Notes from
Monument Square
Newsletter of the
Mifflin County
Historical Society
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Volume XXVII Number 5
November 2001
(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
LIBRARY & OFFICE CLOSED
MONTH OF JANUARY
REOPEN - FEB. 6, 2002
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McCoy House Museum
17 N. Main St., Lewistown
Sunday afternoon
1:30 - 4:00 p.m.
(May thru December)
CLOSED FOR THE SEASON
DECEMBER 16, 2001
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Newsletter Editor : Forest K. Fisher
MCHS e-mail: mchistory@acsworld.net
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Society
News & Notes
MEMBERSHIP
Your membership in the Mifflin County Historical Society supports the preservation of the county’s past through the daily operation of the society’s office, research library and through exhibits at the McCoy House Museum. Our newsletter, Notes from Monument Square, arrives five time each year and is your connection to society happenings and special programs. We thank this new member for supporting and joining the society!
New Annual Member
Lilian M. Habermann, Wood Ridge, NJ
2002 MEMBERSHIP RENEWAL TIME
Individual annual memberships run from January to December, making this category of membership due with the January, 2002 newsletter.
If you’ve already renewed for 2002, thank you so much!
As operating costs go up, our individual annual membership is still ten dollars for 2002. The society’s dues structure has remained the same since the 1980s. And at only $10, an Individual Membership makes an inexpensive gift for the person who has almost everything, except a membership with the historical society!
Fall Banquet Entertained
by “Mark Twain”
The strains of patriotic music echoed through the McVeytown Fire Hall prior to the society’s Fall Dinner on September 20, 2001. In honor and memory of those lost in the tragic events of September 11, the collective voices of the Mifflin County Historical Society’s members and friends raised in a chorus of “God Bless America,” as past president Jean Suloff accompanied on the hall’s venerable piano. Society president Joe Deihl also read a poem of remembrance.
Unlike past speakers who usually occupy the head table, Donald Orwald of Butler, Pennsylvania first appeared after the meal. He emerged from the back of the hall, already in character and costume, as American writer and humorist Mark Twain.
Mr. Orwald’s well received performance, lasting approximately 45 minute, was non-stop. He strode around the gathering, delivering one classic Mark Twain anecdote after another, until he departed from the back of the hall, still in character.
Many thanks to Entertainment Committee Chairman Ray C. Allison for arranging an outstanding program. Watch the newsletter for details of the Spring Dinner Meeting.
Both Office & Research Library
Closed November 20 - 21
No hours that week so that our volunteers can
prepare for the Thanksgiving holiday.
Office will reopen November 28
December & January Closings
Both will close after Saturday hours on December 16th and remain closed through the month of January. Reopen on Feb. 6th.
Book Sale
scheduled
If you enjoy a good, vintage book, the place to be this November is the main hall of the historic Mifflin County Courthouse on Monument Square for the society’s second book sale.
Dates and times
November 9 - 9 a.m
to 5 p.m.
November 10 - 9 a.m.
to 12 p.m.
Conditions of the sale:
* All sales are on a first-come basis.
* Terms are cash and carry.
* No books will be reserved prior to the sale by telephone, written request or other-wise or will be held for later pick-up.
* No book sets will be broken up.
The society regrets that a complete listing is not available, but books offered include:
- Mifflin County Historical Society Publications
- American history, World history and Pennsylvania history.
- Some county histories
- Genealogical helpers
- Literature, religious and other subjects.
- Sheet music
The historical society’s research library will not be open during the book sale.
2002 Calendar -
ON SALE NOW
At the Society Office or Research Library
every Tues. & Wed. or the first and third Sat.
Also at these county-wide locations:
Lewistown Pharmacy - Wayne Street
Honey Creek Inn - Reedsville
The Point Store - 522 South
Deihls' Flowers - Burnham
Taylor's IGA - Belleville
Lewistown Hospital
Gift Shop
Wilson's Meats & Groceries
- Juniata Terrace
Society receives PHMC grant
The Mifflin County Historical Society is proud to announce that it has recently been awarded a grant from the Pennsylvania Historical and Museum Commission, through the Pennsylvania History and Museum Grant Program. The grant is in the category of General Operating Support to Official County Historical Societies.
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 appropriated from its county commissioners. In 2001, Mifflin County, through the Commissioners’ Office, appropriation $2,500.00 for the society, which the Commonwealth has matched with an additional $2,500.00.
Scholarship Announced
The historical society announces the 2001 - 2002 Scholarship for High School Seniors. The scholarship is an award of $500 ($250 each semester), and is funded by the Mifflin County Historical Society Scholarship Fund
Any applicant must be a Mifflin County resident planning to major in history, history education, elementary or secondary education, or a related field.
