N. 2015 NOV.-JA Letter from the Editor Beginning with our next issue, I’ll be taking over as editor of the Marietta Traveler. It will be quite a step for someone like me, who hasn’t always been able to unequivocally call himself a “Mariettian”. Don’t get me wrong, whenever I’ve been asked by someone from out-of-town where I live, I’ve always enthusiastically told them that I live in Marietta. When a Mariettian asked the same question, however, I used to waffle a bit and say something to the effect of “in Marietta, basically, well, on the other side of 441”. After all, living in “the township”, I can’t vote for the Marietta mayor or serve on the borough council. My wife and I aren’t reflected in the Marietta population when the census is taken every ten years. My friends are in Marietta, though. Much of my free time is spent in Marietta. I have a great deal of affection for almost all things Marietta. I feel like part of this community, in short, and I’ve been making an effort recently to unapologetically declare myself a Mariettian, no matter who does the asking. In the spirit of acknowledging that political boundaries are not necessarily community boundaries, those of us at The Marietta Traveler would like to expand future coverage to include articles pertaining to Maytown, East Donegal Township, and all corners of the Marietta community. If you or your local organization have suggestions for content, or would like to contribute articles to the Traveler, please contact me at [email protected]. A Winter Poem Written by Trevor Williams Winter’s here, yet again, Bringing in this Year’s end. Sounds of laughter fill the streets, As children delight to neglect their school seats. Snowmen built and snowball fights had. Despite wicked travels the families are glad. Come ye one, come ye all. Let us march to heed the Family’s call. All ye come and come ye soon Let Love bring us all our boon. Here we are, yet again, Ringing in the once New Year’s end. Adam Jenkins Inside this issue... Candlelight Tour’s Golden Year Conservation is Key on Marietta’s Susquehanna Community Volunteer Spotlight: Dave White The Book Nook Business Spotlight: Vic’s Barber Lounge Firefighters and Community Step Up to Face Pallet Fire Tokens of History Upcoming Events and more! Candlelight Tour’s Golden Year Written by Katie Yordy The Marietta Restoration Associates are proud to host Marietta’s 50th Candlelight Tour of Homes, a town tradition and spectacular event, on Sunday, December 6th, 2015. The entire town will “open it’s doors” for visitors, dusted in gold to celebrate this mile marker event. Eight homes will be highlighted on the tour, local restaurants will be serving hot food and drinks in case of a cold day, along with numerous other events scattered throughout the town. The Outdoor Decorating Contest, which lights up the small town of Marietta every year, will start Friday evening, December 4th at 5:30 pm, so make sure your houses are adorned and lights are twinkling. Judges encourage this year’s theme to incorporate gold, since the tour is celebrating its golden anniversary. The final judging and ribbons will be handed out on Saturday morning. The Candlelight Tour of Homes will be held from 11 am to 7 pm on Sunday, with shuttle buses running from Donegal Intermediate School from 11 am to 8 pm. Tour tickets can be purchased the day of the event at the town Bank Building located on West Market Street and at the school, as well as online at mariettarestoration.org. Other events include a Ginger Bread House Contest, which will be held in the Union Meeting House. Anyone wishing to participate in the contest should contact Susan Kyle at (717) 7575920. The Susquehanna Stage Company will present Charles Dicken’s Market during the day followed by a performance of “Miracle on 34th Street” in the evening. Seating for this performance is open to all Candlelight Tour ticket holders with “first come, first serve” seating, so make sure to get there early and have your Tour brochure! For more information visit susquehannastageco.com. The Marietta Theater will be open all day, serving free popcorn and showing a Christmas movie, as well as hosting a raffle. A Wine Tasting will be held at the Marietta Community House along with two featured artists/craftsmen and a cheese expert. The Old Town Hall Museum will host author and local historian Jim Landis for the sale and signing of his book, Marietta: Houses and History, which he compiled for the Candlelight Tour’s 50th year. A Hospitality Station will be set up at St. John’s Episcopal Church with free hot beverages and Vermont Cheddar Cheese Soup for sale. The featured church on this year’s tour is Bethel AME Church on Fairview Avenue. Trolley Rides will run from noon until 2 pm and Caroler’s will bring sweet harmonies to the streets. Any additional information on The Marietta Candlelight Tour of Homes can be attained by emailing mariettafundra [email protected] or by going to the Marietta Restoration Associates website: mariettarestoration.org. Don’t miss out on this special anniversary event highlighting all the beautiful things the small town of Marietta has to offer! 