Notes from Monument Square
Newsletter of the Mifflin County Historical Society
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Volume XXV Number 2 MARCH 1999
(Text version of Society News & Notes)
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Office & Research Library,
1 W. Market St., Suite 1
Lewistown, PA 17044-2128
Phone (717) 242-1022
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McCoy House Museum
17 N. Main St., Lewistown
Sunday afternoon
1:30 - 4:00 p.m.
(May thru December)
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Newsletter Editor : Forest K. Fisher
MCHS e-mail: mchistory@acsworld.net
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Society News & Notes
What, no newsletter?
The membership years begins in January, with reminders and renewal forms published in the January and March newsletters. Occasionally some memberships remain unpaid by this time each year. It’s sad, but true.
In future, members not renewing their memberships following the March newsletter will be removed from the rolls. The newsletter will stop with that issue. Avoid this interruption with a timely renewal.
Label code explained
Many Mifflin County Historical Society members have already renewed for 1999 — Thanks for your support! If you are unsure if your dues are now payable, check the mailing label on the front of the newsletter. The following codes indicate dues status.
If you see:
*Jan 99 — Please renew now. (See page 13 for form.)
*Jan 20 — Good until January, 2000.
*Jan 21 — Good until January, 2001.
New members joining after September are given the rest of that year plus the next.
PHMC grant to MCHS
The Mifflin County Historical Society is proud to announce that it has been awarded a grant from the Pennsylvania Historical and Museum Commission. The grant is in the category of General Operating Support to Official County Historical Societies. The grant is used to help underwrite the salary of the secretary.
In an effort to strengthen the partnership between state and county historical agencies, PHMC offers grants to official county historical societies in amounts that match each organization’s annual appropriation from its county commissioners. In the 1999 county appropriation the society received $2,000.00, which the State has matched with an additional $2,000.00.
Interpretive specialist to be
featured at annual
Spring dinner meeting
Gregory Zaborowski is an interpretive specialist at the Johnstown Flood National Memorial, which is administered by the National Park Service. He is a balladeer and writes original songs. His program is called "Murder on the Ridge," and it is a fascinating program containing ballads written by Greg. The ballads are based on true stories from the Allegheny Ridge. His songs are characterized by the darker side of history -- labor unrest, strikes, robbery, and murder. While the subjects may at first seem to be grim, the ballads are quite fascinating and unusual.
Mark your calendar for Thursday, April 22, 1999 at the McVeytown Fire Hall. Enjoy a family-style roast chicken dinner with all the trimmings. Dinner begins at 6:30 p.m. Members: $8.00. Non-members: $10.00. Deadline for Reservations is Thursday, April 15, 1999. See page 13 for a convenient reservation form.
Please meet...
Members of Our Board
William Check
A member of the board since 1988, William Check of 115 Stine Drive, Lewistown, is a former Mifflin County educator and was the band director and guidance counselor at Chief Logan High School.
Bill comments that his association with members of the society throughout the years has been most enjoyable as well as educational.
As chairman of the membership committee since 1988, he has seen the society grow from year to year, including members from many states across the country.
His wife if the former Audrey Ruble, whose father, Lawrence D. Ruble, was a charter member of the Mifflin County Historical Society, founded in 1921.
The Checks have two sons, Bill and Brian. Bill is an engineer for the National Cable Television Association, residing in Great Falls, Virginia. Brian is Radio Regional Program Director for Atlantic Star Communications, residing in Allentown, Pa.
William Check — a member of our board. We wish to acknowledge and thank our board members. To keep the Mifflin County Historical Society moving forward, it takes the many, many hours of dedicated and volunteered service each is willing to give.
News from McCoy House
Bridal display opens 1999 season
The 1999 McCoy House Museum season opens Saturday, April 24 with Kid Connection and every Sunday from 1:30 to 4:00 p.m. beginning in May.
This season opens with a display of wedding related items. In addition to wedding dresses that are part of the museum’s collection, additional items are being sought for this wedding display. These related items might include programs, cake toppers, jewelry, or dried bouquets, to name a few.
