Friday, June 8, 2018

Friday Night at the Museum to Feature “Bradford County Civil War Music”

The Bradford County Historical Society will host a program titled, “Bradford County Civil War Music,” scheduled for Friday, June 15, 2018 at 6 p.m. Doors open at 5:30 p.m. There is no admission charge for this event but donations are appreciated. To reserve a seat, participants are asked to register by calling 570-265-2240 or by email at info@bradfordhistory.com.

This is the 150th anniversary of the dedication of a monument in the Riverside Cemetery in Towanda that was placed by Watkins Post #68, Grand Army of the Republic (GAR). Recently restored by the Sons of Union Veterans, Silas Gore Camp #141, the monument was rededicated this May. The Sons of Union Veterans are pleased to present a program that will venture into the world of Civil War music from a Bradford County perspective, as well as an overall look, both north and south. The highlight of the evening will be recently composed music performed by Gary Wells, of Binghamton. 

This program is a part of the 2018 Friday Night at the Museum programming series that is held the third Friday of each month from May through October. Each event is held in the Great Room at the Bradford County Historical Society, located at 109 Pine Street, Towanda, PA. Refreshments are provided at each program and the museum is open a half-hour prior to the event.

Other programs scheduled for this season are: July 20 – A Hammered Dulcimer Concert with Ted Yoder, Sponsored by Chief Oil & Gas; August 17 – The French Legacy in Bradford County; September 21 – Lumbering Heritage in Northeastern Pennsylvania, Sponsored by Citizens & Northern Bank; and October 19 – The Influenza Pandemic of 1918 and its Effect on Bradford County.
The Bradford County Historical Society is a recipient agency of the Bradford County United Way and the Pennsylvania Historical and Museum Commission. For more information about the society and its programming schedule, museum or research center, visit www.bradfordhistory.com or check out the society on Facebook or Twitter.

Wednesday, June 6, 2018

Bradford County Museums Promote “Passport Through History” Contest

The museums of Bradford County, Pennsylvania, have released a newly revised 20-page guide highlighting the twelve museums of Bradford County. The guide is now available at over 60 locations in New York and Pennsylvania as well as each museum. It can be supplied to other locations upon request.

The full-color glossy booklet, titled "A Comprehensive Guide to Bradford County Museums" features an introduction to local history, a list of popular history topics and the museums where those topics can be explored, a map identifying museum locations in the county, and a "Passport through History." Each museum is featured on its own page with a photo, description, months of operation, contact information, driving directions, GPS coordinates and a QR Code that when scanned by a QR code app, will instantly connect the user directly to the respective museum website.

The "Passport through History" found in the guide is a yearly challenge. Visitors carry their "passport" as they visit all twelve museums in one season and collect a unique sticker or mark from each location. When the passport is filled, it can be turned in to the Bradford County Historical Society and added to a drawing at the end of the tourist season. The drawing will take place at the October meeting of the museums of Bradford County. The winner will receive one year of family membership in one of the Bradford County museums, or a comparable prize if the museum they choose does not offer family membership.

Bradford County’s museums include the Bradford County Heritage Association (Farm Museum and Historic Village), Bradford County Historical Society, French Azilum historic site, Home Textile Tool Museum, LeRoy Heritage Museum, Manley-Bohlayer Farm, P.P. Bliss Gospel Songwriters Museum, Sayre Historical Society, Tioga Point Museum, Wyalusing Valley Museum, Tuscarora Township Historical Society and the Troy Historical Society (currently under construction). Some of the museums have limited hours or are only open for special events. Contestants may need to contact some of the museums to find out the best time to get their passport stamped.

Filling the passport makes a great summer project for families and students by providing an opportunity to learn about local history and to visit local attractions during several day trips.

A free pdf of the guide can be downloaded for use on either a computer or phone by visiting www.bradfordhistory.com and clicking on Plan a Visit and then County Museums in the left column. 

The guide was sponsored by the Bradford County Room Tax Fund and the Bradford County Tourism Promotion Agency.