LTHS COLLECTIONS
|
Acquiring and caring for artifacts that tell the stories about our township's culture heritage is an integral part of the mission of the Longswamp Township Historical Society (LTHS). Museum volunteers receive donated items, museum storage supplies, and acquire artifacts and incorporate these items into our steadily growing collections.
We welcome you to contact us if you would like to share or donate items or financially support our museum collections. You can contact us to set up a time to visit or inquire about donating: longswamphistory@gmail.com For the latest museum acquisition news, visit our museum blog (below). |
February, 2023
Always Collecting!
The Museum Committee continues to inventory our generously donated items related to the Longswamp community. Below are just a few items from the last two months. You can learn more about the Society and our collections, if you sign up to be a supporting LTHS member.
You can become a member online:
Always Collecting!
The Museum Committee continues to inventory our generously donated items related to the Longswamp community. Below are just a few items from the last two months. You can learn more about the Society and our collections, if you sign up to be a supporting LTHS member.
You can become a member online:
June 23, 2022
Always Working!
Longswamp Township Historical Society board members and volunteers meet weekly on Thursday mornings, working on processing the many items that are donated to the Society's museum collection. Here are a few recent donations.
Left to right:
A rug hooking tool used by Maryann Lantz's mother and grandmother at the Long Valley Rug Mill where they made rugs such as the one pictured.
LTHS volunteers dressing our recent male mannequin donation. We can now show off our military uniforms in our collection!
Our mannequin nicknamed "Dr. William F. Long," poses with his 1902 diploma from Jefferson Medical College. He is waiting for his accessories to arrive.
We want to thank Crystal and Greg Kupar for the donation of the male mannequin, which they donated during our Memorial Day Weekend Open House. And thank you to LTHS member and former board member Maryann Lantz for her donation of her family's heirloom. These items and many others are a part of Longswamp's history and will be preserved for future generations..
Always Working!
Longswamp Township Historical Society board members and volunteers meet weekly on Thursday mornings, working on processing the many items that are donated to the Society's museum collection. Here are a few recent donations.
Left to right:
A rug hooking tool used by Maryann Lantz's mother and grandmother at the Long Valley Rug Mill where they made rugs such as the one pictured.
LTHS volunteers dressing our recent male mannequin donation. We can now show off our military uniforms in our collection!
Our mannequin nicknamed "Dr. William F. Long," poses with his 1902 diploma from Jefferson Medical College. He is waiting for his accessories to arrive.
We want to thank Crystal and Greg Kupar for the donation of the male mannequin, which they donated during our Memorial Day Weekend Open House. And thank you to LTHS member and former board member Maryann Lantz for her donation of her family's heirloom. These items and many others are a part of Longswamp's history and will be preserved for future generations..
April 25, 2022
Recent Donations
This month, we received two donations among many others that we wanted to highlight. Most of the museum collection that we have consists of artifacts related to the eighteenth and early nineteenth. centuries of our community's history. However, our recent history is important as well, along with supporting our museum collections through archival storage. Many people may view recent history as not important and may throw out items related to past recent decades. For example, class photographs from the 1980s, 1990s, 2000s are just as important as the ones from the 1900s, etc. They document a period in our community's history.
Carrie Thomas' donation of her Brandywine Heights Area School District memorabilia from 2001 is one example of a recent historical artifact that documents a period of our community's history when the BHHS Indoor Percussion won the 2001 Chapter 2 Tournament Indoor Association (TIA) Championship.
Earl Miller recently donated a beautiful display case that will allow us to place more of our artifacts securely on display. When people think of museum collections and artifacts, they may not necessarily think of what goes on behind the scenes that involves providing archival storage to protect these items for posterity. It's important to ensure that the environment that our artifacts are stored is in a controlled and stable space.
Thank you to Carrie, Earl, and the many other donors who have gifted artifacts and archival supplies to the LTHS over the years!
Recent Donations
This month, we received two donations among many others that we wanted to highlight. Most of the museum collection that we have consists of artifacts related to the eighteenth and early nineteenth. centuries of our community's history. However, our recent history is important as well, along with supporting our museum collections through archival storage. Many people may view recent history as not important and may throw out items related to past recent decades. For example, class photographs from the 1980s, 1990s, 2000s are just as important as the ones from the 1900s, etc. They document a period in our community's history.
Carrie Thomas' donation of her Brandywine Heights Area School District memorabilia from 2001 is one example of a recent historical artifact that documents a period of our community's history when the BHHS Indoor Percussion won the 2001 Chapter 2 Tournament Indoor Association (TIA) Championship.
Earl Miller recently donated a beautiful display case that will allow us to place more of our artifacts securely on display. When people think of museum collections and artifacts, they may not necessarily think of what goes on behind the scenes that involves providing archival storage to protect these items for posterity. It's important to ensure that the environment that our artifacts are stored is in a controlled and stable space.
