MILFORD — The Pike County Historical Society (PCHS) is pleased to invite the public to a very special social.
An ongoing campaign to have 23 original World War II posters preserved and framed has proven to be quite successful, and the public is invited to help us pay tribute to the generosity of those who sponsored a poster.
The posters where found, many years ago, tucked away in an attic closet of the 22-room mansion known as the Columns Museum, home to the PCHS. They were folded and in a manila envelope. The first step in preserving these treasured pieces of poster art were taken by, then, Milford resident and local framery owner Maryellen Walsh. Ms. Walsh gladly offered to carefully unfold them and to mount and wrap the posters in archival materials, free of charge, until the day came when the PCHS could afford to have them framed and preserved for the ages. An ongoing campaign to do just that has seen great success, thanks to the sponsorship campaign. The posters are currently on exhibit in the Music Room of the Columns Museum, and on March 20th a reception will be held as a “thank you” to the sponsors.
Posters still available for sponsorship will be displayed as well in hopes of getting a few more saved.
The reception will begin at 4 p.m. on Saturday March 20, and is free of charge. Please call 570-296-8126. For more information, visit online at www.pikecountyhistoricalsociety.org.
MILFORD – The Pike County Historical Society (PCHS) has a very special event planned as a “fun raiser” this year. On March 12, 2010 at 7 p.m. we will host a Speakeasy at the Tom Quick Inn in Milford.
The Historical Society is celebrating its 80th anniversary in 2010 and will celebrate by taking a historical look at the political climate of the time, eighty years ago, in the tri-state area.
In 1930 Prohibition was in effect in Pike County. Cornelia Pinchot led the charge in her campaign for Congress by touting herself as “dry and progressive”. The PCHS would like to turn back the hands of time to the days of prohibition and turn the Tom Quick Inn’s fabulous banquet room into our very own speakeasy- complete with flappers, time appropriate music, and a bit of illegal libation…but don’t tell anyone!
To gain entry you must first be supplied with the secret password. This can be obtained by purchasing your ticket, for a donation of $50. Feel free to wear the dress of the period and practice your Charleston. Admission includes an Italian buffet, dessert and coffee. Live music, dancing girls, a special performance by “Trixie LaRue”, games of chance and a guaranteed good time, are what anyone in attendance can look forward to.
Monies raised will go to offset the delay of State funding for general operating support. The PCHS is dedicated to the preservation of our County’s history and as the official historical society of the County we take our mission statement seriously.
Our organization needs your help to continue in our mission and in keeping history alive and well in old Pike County. Please help us by reserving your spot at the event of the year, but don’t spill the beans, we don’t need a “hatchetation”!
MILFORD – The Pike County Historical Society is pleased to once again host a winter music series that showcases some of our area’s best talent. Starting on the first Wednesday in February, the Cypress Room at the Cliff Park Inn, Milford, will host Winter Wednesdays.
Winter Wednesday’s is a concert series for the benefit of the Pike County Historical Society.
On Wednesday February 3, 2010, Jazz vocalist Martha Lorin will perform.
On Wednesday February 10th, pianist and vocalist Ray Weeks will perform, with guest vocalist Teri Dixon, “Memories of Emily” in tribute to the late Emily Shadel.
On February 17, 2010 Jazz pianist and vocalist Ronny Whyte will take the stage.
All performances begin at 7pm. Cash bar is available and a dessert and appetizers menu will be offered.
Tickets for individual performances are $25, or a special “season pass” can be obtained for $60, which allows admission to all three musical performances.
MILFORD – Ray Weeks, local piano man and president of the Pike County Historical Society, will be performing a musical tribute to the late Emily Shadel on Wednesday, February 10 in The Cypress Room of the Cliff Park Inn. “Memories of Emily” is the working title for the musical tribute, which will feature many of Emily’s favorite songs. Please join us for a lovely evening in memory of Emily. Tickets for the performance are $25 per person and can be obtained by calling (570) 296-8126.
Ray’s performance is a part of the music series “Winter Wednesdays” and is a fund raising effort for the Society. Operators of The Columns Museum, the Pike County Historical Society is proud to, once again, bring this winter music series to Pike County. Also performing this year are Martha Lorin; February 3, at Cliff Park Inn, and Ronny Whyte, February 1, at Cliff Park Inn. A special “season pass” is being offered for $60 and allows entry to all three performances. All performances begin at 7 p.m. A cash bar and various dining choices available.
For more information, or to reserve, please call (570) 296-8126 or visit us online at www.pikecountyhistoricalsociety.org.
