Category: History

Celebrate 40 years of Christmas with the Coventry Singers!

On December 8th and 9th The Coventry Singers continue to celebrate their 40th Anniversary by performing Christmas favorites. This year’s concerts feature Bach’s Christmas Cantata No. 142 and Finzi’s Magnificat as well as familiar favorites such as Sing We Now of Christmas and Ding Dong Merrily on High. There will also be a carol sing-a-long with the audience.
See details below!
The concerts are free to the public, but free will offerings are accepted.
 
Saturday December 8th at 3:00 pm
St. Gabriel’s Episcopal Church
1188 Benjamin Franklin Highway East
Douglassville, PA 19518
 
Sunday December 9th at 4:00 pm
St. James Lutheran Church
1101 East High St.
Pottstown, PA 19464

Public information meetings to be held for historic African Union Church of South Coventry

Have you ever heard of The Friends of the African Union Church of South Coventry (FAUCSC)?   In 2010, FAUCSC was established as a non-profit to preserve the remnants of an historic African-American church and cemetery that had been abandoned many years ago on Coventryville Road in South Coventry.

They are working to increase interest in their preservation  project as well as increase the public awareness surrounding the importance of the site.  They are also raising funds for their Restoring Dignity: Historic Marker and Fence Campaign. They have set a goal of raising $15,000 for:

-Sign to identify the site and provide basic information
-Fencing to identify the locations of the graves
-Entrance steps and walking path

You can visit them on the web at http://www.faucsc.org/ to learn more or make a donation.

Artist’s rendering by Susan Donmoyer

FAUCSC will host two public information meetings at the South Coventry township building on Thursday, November 8 at 7:00 pm and Saturday, November 10 at 10:00am.

Members of the FAUCSC will discuss their work to preserve the early 19th-Century church and cemetery located in the township. Residents and anyone interested in local history are invited to attend.

There are some photos and some more information in this Mercury article  by Brandie Kessler about 2012 Earth Day activities in the area. You can also visit www.faucsc.org to learn more.

Documentary on “green building” to be screened on Election Day at Grace Lutheran

This Tuesday, November 6th at 7:00 PM, you can view the award-winning documentary, “The Greenest Building,” at The Lounge at Grace Lutheran Church, 660 N. Charlotte Street in Pottstown. A discussion will follow.


Tuesday is Election Day! After casting your VOTE, why not check out this hour-long documentary? It is narrated by David Ogden Stiers.

The Greenest Building explores the myth that a “green building” is a new building and demonstrates how renovation and adaptive reuse of existing structures can fully achieve the sustainability movement’s “triple bottom line” – economic, social, and ecological balance.  Check out this trailer.


*There will be information about running for Ward Representative to fill Borough Council seats in next year’s elections. Members of a new “Reform Movement” in Pottstown will be on hand to discuss how to get involved and run on the issues facing Pottstown, not on party affiliation.*

Last chance to see historic art exhibit at ArtFusion 19464!

JANET BRAUN REINITZ by Charlotta Janssen

The historic Threads of a Story art exhibit at ArtFusion 19464 will end this Saturday, October 27th at 3pm. Hundreds of Pottstown area school children and visitors of all ages have witnessed these portraits of the Freedom Riders from 1961 and the Bus Boycotters from 1956 during the Civil Rights era.

From ArtFusion’s website: “This show features the work of Charlotta Janssen, who was inspired from mug shots of famous–and not famous–people arrested during the civil rights movement of the 50s and 60s, demanding desegregation and equal rights for all.  Ms. Janssen appeared on The Oprah Winfrey Show on May 4, 2011, showcasing her work, during Oprah’s tribute to the Freedom Riders.  Her work is displayed and collected nationally and internationally. For more information on this show, please click here.”

ArtFusion 19464 Hours

Tuesday-Friday 10am-5pm and Saturday 10am-3pm
Closed Sunday and Monday

Location

254 E. High St.
Pottstown, PA 19464

Phone

610.326.2506

Email

info@artfusion19464.org

3rd Annual Antique Appraisal event tonight at ArtFusion 19464

FYI: ArtFusion 19464 is the former Gallery School of Pottstown/Gallery on High!

This evening, Thursday, October 4 from 6-8 pm, ArtFusion 19464 is hosting a joint fundraiser with Forgotten Cats, a local group dedicated to helping many of the stray and abandoned cats in our neighborhoods. Eileen Rhoads, of Rhoads Auction and Antiques, is generously donating her time and expertise for this event. Please RSVP to 610-326-2506 or by email.

The event runs from 6:00-8:00pm at ArtFusion’s 254 E. High St. location. Your $15 entrance fee includes appraisal of one item. Each additional item is $5, with a maximum of three items per person. Light refreshments will be served.