Thank you to Carrie, Earl, and the many other donors who have gifted artifacts and archival supplies to the LTHS over the years!
|
|
March 31, 2022
Mertztown Train Station Sign, 2 of 3
We are always thankful for our donors who have given us so many items to add our museum collection. Recently, Mr. Steve Hill graciously donated this Mertztown Train Station sign to us. It is a lovely addition to our collection and pairs nicely with Betty Jean Webb and Lucille Brossman donation; we now have two of the three signs that were likely on the station. These signs will allow us to provide a more comprehensive history of the train station to share, once our Save Our Station restoration project is completed.
Mertztown Train Station Sign, 2 of 3
We are always thankful for our donors who have given us so many items to add our museum collection. Recently, Mr. Steve Hill graciously donated this Mertztown Train Station sign to us. It is a lovely addition to our collection and pairs nicely with Betty Jean Webb and Lucille Brossman donation; we now have two of the three signs that were likely on the station. These signs will allow us to provide a more comprehensive history of the train station to share, once our Save Our Station restoration project is completed.
LTHS Museum Committee members Deb Miller and Bonnie Solt place historic documents into archival sleeves.
|
December 2021
The Season of Giving 'Tis the season of giving and we're thankful for all of our supporters: individuals, local businesses, and granting foundations. You may have donated financially to our restoration fund, donated an item to our museum collection, or gave your time as a volunteer or supporter. The Museum Committee recently received a gift card from Board member Kristi Chase to use on archival supplies. Along with the gift card which was used to purchase archival sleeves and folders, society members like Pauletta Reiter, have donated oversized picture frames for framing historic documents that are in the society's museum collection. We'd like to relay our thanks to those who have donated in the past. We are always seeking historic objects, documents, or books related to Longswamp's history. If you'd like to donate an item or help with archival supplies, you can contact us at longswamphistory@gmail.com. |
September 9, 2021
Mertztown Train Station Sign
We were recently gifted this beautiful wooden sign that we believe once was positioned on the Mertztown Train Station and was likely one of three. Betty Jean Webb delivered this unique artifact to us for Lucille Brossman when our Museum committee has opening hours. Thank you Lucille for recognizing its historical value over 30 years ago at an auction. Thank you both for being curators of history!
Pictured below: Board and Museum Committee members Ellie Long and Deb Miller holding the sign (left) and a photograph of the station (right).
Mertztown Train Station Sign
We were recently gifted this beautiful wooden sign that we believe once was positioned on the Mertztown Train Station and was likely one of three. Betty Jean Webb delivered this unique artifact to us for Lucille Brossman when our Museum committee has opening hours. Thank you Lucille for recognizing its historical value over 30 years ago at an auction. Thank you both for being curators of history!
Pictured below: Board and Museum Committee members Ellie Long and Deb Miller holding the sign (left) and a photograph of the station (right).
|
|
August 11, 2021
Historic Textiles
This month we received a beautiful donation from Olive Oswald. The donation is of a colorful quilt made by John Nolf in 1895 when he was 7 or 8 years of age. John was the father of George Nolf who was married to Annie Nolf. It's in amazing condition for being over 125 years old!
This item and others in our collection are available to view at the Schubert Haus. You can contact us at longswamphistory@gmail.com to make an appointment to visit.
Historic Textiles
This month we received a beautiful donation from Olive Oswald. The donation is of a colorful quilt made by John Nolf in 1895 when he was 7 or 8 years of age. John was the father of George Nolf who was married to Annie Nolf. It's in amazing condition for being over 125 years old!
This item and others in our collection are available to view at the Schubert Haus. You can contact us at longswamphistory@gmail.com to make an appointment to visit.
|
|
June 24, 2021
Framed
If you didn't know, a few board members meet weekly to organize the museum collection. This involves adding new items to our database, photographing them, sending out thank you letters, and finding an appropriate way to safely store the item archivally. Documents may be placed in archival folders and boxes, while objects may be placed on display in our museum space, and items shown below may be framed. The Longswamp Centre Hotel poster (shown below) is an example of board member Bonnie Solt's work. The poster can be seen in the Village of Lower Longswamp booklet.
We recently received two framed items from Carolyn (Gehman) Berger (Shoemaker's Bakery and Kemp's Grocery Store). We have several advertising calendars in the collection that were distributed by local businesses. Thank you Carolyn!
Framed
If you didn't know, a few board members meet weekly to organize the museum collection. This involves adding new items to our database, photographing them, sending out thank you letters, and finding an appropriate way to safely store the item archivally. Documents may be placed in archival folders and boxes, while objects may be placed on display in our museum space, and items shown below may be framed. The Longswamp Centre Hotel poster (shown below) is an example of board member Bonnie Solt's work. The poster can be seen in the Village of Lower Longswamp booklet.