Presently, this scholarship is open to students who attend Lewistown Area High School, Indian Valley High School, Belleville Mennonite School, or Mifflin County Christian Academy, all located in Mifflin County, Pennsylvania.
For inquiries, an application form and complete requirements, write:
History Scholarship Committee
Mifflin County Historical Society
1 W. Market Street
Lewistown, PA 17044
Or e-mail the History Scholarship Chairman, Forest K. Fisher at forestfisher@acsworld.net or the society office at mchistory@acsworld.net or call the Mifflin County Historical Society office at (717) 242 -1022.
In addition, the Scholarship Application Form can be found online at the society’s web site under “Society Services” at www.mccoyhouse.com (mccoyhouse is all one word.)
If you are interested in helping the scholarship fund with a contribution, contact the society at the address listed above.
McCoy House News
Home Town Christmas at McCoy House
The Mifflin County Garden Club will once again decorate the rooms of McCoy House for Home Town Christmas. This holiday tradition will be open to the public Thurs. Nov. 29, 12-8; Friday, Nov. 30, 12-8; Saturday, Dec. 1, 2 - 8; Sunday, Dec. 2 & 9, 1:30 - 4.
McCoy House will be decorated through Dec. 9, 2001 and close for the season at 4 p.m. that day.
Mifflin County Garden Club,
“Thanks for the great job!”
The Memorial Herb Garden shown in the photograph above, located in the courtyard behind the McCoy House, was created by members of the Mifflin County Garden Club and dedicated to the late Hazel “Jeri” Leonard.
The floral plantings around the sundial and grounds cannot be fully appreciated in this black and white view, but have been the source of numerous compliments from visitors to the society’s museum. If you haven’t stopped by, plan a visit this autumn, next spring or summer. You will be impressed with the museum’s flower beds and garden.
The historical society extends many thanks, Mifflin County Garden Club, for your work and effort to make the McCoy House grounds a community showcase.
ACQUISITIONS
The Mifflin County Historical Society always welcomes artifacts that have a direct relationship to our county’s heritage or local genealogy. Each year we receive a variety of county-related materials, such as books, clothing, paper items, and artwork.
Alvin Heckard, Lewistown - Newspapers, Lewistown Sentinel - 1963, receipts & various items from the Burnham National Bank; County Courier Vol. 1 & 2
Gerald E. Purcell, Lewistown - Large brass key, according to John Lawler this key was from the Old Jail.
Betty Lou (Ross) Drugg, Altoona, Pa. & Mary Jane (Ross) Goss, Supai, Ariz. - Book: James H. Ross Descendants (Very comprehensive work containing an every name index, with binders compiled by Claudette Satzler.)
Willard C. Shank, Milroy - Book: Index of Obituaries for 2000, taken from the Lewistown Sentinel; Book: St. John’s Lutheran Church Records 1967 - 1999; Book: Index of Obituaries for 1993 - 1994 - 1995, taken from the Lewistown Sentinel; Index of Obituaries for 1996 - 1997, taken from the Lewistown Sentinel.
Margaret June Torney, San Francisco, Calif. - Ladies of Bra-Town, compiled by the donor, 2001, information for vertical files on the Bratton surname, indexed, 9 pages.
Mifflin County Planning Commission, Lewistown - Binder: Paths and Bridges to the 21st Century - Mifflin County Comprehensive Plan 2000 (Contains table of contents, maps & appendixes.
Centre County Historical Society, State College - Newspapers: July 5, 1816 - Juniata Gazette; May 31, 1848, True Democrat; Sept. 30, 1841, Mifflin County Gazette and Farmers’ and Mechanics’ Journal; Large folder of items relating to the Fultz family - receipts (business), bills, deeds, will, letters, etc.
PHMC, Harrisburg, Pa. - Book: Guide to the State Historical Markers of Pennsylvania by George R. Beyer c 2000.
Helen Smith, Lewistown - Document: Large framed Civil War Discharge.
Emily J. Bonson, Lewistown - 1954 Logan Log Yearbook.
Dr. James McClenahen - WWII Navy uniform & photo of the Viscose.
Phyllis Palm, Lewistown - Two bricks from the Lewistown Nursing School, each brick is in it’s own box which contains a brief history of the School of nursing on the inside and a color photo on the outside. (Building razed in Fall, 2000)
James W. Meteer, L’Anse, Mich. - Information for vertical files on the Meteer/ McTeer surname.