2 Christmas Sweet Shoppe at St. John ’s Episcopal Church Sunday, December 6, 2015 Noon to 5:00 p.m. The seventh annual Christmas Sweet Shoppe will offer a variety of homemade cookies and baked goods to tempt visitors who are touring Marietta for the Candlelight Tour of Homes. The Episcopal Church Women (ECW) have been busy baking goodies for sale during this event. There will be chocolate and peanut butter fudge, chocolate-covered pretzels, pumpkin bread, brownies, cupcakes and more. All items are offered at a reasonable price and proceeds benefit a variety of church outreach programs. St. John’s Episcopal Church, Parish Hall 239 East Market Street • Marietta, PA 17547 No cost unless you buy something good to eat! For more info contact Nancy Kulman 426-1229 Conservation is Key on Marietta’s Susquehanna Written by Jenna Carroll Early duck hunting season was open from October 17th through October 24th, and for my husband, as well as many other water-fowlers, this is their favorite time of the year. However, times have changed and the population of hunters has risen given its popularity on shows like Duck Dynasty. This is a good thing for reasons such as the communication that the positive environment hunting can create for a family, helping individuals obtain a self-sustaining lifestyle, and increased awareness for conservation. The newfound popularity of duck hunting is also helping to increase the state’s revenue, which can be used to improve conditions for wildlife. For some local hunters who have been hunting since they were children, this growing popularity has created struggles too, such as limiting hunting spots and impacting the population of birds available to hunt. “Marietta’s portion of the Susquehanna use to be one of the greatest places to hunt ducks, but for the past decade this area has declined in producing the habitat it needs to sustain a healthy population of local and migratory birds, “ says Philip Carroll. “I’ve lived here (Marietta) my whole life and have hunted since I can remember. This area was once robust and full of wildlife, but now it is a struggle to see a few ducks on opening day of duck season.” One reason for the declining duck population is river flooding, which has depleted vegetation over time. Following the floods, this area has also lost a large amount of reed grass and other native grasses which Wood Ducks and Mallards feed off of, causing them to not return if vegetation is scarce. Another reason for the decline is the growing hunting pressure. A final reason is pollution and disrespectful treatment to the local lands. “When becoming a hunter, you are becoming a conservationist,” says Carroll. “You need to remember what you are doing affects the overall health of the area and you need to respect the land as well as the animal you are hunting. I think many hunters forget this, which has created struggles now, and will create struggles for our future hunting generations.” Organizations one can join and get involved with to support these efforts are: • Ducks Unlimited, Lancaster Chapter • Susquehanna River Waterfowlers Association, Harrisburg, Pa • Lancaster County Watershed/Lancaster County Conservation District, Lancaster, Pa • Donegal Fish and Conservation Association, Mount Joy, Pa • Susquehanna River Basin Commission, Harrisburg, Pa • Chesapeake Bay Foundation, Harrisburg, Pa A great thing to remember is that we all, non-hunters and hunters, have an effect on the wildlife in our area whether we hunt, fish or ride bike down the trail. We all have responsibility to care for the wildlife habitat in our area. The Susquehanna is a great funnel to the Chesapeake Bay and much of what we do here impacts the bay. We can all do our part in properly disposing of trash and yard waste, as well as not dumping in our sewers, which is a direct line to the river. We can all make a difference and awareness is a key factor in starting improvement along the Susquehanna. Late season for duck begins November 14th and continues through January 14th. In order to hunt, you must purchase a duck and migratory bird stamp, which can be bought online at the PA Game commission’s website, or any outdoor retail store like Kinsey’s Outdoors, Bass Pro Shops, Cabela’s, etc. A new hunter must also successfully pass a hunter’s safety course and be able to legally possess a firearm prior to purchasing a license. If interested in hunting, please go to the PA Game Commission’s website at http://www.portal.state.pa.us/ portal/server.pt/community/pgc/9106 to learn more. 3 Community Volunteer Spotlight In this edition of the Marietta Traveler, we are spotlighting Mr. David White, who has an admirable history of communitycentered volunteering. For Dave, the passion to volunteer has long been a part of his life and stems, in part, from his