Winters Heritage House Museum

Member N e w s l e t t e r
Published quarterly by the Elizabethtown Preservation Associates, Inc. Summer 2015

In this Newsletter Also inside—

 There’s a Moose on the loose!
 Fun Findings in the Seibert Library
 248 families hiding in the library!
 Dear Elizabeth — Our Historic Advice Column
 Parades from 100 years ago!
 Museum Happenings
 Staff needed for October kiddos!
 ….and more!

(717) 367-4672
Permit No. 1
Elizabethtown, PA 17022
Elizabethtown, PA
47 East High St.,
Non-profit Org.
P.O. Box 14
US Postage Paid Return Service Requested
Winters Heritage House Museum
Elizabethtown College Intern Projects:
The results are in —and they’re pretty neat!
Lauren Hower — Documenting the Moose Building
Lauren took on the overwhelming project of documenting the Moose
building. The Moose, which is currently for sale, may face demolition
depending upon the whims of the buyer. The Moose was built in
1928, and was designed by Lancaster Architect, C. Emlen Urban. It is a
major landmark on Elizabethtown’s square. A pretty neat piece of
architecture we have there! Lauren compiled oodles of information Lauren Hower
on the building and its architect. Stop in to get a glimpse of what it used to be! Would you
believe that in the basement there are the remnants of a 1928 bowling alley and a secret
prohibition-era bar (complete with art-deco glass front and mahogany woodwork)? From
down there you can also see the stone foundation walls of the previous Greenawalt Hotel.

Ben Martin, Nick Wagner, Gonzalo Dominguez, and Claude Abounegm are a team of seniors who constructed a display case
for our 1763 deed signed by town founders, Barnabas and Elizabeth
Hughes. The double-sided document now has a unique display case that
will allow a visitor to see both sides, and will protect it from UV light and
humidity.

Ben Martin and Nick Wagner, two members of ‘Team

Ratfish,’ show off their Deed Display Case engineering
project. (right)

Tyler Buskirk,
Thomas Abell, William Gushue, and Kyle Fackler are a second
team of engineering students that built an interactive
archaeological display for us. This display will allow children to
work a ‘dig,’ contained within a portable box. Using gloves and
brushes, children will be able to uncover pottery shards and other
artifacts. They can then identify, date, and interpret their findings
by following instructions posted inside the lid.

William Gushue and Kyle Fackler, engineering seniors

from Elizabethtown College, present the archaeological
dig display box they helped design and build for the
Winters Heritage House Museum. (left)

Dear Elizabeth
Our Historic Advice Column
The spirit of our town founder, Elizabeth
Hughes, residing here from 1750 to 1760,
offers her advice to our generation.
If you have any advice needs from or a
history question for Elizabeth, please send
them to Dear Elizabeth, c/o Winters
Heritage House Museum’s email;
Winters-HH@ElizabethtownHistory.org
Dear Elizabeth
I was in to see the lovely May Quilt
Exhibit at the Winters Heritage House.
They had many unique and lovely
antique quilts on display, however,
none were from the 1700s, which is
your time era.
Did people have quilts in that time
period? If so, what patterns were
popular?
Quilt Curious
Dear Curious,
I’m afraid that in the early days of
Elizabethtown, rural life did not
encourage the creation of many artistic
quilts. Such efforts at fanciness became
popular in later years, once quantities of
fabrics grew to be more readily
available. In my day, we did “quilt” but
these were of a much more practical
purpose first, with artistic thoughts
coming after. Regular blankets were
commonly of handwoven wool, or linsey
-woolsie, a woven combination of linen
and wool. It was practical (and warm) to
sew two worn blankets against each
other to better support the worn and
fraying areas and to create one excellent
warm blanket. The stitches could be of a
decorative pattern and closer stitch-
work served to more completely bind
the two layers.
Ladies living in towns such as the size of
Lancaster, might have access to cloth
enough to compose 'counterpane' types
of quilts; blankets made of two solid
cloth layers quilted together with fancy
stitch work. Quilting in a middle layer of
wool made a wonderful winter blanket.
One without this inner layer was for
summer use. If one was a person of
means, a contrasting fabric could be
purchased and cut and the decoration
applied to the quilt top for a nice artistic
effect. While in my day these appliqued
pieces were popular amongst those with
extra money and time, I am dismayed to
impart, that out here in the wilderness
of Elizabethtown, we have very little of
either.
Warmly,
Elizabeth
Dear Elizabeth,
My son’s 8th birthday is approaching and I
need some advice. We already have a party
planned with lots of friends, a cake, games,
and a clown. Suddenly, however, he is very
excited to get one very special present that,
unfortunately, is a bit expensive. He really
isn’t all that materialistic; he just wants
what all his friends have. I am hoping to
work overtime this weekend to earn some
extra money. However, I actually could use
those funds for other expenses. I just don’t
want him to be disappointed on his
birthday. How did you handle 8-year-olds
and birthday gifts long ago? I am pretty sure
you had even less extra money on hand
than we do!
Birthday Blues
Dear Birthday,
How extremely peculiar you people are!
To what an extreme one of your era
goes to in order to celebrate the birthing
day of their child! You are asking me
whether to compromise the family
financials to the purpose of purchasing
an expensive gift for a child of 8 years? I
have never heard of such a thing! In my
day we do acknowledge that a person
was born on a certain day and perhaps
are more prone to appreciate their
company with a comment or gesture.
However, never have I seen the cows
and chickens go hungry so that one
might bestow one with praise just for
being born…My goodness, how was he
supposed to have arrived? Surely he
should be the one stowing blessings
upon you, his parents, rather than the
other way around? As for
avariciousness, I am pretty certain that
desiring what all your friends have is a
materialistic device. Do be cautious, as
establishing such decadence is easier
than retracting it.
Here is what I propose: Set the lad up
with a new slingshot for shooting rabbits
out of the garden and commence this
task on his birthing day. This advanced
duty will make the day a milestone, and
how proud he will be when he is the
source of the family meal! Perhaps, if
you feel such a need as to impart special
treatment, you might have his sister
muck out the stable for him on that day.
Yours,
Elizabeth
Fourth of July Parades in Elizabethtown — 100 Years Ago
Does any one of our members or readers know more about Elizabethtown’s Fourth of July Parade tradition? In our
archives, we have several wonderful photos of Fourth of July parades from the early 1900s. We assume the parade
was an annual event, but are not certain what years this tradition spanned. If you know about this, please share!

