Journal of the Lycoming County Historical Society, Summer 1987
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OFTHE lycoming County Historical Society VOLUMEXXV SUMMER NUMBERONE 1987 KemaTialpark Beating Pond iacatedalon& tbe Robb of WestFauRE Street. WiLiiamsPoH,and is now tbe site ofa pia)ground. PbOtOgTapbla Vincent P. Smith. JOURNAL of the INCOMING COUNTY HISTORICALSOCIETY Published Semi-annuals) in WiLLiamsport, Perms)lvania Museum Office - 858 West lburth Street Telephone (Area Code 717) 326-3326 BOARD OFTRUSTEES RALPH R.CRANMER WILLIAME. NICHOL, JR. HARRYH.KING LegalCounselor JOHN L. BRUCH,JR. JOHN E. PERSONIII JOHNB.McMURTRIE Socket)President BOARD OFGOVERNORS JOHN E. PERSON 111, prelz'de / DR. JOHN PIPER, JR., ]l/ I)'/'ce Przlz'de / ROBERT ESPOSITO. .zmd Haze Pr?Jz'de#/ ROBERT C. PAULHAMUS. 3rd Haze Pre.r/'de#/ JAMES R. WEHR, zreaj ref MRS. KAREN ROCKEY, sefre/ar7 DR ALFRED KOHLER, JerTe7 Score Hz]/coca/ Soc;ze/7Repreie /a/zz'e 1986-88 1987-89 MRS. JANE INGERSOLL KARLEIY HOWARDJ. LAMADE, JR. HORACE H. LOWELL DR. CLARENCE R. MUTCHLER DR. GEORGE DURRWACH'lER MICHAELP.CALLAHAN MARVINH.STAIMAN MRS.JACQUELINE MUliRAY THOMASSHIVE'lTS EX-OFFICIO BOARD MEMBERS .JUNIOK LEAGUE OF WILLIAMSPORT MRS. RU'lH CROYLE THE GREG.IERWILLIAMSPORT COMMUNITY ARTS COUNCIL EUGENEE. LANDON VOLUMEXXV SUMMER NUMBERONE 1987 MUSEUM STAFF Director Joseph J. Zebrowski Assistant to the Director Everett W. Rubendall Gift Shop Manager and Receptionist MiriamS. Mix Genealogists Albert J. lorsong Nancy P. Lorsong Secretary Ricki L. Maietta MUSEUMVOLUNITERSTAIF Registration Committee June R)resman, Chairman Ethel Ertel Harriet R)resman Helene Snell Curatorial Departments Archeology James P. Bressler, Curator Ricks Maietta Karen Rickey William Turnbaugh Richard P. Johnston Archives Dorothy Berndt, Curator Grace Fleming May Francis Firearms and Edged Weapons William W. Kennedy,Curator Industrial Exhibits Francis Maneval, Curator D. Vincent Smith Photograph Harry L. Rogers,Curator Collection Paul Bennett textiles Jane Ingersoll, Curator Christine Brown Patricia lockspeiser ]oy 'rains Pastor Robert logan, Curator: Robert Paulhamus Ronald Paulhamus Thomas Paulhamus Historians Civil War A. GeorgeLyon World Wars I and ll David KristopherAngle JOURNAL Editor Stephanie R. Zebrowski Bus dour Director JoanneR)gilman 2 iF CONTENTS :ph Zebrowski J. President's Message felt W Rubendall Editor's Letter -iamS. Mix )ert J. Inrsong Letters to the Editor ncy P. Inrsong ki L. Maietta Understanding Our Historical Museum Part 1: Conservation by Stephanie Zebrowski What's New 1 1 R STAFF The Birth and R)undations of an American 12 Industrial Giant le Foresman. Chairman tel Ertel by Stephanie Zebrowski rriet lbresman gene Snell The PaintedPath 17 by Clark Kahler les P. Bressler.Curator Dr. Walter Van Fleet, America's R)remost 21 ki Maietta Rose Breeder of His Generation ren Rockey by Everett Rubendall lliam Turnbaugh hard P.Johnston 'llolling for Salmon 25 rothy Berndt, Curator lce Fleming =om Fausett (The Record of a 'ltiple love Tragedy) 28 y Francis by Henry W. Shoemaker lliam W. Kennedy,Curator nas Maneval, Curator rry L. Rogers, Curator il Bennett e Ingersoll, Curator ristine Brown riaa Inckspeiser tor Robert logan, Curator )ert Paulhamus laid Paulhamus oman Paulhamus George Lyon vid Kristopher Angle phanie R. Zebrov\rski nne lk)german GREETINGSFROM 'lTiE PRESIDENT'SDESK A review of previous ''Greetings From the President's Desk'' showsa brief history of each year's accomplishments and also a few suggestions for future consideration by the Museummanagement. This format is commendableand should be continued. Probably our proudest achievement during 1986-87 has been the eKort to increue the membership and, secondly,to enrich the modest endowment fund. Both cam- paigns fell below their respective targets, but we believe that failure is not a miss, but a low aim is inexcusable.We aimed for the starsin both instances.The endowment fund reached a level above the $200,000 mark, which assures an income in excess of $13,000per year.This figure is approximately11% of the cost of operation, and it will keep increasing gradually if wc all fulfill our original intentions. It is understood that only the incomefrom the principlewill be usedfor operatingexpenses. While we cannot anticipate our emergencie;, from past experience they have plagued the organization at times. Our greatestconcern at this moment is the possibility that we may loseour accredi- tation with the American Associationof Museums.The reasonsgiven are our fHlure to implement the recommendationsof previous evaluationsof 1972as to sufficient star. inadequate financial backing, no retirement policy and inadequate benefits pack- ageior staff members,inadequate Hire and intrusion protection, lack of proper securi- ty, and inadequate storage facilities and climate control. A concluding comment in the inspection report mentioned that much had been done, but much remains to be done It should be noted that, although theJune 25, 1986examiner's report and checklist ended with the comment that, ''l am glad to