NEWS AND COMMENT By GAIL M. GIBSON Pennsylvania Historical and Museum Commission HISTORICAL SOCIETIES The August meeting of the Adams County Historical Society was a picnic at the Lower Marsh Creek Presbyterian Church. Daniel E. Teeter spoke to the society about the history of the church from 1740 to the present. In September, Dr. A. R. Wentz, former president of Gettysburg Theological Seminary, discussed the seminary presidency of Dr. S. S. Schmucker. The Armstrong-Kittaning Trail Society of Pennsylvania held a picnic at Shirleysburg on June 22. William A. Hunter, chief of the Division of History, Pennsylvania Historical and Museum Com- mission, gave a brief talk about Fort Shirley. Mrs. Frances Strong Helman narrated pictures from the re-enactment of Col. Arm- strong's March. The Beaver Area Heritage Foundation organized a historical walking tour of Beaver on July 4. Guides were stationed at sev- eral locations to explain the significance of Beaver's historic sites. Programs at recent meetings included one on trees of the area, and one about the history and importance of the canal from Lake Erie to the Ohio River. Members of the society are compiling outlines of historical landmarks, historic houses, unusual archi- tecture, and persons who played a distinguished part in the de- velopment of the area. The biannual Open House Tour sponsored by the Women's Committee of the Historical Society of Berks County was held on Septmber 28. The tour was in the Cacusi area in the vicinity of Wernersville. The Blair County Historical Society's museum, Baker Mansion, was open for its 46th season this summer on Saturday afternoons 424 NEWS AND COMMENT 425 from June through October. The mansion was built and furnished from 1846 to 1850 by a Juniata ironmaster, Elias Baker, and is considered an outstanding example of Greek revival architecture in western Pennsylvania. The Bucks County Historical Society presented a special ex- hibit, "American Naive and Popular Art-Reflections of a People," during the summer. Over two hundred artifacts from the Mercer Collection were used to illustrate early Americans' attitudes to- ward religion, death, the family, patriotism, business, and amuse- ments. The museum staff has begun an intensive program of re- search into the life of Dr. Henry Chapman Mercer, its founder, by taping interviews with people who knew and worked with him. The Smithsonian Traveling Exhibit, "Craftsmen of the City," visited the museum from September 9 to September 22. On Sep- tember 27, the Women's Committee sponsored its second American History Hat Dance. The Cameron County Historical Society held dedication cere- monies on August 8 for the marker erected by the Pennsylvania Historical and Museum Commission near the birthplace of Tom Mix. Mrs. Merle L. Bowser, president of the society, and Paul Mix, a relative of the film star, participated in the program. At a testimonial dinner that evening John Nicholas, author of a recent book about the cowboy, spoke. The newly-formed Chadds Ford Historical Society sponsored a Chadds Ford Day on September 7. Opening ceremonies included a Fife and Drum Corps performance and a re-enactment of the Battle of the Brandywine. A fine arts exhibit of local artists' work featured some of the Wyeth family; there were also colonial shops, crafts, carriage rides, a photographic exhibit, and handicraft work. The society plans to restore the house of John Chadd, first settler of the village, and other colonial buildings in the area. Members of the Chester County Historical Society visited the Humphry Marshall House, the home and gardens of Mr. and Mrs. Ellis E. Stern, and Hibernia Furnace on their annual summer pilgrimage August 3. 426 PENNSYLVANIA HISTORY At the June meeting of the Clarion County Historical Society a number of old wedding dresses were modelled. Mrs. Margaret Prenatt of the United Natural Gas Company and her "magic suitcase" of articles made of natural gas were special features of the evening. The Society's annual out-of-the-county tour on June 26 visited the Venango County Historical Society's museum, the Venango County Museum Corporation's nearby museum, historic sites in Franklin, Drake Well Memorial Park, and Pithole City. On August 22, the annual in-county tour featured the Golf Hall of Fame museum, the Memorial Church of Our Fathers, and other historic sites in Foxburg. A picnic was held in the Civic Park in Knox that evening. The annual meeting of the Columbia County Historical Society was held on June 4. Dr. Leslie G. Merrill, museum director of the San Mateo County Historical Society and member of the faculty of San Mateo College in California, spoke of his group's success in maintaining its services to its county and surrounding area. Officers of the society are: Clark E. Kirkendall, president; Craig A. Newton, vice-president; Miss Mary E. Browner, secre- tary; Chester