Pottsgrove Manor To Host Paper Marbling Workshop

Pottstown, PA – On Saturday, February 11, 2017 from 10:00 am to 3:00 pm, historic Pottsgrove Manor will host a paper marbling workshop, giving visitors a hands-on experience learning the art of paper marbling.

In this class, taught by Ramon Townsend of the Colonial Bindery, students will learn the art of paper marbling by designing colors on a base fluid and transferring the design to paper. Students will have the time to create 20-25 sheets of marbled paper.

Ages 14 and older are welcomed. There is a materials fee of $65 per person. Participants should bring a bag lunch. Class size is limited to 10 participants on a first-come first-serve basis. Pre-registration and payment are required by February 1, 2017. Pre-register by calling 610-326-4014.

Regular museum hours are Tuesday to Saturday from 10:00am to 4:00pm and Sunday from 1:00pm to 4:00pm. Tours are given on the hour. The last tour of the day begins at 3:00pm. The site is closed Mondays and major holidays. Groups of 10 or more should pre-register by calling 610-326-4014.

Pottsgrove Manor is located at 100 West King Street near the intersection of King Street and Route 100, just off Route 422, in Pottstown, Pennsylvania.

For more information, please call 610-326-4014, or visit the website at www.montcopa.org/pottsgrovemanor. Like Pottsgrove Manor on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/pottsgrovemanor.

Event For Pottstown Historical Society At Manatawny Still Works

The Pottstown Historical Society will meet Monday, November 21, 2016, at 7:00 pm at the Manatawny Still Works, at 320 Circle of Progress, in Pottstown. The cost is $15 per person, payable at the door. Entry includes a tour, one drink and a tasting of their local PA-distilled spirits, and a souvenir glass to take home. All are welcome. For questions, email PottstownHistory@gmail, or call 610-970-7355.

Water for the distillery is from the Manatawny Creek, fed by rare freestone streams at the base of the area watershed. The spirits have Pottstown namesakes, including J. Potts Whiskey, T. Rutter Rum, Keystone Whiskey, and Hidden River Gin. Come learn about how the earliest Americans made their spirits, and how that careful craftsmanship is translated into the 21st century.

Please join us for this fun and educational field trip with the Pottstown Historical Society.

Pottsgrove Manor Annual Colonial May Fair – May 7, 2016‏

Pottstown, PA – Celebrate spring at the Annual Colonial May Fair held at historic Pottsgrove Manor on Saturday, May 7, 2016 from 11:00 am to 5:00 pm.

This yearly event is a fun-filled day with activities for all ages including games, music, dancing, and crafts. Tucker’s Tales Puppet Theatre will present interactive puppet shows and will also provide festive historic music around the grounds during the event. Signora Bella will delight audiences with her acrobatic feats. Colonial conjurer Levram the Great will perform historically-themed magic shows and entertain visitors with pocket magic tricks throughout the day. Members of the Tapestry Historic Dance Ensemble will demonstrate authentic English country dances. As always, visitors will be invited to join in and dance around the maypole to help open and close the fair!

In addition to the entertainment, a variety of early American crafters and demonstrators will be on hand to display historic skills and trades and sell their wares. Young visitors will have the chance to meet colonial farm animals, watch a blacksmith at work, see how candles were made, play with colonial toys, try an 18th-century bat-and-ball game, dance around a child-size maypole, help churn butter, and more! New this year, the site will also be offering free make-and-take crafts for kids.

The first floor of colonial ironmaster John Potts’ 1752 manor house will be open for self-guided tours during the fair. Visitors will also be able to shop at the manor’s museum shop for colonial games, books, and unique gifts. MMG Concessions will offer a variety of refreshments for sale, including burgers, cheesesteaks, hot dogs, sausages, sandwiches, fries, hand-rolled pretzels, and fresh-squeezed lemonade.

The fair coincides with the third annual “Pow-Wow on Manatawny Creek,” celebrating the culture and traditions of the Lenni-Lenape Native Americans. The pow-wow will be taking place during the hours of May Fair and will be held at Memorial Park, less than a block from Pottsgrove Manor. The public is encouraged to visit both events for an experience that spans time periods and cultures!

For a schedule of the day’s activities and a list of vendors and craftspeople that will be at the fair, please visit http://www.montcopa.org/1421/Annual-Colonial-May-Fair.