Formerly The Gallery School of Pottstown/@ The Gallery on High
254 E. High St.
Pottstown, PA 19464

www.artfusion19464.org

About ArtFusion 19464
Formerly The Gallery School of Pottstown, ArtFusion 19464 is a non-profit community art center dedicated to making the arts accessible to everyone.  Our mission  is to enrich the lives of the residents in the greater Pottstown area through the visual arts, regardless of ethnicity and economic situations. Our goal is to spark creativity, build self-confidence and develop community bonds through education, mentoring and community service.
About Forgotten Cats
Forgotten Cats helps many of the stray and abandoned cats in our neighborhoods. They help the animals receive needed medical care, get them spayed or neutered and find them a forever home.
About Rhoads Auction and Antiques

Ron and Eileen Rhoads Auction and Antiques can be found at 383 Ben Franklin Highway West, Douglassville, PA 19518.  They have fifty years in the business and are the second generation serving the Delaware Valley.

9th Annual Carousel of Flavor this Sunday!

One of Pottstown’s premier events is taking place this Sunday in the 100 block of High Street – the 9th Annual Carousel of Flavor to benefit The Carousel of Pottstown project.

“Delight in tastings from the area’s best restaurants, discover handmade treasures from talented craftspeople, dance to the music, and just simply enjoy this day outside that puts the fun in our favorite Carousel fundraiser!” says the event’s Facebook page.

Seventeen area restaurants will be participating. Scout out what’s available, get your food tickets, then go and eat until your stomach’s content. And the wine and beer garden will be double in size this year.

The Carousel of Flavor runs from 12-4 pm. Thousands of visitors come out and every year it grows bigger; 7,000-8,000 are predicted to turn out this year. Get there early. For more info on what it’s all about, check out The Mercury’s story from yesterday here.

Homeschoolers invited to Pottsgrove Manor on Oct. 5th

This comes to us from the folks at Pottsgrove manor…

On Friday, October 5, from 10:00am to 2:00 pm, homeschoolers are invited to historic Pottsgrove Manor for a fun-filled and educational field trip that will let them explore the skills, trades, and pastimes of the 18thcentury.

Around the grounds, children will be able to participate in hands-on activities led by Pottsgrove Manor’s staff and volunteers, including candle-dipping, quill pen writing, historic toys and games, laundry, and colonial dress-up.  Guests will get to visit with farm animals like sheep and rabbits and learn how their hair would be spun into yarn.  Participants will also see demonstrations of 18th-century crafts, open-hearth cooking, and food preservation.  The first floor of the Pottsgrove Manor mansion will be open for self-guided tours, with volunteers stationed in the rooms to share the house’s history and answer questions.  The museum shop will be open for the purchase of books, games, souvenirs, and more.

This program is ideal for elementary-aged students and is open to individual homeschool families, homeschool groups, and small school and church groups.  The cost is $5 per child.  Call 610-326-4014 to pre-register or for more information.  Activities will be ongoing throughout the day; allow at least two hours for the visit.  As most activities will be outdoors, this program will be held weather-permitting.  Limited parking and handicapped spots are available in the Pottsgrove Manor parking lot.  Visitors may also park directly across on King Street in the Quality Inn parking lot.

Pottsgrove Manor, home of John Potts, colonial ironmaster and founder of Pottstown, is located at 100 West King Street near the intersection of King Street and Route 100, just off Route 422, in Pottstown, Pennsylvania.  Pottsgrove Manor is operated by Montgomery County under the direction of the Parks and Heritage Services Division of the Assets and Infrastructure Department.

Regular museum hours are Tuesday to Saturday, 10:00am to 4:00 pm and Sunday, 1:00pm to 4:00pm.  Tours are given on the hour.  The last tour of the day begins at 3:00pm.  Groups of 10 or more should pre-register by calling 610-326-4014.  For more information and a full calendar of events, visit the website at http://historicsites.montcopa.org/pottsgrovemanor.  Like Pottsgrove Manor on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/PottsgroveManor.

New Hanover United Methodist Church holds 2nd Annual Car & Bike Show tomorrow

This comes to us from reader Diane VanDyke…

New Hanover United Methodist Church, 2211 Swamp Pike, Gilbertsville, will be hosting its Second Annual Car and Bike Show Saturday, Sept. 8, 10 a.m.-2 p.m.  Registration starts at 9 a.m., and the fee is $10. The rain date is Sunday, Sept. 9, 1:30-5:30 p.m. with registration starting at 12:30 p.m. Prizes will be awarded.

This year’s show features one of the most exciting cars of the muscle-car era, a 1969 Dodge Super Bee 440, and a vintage Harley-Davidson, a 1940 Knucklehead. Come and see these unique vehicles and the many other restored and antique vehicles spanning several decades, check under the hoods and chat with local car and bike enthusiasts.

The proceeds from this year’s event will benefit Happy 2 Be Home, new non-profit organization started by the congregation to help families with children with chronic, long-term, multiple disabilities. By customizing their houses to meet their children’s physical needs, Happy 2 Be Home enables parents and caretakers to care for their children in the comfort and convenience of their homes.

For more information or to register, visit www.newhanoverumc.org, email at info@newhanoverumc.org or call the church office at 610-323-2353.

 

36th Annual Hay Creek Festival on tap this weekend

I’m posting this on behalf of my neighbor Jack, who is a volunteer with the Hay Creek Valley Historical Association. They’re holding their annual Hay Creek Festival beginning today and running through this weekend, and it looks awesome!