Marlene Payne, Elma, Wash. - Binder of genealogical materials for the surnames of Troyer, Boyer, Graham, Whitesel/Shade, Blackburn & Baker, 1914, 15, 16, 17, 18, abstracted names from The Davenport Democrat & Leader, Scott County, Iowa Probate Index A - L, Scott County, Iowa Probate Index 1835 - 1928.
Anna Shirey, Lewistown - Seven Mifflin County Fair Ribbons from 1931 to 1934, framed with an engraved plate that reads:”Won by The Henry L. Rhine Family of Decatur Township.”
Dorothy North Rittenhouse, Beltsville, Md. - 1939 LORE; 1928 LANCE; white woman’s coat with detachable leopard collar; brown silk beaded dress; blue & white floral organdy dress; white 1909 wedding dress; mink collar & muff.
Jean Madill Metzger, Lewistown - Portrait of a young girl, done in pastels by local artist, Frank Cason in 1962; Oil painting by Eva White.
N. Marie Bay, Lewistown - Small, white ceramic Florence Nightengale Lantern which was presented to donor at the time she was capped.
Eunice Wible, Leesburg, Fla. - Book: Home Nursing: Arranged According to the Revised Syllabus of the St. John’s Ambulance Assn. Inside front cover is noted, “Jane Foore, Oct., 1923, Lewistown Hospital”
Ronald Bailey, Reedsville - Lapel pin, white, red & blue, with info attached: (“Pin may have been awarded to all workers of Standard Steel Works Division for excellence and efficiency in producing vital materials for the U.S. Navy.”) circa 1941- 42.
James G. Williard, Lewistown - Book: Penna. Common Schools, Report of the Superintendent of Common Schools of Pa. For the year ending June 4, 1863, dated 1864.
Mark Crosson, Assistant Principal, Indian Valley High School, Lewistown - Copies of Chief Logan Joint High School, Dedication Program, April 7, 1959.
Ruth D. Ziegler, Lewistown - Yearbook: The Blue and the Gold Year Book of M.O.H.S. (McVeytown-Oliver High School), original owner John W, Ziegler; Scrapbook: Scrap Book of Oak Grove 1933 - 1936, compiled by Russell C. Gillam.
Roxie Gunderman, Yeagertown - Badge: “TeTon Tribe, No. 311, Improved Order of Red Men, Yeagertown, Pa.”; Application (blank) for “Independent Order of Odd Fellows.”
Estate of Irene R. Houck, Harrisburg, Pa. - oil painting by John Haughwout; water color by Neva Hunter; water color by Frank Cason.
Bill Austin, McVeytown - Photo: 8” x 32 3/4”, black & white, shows the Brooklyn Hose Co. No. 3 firemen in dress uniforms with hats and gloves, Ladies Auxiliary and Bugle, Fife & Drum Corp. Photo is noted, “Winners of 2nd Prize, Allentown, Pa. 1930.” Photo by Penn State Photo Studio, #119 So. 6th St., Allentown, Pa.
Barbara Van Boskirk Cavanaugh, Lewistown - Child’s shoe worn by the donor’s grandmother Eunice Swaggart Harvey, b. 1882; fifteen postcards of the Lewistown area.
Paul G. Cressman, M.D., Naples, Fla. - Black leather binder for “Valuable Papers” “Compliments of Mann Edge Tool Co., Lewistown, Pa.; Info from Lewistown Hospital minutes.
Lori Micken, Livingston, Montana - Book: Rachel written by the donor, based on life of Rachel Bratton Stewart, who lived near McVeytown from 1804 to 1815.
Editor's Desk
I remember my parents and grandparents often talked about Pearl Harbor, where they were when it happened and the effects of “The War” on our family. I learned about food and gasoline rationing, saving aluminum foil, metal drives,collecting bacon grease, using the bus, watching for enemy planes, gathering milkweed pods for life jackets and even blackouts. Dad served in the Marine Corps from 1942 to the end of the war and told stories about his experiences, too.
The WWII era certainly affected them and I listened, though not really quite comprehending the significance it held for them, since I wasn’t born until 1949.
Then came the mind-numbing events of September 11. President Bush urged Americans to return to as normal a schedule as possible, in light of the awful events. The society’s members and friends gathered on September 20, and the hall was filled. I don’t know if the President’s admonition had anything to do with the turnout, but turnout they did! Our society president, Joe Deihl, opened the event with these words, “It has been just over a week since the terrorist attack on our country. After an earlier crisis in our country, the Civil War, this poem was written and seems appropriate.”
We shall meet but we shall miss him
There will be a vacant chair.
Though we no more possess him
In our heart his memories bear.
As we sang God Bless America, I couldn’t help but wonder if they felt in 1941, as I do now - proud of America and my fellow countrymen.