Thursday, November 29, 2018

Bradford County Historical Society to hold Holiday Open House

The Bradford County Historical Society located at 109 Pine Street in Towanda will be hosting a Holiday Open House on Thursday December 6, from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m. This will also be the second day of the Societies Annual Book Sale. This will be the last chance for visitors to view the museum exhibits until spring of 2019. December 6 is the feast day of Saint Nicholas and the society has it from a good source that Saint Nick will be making an appearance during the open house. A group of musicians from Towanda High School are also expected to visit during the evening. Several areas of the museum have been decorated for the holiday season and there will be cookies to snack on in the great room of the museum. The book sale offers a chance for customers to purchase Bradford County History books at a discounted price and this only happens in the first week of December each year. There will also be gift certificates for membership available at the event. What a great present for the person that is so hard to buy for. Memberships include THE SETTLER the quarterly magazine of the society. Be sure and stop by the Bradford County Museum on December 6 and visit with the trustees of the society who will be on hand for the evening.

Bradford County Historical Society to hold Annual Book Sale

The annual holiday book sale will be held at the Bradford County Historical Society in Towanda on Sunday December 2nd from 10:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. The sale will be held in the museum located at 109 Pine Street in the heart of Towanda’s Historic District.

The book sale will be held two days this year Sunday December 2 from 10-3 p.m. and Thursday, December 6 during the holiday open house to be held from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m. This event has become a tradition with local history buffs that are looking to add to their collections. It is the only time each year that the society offers books at a discount price. Books range from $7.50 to $70.00.

A great stocking stuffer are the Bradford County Playing Cards there are three versions of the playing cards that have images of famous Bradford County people and Places with a succinct history of the image on the card. The SS. Peter and Paul playing cards and the Wysox Presbyterian Church cards are available as well.

The World War I history which was printed to commemorate the 100th anniversary of the war will be available at the sale. The Bradford County Historical Society’s newest publication “Defending Democracy: Bradford County in World War I, A Centennial Remembrance” is the largest new publication released by the Society in over 20 years. Virtually unlike any book previously published by BCHS, Defending Democracy has a beautiful full cover glossy cover with amazing graphics. The book contains 516 pages; 18 chapters with added appendix; 280 previously unpublished black and white photographs; a full list of over 2,100 Bradford County World War I soldiers; a complete surname index; a section to record your own family’s participation in the war; and so much more. The book is filled with personal stories of Bradford County soldiers, news accounts, memories and data that together describe the experiences of Bradford County Soldiers from the time they were drafted to the time they were discharged. Stories of Bradford County’s Red Cross work during the war and participation by our nurses in the war are also recorded. This book will be treasured for generations to come.

Karen Tuton’s book “Jail Birds” a delightful story of her time as a child growing up living in the sheriff’s quarters of the jail is available this year.

The reprint of “History of Bradford County, Pennsylvania-1770-1878,” will be available at the sale. The book was produced using cover material and paper like the original book, making this a collector’s edition for all local history fans and researchers alike. The production of this history in 1878 by Rev. David Craft was the first major project done by the Bradford County Historical Society after it was formed in 1870. Craft was appointed by the society to write the history; it is considered one of the best county histories ever published for that period. The Craft history (as well as all other reprints of the society) contains an added index which makes finding your ancestor or subject much easier as the originals did not include indexes.

The wonderful history of our ghost mountain “Barclay Mountain-A History” will be available at a discounted price. The 359-page book published in 2007 features 32 chapters that are full of historical documentation, interviews and transcriptions of oral history with 400 plus photos of people and places over two centuries.

Also, available will be “Images of Southwestern Bradford County”, the largest photo book ever published about the history of southwestern Bradford County was written and designed by Matthew T. Carl. Proceeds benefit the LeRoy Heritage Museum. The book is hardcover has 400 pages and is over an inch thick. Approximately 700 photos from the collections of LeRoy Heritage Museum, the former Canton Area Historical Society, Ruth Kinney-McIntire, and several private collections. Images are from the townships of Canton LeRoy, Granville, and old Barclay.

Other local Histories published by the Wyalusing Valley Museum and the Camptown Civic Club will be available for the sale.

The Bicentennial photo history of Bradford County is for sale at this event. The Bradford County Historical Society put together a book that contains 653 photographs of towns and townships throughout the county many of the photos have never or rarely been published in the past and offer the reader a glimpse of how our county grew and progressed through time.

Another featured item at this year’s sale will be the 128-page, full color, hard cover, indexed atlas, “Map of Bradford Country, Pennsylvania – 1858,” reprinted by the Bradford County Historical Society. This book features a map of each township and borough that shows the location of houses and buildings and their ownership in 1858. The entire set of maps is indexed, making it easy to quickly locate your ancestor or property.

Reprints of local history such as the “Romance of Old Barclay” along with writings of other local historians will be available at the sale.

The late Staley N. Clarke wrote the “Romance of Old Barclay” in 1928. He tells the story of the mountain and the coal mines along with the stories of some of the people who came to Bradford County to work there. Every little town on the mountain is mentioned in the book. There is also a listing of Barclay Mountain residents employed in the mines.

Some of the other books that will be available include “Our Boys in Blue” Clement Heverly’s history of Bradford County in the Civil War. “Pioneer and Patriot Families of Bradford County, 1778-1825”. The new “History of Bradford County.” 1995, which features 1,400 submitted family stories and the histories of town and townships, churches, schools and businesses, industry, military, cemetery and Century Farms. Please note this book can not be reprinted so when the supply available at the museum is depleted it will no longer be available. “Guthrie 100 Years of Health Care” a photo history of Guthrie along with the works of several local authors can also be acquired at the annual sale.

Gift membership certificates will be available at the sale. A membership in the Historical Society includes the quarterly magazine of the Society THE SETTLER which is published four times a year. This booklet contains articles on local history and genealogy.

Bradford County History Books make wonderful Christmas gifts please join society trustees who will be on hand to assist book shoppers during the sale.

The Historical Society is a recipient agency of the Bradford County United Way.

Tuesday, November 13, 2018

BCHS Annual Antique Appraisal Day Scheduled

On Sunday November 18, 2018 from Noon to 3 p.m. the Bradford County Historical Society will be hosting an Antique Appraisal Day. We all have items that have been handed down over the years things they we tuck away in a safe place and look at occasionally and wonder what this item might be worth. The Antique Appraisal Day will give you the opportunity to have a professional examine your item and give you the good or bad news of the value of the item.

Mr. Bullock appraised over 70 items at the 2017 event.

This event will be held in the great room of the Bradford County Museum located at 109 Pine Street in Towanda, PA. The appraiser for the day will be long time local antique dealer Chuck Bullock. Mr. Bullock was born and raised on his family farm in Auburn Township in Susquehanna County, PA and after attending C.C.B.I in Syracuse and Bucknell University he had a long career in banking. Mr. Bullock owns Sanford and Sons Antiques in Wyalusing the shop noted for its very colorful lawn ornaments along Route 6. Mr. Bullock also conducts on site estate sales in Bradford, Sullivan, Susquehanna and Wyoming Counties.

The appraisal is open to the public and there will be a charge of $3 per item for Historical Society members and $ 5 per item for nonmembers.

The museum will also be open for tours and the gift shop will be open for any persons interested in purchasing local history books or you may want to buy a 2019 society membership for that hard to buy for person on your Holiday giving list. Memberships include the society publication THE SETTLER a magazine of local history and genealogy four times a year.

So, dig out that item you have stored away dust it off and bring it to the Bradford County Museum on November 18 for what will surely be a fun filled and interesting afternoon. We will be unable to allow fire arms at the appraisal.