Page 20 — SUSQUEHANNA TIMES A > ie ? pra a Co Madge Barnett once rode several miles in the open trunk of a small Rambler, to make sure the spinning wheel she was moving didn’t get banged around too much. Several busloads of tourists got an opportun- ity to stare at Madge in the trunk. Madge started spinning and weaving when she was in junior high school. She learned the craft because she was working as a guide at the Pennsylvania Tractor Museum. Although she started spinning as part of her job, Madge quickly developed as much enthusiasm for the craft as any amateur. She is now the owner of 22 antique spinning wheels. Madge is married and is 8 the mother of a two year Sie = old daughter. She works as a From left to right, outside the Home of the Month, are machine shop apprentice at Ken Ross, Anna Powers and Mike Able. Mike and Ken the Caterpillar Tractor Co. Her family runs an antique business on Market Street in Marietta, which gives Madge an excuse to collect and repair a lot of old spinning and weaving equipment. Homespun clothing be- came a victim of Yankee ingenuity about 100 years ago. New England mills learned how to manufacture cloth so cheaply, that textiles became America’s leading manufactured pro- duct for a while. Spinning was a time-con- suming chore, and most women must have been happy to give it up. However, the craft is pleas- ant and relaxing when you don’t have to do it. “Weaving is more creative than spinning,”” Madge says. ‘Weaving is the fun part. But spinning isn’t bad. I get very relaxed when I work.’ April 7, 1976 — A™ Madge Barnett has old-fashioned hobbies; spinning, weaving are members of the Restoration Associates. Anna Powers home selected ‘House of the Month’ Houses are a lot like people-they come in all sizes and shapes, reflect a variety of cultures and differ in their states of physical condi- tion . The homes of Mariet- ta are no exception. They range from the Colonial architecture of the 1700’s to the contemporary bi-levels presently under construct- ion and can be found in many conditions from near perfect to near collapse. Many citizens of Marietta have taken pride in their dwellings over the years, a fact for which we can all be thankful today. They have made the extra effort necessary to keep their home properly maintained so as to reflect its original beauty and design. Such is the case with Anna Powers, as can clearly be seen in her well preserved Victorian home at 210 East Market Street in Marietta. It is this home with its original, intricate ‘‘ginger- bread’ still intact that has been selected by the Mariet- ta Restoration Associates as their choice for ‘‘House of the Month’’. Each month the Restoration Associates will be selecting a building, from among those suggest- ed by local citizens, that adds to the overall beauty of the Marietta area. The home of Anna Powers was their first selection. Although this life-long resident of Marietta is nearing her 84th year, she remains strong in pride and keen in eye, two vital ingredients for home preser- by Ken Ross vation. She speaks kindly of the former residents of her Carpenter Gothic home for without their help this house too, could have been re- muddled (poorly remodeled) like so many beauties lost over the years. Yes, houses are a lot like people. They mirror the personalities of those who inhabit them. Some houses clearly reflect their owner’s sensitivity toward its origin- al design and beauty, while others show the hard times they have barely endured. Fortunately for the residents of Marietta, an appreciation for their rich architectural heritage is emerging. More and more buildings are having their original charm enhanced. More and more persons are coming to appreciate the aesthetic qualties of the buildings of Marietta and are starting to do something about it. Long time resident, Anna Powers, has always appreciated this architectural beauty and has worked hard to preserve it. DID YOU HEAR... Mom Fishburn, who lives near Hollister’s on the Manheim Road, will be celebrating her 78th birth- day soon. Mom does all her own gardening and yard work. DID YOU HEAR... The Mount Joy Volunteer Fire Company #1 are putting up (and taking down) the new sales days banners across Mount Joy streets for the Mount Joy Merchants Association Sales Days. in York, and is studying Madge uses her home- toward a master’s degree in spun yarn to make belts, industrial relations. scarves, and placemats. Odessa Mull (left) and Barbara Landis (right) are all set for the Marietta- Maytowm- E. Donegal Bicentennial Ball. Odessa Mull--shown wearing the authentic type ball gown which she made. She used the Williamsburg pattern, 12 yards of chintz material, 4 yards of other cotton and imitation silk materials and about 30 yards of ribbon and 3 yards of lace to trim it. She also made a farthinggale to wear under the gown.(This was the padding worn on the hips so that the gown skirt extended on each side of the wearer but was quite smooth and flatt in the front and the back.) About 17 yards of the decorative ribbon she shirred and applied by hand. (Shirred ribbon was a favorite trim used in 1776 by those who could afford it.) Dessie has more hours of work in her gown than she cared to estimated. (She is a 1975 graduate of Donegal High School.) Barbara Landis--shown wearing her authentic type ball gown from the Revolutionary Period. She also used the Williamsburg pattern and about 10 yards of material and 1S yards of lace, S yards of ribbon. Along with all the time needed to make their gowns came the bonus of a spirit of camaraderie and lots of laughs at mistakes and even more laughs at some of the styles from those times. (Neither Barbara nor Odessa spent more than $15 for material and trimming for each gown.) Information about creating authentic eighteenth century clothing can be obtained by contacting members of the Donegal Rangers or their ladies (Barbara is a junior at Donegal High School.) Madge Barnett at her wheel Wondering what to wear to the Ball? by Margaret Landis With the Bicentennial Ball less than three weeks away, it is time to give some attention to what you will wear. The option between red, white and blue modern dress and costuming, either representative or authentic, should make it possible for everyone attending to feel that he or she is participat- ing in the spirit of the occasion. Men attending can wear anything from a blue suit, white shirt and red tie to satin knee britches, a brocade waistcoat and a velvet coat trimmed with gold and silver braid and silver buttons. There will be costuming awards present- ed for the best outfits, male and female, in both modern red, white and blue dress and colonial costuming. For the ladies, there is probably even more of a challenge. Their options range from red, white and blue jumpsuits to yards and yards of satin, lace, ribbons and other eighteenth cen- tury finery. The former can either be purchased or made at home; the latter, how- ever, must either be made at home or by a seamstress, or it could be rented from a professional costumer. There are patterns available at most drygoods stores from which a good repre- sentative type outfit can be made: that is one which is similar in appearance to what would have been worn in colonial times, but which is made using modern sewing techniques and ma- terials. For history enthusiasts or the very avid sewer who enjoys doing detailed hand- work, the combinations can be almost infinite if she allows. her imagination to guide her design. The Red Rose Bicenten- nial Ball hopes to keep as its focal point the reminder of what our two hundred years of freedom means and to provide a memorable event for all who wish to attend. Tickets are on sale at Spangler’s in Marietta or at Houseal’s Store in May- town. The price is $7.50 per person for adults and a special $5.00 rate for stu- dents. This will include dancing to the Dixielanders (featuring Merl Hildebrand on trumpet who was previ- ously a member of Les Brown’s Band of Renown), costume judging, period music by a string trio from Elizabethtown College, a short presentation of the minuet by Mrs. Goodall’s class and a lovely banquet at midnight. Dennis Shu- maker, Chairman of the Marietta, Maytown, East Donegal Bicentennial Com- mittee and Master of Cere- monies for the Red Rose Ball, will try to remind those attending of some of the important contributions made by those who lived in these particular areas at the time of the American Revolution. Joan Betty, whose talent in the Lancas- ter Opera Workshop is known county-wide, will sing. The date: April 24. The place: Riverview School Route 441, Marietta. Th time: 9 p.m. to 1 a.m. a 0 h I 8 A w S % ~
Significant historical Pennsylvania newspapers