A donation of $2.00 per person is suggested for this event. Visitors can park for free at the Carousel at Pottstown building, 30 West King Street. Limited overflow parking is available at the Pottstown Quality Inn across the street from the Manor. Paid parking is also available in the “shop & park” lot at High and Hanover Streets in downtown Pottstown. There will be free trolley rides during the fair between the carousel parking lot, the pow-wow at Memorial Park, downtown Pottstown, and Pottsgrove Manor.

Handicapped parking is available in the museum’s parking lot.

Pottsgrove Manor 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, Trails, and Historic Sites Division of the Assets and Infrastructure Department. For more information, please call 610-326-4014, or visit the website at www.montcopa.org/pottsgrovemanor. Like Pottsgrove Manor on Facebook at www.facebook.com/pottsgrovemanor.

ReadingFilmFest (Reading PA)

READING PA – A film festival will be held on November 13, 14, 15 at the Goggleworks Center for the Arts, 201 Washington Street, Reading, PA. If you are a film fan, click here for all the details! In addition to films, there will be parties, panels, tours and networking opportunities.

“The Potts Legacy” Lecture At Pottsgrove Manor – Saturday, November 7, 2015 At 1:00pm‏

Pottstown, PA – On Saturday, November 7, 2015 at 1:00pm Pottsgrove Manor will host a lecture by historian Dan Graham entitled, “The Potts Legacy.”

An expert on the early Pennsylvania iron industry and a genaeoligist of the Potts and Rutter families, speaker Dan Graham has done extensive research into the development of the region. In this program, Graham will talk about Pottstown’s founder, John Potts, his descendants, and the impact they had on the shaping of early Pottstown and the surrounding areas.

The talk serves as the closing event for the site’s current exhibit, “Pride of Place: The Local Legacy of the Potts Family,” which runs through November 8^th. The exhibit can be viewed on a guided tour of the manor house during regular museum hours: Tuesday to Saturday from 10:00am to 4:00pm and Sunday from 1:00pm to 4:00pm. Tours are given on the hour. The last tour of the day begins at 3:00pm. The site is closed Mondays and major holidays. Groups of ten or more should preregister by calling 610-326-4014.

Pottsgrove Manor 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, Trails, and Historic Sites Division of the Assets and Infrastructure Department. For more information, please call 610-326-4014, or visit the website at www.montcopa.org/pottsgrovemanor. Like Pottsgrove Manor on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/pottsgrovemanor.

Living History Sundays In August At Pottsgrove Manor‏

gunsmithing

hornsmithing

stictching

Pottstown, PA – Come spend a casual summer Sunday afternoon at historic Pottsgrove Manor and enjoy the 18th century surroundings as volunteers demonstrate colonial trades and pastimes.

On August 2, 9, 16, 23, and 30, from 1:00 pm to 4:00 pm, Pottsgrove Manor’s living history volunteers, dressed in colonial period clothing, will be living life the 18th century way. Activities may include needlework, spinning, tape weaving, gunsmithing, hornsmithing, cooking, and more.  Visitors can watch, learn, and even join in!  Activities will vary from week to week, so call ahead or check the site’s webpage at http://www.montcopa.org/PottsgroveManor to find out what will be offered that day.

A donation of $2 per person is suggested for this program. Guests can also tour the manor house, see the museum’s current exhibit, “Pride of Place: The Local Legacy of the Potts Family,” and shop in the museum store on their visit.

The “Pride of Place” exhibit can also be viewed during a guided tour of Pottsgrove Manor during regular museum hours now through November 8th. Regular museum hours are Tuesday to Saturday, 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. and Sunday, 1:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m. Tours are given on the hour. The last tour of the day begins at 3:00 p.m. The site is closed Mondays and major holidays. Groups of then or more should pre-register by calling 610-326-4014.

Pottsgrove Manor 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, Trails, and Historic Sites Division of the Assets and Infrastructure Department. For more information, please call 610-326-4014, or visit the website at  http://www.montcopa.org/pottsgrovemanor. Like Pottsgrove Manor on Facebook at
http://www.facebook.com/pottsgrovemanor.

“The Plantation Whereon I Live”: A Hands-On Experience Of Everyday Life At Pottsgrove Manor

Harley-Davidson Open House Draws Guests From All Over The World

Map of Pennsylvania highlighting York County (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

A world map stood out among hundreds of motorcycles in front of Harley-Davidson‘s York Vehicle Operations.

Pins marked hometowns of bike enthusiasts who had traveled to visit the manufacturer’s annual open house.

John Minor pushed a pin through Hartford, Wis., a closer ride than two open house guests who made the trip from India.

Thursday marked Minor’s first visit to the Harley-Davidson factory in Springettsbury Township.