From their website: “Our Association was organized in 1975 with an objective  to support and demonstrate, to foster interest in and appreciation for our local heritage, and to provide a living experience of Berks County’s rich agricultural and technological past. In 1979 Bethlehem Steel donated historic Joanna Furnace to the Hay Creek Valley Association and our organization took on a new challenge of preserving a treasured piece of America’s past. Today the organization is 1,000 members strong and relies on volunteer efforts and donations to preserve the history of Joanna Furnace.”

Experience early American life at historic Joanna Furnace. The Hay Creek Festival runs from today, September 7 through September 9 (rain or shine). Attractions run from 10 am to 5 pm – Shuttle runs 7 am to 6 pm.

The Festival includes a Civil War Encampment , Home Craft & Antique Market, Children’s Hands-On Activities,
Mechanical Technology Exhibits, Early American Crafts, Entertainment, Homemade Food (Mabel’s kettle soups, Schnitz Un Knepp/Apples & Ham, Ice Cream Floats, Apple Butter, Mint Tea, and Hamburgers & Hot Dogs. Visitors can start their day at the Hay Creek Festival with an Ironmaster’s Pancake & Sausage Breakfast. This “rise and shine” breakfast is served Saturday and Sunday morning from 7 to 10 am in the Joanna Furnace Mule Stable. Please note: Food Tickets are needed to purchase food items. Ticket booths are placed conveniently throughout the festival grounds and can be redeemed prior to leaving the event. Check out the website for many more details!

Event Information

Admission:
Adults: $10.00
Children(6-12): $2.00
Children 5 and under: FREE
Click here to receive a discount admission coupon.  Each coupon is good for two adults.

Festival Time:
Main Attractions 10 am to 5 pm
Shuttle Busses Run 7 am to 6 pm
The festival is held rain or shine.

Parking:
FREE Parking is available to all festival visitors. Parking is located on a large field along Route 10 just south of the festival grounds. Follow signs. Visitors will ride our Free bus service to and from the festival ground.

For your safety and by order of the local police we ask that you do not park along Route 10. As an alternative free parking is available along Furnace Road.

Handicap Parking – Located on the festival grounds. Follow signs posted on Rt. 10, exit at Furnace Rd.

Visitors will be allowed to drive on-site to pickup large purchase items. Be sure to ask the vendor where you buy your large articles for a temporary on-site parking pass.

Hay Creek Festival Parking GPS Directions:  740 Harmony Road, Morgantown PA 19543

 

National Art Tour opens at Art Fusion 19464 TODAY!

 ArtFusion 19464, formerly The Gallery School of Pottstown@ Gallery on High, is kicking off its re-branding campaign today, September 7th, with an amazing art exhibit that has been traveling throughout the south and was featured on The Oprah Winfrey Show in February 2011.

Threads of a Story: Continued features the work of artist Charlotta Janssen, who was inspired by mug shots of
famous–and non famous–people arrested during the civil rights movement in the 1950s and 1960s. The swearing in of the first black president of the United States in 2009 was a catalyst for the artist, and Threads evolved as a way to visually thank participants of the civil rights movement for their work and dedication that made the moment possible.

Janssen specifically honors Bus Boycotters from 1956 and Freedom Riders from 1961. The artist’s goals are to transport the viewer back to these moments in our country’s history, to create a living history and bring awareness to a collective
consciousness where segregation seemed normal and fighting it was a daunting task. To realize these goals, Janssen re-imagines the mug shots of her subjects using oil, acrylic, rust and collage. Mug shots are normally portraits of shame, but in those belonging to the Bus Boycotters and Freedom Riders, she sees their heroism, determination and courage.

The exhibit at the Gallery will feature eight brand new portraits in this incredible series, including new portraits of Martin Luther King, Jr. and Rosa Parks. Also on display will be giclee prints of 15 of her portraits from the original series. The show will open with a private reception on September 7 and then the show will be open to the public from September 8 through October 20, 2012 during normal Gallery hours. Educational field trips for local school and groups can also be arranged. Interested groups should email info@galleryonhigh.com or call 610-326-2506 for more information.

Charlotta Janssen was born in Maine to German parents living in America under the Marshall plan. In 1973, her family moved to Iran, which they fled during the revolution in 1979. Janssen studied painting at the University of Arts in Berlin from 1986-1989, dropping out to travel the world as a street musician and performance artist. To make sense of all of these experiences, she returned to painting in 1991 with a clear voice that was no longer searching but finding. She currently lives and paints augmented portraiture in Brooklyn, NY.

ArtFusion 19464 (formerly The Gallery School of Pottstown) is a 501(c)3 non-profit community art school and gallery. The School offers day, evening and weekend classes to all ages. The goal of these classes is to help students develop their creative skills through self-expression and independence. The Gallery on High hosts rotating shows featuring local artists. The Gallery also sells handcrafted, one-of-a-kind gift items.  The Gallery on High is open Tuesday through Friday from 10am-4:30pm and Saturday 10am-3pm. The Gallery is closed Sunday and Monday.

Art Fusion 19464
254 E. High St.
Pottstown, PA  19464
610-326-2506
info@artfusion19464.org
www.artfusion19464.org

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