2008 Events Calendar
December 28th | 3:00 pm
A Christmas Memory" to be Performed at The Columns
On December 28, 2008 the American Reader's Theatre performed "A Christmas Memory" which is a short play written by Truman Capote. It was first published in Mademoiselle Magazine in December of 1956. This largely autobiographical work by Capote about a boy named Buddy and his cousin Sook, deals with the ideas of poverty, loneliness, even death. The original teleplay was adapted by Capote and Eleanor Perry for ABC Stage 67 and earned the leading lady, Geraldine Page, an Oscar for her performance.
In addition to this reading, light hearted story telling performed by the readers made for an afternoon filled with Holiday Spirit enjoyable for the whole family.
The American Readers Theatre is overseen by Jeffrey Stocker and his talented students have delighted us with many performances over the last few years. Included in the cast this year are Priscilla Crum, Priscilla Fenstermacher, Ruth Randone, Anthony Reyes, Curt Merril and Celeste O'Neill.
Pike County Historical Society's Annual Holiday Party
The Pike County Historical Society opened the doors to the Columns Museum on December 7th for its annual holiday party. Holiday spirit was high as over one hundred guests enjoyed food, drink and entertainment provided by the Tri State Community Chorus and The Deanery Choir.
November 1, 2008
Haunted Carriage Rides!
Back by popular demand! Learn of the rumored hauntings in the town of Milford...Salem's got nothing on us!
Friday, November 14, 2008
"The New Deal Weekend "
Dinner and a Movie Italian Dinner including salad main course, dessert and coffee followed by the showing of "Paper Moon" starring Ryan and Tatum O'Neil. Bring your own comfy lawn chairs, this is a full length movie!
Saturday, November 15, 2008
Guest Speaker: Peter Osborne on the Roosevelt's and the New Deal.
Free to the public. Foundation Room.
October 25, 2008
Smoky Joe Wood Day at The Black Walnut Inn
Pony rides, games, tye-dying, hot dogs, popcorn. A day of family fun!
October 30, 2008
Business Card Exchange/Historical Portrayal of Lizzie Schultz
5:30-7:30 at The Columns. Portrayal by Stacey Case.
Food and beverage provided.
Camp Exhibit Dedication Ceremony
The Museum of the Pike County Historical Society dedicated "The Camp Exhibit" to the Troy family at the Columns on August 23, 2008.
Lori Strelecki , Museum director, introduced Ellen Snyder-Grenier pictured above who made the dedication. Ms Snyder-Grenier is the Curator of the Guinness Collection at the Morris Museum in Morristown NJ. She is also the author of the book "A place along the Raymondskill"
On June 14th, the 116th Anniversary of Flag Day, the Pike County Historical Society and The Zimmermann Center for the Arts held the First Annual “Welcome to Summer, Flag Day Celebration”.
We welcomed Summer with ice cream, music and Mr. & Mrs. Uncle Sam. The historic symbols of our country’s history where on display at the Columns museum, while the dramatic stories that shaped our lives were told throughout the day.
For making this event as sweet and fun as a summer’s day, we thank Price Chopper for the Ice Cream Social, The Columns- Pike County Historical Society, Jim Levell, and the Zimmermann Center for the Arts, for supporting the music and stories of America’s future.
Pike County Historical Society thanks all who participated in the Lincoln Weekend
On April 13th, 2008, a crowd of people gathered at the Stroyan Funeral Home and the Columns Museum to commemorate the death of President Abraham Lincoln. With a chilly wind blowing and a cold drizzle falling on the faces of the gathered, the weather accented the day’s events.
Following soldiers carrying the American flag, an intricate, grey, horse-drawn carriage containing a replica of Lincoln’s coffin proceeded from West Harford Street to Broad Street, followed by Union Civil War re-enactors dressed in uniform and marching in perfect step.
As civilians milled outside the Columns museum awaiting the coffin’s arrival, women in hoop skirts and Civil War soldiers duplicated the solemn mood of Lincoln’s historical funeral procession so many years ago. As the coffin entered the Columns Museum, so did the people, anxious to witness the small memorial service and following events.
Some people gathered around the flag that cradled Lincoln’s head the night of his assassination; a flag that still bears the stain of the President’s blood. Others surrounded Jacqueline Kroschell as she beautifully sang tribute songs to Lincoln, including “Honor to Our Soldiers” and “Farewell Father, Friend, and Guardian.”
Lectures given by Lincoln scholars and readings by the American Readers Theatre closed the Columns’ Lincoln Weekend. The weekend’s activities attracted a crowd of over 500 people locals and visitors, not including the media who came to film and photograph the procession.