recommend the continued accreditation of the Lycoming County Historical Museum,'' the American Association of Museums Accreditation ReviewBoard voted to table the Museum's accreditation for one year. That year soon ends and a report of correcteddeficiencies and a scheduledplan .of implementation must be made to the Accreditation Review Board by December 1, 1997. Respectfully submitted Horace H. Inwell President SIDENT'SDESK LE'l''lTR FROM THE EDITOR :nt's Desk '' shows a brief history I am happy to report that our last issueof theJOURNAL, Winter 1986,was met ;tions for future consideration by with successand appreciation. More of the same eHorts have been made to produce fable and should be continued. this issue. Our shorts have been to inform. entertain and to educate. i7 has been the eKort to increase This issuebegins the first part of what will be an ongoing series''Understanding :st endowment fund. Both cam- Our Historical Museum.'' Our Museum is currently under reviewlor re-accreditation evethat fHlure is not a miss, but by the American Association of Museums to determine if it does indeed meet mini- both instances. The endowment mum standards for museum operation. With re-accreditation looming before us, I :h assuresan income in excessof feel that you, as members,want to know what the necessaryday-to-day procedures ofthe cost of operation, and it and requirements are for a historical museum. After all, a museum can only call itself !hal intentions. It is understood a museum if it functions like one. That takes professional standards. These to some d for operating expenses.While may seemhigh, even too high, but consider the quality of the collection and what (perience they have plagued the that saysabout the Society and its members and those standards are right in line and attainable. lity that we may lose our accredi- I have drawn upon the archives for a Shoemaker story, as only Henry Shoemaker The reasonsgiven are our failure cantell them. Articles to further illuminate the history of our region and its people lluations of 1972 as to sufficient will always find a place here. And, for those fishing enthusiasts, myself included, an icy and inadequate benefits pack- 1832 article, ''Trailing for Salmon.' protection, lack of proper securi- You will find something new added to theJOURNAL in this issue, ''Letters to the atrol. A concluding comment in Editor,'' which I hope some of you will use to expressyour points of view regarding n done, but much remains to be theJOURNAL and the Museum. I have also devoted space to inform you of ''What's New '' at the Museum, as there are many changes taking place as exhibits are upgrad- 16examiner's report and checklist ed and artifacts travel to and fro to conservatorsfor restoration. All who actively par- nend the continued accreditation ticipate in these changesinvite you to see ior yourselves, to learn, to understand, and mexican Association of Museums to enjoy. eum'saccreditation for one year. Another important changehas been made in JOURNAL format in this issuewith :iencicsand a scheduledplan of the addition of advertising. It has meant some delays, but we are on the road and eview Board by December 1, 1987. moving again. This underscoresthe problem of raising adequate funds for Museum support. Respectfully submitted, Last spring, while my husband,Director Joe Zebrowski,attended a by-invitacion- only seminar at the Smithsonian in Wuhington, D.C., I had the pleasure to tout some HoraceH. lowell of the finest museumsthe United Stateshas to cher. lleft the four kids home with President Grandma and reveledin peaceand solace.Upon returning to Williamsport I found that this samepleasure is found right here by the many who tour our Museumeach year. linvite you to try it, too. Stephanie Zebrowski Edtor LETTERSTO THE EDITOR 'nl Dear Stephanie, sylvan mains My copy of the Hist. Bulletin arrived today. Mou did an excellent job of editing. remap The ''still '' cameout very good and the picturesyou ''scroungedup '' on the birch In trees, etc., contributed to the attention-getting the to I expectto make a short visit to the farm this weekend.If I get into Williamsport thor i] before Museum-closing time Fri. P.M., I will purchase some additional copies, if avail- hasbi able. I would like all the country folks who contributed information to have one-- today plus a few others. I will be interested to learn if any interest is generated re the pro- Nano posed ''demonstration.'' When anything specific develops, I will inform you unbrc With regard to the ''panthers'' I will cite a couple of referencesfrom our Cogan Engla House Twp. History book. You may not have seen these anecdotes and encounters andtl My co-author, Mr. Milton W. Landis, accumulated and contributed all of the above from referencesto the panthers wary peopl Best Wishes. their Carl Taylor Phj withsi Dear Mrs. Zebrowski marv( Mr. John Bruch 11,of Muncy,gave me a copyof yourJOURNAL, winter of 1986, be th des, I to readand I enjoyedit very much. In it I note that you stareto write you of anything exhib thought to be of interest.