roots as a third generation Marietta resident. Having grown up in Irishtown (i.e. the western portion of Marietta), Dave spent his formative years in Marietta traveling between the homes of his parents and grandparents, who lived just a block apart. As a young man, Dave’s passion for Marietta and its unique sense of place was ignited during his visits to a local neighbor’s house - the Libhart family. Mrs. Emily Libhart was wellknown for her baking skills and would invite Dave over for pie. The two would sit and talk about the beauty of Marietta’s historic architecture, its history, and its contributions to the region. Through the course of such conversations, Mrs. Libhart would challenge Dave with the question “What are we going to do to save these beautiful buildings and our history?” In 1965, at 18 years of age, Dave took action on Mrs. Libhart’s challenge and united with several other residents to form a work group that eventually became Marietta Restoration Associates (MRA). From its humble beginnings, MRA grew to become one of the premier drivers of economic stimulus and historic preservation in Marietta. In the 1980s, when Dave was serving as President of MRA, as well as President of Marietta Borough Council and the Marietta 4 Columbia Economic Development Corporation, he leveraged the synergies of the groups by working with other impassioned community volunteers to execute key land purchases through grants from the Lancaster County Redevelopment Authority. Those key land purchases included the riverfront land parcels which today serve as the foundation for the developing Northwest Lancaster County River Trail. During Dave’s involvement, MRA and Marietta Borough executed other highly important projects that contributed to Marietta’s deep character of today, including the beautiful curbing on Front Street, which was crafted from stone from the Wrightsville quarry to match the historic stone that existed on Front Street, and the widening and paving of Front street, which heretofore had existed as a one lane thoroughfare with an abandoned rail line on the street. Additionally, the Union Meeting House was being considered for demolition during at one time, but through the actions of Dave and other volunteers, it was instead restored to its original appearance inside and out. The history of the Union Meeting house is significant, insofar as every faith in Marietta used this building prior to having its own property, each took turns using the building to host religious services. Dave had this say about the next few years for the MRA: “I want to help people recognize Dave White that you don’t have to live in a historic house to appreciate old houses or the unique charm of Marietta. As a community, we need to work together to preserve Marietta’s safe, tranquil, and aesthetically-pleasing character. If we don’t work to preserve it, it will be gone. Over the next 5 years, MRA can again be a leading force to save what we have in Marietta and move it forward to a higher level of sustainability. By balancing responsible adaptive reuse and preservation of Marietta’s assets to entice enough growth so that the town can support itself, we can preserve Marietta’s unique sense of place and continue to make it a community where people want to live.” MRA and the Marietta community thank you, Dave, for your years of service to the community. Your dedication to this town has made a difference in Marietta, and we look forward to seeing what great things lie ahead! Note: Dave credited numerous individuals for their contributions to all of the successes listed herein (too many to name). “Thank you!” to all of you who played a key role in MRA, Marietta Borough, and the Marietta Columbia EDC during the timeframe referenced! If you know a community volunteer that deserves recognition, please let us know! Have a poem you’d like to share in the next Traveler? Send it to [email protected] 5 THE BOOK NOOK Crossing Open Ground by Barry Lopez Review by Chris Barton Why do we read? For pleasure? To laugh? To cry? For inspiration? To be challenged? To gain perspective? As a respite from reality, or to be attuned to reality? The answer, quite possibly, is as varied as the individual. Perhaps my transition in life has caused me to begin rereading books from my past, something I never before have done. Additionally, reading aloud (the way in which my wife and I begin and end our days) has brought to me a deeper appreciation of the books’ meaning and impact upon my life. I am pleased to share with you a work of Barry Lopez’s, Crossing Open Ground, a compilation of essays first published in 1988. Barry Holstun Lopez has devoted his writing life to exploring the complexities to be found at the human-natural world interface. He wishes for us to move more closely toward a deeper understanding of questions such as: What gifts does the natural world give us? What is lost when we abuse this realm? What can we learn from our forebearers? Much more