The museum committee would like members or other interested individuals with wedding items they would be willing to place on loan, to contact Karen Aurand at the society’s office. The phone number is 242-1022.
Sesquicentennial exhibit of
Lewistown Junction
McCoy House Museum will be hosting an exhibit of railroad memorabilia to coincide with the 150th anniversary of Lewistown Junction, to be observed this summer. Railroad items are needed for the exhibit.
Items are not limited to the Pennsylvania Railroad, but may include memorabilia from any local line of interest, such as the Kish Valley Railroad.
Last issue’s notice brought a promise of one item for the display. We need a few more than that! Help make this an varied exhibit of transportation history. Anyone willing to lend railroad or related items of interest should contact the society’s office.
Acquisitions
The Mifflin County Historical Society receives a variety of books, clothing, paper items, artwork and many other artifacts that reflect the county’s heritage. We wish to acknowledge and thank the following donors for their generosity:
Dr. Robert Karn, Lewistown - Ladies’ hat given to donor in 1960 by Miss Margaretta McCoy.
Mary and Jim Laughlin, Lewistown - One quart Laughlin milk bottle; one pint J.C. Laughlin & Sons milk bottle.
Linda Hensal, Lewistown - Child’s long white dress (used as a christening gown), two undershirts, cotton socks, bib, child’s brown leather shoes. (Given to the donor by John Dipple, who wore this outfit in the 1900s for his christening.)
Caroline Anderson, Reedsville - Picture of Company D – CMTC (Civilian Military Training Camp), Fort Howard, Md. July, 1930; List of graduation Class XXXVI, Dec., 22, 1944.
Gary O. Sauers, Lewistown - Painting of Lewistown Hospital in 1906 by E. Mann.
Sanyo Audio Manufacturing, Milroy, Pa. - Photos, tester, Fisher plaque, security guard uniform, soldering iron, chassis 400-CX-2, stereo console.
Michael C. Spahr, Lewistown - Booklet: Spahr’s 1530 to 1999 comp. by Richard L. Spahr and Max Spahr, updated by the donor.
Willard C. Shank, Milroy, Pa. - Book: Obituaries from the Sentinel - 1998 (Index)
McVeytown Presbyterian Church, McVeytown, Pa. - Bound volume: McVeytown Journal newspaper dated March 13, 1873 to March 23, 1876.
M. Frederick Gahagan II, Lewistown - Industrial sewing machine which belonged to James Lesher of Yeagertown, coach maker for seventy years.
Dr. and Mrs. David E. Schooley, Lewistown - Library service uniform for the U. S. Army, worn by Virginia A. Schooley Sandefur, sister of Dr. Schooley, while she worked as a civilian for the military - 1961 to 1965 in Germany.
Margaret S. Collins, Lewistown - Five record books used by Joseph Collins, ex-sheriff of Mifflin County (1894-1897); two engraved liquor bottles and two metal match boxes.
Raymond Martin Bell, Coralville, Ia. - Book: A Short History of Juniata County, Pa. before 1790 with notes on some families comp. by the donor c 1999.
Mrs. Marlan (Sara) Riddle, Reedsville, Pa. - Large oil painting looking across the Juniata River from Victory Park, painted by the donor in 1970.
Harry Oberholtzer, Lewistown - Small German flag, German medals, coins, pins and a Second Cavalry U.S. Army ring.
Dr. and Mrs. C. B. McClain, Lewistown - Artifacts from Dr. McClain’s practice - leather medical bag, small leather case containing thirteen medical tools, physician’s towel, medical dictionary, 1964 framed photo of Lewistown Hospital doctors.
Society Announces
Spring & Fall Bus Tours
Saturday, June 12, 1999
A Walk Through the Years of Historical York, Pennsylvania
THIS TOUR WILL INCLUDE BUT
NOT BE LIMITED TO:
The Horatio Gates House, The Golden Plough Tavern, The Barnett Bobb Log House, The Colonial Court House, 110 year old Central Market House (still in operation), The Bonhomie House (a Victorian treasure), The Historical Society Museum, The Historic District and Downtown York.