Read more: http://www.yorkdispatch.com/breaking/ci_26565766/harley-davidson-open-house-draws-guests-from-all

‘One Of The Most Special Places On Earth’: Raystown Lake Celebrates 40 Years With Weekend Events

English: The dam and spillway at Raystown Lake on the Raystown Branch of the Juniata River in Huntingdon County, Pennsylvania, USA. The dam was constructed in 1978 by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers for flood control and hydroelectric power generation. (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

This weekend, Huntingdon County will celebrate four decades of life on the water as Raystown Lake hits the big four-zero. The Huntingdon County Visitors Bureau has an array of activities and entertainment planned all weekend to celebrate the popular recreation destination. Featuring behind-the-scenes tours of the dam, a Battle of the Bands, various demonstrations, cruises and fireworks, it is all but guaranteed that this will be one birthday bash that will not be soon forgotten.

“June 6 marks the 40th anniversary of the day Vice President Gerald Ford dedicated the dam that forms Raystown Lake in 1974,” said Matt Price, the executive director of the HCVB. “The lake’s history goes back more than 60 years, as the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers first proposed constructing a high-level dam in the valley of the Raystown Branch of the Juniata River in the late 1940s.”

The largest lake entirely set within the commonwealth, the sheer size of Raystown is impressive and is more than capable of accommodating everything the HCVB has in store for the weekend.

Read more here: http://www.centredaily.com/2014/06/06/4210130/one-of-the-most-special-places.html?sp=/99/188/#storylink=cpy

It’s Lehigh Valley Beer Week Y’all

Glass of beer MONGO (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Are you in need of something to take your mind off of snow, snow, snow and more snow?  Then maybe this will float your boat 🙂

Lehigh Valley Beer Week is a week long celebration of Craft Beer – highlighting local businesses as each one creates unique events to showcase their beer selection and their establishment as a whole. Featuring events such as beer dinners, beer tastings, brewery tours, meet the brewers, and everything else under the sun will be sure to keep everyone warm in the month of February!

To get all the details, visit their website: http://lehighvalleybeerweek.com/

Pottsgrove Manor To Host Homeschool Day

Pottstown, PA – On Friday, October 4, 2013 from 10:00am to 2:00pm, bring homeschoolers out to historic Pottsgrove Manor for a fun-filled and educational field trip that will let them explore the skills, trades, and pastimes of the 18th century with the site’s fourth annual Homeschool Day.

Around the grounds, children will be able to participate in hands-on activities led by Pottsgrove Manor’s staff and volunteers. Activities will include candle-dipping, apple cider-pressing, writing with a quill pen, dancing and etiquette lessons, tape-weaving, and much more. Guests will get to meet sheep from Red Rope Farm and learn how their hair would be spun into yarn. Demonstrations of open-hearth cooking will take place in the manor’s kitchen. 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 $5.00 per child. Call 610-326-4014 to preregister or for more information. Groups are encouraged to preregister. 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 can also be toured during regular museum hours Tuesday to Saturday from 10:00am to 4:00pm, and Sunday from 1:00pm to 4:00pm. Tours are given on the hour. The last tour of the day begins at 3:00pm. The site is closed Mondays and major holidays. Groups of ten or more should preregister by calling 610-326-4014.

Pottstown Manor 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 MontgomeryCounty under the direction of the Parks, Trails, and Historic Sites Division of the Assets and Infrastructure Department. For more information, please call 610-326-4014, or visit the website at www.montcopa.org/pottsgrovemanor. Like Pottsgrove Manor on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/pottsgrovemanor.

Pottsgrove Manor To Host Living History Sundays

Pottstown, PA – Step into the past at Pottsgrove Manor and enjoy an afternoon learning about colonial trades and pastimes.

On August 18 and 25, 2013 from 1:00pm to 4:00pm, Pottsgrove Manor’s living history volunteers, dressed in colonial period clothing, will be living life the 18th-century way.  Activities schedule for August 18th are hearth cooking, sewing, tape weaving, and hornsmithing.  Activities scheduled for August 25th are English country dancing, hearth cooking, and sewing. Visitors can watch, learn, and even join in the fun!

A donation of $2.00 per person is suggested for this program. Guests can also tour the museum’s current exhibit, “Forging a Lifestyle: Ironworking with the Potts’ Family,” during their visit.