than descriptive nature writing, these fourteen essays will bring to you knowledge, reasoned analysis, differing points of view, reflective humor, heart-breaking sadness, a certain spiritual peace, and hope that we can move toward being better. Join Lopez as he revisits our ancestral past both very long ago, and more recent. Walk with your children in the woods, bringing a new awareness to their perspective. Gain a deeper appreciation of the needs and agonies of scientific research. Consider the question of ‘borders’ in our most remote geography. Cry with me when confronted with the inexplicable tragedy of death in nature, or the cruel, vicious, death to beauty and culture wrought by human hands. More eloquent than I, allow me to close with words of Lopez himself: “The door that leads to the cathedral is marked by a hesitancy to speak at all, rather to encourage a sharpness of the senses. If one speaks it should only be to say, as well as one can, how wonderfully this all fits together, to indicate what a long, fierce peace can derive from this knowledge.” Marietta Notary & Messenger Service 717-426-1793 www.mariettanotary.com 40 Old Colebrook Rd., Marietta, PA Mon.-Fri. 10am-7pm Sat. 9am-2pm Suggested additional works are Arctic Dreams, a winner of the National Book Award in 1986, and a journey to that part of our world north of the Arctic Circle, and Of Wolves and Men, an indepth exploration of the complex relationship between mankind and wolves. Have you read an amazing book you’d like to share? Contact [email protected] 6 TOKENS of HISTORY The Oldie But Goodie Written by Trevor Williams What I’m about to convey to you I have been saving for last because it’s honestly my favorite story for this year by far. As I had stated in the beginning of the year, my goal for contributing to this newsletter was to tour Marietta, looking for historically relevant structures that have plaques associated with them. To recap the year so far, I have written on three different buildings: the Duffy Mansion, the Musselmann/Vesta Museum, and the Marietta Theater. Finally, the place that, in my opinion, has them all beat is the Old Town Hall. In regards to Marietta, I feel that no other building has the historical significance that the Old Town Hall (OTH) possesses and I believe this for three reasons: 1) Old Town Hall served as Marietta’s center of government and learning for over a century, 2) the building houses the clock tower and bell that keep time throughout the town and is a constant part of Marietta local life, and 3) the Old Town Hall serves as Marietta’s main museum and boasts an array of local and national history that is sure to shock not only those who visit this quiet little river town but even most of the locals. So let’s begin… Built in 1847, Old Town Hall was to serve as home to Marietta’s governing body. Its predecessor in Center Square was becoming too dilapidated and outworn (it was built on stilts, after all). The first and second floors were owned by the Borough while the third, oddly enough, was owned and maintained by the Sons of Temperance. The second floor acted as a giant one room school house, educating various locals of all ages with a giant potbellied stove in the center of the room as its only heat source. Originally OTH was built without the town clock, which was purchased and erected six years later in 1853. A holding cell or jail was dug out of the earth on the first floor, a veritable drunk tank for the Scots-Irish blue collar after work, brawlers who were probably thorns in the sides of the Sons of Temperance. The jail is 12’x12’ with a brick floor and stone walls. The only way out of the pit was with a ladder that would be lowered to let out anyone unlucky enough to be thrown down there. Though the discovery of electricity had already produced many inventions by that time, the common light bulb was still largely unavailable to the general public until around the 1880’s, making the cell a dark and grave-like place. Marietta’s clock tower, erected in 1853, contained a massive 1075lb brass bell that was cast in London, England. The bell would toll to keep time and signal fire, as well as toll for the deaths of those individuals that were important to the community. Cori Rife, another regular writer to The Marietta Traveler, enumerated on this great work of art and technology in the January edition from this year. During the celebration of Marietta’s Sesquicentennial celebration in 1962, the bell was sounded 150 times to announce Marietta’s 150th birthday. Old Town Hall continued to house the central government body for the borough until 1874. It was that year that Central Town Hall was erected and the building was repurposed into a school. The first floor housed grades 5 and 6, and helped to accommodate the influx of kids in the main school house next door. By this time the third floor no longer housed the Sons of Temperance, which had passed out of existence by then. It now housed the