This photo (left) of the 1911

Fourth of July Parade was
taken looking up North
Market Street from the
square. (The parade is
proceeding from north to
south.)
That’s a sign for Groff’s
Meats in the trees!

These photos (above and left) are of the 1918 Fourth of July Parade.
The photo to the left shows a decorated auto carrying dignitaries. Behind
them the windows are likely shuttered from the parade dust, as the road is
still a dirt street.
The photo above shows some people in colonial era costumes in front of an
Overland stagecoach. Notice the kids in nickers crossing the street behind
them!
Museum Happenings
This year’s May Quilt Exhibit drew a good
number of visitors through the museum. The
colorful display of over 30 antique through
modern quilts always brightens up the
museum, but this year seemed to be one of
the most spectacular shows we’ve ever had.
During the month of May, the museum had
over 250 visitors to see the quilts. The mid-
Doris Risser and Mary
month Quilt and Garden Party was enjoyed by Conrad catch up over a
approximately 45 people. The raffle of a quilt, glass of mint tea at the
designed and pieced by Dottie Leban and Quilt and Garden Party.
completed by the quilting committee, has
raised well over $100 already.
Here are some photos from this past month. We hope you were able to
stop in and see things in color!

Alert volunteer Kathy Graham assists plant buyers at the May 15th Quilt and
Garden Party.

Get your Raffle Tickets!!

There are still raffle tickets for sale. The quilt being raffled is on display
inside the museum. Tickets are $1 each or $5 for six tickets. Stop in
and get a few before they are gone. Proceeds support the museum’s
educational programs. The winning ticket will be drawn when the ticket
sales reach $500. We’re already a quarter of the way there.
Mary Karnes Retires from the Seibert Library
Mary Karnes, our Research Librarian Extraordinaire, has decided to step
down from her leadership position as head of the genealogy library housed in
the Winters Heritage House Museum. Mary served as research librarian
from the earliest days of the library, and oversaw its many evolutions to the
well-supplied and serviceable Seibert Genealogy Library and Resource Center
that provides for the community today. Mary was adamant that she did not
want a big to-do over her decision to retire, but was gracious enough to
allow the board, staff, and a few friends to thank her with a small lunch
recently held in her honor.
To further commemorate Mary’s many hours of service, the museum board
has named the room of the museum that houses the Seibert Library, the
“Mary Karnes Room.” A plaque has been made and will grace the door of the
Seibert Library.
Mary is a knowledgeable historian of the Elizabethtown area. Having grown
up near the Cameron estates in Mount Joy, and lived in places such as
Bainbridge and Elizabethtown her entire life, she has seen our history unfold.
Even now, Mary has a fantastic memory for names, places, and people’s Mary Karnes and the new plaque
accomplishments. Thank you, Mary Karnes, for your many years of commemorating her service.
dedication to this invaluable part of the Winters Heritage House Museum!
Mary leaves the Seibert Library in the capable hands of volunteers, Dale Good and Jeff Myers.

