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Posted 05-01-2003 SEVEN News-Bits of Reading-Berks historical interest….. \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ 1- A special "Date Your House" workshop THIS Sat. at 9 a.m. 2- Kutztown H.S. Native Am. exhibit opens this Sat., May 3rd 3- Society's monthly BCTV program THIS Wed. (May 7) at 7 4- Ephrata Cloister Chorus to appear at Christ Tulp. Luth. May 16 5- Albany Twp. H.S. plans trip to the "coal regions" Sat., May 17 6- Society's annual Bed & Breakfast tour on Sunday, May 18 7- Death several weeks ago of Earl Leiby, Lebanon Cnty H.S. pres. \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ 1- THIS Saturday morning, May 3rd, from 9 to 11:30, Gregory D. Huber, proprietor of "Past Perspectives," a unique historic and cultural resource company, appears at the Society to conduct a workshop:-- DISCOVER WHEN YOUR HOUSE WAS BUILT--- AND WHO BUILT IT. Mr. Huber has dealt with this topic for some 40 years and has exceptional expertise in providing tips for determining the age of houses and other types of buildings. The Society is fortunate to have been able to obtain his services for this one-time-only workshop. Cost is only $5, which includes refreshments. Pay at the door. Questions: Call Mrs. Brophy at 610 - 375 4375. \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ 2- A unique and really special museum exhibition of Native Am. artifacts opens this Saturday and Sunday, May 3 and 4, at the Kutztown Area Historical Society---in its 1892 (Victorian) Public School at Normal Ave. and Whiteoak St. http://www.kutztownhistory.org Included is a bountiful array of artifacts of the Kutztown area with a focus on the archeological work of Henry K. Deisher, Kutztown native and noted archeologist of the early 20th century. The Deisher items are from the collection he donated to the State Museum at Harrisburg. Saturday, May 3:- 10 a.m. - "Welcome and Introduction" --- Dr. Brendan Strasser, Dr. Karen Rauch, and Kyle Hildenbrand 10:30 - "Lenni-Lenape History" - Carla Messinger 11:30 - "PA Moravian Missions, 1745-1765" - Mark A. Turdo 1:30 --- "Atl-Atl Demonstation (Spear Throwing!)" - Robert Bland 2:30 --- "Early Native Cultures of Berks" - James Delle, Ph.D, KU and Mary Ann Levine, Ph.D, F&M Sunday, May 4:- 12 noon - "Welcome" as per Saturday 12:30 - "Flint Knapping" - Jack Michkievica, Experimental Archeo. 2:30 --- "Atl-Atl" - Rob't Bland, as per Saturday It should be noted that some fine artifacts on display are from the collection of Richard Geisinger, a native Kutztonian. Locals: Check May 1st's WEEKEND (Eagle) for more info/photos. \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ 3- Reminder: This WEDNESDAY, May 7th at 7 p.m. is the Society's monthly BCTV program. Expect a lively show! \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ 4- The Ephrata Cloister Chorus will appear at Christ Evangelical Lutheran Church (west of Stouchsburg, south side of 422, at Long's Grove) on Friday, May 16th at 7 p.m. The hour-long concert, presented in cooperation with Conrad Weiser homestead, is FREE and open to the public. YOU are invited. The Ephrata Cloister was a communal society founded in 1732 by German settlers who rejected earthly rewards in favor of spiritual enrichment. There were celibate orders for both sexes as well as a congregation of married families. Music was an important component of life at the Cloister. In 1747, Conrad Beissel published the first American treatise on harmony in the preface to his hymnal. The modern-day Ephrata Cloister Chorus was formed in 1959 under the leadership of the late Dr. Russell Getz who transcribed a selection of early Ephrata Cloister music into modern notation. The Chorus also performs works by early American composers, esp. those from communal groups, such as the Moravians, the Shakers, and the Hermits of the Wissahickon. Wearing white robes patterned after those worn 250 years ago by Brothers and Sisters of the Cloister, the Chorus brings to life historic music not heard for more than two centuries. Questions? 610 - 589 - 2202 http://www.cob-net.org/cloister.htm NOTE:- If you decide to go, go early to look around. The old cemetery on the right, as you drive toward the church, has the remains of Regina Leininger, "the Indian Captive" of the French & Indian War (1756-1763). Her tombstone is right inside the wall at the utility pole. You who purchased the 1925 Balthaser Berks history about a year ago can read the whole story---on pages 55 to 61. At the end of the driveway is the splendid stone parsonage wherein PA Governor John Andrew Melchoir Schulze was born. His dad, in 1776, married Eve Elizabeth Muhlenberg, a daughter of the famous Henry Melchior Muhlenberg. The church building itself is one of the architectural gems of the county---inside and out. Walk completely around the building to see it all, including its 18th century shutters in the rear. Serving this congregation with distinction is Rev. Philip K. Smith, a member of our Society with an impressive interest in history. \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ 5- The Albany Township Historical Society is sponsoring a bus tour on Saturday, May 17, 2003, to the historic coal-mining region north of Berks. There will be stops at Eckley Miners' Village, The Old Carbon County Jail, and the renovated No. 9 Wash Shanty & Museum. A buffet lunch will be served at The Inn at Jim Thorpe. The cost of the trip is $70 per person and includes personal guides for the group, entrance fees, the buffet lunch, and gratuities. On the return trip, there will be a stop at Leiby's Ice Cream House for those who wish to purchase a treat. The bus will leave from Kempton Fire Company at 8:30 AM and return approximately 6:30PM. A few seats are available. For more details and links to some of the stops, access:- http://www.albanyths.org. To reserve seats, contact Andrew Brett at (610) 756-3575. \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ \\\\\\\\\\ 6- HISTORIC BED & BREAKFAST TOUR, Sunday, May 18th, 1 to 6 p.m., sponsored by the Reading & Berks County Visitors Bureau and hosted by the Historical Society of Berks County. At present, there are 10 B&B's on the automobile tour. This is a great way to visit and become acquainted with the beautiful and historic homes that are open to wayfarers. Each is unique in its way. This year you may pick up your packet of tour information ahead time so that you can more carefully plan your trip. We have several routes to follow with precise directions. Lunch is not included in the tour but each Inn will offer refreshments. $10 per ticket…at the Historical Society. 610 - 375 - 4375 \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ 7- It's with extreme sadness that we report the recent death of Earl Leiby (1926-2003) who---for 30 years, until Jan. 2000---was president of the Lebanon County Historical Society. He was, as Earl W. Ibach of the Tulpehocken Settlement Historical Society is now, the embodiment and essence of Lebanon County's historical society. Several times years ago, Earl and his buddy George Wills and your editor walked parts of the route of the Union Canal, studying and photographing the locks west of Stouchsburg. His interest in the old canal and its tunnel above Lebanon City was unabating. Earl P. Leiby will truly be missed by all who knew him. \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ gmmix \\\\\\\\\\ end \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\

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