The exhibit can also be viewed during a guided tour of Pottsgrove Manor during regular museum hours now through November 4, 2013.  Regular museum hours are Tuesday to Saturday from 10:00am to 4:00pm and Sunday from 1:00pm to 4:00pm.  Tours are given on the hour.  The last tour of the day begins at 3:00pm.  The site is closed Mondays and major holidays.  Groups of ten or more should pre-register by calling 610-326-4014.

Pottstown Manor 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 MontgomeryCounty under the direction of the Parks, Trails, and Historic Sites Division of the Assets and Infrastructure Department.

For more information, please call 610-326-4014, or visit the website at www.montcopa.org/pottsgrovemanor.  Like Pottsgrove Manor on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/pottsgrovemanor.

August Living History Sundays At Pottsgrove Manor‏

Pottstown, PA – Step into the past at Pottsgrove Manor and enjoy an afternoon learning about colonial trades and pastimes.

On August 4, 11, 18, and 25, 2013 from 1:00pm to 4:00pm, Pottsgrove Manor’s living history volunteers, dressed in colonial period clothing, will be living life the 18th-century way.  Activities will include hearth cooking, needlework, quilting, tape weaving, gunsmithing, hornsmithing, and country dancing.  Visitors can watch, learn, and even join in fun!  Activities will vary from week to week, so call ahead or check Pottsgrove Manor’s webpage at www.montcopa.org/pottsgrovemanor to find out what activities will be offered that day.

A donation of $2.00 per person is suggested for this program.  Guests can also tour the museum’s current exhibit, “Forging a Lifestyle: Ironworking with the Potts’ Family,” during their visit.

The exhibit can also be viewed during a guided tour of Pottsgrove Manor during regular museum hours now through November 4, 2013. Regular museum hours are Tuesday to Saturday from 10:00am to 4:00pm and Sunday from 1:00pm to 4:00pm.  Tours are given on the hour.  The last tour of the day begins at 3:00pm. The site is closed Mondays and major holidays.  Groups of ten or more should pre-register by calling 610-326-4014.

Pottstown Manor 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 MontgomeryCounty under the direction of the Parks, Trails, and Historic Sites Division of the Assets and Infrastructure Department.  For more information, please call 610-326-4014, or visit the website at www.montcopa.org/pottsgrovemanor. Like Pottsgrove Manor on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/pottsgrovemanor

Amish Experience Halts ‘Amish Mafia Tour’ After Legal Threat

Map of Pennsylvania highlighting Lancaster County (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Hold on chust a minute: “Amish Mafia” fans won’t get to see Lebanon Levi’s “office” or his crew of enforcers’ stomping grounds after all.

Producers of the hit “reality” show have threatened legal action against Bird-in-Hand-based The Amish Experience, which had plans for an extensive tour of the show’s local sites, beginning this month.

Many scenes for the Discovery Channel series — which just wrapped a second season of filming — were shot in Lancaster County.  The tour, its organizer said, would have included a behind-the-scenes glimpse of filming locations while debunking the show’s portrayal of a group of violent Amish protectors.

Read more: http://lancasteronline.com/article/local/847682_Amish-Experience-halts–Amish-Mafia-Tour–after-legal-threat.html#ixzz2Sv2jfUcK

Pottsgrove Manor By Candlelight – December 9th‏

Pottstown, PA – Revel in the spirit of the season at historic Pottsgrove Manor with the annual “Pottsgrove Manor by Candlelight” open-house on Sunday, December 9 from 2:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m.

The public is invited to take a self-guided tour of the 1752 manor house, where costumed interpreters will portray the colonial residents of Pottsgrove Manor. As visitors make their way through the house, they will hear the strains of music played on historical instruments, see English country dancing, catch a whiff of the delicious smells in the kitchen as historical cook, Deborah Peterson, prepares a colonial feast, play traditional tavern games, and enjoy the beauty of the mansion lit by candlelight and bedecked with greenery.

After touring the house, guests will want to visit Pottsgrove Manor’s museum shop for unique, historically-oriented gifts like locally-made redware pottery and ornaments, reproduction glassware, handcrafted candles and soaps, books, toys, games, and more.

Next door to the mansion in the Miller’s House, young visitors can make free colonial crafts to take home, and complimentary seasonal refreshments of hot spiced cider and cookies will be served. Outside in the manor’s courtyard, visitors will be able to warm themselves by a bonfire (weather permitting) and enjoy historic carols sung by the Colonial Revelers singing group between 2:00 p.m. and 4:00 p.m.

A donation of $2 per person is suggested for this event. Visitors are asked to park at the Carousel at Pottstown building, 30 West King Street; a shuttle will transport visitors to and from Pottsgrove Manor throughout the event. Handicapped parking is available in the museum’s parking lot.