Included in the walking tour of the Historic District will be churches whose congregations predate the year York was officially laid out. We will be including some of the exciting murals that are being incorporated into the Downtown area.
Approximately midway through the tour a catered box lunch will be served in the comfort of the Historical Society Social Room.
Our group will be guided by costumed guides with knowledge of the York historic area.
Cost is $54.00 per person
MAKE RESERVATIONS EARLY
TO GUARANTEE A SEAT
Cost includes:
*Transportation
*All admissions to sites listed above
*Catered Lunch *Guide Service
*Oh yes — Cookies & Juice
Previous participants highly recommend MCHS tours!
October 7, 8, 9, 10, 1999
Boston, Massachusetts
This outstanding historical tour includes:
October 7
(Depart 5:45 a.m. from Lewistown Library)
* transportation to Boston
* hotel accommodations - 3 nights
(Boston Park Plaza Hotel and Towers on Boston Commons)
* Dinner at Bay Tower Room
(Panorama of Boston Harbor)
October 8
*Breakfast at Park Plaza
*Tour of Boston
* Kennedy Library
October 9
*Breakfast at Park Plaza
* Free time for personal touring
(Return to Quincy Market, Trolley Ride, Visit Cheers,
Stroll the Commons)
* Old Town Trolley Ticket included
* Boston Symphony
October 10
*Breakfast at Park Plaza
(Depart for Lewistown with arrival at approx. 8:30 p.m.)
PRICES
$1,116.00 - Single
$720.00 - Double
$591.00 - Triple
$526.00 - Quad
“No shadow,” said the groundhog,
“Spring is just around ...the corner!”
Too bad if the robins get lost in a foot of snow and sleet! Spring is upon us. Which means, of course, it’s sign-up time for volunteers to serve as hosts and hostesses at the McCoy House for another year.
Volunteers are needed to serve every Sunday afternoon May through December, 1:30 to 4:00 p.m., at the society’s museum, McCoy House, 17 N. Main Street, Lewistown.
Special events and happenings throughout the year require the presence of volunteers. Volunteers keep society operations going during such diverse activities as Kid Connection, Fall Heritage Day, the Downtown Lewistown Ice Festival and the Mifflin County Garden Club’s Christmas at McCoy House.
If you would like to give some time to the Mifflin County Historical Society, use the convenient form on page 13 and mail to the office or call 242 - 1022 and volunteer.
What is the tallest building in Lewistown?
In our last edition of the newsletter, we posed this question. Some hopefuls which came our way included the steeples of the Lutheran and Presbyterian churches on Third Street and even the clock tower at the old Mifflin County court house on the Monument Square.
In the residential building category, who should better know elevations than an organization trained in emergency rescue — the fire company. According to Bob Barlett of the Brooklyn Fire Company, the tallest residential building is Kish Apartments on the south side of Lewistown, at seven stories.
Barlett also noted that a company ladder extended to its full 106 feet, used to service the face of the clock on the old court house, rose only to the middle of the face. (Sounds like the making of a geometry problem...If the hypotenuse of a right triangle is 106 feet ...)
Thanks for the information, Bob. If anyone has another candidate, please contact the editor.
Joys of Being an Editor
Getting out this little publication is no picnic!
If we print jokes, people say we are silly.
If we don’t, they say we are too serious.
If we clip things from other sources, we are too lazy to write them ourselves.
If we don’t, we are too fond of our own stuff!
If we don’t print contributions, we don’t appreciate true genius.
If we do print them, the paper is full of junk.
If we make a change in the other person’s writing, we’re too critical.
If we don’t, we are asleep.
Now, likely as not, someone will say we swiped this from some other publication.
Well, we did!
Reprinted from Lest We Forget, Wyoming County Pioneers, Vol. 18, #2 , 15 Feb. 1999; who reprinted it from Roots Cellar Preserves, Feb.- May 1998, Vol. 20 #2; who reprinted it from The Southern Genealogist Exchange Quarterly, Vol. 29, #128, Dec., 1988; who reprinted it from Will/Gundy Counties Genealogical Society News; who reprinted it from South Suburban Genealogy and Historical Society Newsletter; who reprinted it from Trail Breakers, Clark County, Washington Genealogical Society ; and I don’t know who they swiped it from!