Knights of Pythias, a more liberal and relaxed brotherhood that were more interested in bettering their fellow men and women through education and the provision of services than controlling Congress to further their objectives. Interesting to note, the order of the Knights of Pythias still exist to this day and are an international organization, though no longer housed in OTH. Now, here is my favorite part. By 1961, OTH no longer served either the Knights of Pythias or the school system. The Borough leaders were thinking of demolishing the building, which was all but abandoned, because of the increasing amount of maintenance that was required. The roof was an especial sore point. A married couple, Miriam and Harry Lenhert, offered to help preserve and maintain the building at a rent cost of $1.00/yr. OTH opened to the public as a museum the following year. As a curator of the museum, Miriam or “Mim” maintained the historical collection that Continued on page 13 7 Frozen River photo courtesy of George Shinkosky Upcoming Events 11/28/15 Leaf Pick-up 7:00 pm – MRA Santa, Caroling and Tree Lighting 12/4/15 Light up Marietta – Decorating contest begins at 6:00 pm Miracle on 34th Street starts playing at Susquehanna Stage Co. 12/6/15 Marietta’s 50th Anniversary of the Candlelight Tour of Homes 12/12/15 Leaf Pick-up 12/12/15 8:00 a.m. to 10:00 a.m. Santa Pancake Breakfast at St. John’s Episcopal Church 1/20/16 Christmas Tree Pick-up 2/21/16 Town Talk: Marietta Community House 2:30 PM 8 Firefighters and Community STEP UP to Face Pallet Fire Written by Jenna Carroll On Tuesday, August 25th at 4:30 a.m., West Market Street was closed between Race Street and Decatur Street while firefighters battled the blaze that overtook the 89,000 square foot, pallet holding industrial space known as SK Pallet. The volunteers eventually won, smothering the flames with faltering water pressure and filling the early morning sky with billowing smoke. When reading the news I found out that over 100 firefighters from Lebanon, York, Dauphin, and Lancaster counties fought this four-alarm fire. Nearly twenty tankers and a dozen engines were sent to the scene, along with a myriad of rescue crews and medical personnel. At one time, more than fifty firefighting units were involved in fighting the blaze, according to Lancaster County 911, and all units were filtering in and out of Marietta finding ways to take out the fire. The American Red Cross was also at the scene supporting firefighters and other response teams with food, water, and any kind of aid needed at the time. Local “Mariettians” were also there in support of the firefighters and voiced it all over Facebook mentioning their gratefulness for all the help from local and afar firefighters throughout the Susquehanna Valley. If this pallet fire would not have gotten the full attention it did, who knows what homes or other buildings could have been compromised? Local businesses in the community also extended help to the numerous volunteers who battled this fire. Nick’s Bistro on West Market Street offered free food and drink all day and Marco’s Italian Restaurant and Pizzeria offered lunch and beverages to those operating the fill site that stood outside their business. communities and support them as they support each and every one of us. Most importantly, we must all remember that many are volunteers and are doing this for free. That’s a huge sacrifice to be on call all the time and react at any given second for our protection. Be sure to thank a firefighter, policeman, or any emergency responder the next time you see them and remember all they do for you in time of crisis. Also remember that the Pioneer Fire Company, as well as other fire companies, need our support to keep functioning in the community, whether this is becoming a part of their team, volunteering for your local fire company at community events, or making a monetary donation. In an effort to keep Marietta’s future bright, we must remember that we are all important in making a difference! It was unclear at the time how this fire started, and many response teams doubt that any foul play occurred due to the time of the morning, and investigations are still ongoing. But one Photos from marietta-pa.com/2015-08-pallet-factory-fire-in-Marietta/ thing is clear, everyone involved in putting out the fire, which took until the early evening on August 25th, is to be thanked for their hard work and dedication in volunteering their “Volunteers don’t get paid, time and risking their life to protect our communities from any not because they’re worthless, type of disaster like fires, floods and accidents. We seem to always forget, or take for granted our firefighters, police departments, and other response teams, as it’s common to do in this day and age with everything going on in our busy lives. However, we need to remember their importance in all 10 but because they’re priceless.” ~Sherry Anderson 11 12 Continued from page 7 had built