Can’t make it to the open house? Visitors can enjoy the spirit of the season at Pottsgrove Manor now through January 6, 2013 with a guided tour of the mansion, decorated for the holidays. Tours are offered during regular museum hours, and the museum shop will also be open for holiday shopping. Regular museum hours are: Tuesday to Saturday, 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. and Sunday, 1:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m. Tours are given on the hour. The last tour of the day begins as 3:00 p.m. Groups of 10 or more should pre-register by calling (610) 326-4014. The museum is closed Mondays, as well as Christmas Day and New Year’s Day.

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 MontgomeryCounty under the direction of the Parks and Heritage Services Division of the Assets and Infrastructure Department. For more information and a full calendar of events, visit the website at http://historicsites.montcopa.org/pottsgrovemanor or follow Pottsgrove Manor on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/PottsgroveManor.

“Twelfth Night Tours” At Pottsgrove Manor

Pottstown, PA– Visit Pottsgrove Manor between Friday, November 23, 2012 and Sunday, January 6, 2013, for a glimpse of colonial life during the holiday season.

With the historic site’s annual “Twelfth Night Tours,” visitors of all ages can enjoy a guided tour of the beautiful 1752 Georgian manor house, decorated with greenery for Yuletide.  Along the way, guests will learn about traditional English celebrations of Twelfth Night and how they differed from modern Christmas celebrations.

The tours are offered during regular museum hours: Tuesday to Saturday, 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. and Sunday, 1:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m.  The museum is closed Mondays, as well as Christmas Day and New Year’s Day.  Tours are given on the hour; the last tour of the day begins at 3:00 p.m.  A donation of $2 per person is suggested for the tour.  Groups of 10 or more should pre-register by calling (610) 326-4014.

Visitors will also want to stop into Pottsgrove Manor’s museum shop for unique, historically-oriented gifts like locally-made redware pottery and ornaments, reproduction glassware, handcrafted candles and soaps, books, toys, games, and more.  The museum shop is open during regular museum hours.

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.  For more information and a full calendar of events, visit the website at http://historicsites.montcopa.org/pottsgrovemanor or follow Pottsgrove Manor on Facebook http://www.facebook.com/PottsgroveManor.

Homeschool Day At Pottsgrove Manor

Pottstown, PA – On Friday, October 5, from 10:00am to 2:00 pm, bring homeschoolers out to historic Pottsgrove Manor for a fun-filled and educational field trip that will let them explore the skills, trades, and pastimes of the 18^th century.

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 18^th-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.

Homeschool Day At Pottsgrove Manor

Pottstown, PA (August 29, 2012) – On Friday, October 5, from 10:00am to 2:00 pm, bring homeschoolers out to historic Pottsgrove Manor for a fun-filled and educational field trip that will let them explore the skills, trades, and pastimes of the 18^th century.

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 18^th-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.

Lance Armstrong Ends Fight Against Doping Charges, To Lose Titles

Lance Armstrong riding to victory at L’Alpe d’Huez. (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

(Reuters) – Seven-time Tour de France champion Lance Armstrong said he would no longer fight doping charges by the U.S. Anti-Doping Agency, which quickly said it would strip him of his titles and ban him from competitive cycling.

Armstrong, a cancer survivor considered one of the all-time greats in his sport, made the announcement in a written statement as he faced a midnight deadline on Thursday to formally challenge the accusations against him.

“There comes a point in every man’s life when he has to say, ‘Enough is enough’,” the American cyclist said in the statement, which was posted on his website, www.Lancearmstrong.com.

“For me, that time is now.  I have been dealing with claims that I cheated and had an unfair advantage in winning my seven Tours since 1999.”

Read more: http://www.reuters.com/article/2012/08/24/us-cycling-armstrong-doping-idUSBRE87N03N20120824

A Victorian Christmas – Williamsport Embraces Its Heritage And Capitalizes On Tourism

Image via Wikipedia

A Victorian Christmas in Williamsport is not a one trick pony.  The event spans three days and includes a Holiday House Tour, a Holiday Parade downtown, Millionaire’s Row mansion tours, church tours, Williamsport Growers Market, carriage rides at Park Place, a Toy Train Expo, museum tours, a Victorian Soup Luncheon, a Victorian Buffet, a Victorian Tea and a Living Nativity! 

A Victorian Christmas in Williamsport starts this Friday, November 19th and concludes on Sunday, November 21.

For more information and details see their website:

http://www.preservationwilliamsport.org/vcevents.html