
Programs & Events
PROGRAMS 2023
Informative lectures about area life in the 18th to 20th centuries are presented by local experts in their respective fields. Unless otherwise stated, all meetings convene on the 4th Wednesday of the month at 7:00 pm at Holy Trinity Lutheran Church, 167 East Main Street, Ephrata, PA. In case of inclement weather, Society programs will follow the Ephrata School District closing schedule. Open free to the public.
Event/Meeting List
January 25 – Annual Show and Tell
An enjoyable way to begin our new year of programs affords one and all the opportunity to attend and share
their unique treasures with others at this first meeting.
February 22 – “A Token of Love: Hair Art”
Joel Horst Nofziger will present a look at the Victorian craft of using human hair and turning it into an
ornamental display of wreaths and bouquets as done by Pennsylvania German Mennonites from 1850-1880.
March 22 – “Mindful Pretzel Consumption”
Jill Marie Thomas, great-great granddaughter of Julius Sturgis and daughter of Tom Sturgis will tell us
everything we always wanted to know about pretzel baking, pretzel history and the methods of pretzel
making, as well as learning about the life of an early pretzel baker in Lititz.
April 26 – “Brass Bands of the Cocalico Valley”
Lowell Haws will discuss the origin and development of the brass/cornet band movement in the United
States. His Power Point presentation will focus on the eleven such musical organizations in the Cocalico
Valley and their relevance to the area’s culture during the 19th and early 20th centuries.
May 24 – “Songs and Stories of the Red, White and Blue”
Troubadour Matthew Dodd celebrates America’s great patriotic songbook by performing a number of these
historic songs and telling the stories behind them. A backdrop of American flags spanning our country’s
history will be included.
June 28 – Annual Picnic
This year’s members-only picnic will be held at the West Earl Park Community Pavilion in Talmage. The
meal will be catered by Big John’s Catering.
July 27 – Annual Field Trip
1719 Herr House and Museum – We will gather to tour the Herr House & Lancaster Longhouse.
This is a Thursday.
August 23 – “Code Girls of WWII”
Join Hallie Vaughan as she discusses the work of women codebreakers during WWII. Discover how
an elite group of women were selected to work on the meticulous job of codebreaking both German and
Japanese military codes. Ordered never to reveal details of their wartime work, these women were almost
written out of our American history.
September 27 – Ephrata Parade Night
Join us on the front lawn of HSCV headquarters to view the Ephrata Fair parade and enjoy hot dogs and
other goodies at our food stand.
*October 25 – “My Neighbor’s Secret”
Stephen Shaw will share the story of a Lancaster resident who fought honorably for his countrymen in WWII, then was interned in a Nazi detention camp, lost family to the Holocaust, and was forced to leave his homeland because of his faith. *(Please note that this is a change to the original advertised list of programs.)
November & December – No Meetings
November – ExtraGive Campaign Lancaster Co.
Please consider HSCV as a part of your benevolence.
December – “Christmas at the Connell Mansion”
Open to the public. More details to follow.