Keith House on in partnership with the Friends of October 29 and “A Continental Christmas” on November 26. Read Graeme Park, a 501c3 volunteer more about both programs in this issue. organization that raises funds, staffs, and promotes the site. The official registration and financial information Fall brings a new year of school tours and our Home School Day, of The Friends of Graeme Park may be obtained from the Pennsylvania which was held on September 21. It featured a colonial puppet show Department of State by calling toll and a visit from Cindy Marselis, who brought along some of her own free, within Pennsylvania, 1-800-732- chicken and sheep to help the children see how Graeme Park looked 0999. Registration does not imply endorsement. Individuals who need with animals on its property over 200 years ago. special assistance or accommodation to visit Graeme Park should call On October 5, we had our fall “Lunch & Learn” which featured our (215) 343-0965 in advance to discuss their needs. Pennsylvania TDD relay own Jack Washington speaking about local neighbors during the Rev- service is available at (800)654-5984. olution. Were they Loyalists or Patriots and how did one treat the TOUR HOURS other? It was attended by 40 people who enjoyed a continental break- Friday - Saturday fast, the presentation in the Keith House and a hot and cold buffet 10 a.m. - 4 p.m. lunch. This program is becoming so popular that we saw attendance Sunday Noon - 4 p.m. double from our spring session. Last tour starts at 3 p.m. Enjoy your fall and do plan to visit Graeme Park for either your per- THE STAFF AT GRAEME PARK sonal tour of the Keith House or to enjoy one of our upcoming pro- Carla A. Loughlin grams. See you soon! Mike MacCausland THE PENNSYLVANIA HISTORICAL AND MUSEUM COMMISSION - Beth MacCausland Tom Corbett Governor James M. Vaughan Executive Director Nancy Moses Chair Page 3 Graeme Park: Putting the Park in Park Creek By Jim Miller in Warrington. The total length, took their drinking water from therefore, of all branches adds up wells, but the livestock and wildlife A surging river of America it is not. to a mere five miles. certainly drank from the stream. A A major shipping route it is not. A day of hunting along the banks source of power for building a na- In those five miles it drops only a would have yielded a harvest of tion it never was. But little Park little over one hundred feet, ducks, geese, and deer for the enough for a few gentle ripples but Creek, the slow-moving stream that kitchen. The stream is small and its no powerful waterfalls. It did pro- flows so peacefully through Grae- fish, mostly sunnies, are small, but vide energy adequate to drive a me Park (for which it was named), an occasional catfish might have grist mill, the Kenderdine Mill, was central to life at the farm in its provided dinner. early days and is a peaceful respite where grain from neighboring for humans and an important habi- farms, including Graeme Park, was On a hot summer day earlier inhab- tat for wildlife today. taken to be ground into flour or itants of Graeme Park may have corn meal. The mill was construct- refreshed themselves wading in the It has two feeder branches. The ed in 1736 and the path to it from creek. A stippling of colored leaves northern one originates about two Graeme Park eventually became floating on its surface in autumn or miles upstream from Graeme Park the route for Keith Valley Road. the stark contrast of white ice and near Hartman Road. The southern Ruins of a stone bridge that provid- dark tree trunks in winter invite branch courses from a pond in the ed access to the path on the other photographers. At any time of year center of Old York Road Country side of the creek are still visible it is pleasant to linger along the Club, about one mile away. They from the Park’s nature trail. banks of Park Creek and reflect up- converge to flow about two miles on its history in nourishing the life Graeme Park’s human inhabitants before joining the Little Neshaminy of a vibrant farm community. NEWSBRIEFS Annual Meeting tab. Planning is still in progress so check back often for Graeme Park will hold its Annual Membership Meeting on more details and additional events. Friday, November 11 at 7 p.m. The Board has voted to change from a July 1-June 30 fiscal year to a calendar year, Barnyard Wall and to change Board terms from 2 years to 4 years. As a This fall the state worked on repairing and repointing the result, all Board Members are up for reelection. The slate stone wall surrounding the barnyard. According to the includes: Beth MacCausland, President, Jack Washington, Historic Structures Report, this wall was last repointed c. Vice President, Diane Horan, Treasurer, Melissa Kurik, Sec- 1969. Since that time severe weather, nearly 50 winters’ retary, Tony Chechia, Member-at-Large, Deedie Gustavson, worth of freeze-thaw cycles and the stress placed on the Member-at-Large, and Laura MacBride, Member-at-Large. wall from the plow contractor pushing snow up against There are also minor bylaw revisions to be voted on. Re- it, had taken its toll. Parts of the wall were carefully dis- freshments will be served. mantled and reconstructed using the existing stones and other less damaged areas were repointed. Horsham’s Tri-Centennial Celebration 2017 marks the 300th year of the founding of Horsham Volunteer of the Year Township and there will be events all year long celebrating The Friends of Graeme Park have elected Carol Brunner our history and community. The festivities begin with Win- as the 2015 Volunteer of the Year. Carol is a longtime terfest on January 7th at the Horsham Community Center, volunteer who has worn many hats over the years. She is feature a family-friendly party with food and a band at currently very active in coordinating the school tours and Graeme Park on May 13, and conclude with closing cere- in keeping the store stocked with all the goodies the kids monies in Carpenter Park on December 1. In between there like to buy while they’re here with their class. She is also are lots of activities and events, which you can learn more involved with the Gardeners of the Crooked Billet who about on the Township’s website under the “Community” maintain the herb garden for us. Page 4 THE FRIENDS OF GRAEME PARK MISSION STATEMENT The mission of the Friends of Graeme Park is to pro- vide on-going support of preservation, maintenance, development, interpretation, education and promotion of Graeme Park. A Continental Christmas BOARD OF DIRECTORS During Christmas week, 1777, Graeme Park was invad- President Beth MacCausland Vice President Jack Washington ed by part of the American army. More than 2,000 men Secretary Melissa Kurek were encamped at Graeme Park, with numbers rapidly Treasurer Diane Horan Member at Large Tony Checchia diminishing as enlistments ran out and the men went Member at Large Deedie Gustavson home in the new year. By the end of January, only 75 Member at Large Laura MacBride men remained, although the mess left behind and the STANDING COMMITTEE damage done to the property was extensive.