MILFORD – Shortly after the assassination of Abraham Lincoln, the 16th President of the United States, a small group of business and civic leaders in Jersey City, New Jersey (NJ) met to mourn the grave loss to the nation, a loss which each of them felt personally and intensely. They vowed to meet each year on the anniversary of his birth, February 12th, in his memory. They would discuss the obstacles he overcame in his early years, his firm and fair philosophy, his vision and courage, and his many achievements. Despite weather and wars, the successors of this small group have never failed to meet. No other organization has a longer record of annual dinners honoring Lincoln. In the late 1920’s the members of the Lincoln Association initiated a plan to erect a monument to honor their hero. Members sold public subscriptions for 25 cents each. The final $3,500 needed for the statue was contributed by Jersey City school children in pennies and nickels. James Earle Frazer, designer of the buffalo nickel and builder of monuments in New York and Washington, was commissioned to design and build the memorial at the site where West Side Park met Hudson Boulevard. Later the association was instrumental in having the park renamed in honor of Lincoln. At the dedication of the statue, in 1930, the Lincoln Association began another tradition. Each year members gather to hear recitations of some of Lincoln’s memorable addresses and correspondence and to lay a wreath at the foot of the statue.
The Pike County Historical Society, keepers of the flag stained with Lincoln’s blood, were contacted by Suzann Anderson, President of the Lincoln Association of Jersey City, and a deal was struck that would allow for the Lincoln Flag to be in Jersey City on Lincoln’s Birthday this February 12th. The loan has a bit of sentimentality attached to it.
Since 1983 the Lincoln Flag has been housed in the Pike County Historical Society, known as The Columns, located at 608 Broad Street in Milford, Pa. The 1904 neo-classical home was built for Dennis McLaughlin who made the stately home his summer residence. Born in Ireland in 1849, McLaughlin moved to Jersey City, NJ in 1850 with his parents. He made quite a name for himself in Jersey City through a successful political career spanning many years and other business ventures including Director of the Third National Bank and a major investor in the Lembeck and Betz Brewing Company. He was also known as one of the “Big Four” owners of Guttenberg Race Track. McLaughlin summered in Milford with his second wife, Theresa Stack, and four children who were lovingly looked after by a German nanny, who they fondly referred to as “Fraulein”. The bonds that were made between Fraulein and the children ran deep, as in her later years the tables had turned and the children took over her care. McLaughlin died suddenly in 1912 and the home on Broad Street remained in the family until the 1930’s. After changing hands several times, the great white house came into the possession of the Pike County Historical Society and has served as the home to the famed Lincoln Flag since 1983. The Society is happy to return the favor and allow for the flag to visit Mr. McLaughlin’s home town for this fine event. The flag will leave Milford on February 11th, 2010 and the transport will be met by Jersey City Law Officers to be escorted to its destination. The flag will return on February 13th in time for regular Museum hours.
Although the Lincoln Association of Jersey City has officers and trustees, it has no formal membership. Everyone who reveres the memory of Lincoln is welcome to participate in the monument ceremony and attend the annual dinner, where speakers further illuminate the man and his memory.
For more information on programming offered at The Pike County Historical Society’s Museum visit us online at www.pikecountyhistoricalsociety.org
Costume Designer Dixie Crawford-Rich and an unidentified museum volunteer.
MILFORD – The Pike County Historical Society is proud to announce the addition of Dixie Crawford-Rich to their volunteer staff. Mrs. Crawford-Rich has more than 50 years of experience in the theater as a costume designer and theater manager. Her talents are endless when it comes to being a seamstress and has signed on with the Pike County Historical Society to head up the Museum’s Vintage Clothing Committee. Dixie has an extensive list of productions which she has designed the costuming for, including “Dracula” at the Stonington Opera House in Maine, “Isadora” at the Gorilla Theater in Tampa and she also worked with the Boston Ballet for five years. Dixie had to give up her passion for design when her husband became ill. She is happy to spend some time at the Columns Museum, working to repair some of the gowns and detailing the histories of the collection. Mrs. Crawford-Rich comments that “the Columns’ clothing collection is fabulous, although some of it needs a lot of work that cannot realistically be completed without a great amount of funding, but we can reconstruct some elements and document any alterations in the event the clothing becomes a candidate for detailed restoration.”
The first showing on her agenda will be of hats. The Columns has some interesting pieces, including “lids” that belonged to William Jennings Bryan and Queen Elizabeth.
The exhibit of hats will be displayed in the dining room of the Columns beginning Wednesday, December 2 and will remain on display until mid-January when they will be replaced by an exhibit on Jeannie Gourlay, the woman who brought the famous Lincoln Flag to Milford. The exhibit will include her stage costumes and the famous “Stars and Stripes” gown among others. The Pike County Historical Society’s Columns Museum, located at 608 Broad Street in Milford, is open Wednesday, Saturday and Sunday from 1 to 4 p.m.
For more information on programming offered at The Pike County Historical Society’s Museum visit us online at www.pikecountyhistoricalsociety.org.
MILFORD – The Pike County Historical Society will host a temporary art exhibit beginning Friday, December 4 and running through the end of January.
