PROGRAMS 2010
Meeting 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.)
February 24, Simon Kenton, Frontiersman
The action-packed life of Simon Kenton (1755-1836), born to an Irish immigrant family, will come to life with period dress and other visuals via local storyteller Vincent Fry. Kenton's jealous rage at age sixteen, when he thought he had killed someone, caused him to flee into the wilderness of Kentucky and Ohio. For years he went by the alias Simon Butler, only to return to Virginia and find that the victim had survived. Readopting his original name, he served as a scout against the Shawnee in 1774, three years later saved thelife of his friend Daniel Boone, and in 1778 was in turn rescued from torture and certain death by the notorious Simon Girty.
March 24 The Reading-and-Columbia Railroad Story
John W. Brown will give a presentation on the amazing perseverance of construction workers who with picks, shovels, mules, horses, and limited personnel managed to build a railroad from Columbia to Sinking Spring in three years during the manpower and iron scarcities resulting from the Civil War.
April 28, Lancaster County Baseball and Softball
Baseball and softball historian Barry W. Giberson, a memorabilia collector, will share stories about Lancaster County baseball programs from the early 1920's through 1961, when the city-county league folded. During those years practically ever Lancaster County community had at least one baseball team, drawing large crowds on summer weekends. He will display assorted woolen baseball uniforms, bats, and gloves dating from the 1930's to 1950's. Notebooks with team photographs from as early as 1890 will be available, and also some softball memorabilia.
May 26, The Fabulous World of Feed Sacks
Quilt historian Barbara Garrett will explore the history, development, popularity, and decline of marvelous feed-sack fabrics and how they were used in both quilt making and everyday life. With this trunk-show-style presentation, participants will view authentic feed sacks and historic items made from sacks, including both vintage and contemporary feed sack quilts. She will also share feed sack memories about how people acquired and used feed sacks as children and adults.
June 23, Annual Picinic
This year's event will convene at the "Fichthorn Farm", the historic award-winning, restored farmstead of Kurt and Tracy Fichthorn. They will host the group following a delicious meal of roast pork and complementary dishes. A special notice listing details of the members-only event will arrive in May. Limited to the first 100 registrants!
July 28, Field Trip
Meet at 7:00 PM at the home of Ronald E. Frisbie Sr., 312 South 10th Street, Akron, PA for a tour of one of the area's best kept secrets, the Antique Radio Museum, begun in 1979. He will narrate the history of radio, and visitors will see radios dating from 1906 to the 1940's, including an exact replica of the Titanic radio room and the most sought after Marconi receiver in the world (manufactured in England in 1907 and one of the only five known to exist). Don't miss this trip!
August 25, Then and Now: Trolleys and Communities of Lancaster County
Motorman Fred Schneider of the Manheim Historical Society trolley car will present a dual projector, slide illustrated history of trolleys in Lancaster County, including the Brownstown-Akron area north to Reamstown-Adamstown and also the Lebanon line form Ephrata.
September 22, 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 27, Pennsylvania German Architecture
Robert W. Reynolds will share exterior and interior features of southeastern and south central Pennsylvania Germanic architecture as seen in historic homes and farmsteads, including the most common aspects of the popular Continental and Georgian styles.
November 24, No Meeting
Happy Thanksgiving!
December 22, No Meeting
Merry Christmas!