A. Hansknecht, treasurer; and Edwin M. Barton, executive secretary. Miembers and guests of the Historical Society of Dauphin County heard Dr. Irwin Richman, Curator of Science, Industry, and Tech- nology at the William Penn Memorial Museum, speak on "Pink Petticoats-Lady Radicals in American History" at the June meeting. The Delaware County Historical Society will soon move its museum from the old county courthouse in Chester. The building is in such poor condition that the museum had to be closed last year; for the time being museum articles will be placed in storage. The annual meeting of the society was held at the Tyler Arboretum on September 22. On October 8, at a joint meeting with Historic Delaware County, Inc., a dinner meeting will feature a talk by Dr. Irwin Richman. The Elk County Historical Society commemorated the 125th NEWS AND COMMENT 427 anniversary of the founding of the county at its fourth annual dinner on April 18. Dr. William Cashman of the Warren County Historical Society gave an illustrated lecture on the Holland Land Company. Relics and artifacts from the society's and private collections were on display at the second historical exhibit on Juine 7 and 8. The group heard Miss Ruth Shanley lecture on the "History of Spring Creek Township" at the July 16 meeting at the Shanley Homestead in Hallton. A tureen supper was enjoyed on August 20 at Mount Zion Church, Elk County's oldest Presby- terian Church. Mrs. Clair McClintock, Sr., presented the history of the church. On September 14 members of the society will be guests of the Warren County Historical Society. French Azilum, Inc., held its members day program on Septem- ber 28. On October 5 and 6, a scholars day program for school children was sponsored. On the annual fall tour of the Germantown Historical Society, members visited ]3ethlehem. Harold D. Saylor will be the speaker at the society's annual meeting in October. The Goschenhoppen Historians met on June 20 at the IKlein Meetinghouse, Harleysville, and viewed the recreation of a tradi- tional eighteenth-century worship service, including the lining of hyins in German and a typical sermon. The annual picnic was held oin July 18 in Hendricks. The second annual folk festival was held on August 10. The Harmonie Associates presented the third of a series of con- certs under the direction of Richard D. Wetzel on October 4- and 6. On October 17, the first of the Frederick Rapp lectures will feature Nicholas Bragg, director of education at Old Salem, Winston-Salem, North Carolina. He will discuss Mloravian thought as reflected in their furniture, furnishings, and architecture. The "West Penn Pow Wow," a seminar for young people on the pur- poses and uses of historic preservation, was sponsored on Sep- temnber 28 by the Harmonie Associates, the Pittsburgh History and Landmarks Foundation, the Pennsylvania Historical and A\ [useum Commission, and Old Economy. 428 PENNSYLVANIA HISTORY The Haverford Township Historical Society's Heritage Day attracted at least 700 persons, and was successful both educa- tionally and financially. On October 12, members will travel to the Hagley Museum on their fall field trip. The Indiana County Historical Society held a family history workshop on August 10, at which Mrs. Elizabeth Hopp, Mrs. Kathryn Maddox, and Mrs. Frances Strong Helman conducted seminars. On September 6, members heard a discussion of local colonists and the development of the Baker Trail. At the meeting on October 4 several silent movies were shown. The summer project of the Juniata County Historical Society has been the restoration of the old "Glebe" cemetery near Mifflin- town. It has been cleared of weeds and brush and a new fence has been placed around it. At the meeting of the Lackawanna Historical Society on Feb- ruary 28, Anthony Kovaleski discussed "Ukelele Ramblings." On March 27, members viewed the film, "Mark Twain's America." Philip Geary presented "Passport to Adventure" on April 25. At the annual dinner meeting on May 27, Dr. John L. Earl spoke of "Russia: Summer of 1967." The Lancaster County Community Historians held five trips during the summer, visiting Columbia and West Hempfield Town- ship; Mt. Joy Township; the city of Lancaster; Martic Township; and White Chimneys and Paradise Township. The 1968-69 season of the Lancaster County Historical Society will begin on October 8 with a talk by Rev. Robert Etter on the Coleman Memorial Chapel at Elizabeth Furnace. Articles appear- ing recently in the Journal of the Lancaster County Historical Society were about Lancaster Federalists and the War of 1812; the Stage Tavern; Henry Eichholtz Leman and the Pennsylvania rifle; the anthracite industry in Lancaster County, 1840-1900; and St. Mary's Roman Catholic Church in Lancaster. The Lawrence County Historical Society held its first meeting NEWS AND COMMENT 429 in several years on July 12.