We would like to offer a special thanks to our sponsors, Orange and Rockland Utilities and Kevin Stroyan, Stroyan Funeral Home, who made the event possible.
The Pike County Historical Society also extends a sincere thank you to:
Dick Daddis
Barbara Buchanan
Ray Weeks
Lori Strelecki
Richard Sloan
Jacqueline Kroschell
Martha Lorin
Darren Fouse
Chef Christian
Juanita Leisch Jensen
Joanna Szackmary
Linda Kolbek
Gail Darcy
Richard Symth
The American Readers Theatre
56th New York Re-enactors Group
123rd New York Re-enactors Group
143rd New York Re-enactors Group
12th New York Re-enactors Group
15th New Jersey Re-enactors Group
81st Pennsylvania Re-enactors Group
and special thanks go the Pike County Historical Societies Board of Directors, and the many volunteers who participated in the event.
The Queen of Cups - a novel by Mina Samuels
Book Signing with Mina Samuels
Author Mina Samuels enjoyed an afternoon at the Columns for her book signing. Her new novel, The Queen of Cups, is scheduled for major release in the new year. The book imagines the life of Juliette Peirce in the years prior to her marriage to philosopher Charles Saunders Peirce. Juliette's past has been shrouded in mystery for many years and this book dares to make assumptions in order to piece it all together. If you wish to purchase a copy please go to Ms. Samuel's website: www.thequeenofcups,com, or look for an appearance by the author in January at local bookstore Mill Run Booksellers, located in the Upper Mill.
Collaboration Celebration!
The P.C.H.S., Dingman's Ferry Delaware Township Historical Society, and students Ryan Balton, Nicholas Troianao, and Brett Fuchs of Delaware Valley High School collaborated for an informative and insightful look at the Tock's Island Project and its effect on the town of Dingman's Ferry. Once known as "the twin to the village of Milford," Dingman's Ferry contained mills, blacksmith shops, churches, stores, Inns, and many private residences that were destroyed or left to ruin as a result of the aborted Government plan to dam the Delaware River and create the largest natural(?) recreation area in the Eastern United States.
The very talented students from Delaware Valley produced and directed a much heralded documentary regarding the Tocks Island Project, which was shown at a recent exhibit opening at The Columns. The exhibit, a combination of materials belonging to both Historical Societies, opened on April 28th. The exhibit is a tribute to the spirit of the people of Dingman's, past and present, who have valiantly strived to keep the memory of their town alive and well through pictures, artifacts, and memorabilia.
At the opening, JoAnn Parsell, President of the Dingman's Ferry Delaware Valley Historical Society, and Lori Strelecki, Museum Director for the P.C.H.S., spoke proudly of the collaboration, noting the importance of mutual support among the "official museum of the county" and its fledglings-meaning all township and borough societies in Pike County. The P.C.H.S. offers an invitation to all other historical societies in our fine County to create, or assist in the creation of, an exhibit depicting their individual, important histories.
Civil War Wedding...
The weekend of April 22nd & 23rd, N.Y.'s 156th Civil War re-enactors were back! This year, instead of repeating what they did last year, they performed a Civil War wedding ceremony. Two members of this amazing group renewed their wedding vows, professing their undying love for one another, even after all the years they have been together. The backdrop of the event was the ever so majestically beautiful, Columns Museum, with its trees and flowers in full bloom. The Civil War wedding made for a memorable weekend not only for the re-enactors, but also The Columns.
On March 4th, 2006 The Columns hosted a Blues benefit concert, followed by an extraordinary art auction, The event was held to help raise the much needed funds for the replacement of the historical building’s roof.
The evening was filled with blues-ical sounds, exquisite art, wine and cheese, and memorable moments. Bobby Kyle wailed out the sultry sounds of the blues and reminisced of his childhood in our historic town of Milford, while listeners tapped their feet, nodded their heads, and truly let his sounds take them to another place.
Immediately following the benefit concert, everyone gladly went downstairs to the make-shift art gallery, to place their final bids on the masterpieces up for auction. On the "auction block" were many beautiful pieces that were donated by local artists, including historical prints of local attractions by Bruce Frank, “satirical portraits of societal life” by the creator of the Gibson Girl, Charles Dana Gibson, and many other miscellaneous works of art.
The event sold out and put the Columns one giant step towards its goal of replacing the dilapidated roof. "We did much better than I ever anticipated!"~ Lori Strelecki, Museum Curator
Although the event was quite a success, they are still in need of funds for the replacement of the roof that has been preserving Pike County's History for the last couple of decades. If you would like to donate to the fund for the roof replacement, please contact Lori Strelecki at 570.296.8126 or email her at pchs11@earthlink.net.
