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Historical Society Sets Fall Harvest Festival  Photo by Dayna M. Reidenouer By Dayna M. Reidenouer The community is invited to participate in the Conestoga Area Historical Society’s 12th annual Harvest Festival. The event will be held from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Saturday, Oct. 17, and from noon to 4 p.m. on Sunday, Oct. 18, on the grounds of the society, which are located in Alex Ehrlich Park, 51 Kendig Road, Conestoga. The theme of this year’s introspective exhibit is “Pequea Proud,” so the event will feature various aspects of the township. Local author Christopher Haefner will relate stories of working as a tour guide in the Pequea Silver Mine from ages 13 to 17. On Saturday, a rope maker will demonstrate his trade and give children opportunities to use his hand-cranked rope spinning machine, and the Susquehanna Rangers re-enactors will set up a French and Indian War encampment. Visitors are welcome to walk through the camp and talk with the re-enactors, said festival coordinator and board member Phil Coolman. At 12:30 p.m. on Sunday, Gerry Kershner will speak on Pennsylvania Dutch values. In addition, the society will have all of its facilities open, including the 1750 Harnish House, the Atkinson House (in the basement of which is the Cellar Museum Shop), the toll house/broom shop, the bake oven, the museum, and the craftspeople’s workshops. Artisans will demonstrate their crafts, such as quilting, making dolls, creating powder horns and etching them with scrimshaw, blacksmithing, pottery, tinsmithing, barrel making, carpentry, weaving, and pressing apple cider. A woman will spin and dye wool; she will demonstrate how to use a drop spindle. A soapstone carver and cobbler will also be present, as well as a rifle maker and an antique rifle display. Two Conestoga wagons will be displayed, as well as several pieces of antique farm machinery. “(The exhibitors) will explain what they do. They’re all very good at it,” Coolman said. Children are invited to make cornhusk dolls and try writing with quill pens, playing Colonial games, and shucking corn. The first 100 children each day will receive arrowhead souvenirs. Members of the community have agreed to help with the event. Each day will start with the raising of the American flag by Cub Scout Packs 146 and 268. Junior Girl Scout Troop 226 and Brownie Troop 1355 will sing the national anthem. As the flag is raised, Jimmy Grey, a 92-year-old resident and member of General Reynolds’ Cornet Band, will play the snare drum. “It brought tears to my eyes while watching the (ceremony last year),” recalled Coolman’s wife, Carole, who is also a board member and festival coordinator. For lunch, pretzel sandwiches and shredded beef sandwiches will be among the items available for purchase from a vendor. The society will offer an assortment of homemade pies, including fruit, pumpkin, and shoofly, for sale. “The festival brings the community together once a year,” Philip Coolman said, noting why the society works hard to create an engaging event. “Our mission is to preserve the history of the Penn Manor area, and as much as possible, impart that knowledge to the community. I grew up in Indiana. What I find incredible is that people grow up here and stay here. This area’s rich in a lot of history.” Admission to the festival is free, but donations will be accepted. Along with profit from the sales of pies and merchandise at the Cellar Museum Shop, donations keep the museum operating and open to the public. For more information, readers may call the museum at 872-1699. Millersville Advertiser - 10/14/2009 Quarryville Advertiser - 10/14/2009 |
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