People in the News in Mifflin County
Feb. 2, 1899 – Second Lieutenant Frank R. McCoy of the Tenth Cavalry, son of Gen. T. F. McCoy, has been recommended for the brevet of the next highest grade in the regular army. The recommendation is given for his work in the Santiago campaign and has been sent to the Senate for confirmation.
Feb. 23, 1899 – James Hazlett, one of the first settlers in Menno Twp. came to the area when he was eighteen, about 120 years ago and took up land now owned by J. Z. Kenagy, Benj. Hartzler, L. H. Zook and Moses Peachey. He erected a log house on the latter farm which went to his son, Andrew. It was torn down a few years ago and was replaced by the current dwelling house. The first house erected in what became Allensville was one by a man named Allen, for which the town was named, although Horrelstown was the name of the post office until it was changed again to Allensville. James Hazlett lived until age 93 and is buried in the Presbyterian Cemetery near Menno.
From People In The News In Mifflin County
Volume II (1886 – 1899) Dan McClenahen 1995
The Editor’s Desk
It was 1964. I was a sophomore at Kishacoquillas High School in Reedsville and a member of the Junior Historians. A high school group that some would rank right up there with the Chess Club or the Audio-Visual Club, the latter known more aptly as The AV Boys. You know, the nerdish bespeckled lads, complete with plastic pocket protectors, whose job it was to push the movie or filmstrip projector to the requested classroom. Come to think of it, that’s me – I was an AV Boy in high school!
It’s the other club, The Junior Historians, I wanted to reflect upon and the year 1964. Our advisor then was Kish social studies teacher Rocco Soccio. As a member of that club, this rural kid got to tour the sights of Washington, D.C. and the White House. We went to a Junior Historians convention in Pittsburgh and saw President Lyndon Johnson in the lobby of our hotel. A real hotel...a first for me...AND see the President of the United States!
That summer, Mr. and Mrs. J. Martin Stroup of the Mifflin County Historical Society sponsored me, as a Junior Historian, to attend a three day workshop at the Landis Valley Farm Museum, studying Pennsylvania life and culture. It was a memorable summer.
In the Fall, I was a junior and went to Lewistown Junction to see Barry Goldwater, as he whistle-stopped Pennsylvania in his run for the presidency. I even got to shake his hand as he worked the crowd!
I didn’t know it then, but those experiences of 1964 planted the seeds of my love of history and interest in politics. I’m proud to have been involved in those high school clubs, low those many years ago. They influenced my life’s course, even if I was a nerd! Now I’m a computer nerd, but that’s another story.
Reader’s Response
Comments from our readers are welcome and will be shared as space allows. Thanks for writing.
To Mr. Ray C. Allison
Dear Sir:
I would like to tell you how much I enjoy reading the Mifflin County Historical Society Newsletter even though I know very few people in the area. My husband’s grandfather migrated to Illinois from Lewistown, Pa. I have been researching his family for seven years and at the present have finally found many of his family.
Thank you.
Pat Kline - Illinois
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I was interested to see your Trivia question in the recent newsletter (Jan., 1999)of the historical society. My husband and I have both recently become interested in genealogy and became members a year or two ago. We also enjoy history. I am not a "native" Mifflin Countian, but have lived here almost 23 years, now. I was raised in Irwin, about 20 miles from Pittsburgh, PA. My grandfather, Charles R. Bickerton, was a technician/engineer for KDKA, and was present at the first commercial radio broadcast! Although I barely remember him (he died when I was about 6), I do remember my father talking about him and his involvement with KDKA. I know this doesn't have anything to do with Mifflin Co. History, but just thought you might be interested! We both enjoy the newsletter - keep up the good work.
Email from member Betty (Bickerton) Coldren
On July 10, 1930, Clarence Bell and Raymond Bell at Vira began getting television programs from W3XK, Washington, D.C on a homemade set.
Raymond M. Bell, Coralville, IA