up over the years and organized various displays and exhibits. Items on display ranged from Marietta’s hand operated fire engine, the third oldest water pump used to fight fires in the U.S., to an 84 pair shoe display representing the different styles of men and women’s shoes as far back as 1790. Other rarities such as various Civil War memorabilia, an old salute cannon, and a stuffed bald eagle were also features for the museum. Trust me, the list goes on and on and only grows over time as the museum continued to acquire more historical artifacts that have both local and national importance. In 1987, after more than twenty years of custody and the death of her husband the previous year, Miriam donated the museum to the Marietta Restoration Association. Until then, the museum had gone through very little repair and the MRA had taken the helm and had quickly set to work to restore the building, launching an in depth project known as the “Let’s Put a Lid on It” campaign. Using funds that were attributed to the various fundraising events hosted by the MRA, such as the upcoming and much anticipated Candlelight Tour, the MRA was able to raise much of the funds necessary to repair the major damage to the museum. The other funding was provided as a grant from the county. As of today, the Old Town Hall sits and continues to watch over Marietta and its locals. Still acting as a museum and currently curated by Ray McKeeby, the local town historian, OTH is still available to those who are interested. I once was lucky enough to be given a tour of the museum. It is part of the reason that this article is my favorite, because out of the four different sites that I have written on, this one I have seen the most. I was able to see firsthand the jail cell on the ground floor, the local Native American arrowhead collection, the authentic Civil War uniforms and war documents. One of my favorite exhibits was the one dedicated to Dr. H. M. Alexander, a 19th century Marietta physician who played a major role in developing the world’s first vaccines for rabies and smallpox. I even had the honor of being in the belfry, watching the wheels, cogs, and other pieces of the functioning assembly turn as the clock chimed the 11th hour of the day. Truly it was an amazing day. The complete refurbishing of Old Town Hall has yet to be completed. The good fight continues as those of us who are interested continue to do as we must to preserve this local and national treasure. As of right now, only the first floor is truly show ready for the public. If you do feel like contributing in any way, aside from participating in the yearly fund raising events, please contact the MRA. The information in this article was provided either by “The Scoop on Marietta: A Small River Town” by Lyn Baker Alarie or Wikipedia: Sons of Temperance and Knights of Pythias information. As always, thank you for reading and Happy Holidays! ODDJOBS &OtherThings Building&Remodeling Renovations&Rejuvenations Kitchens&Bathrooms HomeMaintenance&RepairServices Decks&Landscapes ReliableServiceAtReasonableRates CallForEstimates:717-381-7700 PAHIC#113757 13 BUSINESS SPOTLIGHT Vic’s Barber Lounge 38 W. Market Street, Marietta, PA 17547 (717) 426-1476 Tuesday – Friday 12:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m. Saturday 10:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. New to Marietta is a barber shop for the whole family! Vic’s Barber Lounge opened this past spring with many things to offer the community. Victor Reyes, owner, chose Marietta due to its small size and potential for growth. “I wanted to be part of this growth by bringing a new experience in barbering to the community” Vic states. All ages are welcome at Vic’s Barber Lounge with enough activities to keep anyone occupied. The barber shop offers refreshments while you wait, as well as magazines, a complimentary computer, and an iPad for children with built in games. The lounge area features a TV with an Xbox 14 for those extra-long visits. Vic offers a variety of services including “Vic’s Ultimate Shave Experience” which consists of a hot towel, pre-shave oil, hot lather, and an after shave moisturizer. He also offers discounted cuts for seniors and children. Prices start for children 10 years of age and under at just $10.00 and an average men’s cut is $15.00. Walk-ins are welcome, but appointments are taken and appreciated. You may also call the barber lounge for additional pricing information. Check them out on Facebook at Vic’s Barber Lounge! PRSRT STD ECRWSS U.S. POSTAGE PAID EDDM RETAIL LOCAL POSTAL CUSTOMER N. 2015 NOV.-JA www.facebook.com/TheMariettaTraveler Brought to you by: Editor: Katie Yordy / Adam Jenkins Advertising: Deb Culley Distribution: Rick Washburn Design & Layout: Emily Chimics Please submit any stories, artwork or upcoming events to [email protected] with Article Submission in the subject line. www.mariettarestoration.org
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