The recent success of Yvonne Parker’s art exhibit titled “Then and Now: Expressions of Beauty”, was the catalyst in the decision to maintain the Music Room of the Museum as a space for local artists to display their wares.
The latest showing is brought to us by John Kolbek, a young artist from Bushkill, Pa, who works in oils to depict “surrealisms”. John was one of 11 people, world wide, selected as “Illustrator of the Year” as per the L. Ron Hubbard Writers and Illustrators of the future showcase.
He has shown his work in many New York galleries, and was featured, locally, at the APA Gallery. Mr. Kolbek is a graduate of North Hampton and Kutztown Colleges, and has had much recent success with the sale of a poster he created for the “Beyond the Wall” company, titled: “Forever 27”. John also does intricate inkwork, which he refers to simply as “doodleisms”. He is slated to exhibit his work in many upcoming shows, including debuts at The White Rabbit Gallery in New York and Art and Soul in Allentown.
The Columns will host an opening and a complimentary “meet the artist” reception on Friday December 4th to celebrate the opening of the exhibit titled “Night Flight on Canvas” from 6-8 pm.
For more information on programming offered at The Pike County Historical Society’s Museum visit us online at www.pikecountyhistoricalsociety.org.
MILFORD – The Pike County Historical Society will offer free showings of some of the films in their archives on Saturday, October 17.
At 1 p.m., two silent movies will be shown back to back. “The Informer,” a 1912 drama, and “A Feud in the Kentucky Hills,” were both directed by D.W. Griffith, and filmed in and around Milford. Griffith is best known as the director of the controversial and groundbreaking 1915 film “The Birth of a Nation” and the subsequent film, “Intolerance.”
At 2:30 p.m., footage of President John F. Kennedy’s visit to Pike County will be recounted in a short film titled “In the Shadow of a Man”. The last film, shown at 3 p.m., will be an episode of “The Twilight Zone,” which originally aired in March of 1962 titled “To Serve Man.” Derived from a short story written by one-time Milford resident Damon Knight, this wildly popular episode is set in 1950’s cold war America. The story opens at a special session of the United Nations at which three alien emissaries, the pig-like Kanamit, are testifying that the purpose of their mission to earth is “to bring to you the peace and plenty which we ourselves enjoy, and which we have in the past brought to other races throughout the galaxy.” It is soon discovered their mission is not all hearts and flowers.
The Columns invites all to attend these films free of charge, and also join us at 4 p.m. for a closing “Meet the Artist” reception of the current contemporary art exhibit on display in the music room of the museum by Yvonne Parker. Complimentary cocktails and hors d’oeuvres will be served.
MILFORD – The Pike County Historical Society will celebrate Shohola’s own Smoky Joe Wood with the “Smoky Joe Open Marathon Softball Game” on September 12 starting at 10 AM at the Milford Little League Field. Players are welcome to register to play by calling Lori at the Museum at 570-296-8126 before September 1. There are openings for players, as well as sponsorship opportunities available for businesses and private citizens alike. Sponsor an inning for $50 and have your name or company name announced throughout the inning. Proceeds benefit the Columns’ Building Maintenance Fund.
For more information on programming offered at The Pike County Historical Society’s Museum visit us online at www.pikecountyhistoricalsociety.org.
MILFORD – The Pike County Historical Society’s Columns Museum will present its first exhibition of contemporary art on August 8 featuring the work of local artist Yvonne Parker.
The exhibition, entitled“Then & Now: Expressions of Beauty,” showcases sculpture and mixed-media works of art inspired from fragments of the past (Then) to create contemporary art (Now). Hand-painted porcelain, vintage ceramics, paper, metal and glass are configured into works of surreal fantasy, a unique style for which the artist has become famous.
Ms. Parker’s art has been exhibited throughout the U.S. and Europe and, most recently, her “Fragmented Beauty” collection opened to rave reviews at The Armory Art Center in West Palm Beach, FL. The Parker’s summer home (formerly The Vantine in Milford and currently The Pointe in Lackawaxen) also serves as elegant backdrop for her many artistic expressions.
The artist, however, may be just as intriguing as her work. Parker, an international fashion model, has developed a “collector’s eye” when it comes to what she incorporates into her artwork. From her European background she has brought a passion for the past which she blends with colorful, innovative new sculpture and mixed-media art which has become her trademark. Another fanciful example of her work, a collection of collage-covered wine bottles, can be seen at the BlueStone Gallery in Milford.
An opening reception for the artist, sponsored by Imperial Brands, will be held at The Columns Museum, located at 608 Broad Street in Milford, on Saturday, August 8, from 6:00 PM – 8:00 PM. The public is invited free of charge.
“Then & Now: Expressions of Beauty,” is sponsored by Biondo Investment Advisors and will run at the Columns Museum until October 18. To view more of Ms. Parker’s artwork, visit www.yvonneparkerartfulliving.com.
