A3O-Lancaster Farming, Saturday, February 23,2002 Storybook Exhibit Showcases Farm Life History In Southwestern Pa. (Continued from Page A 1) display at the Somerset Histori cal Center in Somerset County. “People made the patterns on the land,” said Barbara Black, curator at the center, located off Rt. 601 north on Rt. 985 a few miles north of Somerset. “This is not just an exhibit about farm ing, but about the people and how their lives were improved by farming. People continued to change the pattern on the land throughout history and they will continue to change those pat terns through time.” The winding storybook about the farmers in southwestern Pennsylvania begins with Native American culture and ends at the age of modern farming in the 19705, intertwining 200 arti facts, 1,500 graphics and photo graphs, sound effects, telephone interactive sites, life casts simi lar to mannequins, and even a simulated maple tree being tapped for sugar water. “What we have tried to do is tell a truthful story of how life really was, and not embellish it with too much nostalgia,” said Black. “This is not necessarily an exhibit that reminds one of ‘Little House on the Prairie,’ but a more accurate view of life in southwestern Pennsylvania.” The Somerset Historical Center, a Pennsylvania Histori cal and Museum Commission (PHMC) site, has been based at the location along Rt. 985 north of Somerset for more than 30 years, and includes an expansive 165 acres. The late Dr. Earl O. and Elizabeth “Betty” Haupt, local historians from Somerset and founders of the Somerset County Historical and Genea logical Society, donated three acres to the state commission, along with an additional pur chase of acreage by the commis sion, to provide enough land to build a center in 1970. HEAVY DUTY HOOF TRIMMING TABLES Endorsed by the International Hoof Trimming School of Wisconsin jii» ■JJI* 1. PORTABLE 2. STATIONARY 3. 3-POINT HITCH 4. SKID STEER MOUNT Berkelmans Welding RR 7, AYLMER, ONTARIO, CANADA NSH 2R6 (519) 765-4230 1-877-230-9993 Web Pai After their deaths in 1985 for Earl and 1990 for Betty, the Haupts’ legacy included the do nation of their home and prop erty, which provided 135 acres for the Historical Society. In the meantime, the society and com mission were able to purchase additional acreage, all of which creates a spacious location rich for development and a unique agreement between the commis sion and society to work to gether to preserve the history of Somerset County. In 1997, part of the older center was replaced with a grand, steel-framed museum simulated to look like a big red barn. Center staff began work ing to put together an interpre tive exhibit, including farmsteads. For the past 33 years, the Mountain Craft Days Festival, a well-attended event highlighting old-fashioned crafts and demonstrations, has been conducted every Septem ber as a community outreach and major fundraiser for the site. “Mountain Craft Days serves as our single largest visitation weekend,” said Black. “Craft Days visitors said what a top notch exhibit it was, and many remarked that they would need to come back because there is so much to see. So many local people said, T learned things about this area that I never knew before’.” After viewing a 13-minute ori entation video, visitors are warmly welcomed into the ex hibit with a mural-size photo graph of a 1907 barn raising at the Joe Miller Farm in Bakers ville, Somerset County. In this particular photograph, farmers, their wives and children alike wave for the purpose of the pho tograph as they are scattered throughout the framing of the massive barn. This exhibit begins first with FOUR MODELS TO CHOOSE ie: www.berkelmansweldini • 12-year building experience in the tables design • 2”x2” tube frame chute • chute measures 75”x28”x75” high • 4” casters for cradle fold up •2 10-inch lift belts • 3500 lb. axle with or without brakes • two hydraulic cylinders for extra stability • tool box for D.C. pump and battery protection • manure grate to keep work area clean • fold away side gate • removable head board •45 min. video from International Hoof Trimming School of Canada .on.ca the very first farmers in the county, the Monongahela Native Americans, prehistoric gatherers and permanent farm ers who lived year-round in the area from about 900 to 1625 A.D. A scaled model of a Monongahela hut done by Criss man Studios in Pittsburgh was done in conjunction with the leading expert on Monongahela culture, Dr. Richard George of Carnegie Mellon, Pittsburgh. In addition, artifacts found from a recent archaeological dig in Meyersdale are also on display A reaper, fanning mill, and corn sheller are just some of the many items that tell the historical story of farming in southwestern Pennsylvania in an exclusive exhibit called “Patterns On the Land: Farming In Southwestern Pennsylvania.” Here, Vernon Berkey, president of Historical and Genealogical Society of Somerset County, right, Charlie Fox (at the phone), administrator at the Center, and Barbara Black, curator, look over some of the tools. See page A 32 for additional information about upcoming events in western Pennsylvania. as reminders of these ancient agriculturalists. Then, the exhibit moves into Settling the Frontier (1750- 1820), when the first Europeans crossed the Allegheny Moun tain. Life-size models, called life casts, of a young frontier couple become visible around one of the first corners. At that phase in time, settlers made one of the foremost impressions the land by cutting down old growth for ests and settling into the wilder ness. Also, conflict made its FARMETTE DISC HARROWS By MONROE-TUFLINE MFG. CO. • Three Point Lift Type Disc Harrows • Available In Widths From 4’o”To 8’0” • Heat Treated 18” Or 20” Blades • 7 1/2” Or 9” Blade Spacing • Quality Construction - Affordable Prices HAMILTON EQUIPMENT, INC. Sold Through Servicing Dealers By: 567 South Reading Road Ephrata, PA 17522 1-717-733-7951 website: www.haminc.com impression upon the land when struggle arose between the Brit ish and the French in the French and Indian War, and also be tween the settlers and Britain during the Revolutionary War. Although photographs were nonexistent prior to the late 1800 s and original research was difficult to find for the earlier portions of the exhibit, visitors can explore reproductions of ledgers, books, and diaries and (Turn to Page A3l)
Significant historical Pennsylvania newspapers