PROGRAMS 2011
Meetings are held at 7:30 P.M. at the Ephrata Public Library, 550 S. Reading Road, Ephrata unless otherwise stated.
(In case of inclement weather, Society programs will follow the Ephrata School District closing schedule.)
PROGRAMS 2012
January 25, Annual Show and Tell
Everyone looks forward to this annual program! Come and share your one-of-a-kind treasure with friends at this event, which is full of surprises.
February 22, My Adventures with Fraktur in Southeastern Pennsylvania
Dr. Robert N. Kline will give a slide-illustrated presentation on local fraktur artist and types of fraktur, such as bookmarks, bookplates, writing samples, birth and baptismal certificates, and rewards of merit.
March 28, Women of the Civil War: Clothing, Culture, and Contributions
Janice Grove and Lynette Miller will present a Powerpoint-illustrated program featuring a series of vintage photographs from Grove's extensive collection. See and hear what life was like for women during the war between the states.
April 25, Limekilns of Lancaster County
Kenneth G Miller will begin his Powerpoint presentation with a history of limeburning and it methodology. Lime was used to lessen the acidity of soil; make mortar; and whitewash houses, stables, fences, and trees. Hw will illustrate hi lecture with photographs of local kilns.
May 23, Weavers and Their Trade
Alan S. Keyser will explain how weavers in Pennsylvania were professionals who wove yarn that customers brought in and made what customers wanted. Each community had several custom weavers who wove items at a per-yard rate. He will show slide illustrations of weaving products such as bed sheets, bed ticks, coverlets, and tablecloths.
June 27, Annual Picnic
A notice listing details of this year's members-only picnic will appear in the newsletter.
July 25, Field Trip
This year's field trip will feature Muddy Creek Farm Library and Museum of Ephrata, hosted by Amos B Hoover and Lloyd M. Weiler. Founded fifty years ago to serve as a library and archives among Old Order and conservative Mennonite churches of the area, it houses a fine collection of old books, letters, and documents. The lower level includes a museum with artifacts depicting family, farm, and church life of former centuries.
August 22, Harry Franklin Stauffer, Printer and Tinker of Farmersville, West Earl Township, Lancaster County, Pennsylvania
Clarence E. Spohn will narrate a slide presentation on the life of Harry F. Stauffer (1896-1982), "printer and tinker," furniture maker, photographer, and local historian. Beginning in 1915, he took up the hobby of photography and continued to record the architecture of southeastern Pennsylvania through the late 1970's. A printer by occupation, he first worked for Silas Bard, publisher of the Denver Press. By 1933 he was employed in the printing department of Weaver's Book Store in Lancaster. In 1953 he established his private Conestoga Press, and in 1958 he restored the Ouram press at the Ephrata Cloister. Through the 1920's he manufactured reproduction furniture outside Farmersville.
September 26, No Meeting
Join us on the front lawn of the Society's headquarters to view the Ephrata Fair parade and enjoy hot dogs at the Society's food stand.
October 20, 55th Anniversary Banquet
The 55th Anniversary Banquet will be held on Saturday October 20, 2012 at Cloister Post 429 American Legion in Ephrata. Keynote speaker, William Bushong of the White House Historical Association, will entertain attendees with stories of Christmas customs and decorations by White House occupants through the years. Advance registration is required.
November 28, No Meeting Happy Thanksgiving!
December 26, No Meeting Merry Christmas!