April’s minutes were reviewed and approved.
The 3rd Annual “Farm Days 1866’ program was held May 11 & 12, 2015 with over 600 4th grade public, private and home schooled students and their chaperons attending.
Schools included: Canton, Mansfield, New Covenant, North Rome Christian School, Sullivan County, Trinity Lutheran, Troy, Wellsboro, Wyalusing, home schooled students from Jersey Shore and Middleburg.
The program is offered free of cost thanks to these financial sponsors: Bradford Co. United Way, Community Foundation of the Twin Tiers, Sylvania Lions Club, Country View Farms Employees, Troy Vets Club, Troy Heritage Garden Club, Warner Tractor, Canton W.O.T.M and Elaine Baldwin. In Kind donations from Leona Meat Plant, Iced Out.
Students spent one hour in each of the 4 areas: Arena– Oxen, Jersey Cow, baby goats, Clydesdale Horse. Grange building—Wash day and games, Flax, Ice House and home made Ice cream, butter making, piecing and quilts, treadle sewing machine, (at the end of the program the students had piece together another quilt top), Cobbler, rug beating and Period clothing, Merchants building– water pump/ yoke and buckets, stagecoach (on loan from 1890’s Committee), ‘Bessie’, Piglet Economic Lesson, Mini Fair midway games, student pumpkin and flower arrangement contests, butchering, tin knocker, rope making, corn shelling and grinding, Furs/traps and Post Office. Village– Carriage House, Vegetable and Herb gardens, Blacksmith, Sugar Shack, Independence Day, School House, Threshing, Children’s Church and Christmas in the Inn. Our thanks to the 60+ volunteers who contributed their time and talents.
The work B’s have been very productive and will continue on scheduled Thursdays through out the summer. Other business included updates on: discussions Re: publicity, future themes, Day of Caring, Work B projects, tours, teas, Gift Shop merchandise, Web activity, Committee reports, 2015 Timber Theme and Heritage Festival updates .
Fundraising is currently underway to relocate and restore Dr. William Campbell’s office from East Smithfield to the Heritage Village. The raffle prizes of a chain saw carved wooden bench, (Lynn Randall); hand crafted wooden tray (Michael Eick, donated by Millie VanBlarcom); full size crocheted afghan (Margaret Winder) Maple products gift basket (Marty Roloson) hand made broom (Debbie Lutz) the items are currently on display and tickets can be obtained at MC Insurance, (Canton St. Troy).
The Bradford County Heritage Association wishes to thank departing board member Joie Brasington for her tremendous and on-going contribution to the Heritage Village and Farm Museum. Joie’s most recent project has been to clean and restore the U.S. Service uniforms.
We welcome Walt Wittie to the Board. Walt helped at the 2014 Heritage Festival and this year’s ‘Farm Days’ program, setting up a display and explaining the threshing process. He has assisted with several of the current ‘handyman’ projects, work B’s and tours.
The Heritage Village and Museum had a promotional display at the Rt 15 Visitor’s Center in celebration of National Tourism Week May 2-10.
BCHA hosted the Museum’s of Bradford County meeting April 9 in the Historic 1822 Inn. The ladies of the Inn served light refreshments, including the most delicious sconces.
‘Bessie’ the Museum’s life size ‘milking’ fiberglass cow has been on the move, she went to Millerton for a kindergarten class farm visit, and to the Endless Mountains Antique Tractor show, and is scheduled to attend the PA Lumberman’s Museum Bark Peelers Convention July 4 weekend.
The 2015 Timber Theme displays include Dave Lennington’s research titled ‘A Glimpse into the Past, Bradford County’s Timber Industry.’ Larimer and Norton Billet process and a hands-on Lincoln Log activity table. The Museum has several permanent timber/logging displays as well.
Our annual membership drive is underway, you are invited to become a member $10 single, $25 family. Please include your name, address, phone and e-mail address (if you have one). Send to The Bradford County Heritage Association PO Box 265 Troy PA 16947. Thank you for supporting the museum, its mission and programs
The Museum is open Thursday, Friday, Saturday 9 AM– 4PM, Sunday 1-4 PM until Oct 31.