248 Families Live in our Library!

The Seibert Genealogy Library houses, amongst all the

other tidbits of Elizabethtown history, a good quantity of
family histories. Over the years, snippets of information on
family trees and people have come to us in all forms. Most
of these records are unique, and cannot be found online or
in other libraries. Some reside as hand-written lists of
names and dates that perhaps turned up in grandpa’s attic,
or a box of family photographs simply labelled “Risser
Photos.” Some are professionally researched family trees
compiled into formal manuscripts, others were
dissertations done for someone’s degree. In all, there are
248 families residing in our library! Do stop by and see what we might be able to tell you about
Recently, the Seibert Library staff has finished scanning our your own family, or drop off your family’s information and
complete collection of family records into our computer add to our collection!
system, making them much easier to search and organize.
Museum Wish List
r
Keep you ship
Currently, the museum is most in need

Member
of filling some volunteer positions.
Friday Front Desk — Fridays, from
Active!
9:30am to 3:00pm. Greet visitors,
handle sales, update memberships, and
have fun with us! We can adjust hours
and duties to suit your strengths...it’s
tough to be open with no one to greet visitors!
Walking Tour Docents — If you find it important to share
Update your membership!
history with children, and you’re able to help us the week of
October 19-23, from 9:00am to noon, we need you!! That is
Memberships are our primary
the week of the annual Bev Ulrich Third Grade Walking Tours. resource for maintaining the
We are short two teams of docents to meet the children at
the Four Centuries Mural (South Market Street municipal
museum. Please take the time to renew your
parking lot) and the A.S. Kreider Shoe Factory Mural inside the annual membership, or consider becoming a Nogging
Peach Alley Court apartment lobby. We have all the info, the Brick member and auto-contributing monthly. Don’t
props, and the plan for each mural ready to go, we just need worry, if you renew early we will add the membership
interested helpers. Please call us — 717 367-4672 — if you year to your existing due date.
can help. We want to be certain all docents are familiar and Membership Form
comfortable with the information and activity, so we like to
Name: _________________________________________
work with you well ahead of the date. Please call soon!
Address: _______________________________________
Phone: ________________________________________
Email: _________________________________________
Membership level (circle one)
Individual—$20 Patron — $100
Family — $40 Sponsor — $250
Sustaining — $60 Benefactor — $500
An Easy Way to Support the Museum: Set me up as a Nogging Brick Membership at $_______/ Month
Sign up for the Darrenkamps “Community Rewards” program.
Thank you for your support!
Simply visit the “My Community Rewards” website,
Check enclosed # ______ Amount : ____________
(www.mycommunityrewards.com) and follow the easy
Or Credit Card: __________________________________
step-by-step instructions to register your Gold Card. It
takes just a few minutes. Expiration: _____

Winters Heritage House

Museum
P.O. Box 14
Elizabethtown, PA 17022

This is our working schedule for 2015. Events
and classes may yet be added, and dates may be
subject to change.
Museum Events and Exhibits Calendar
September 2 to 25—Exhibit: The History of the
Elizabethtown Square.
September 18 — J.P. Benowitz Elizabethtown History
Lecture and Book Signing, 6-8 pm.
September 26 — Petticoats and Pastries Fashion History
Show
October 9 — Haunted Museum Tours
November 13 & 14 — Holiday Craft Show
Museum and Seibert Library Hours
Until December, the museum will be open Wednesdays,
Thursdays, & Fridays, 9:30 am to 3:00 pm, and by
appointment.
Please call ahead if you want to do research in our
library, so we can be sure a librarian is on hand.
Phone: 717 367-4672
email: Winters-HH@ElizabethtownHistory.com
Website: www.elizabethtownhistory.org
To register for classes or events, please contact the museum by calling (717) 367-4672.
2015 Events and Activities
Children’s Activities (please pre-register)
Kids Fun Days — Last one: August 8 (traditional crafts), 9:30am -
12:30pm, Geared to children ages 7 to 12. As a special
opportunity; We have limited spots for an 11 or 12 year
old to work directly with blacksmith, Stan Newcomer, and
learn iron-smithing skills. Call for more details on this.
Lunch included. Sign up today!
Elizabethtown Second Fridays
Each second Friday, from February through November, the
museum is open evenings, offering a variety of fun things to see,
taste and do.
June 12 — Drop in for American Heritage Chocolate samples.
July 10 — Free Ice Cream!!
August 14— We’re a stop on the MSIB Elizabethtown Art Walk
September 11— We’re a stop on the MSIB Wine Walk
October 9— Drop by for a Haunted Museum Tour!!
November 13— Our Holiday Craft Show opens, 5-9pm
Volunteer Committees (adults)
The Quilt Committee meets the second and third Monday of each
month
The Textile Group (spinning through yarn needle skills) meets the
third Wednesday of each month
The Herb Garden Committee will meet on a varied schedule
through the gardening season.
The Library and Research Committee meets bi-monthly. This
group helps direct the programming for the museum.
All committees are fun and friendly to beginners through experts.
If you are interested in joining a committee or learning more
about them, please call the museum!