We recently received two framed items from Carolyn (Gehman) Berger (Shoemaker's Bakery and Kemp's Grocery Store). We have several advertising calendars in the collection that were distributed by local businesses. Thank you Carolyn!
|
January 9, 2021
A Serendipitous Meeting Our Museum Chair, Ellie Long was at Schubert Haus the other day and serendipitously met up with Charles and Judy Schnabel who were trying to track her down. They donated Schnabel family birth certificates from Longswamp (see photo on right). The couple was cleaning out and wanted to contact Ellie to see if the LTHS would treasure these beautiful items. Thank you! November 1, 2020 Museum Purchases The LTHS Museum collection isn't all donated material. Some are purchased by our Museum Committee Chair Eloise Long. This past month she purchased a few documents from eBay related to Longswamp and its families dating back to 1864. Deeds, mortgages and other documents can provide valuable information about local families, histories, and lands. They can record a description of a property's boundaries or building, and may provide information on the individuals mentioned like a person's occupation. |
|
September 24, 2020
A Mix of Donations
We recently were the recipient of some items related local baseball history and landmarks. Sue Merkel donated some early twentieth century baseball photographs. Jan Ernst donated these wood plaques of local landmarks, the Lutheran Home at Topton, and the Brandywine Heights Area School District building, formerly the high school. Thank you!
A Mix of Donations
We recently were the recipient of some items related local baseball history and landmarks. Sue Merkel donated some early twentieth century baseball photographs. Jan Ernst donated these wood plaques of local landmarks, the Lutheran Home at Topton, and the Brandywine Heights Area School District building, formerly the high school. Thank you!
August 21, 2020
Recent Acquisitions
The LTHS has received a number of donated items in the last few months while everyone has been "staying home" and looking through their home collections. During our August 2 open house, Michael Rhode donated some vintage Longswamp items including two signs from the Mertztown Rod & Gun Club and the Shamrock Hotel. His grandfather, Ivan Witwer, was a previous owner of the Shamrock Hotel that was known for its clams and green beer.
Ellie Long, LTHS Museum chair, shared at our latest open-air board meeting a few new acquisitions including a donation from Mary Mabry of an album titled "A La Carte" by Harry Fields and his Orchestra that was sponsored by Caloric and a local deed acquired by Ellie. The March 11, 1881 deed recorded a Mertztown lot transfer between Edwin H. Trexler and Sarah Schwartz.
Thank you to everyone who has been thinking of us and donating!
Recent Acquisitions
The LTHS has received a number of donated items in the last few months while everyone has been "staying home" and looking through their home collections. During our August 2 open house, Michael Rhode donated some vintage Longswamp items including two signs from the Mertztown Rod & Gun Club and the Shamrock Hotel. His grandfather, Ivan Witwer, was a previous owner of the Shamrock Hotel that was known for its clams and green beer.
Ellie Long, LTHS Museum chair, shared at our latest open-air board meeting a few new acquisitions including a donation from Mary Mabry of an album titled "A La Carte" by Harry Fields and his Orchestra that was sponsored by Caloric and a local deed acquired by Ellie. The March 11, 1881 deed recorded a Mertztown lot transfer between Edwin H. Trexler and Sarah Schwartz.
Thank you to everyone who has been thinking of us and donating!
April 20, 2020
Self-Distancing and Cleaning House
During these times of “staying home,” many of us are organizing and cleaning our homes. The LTHS will always welcome items and documents related to Longswamp and its villages. Remember, what may be your trash could be our treasures. For instance, we recently were gifted a bottle of caster oil that was prescribed to a patient by Dr. Long!
When in doubt, please contact us via email, mail, Facebook message, or our Contact page. Thanks and stay safe!
March 9, 2020
Unique Acquisitions
The LTHS recently was the happy recipient of two unique objects from donors in the last few months. In preparation of our December 2019 meeting/book launch of our latest Village series booklet on Henningsville and our 2020 calendar, we received a rare Henningsville Seaside T-shirt to add to our museum collections. Pictured you can see the shirt among our models at the Schubert Haus.
The Museum Committee also recently received a unique donation of a full bottle of caster oil. The medicinal bottle contains Longswamp native and doctor, W. F. Long's prescription label. We'll be handling this object very carefully!
The LTHS greatly appreciates these unique donations!
Self-Distancing and Cleaning House
During these times of “staying home,” many of us are organizing and cleaning our homes. The LTHS will always welcome items and documents related to Longswamp and its villages. Remember, what may be your trash could be our treasures. For instance, we recently were gifted a bottle of caster oil that was prescribed to a patient by Dr. Long!
When in doubt, please contact us via email, mail, Facebook message, or our Contact page. Thanks and stay safe!
March 9, 2020
Unique Acquisitions
The LTHS recently was the happy recipient of two unique objects from donors in the last few months. In preparation of our December 2019 meeting/book launch of our latest Village series booklet on Henningsville and our 2020 calendar, we received a rare Henningsville Seaside T-shirt to add to our museum collections. Pictured you can see the shirt among our models at the Schubert Haus.
The Museum Committee also recently received a unique donation of a full bottle of caster oil. The medicinal bottle contains Longswamp native and doctor, W. F. Long's prescription label. We'll be handling this object very carefully!
The LTHS greatly appreciates these unique donations!
|
|
December 2, 2019
New Acquisition: Lutheran Home Books!
The LTHS recently acquired a collection of Lutheran Home newsletters that date back to the early 1900s. These publications will be a valuable source for our next "Village" series booklet on Freehall, which will include information and photographs related to The Lutheran Home at Topton. Pictured (below) is our board member Bonnie Solt perusing the newsletters.
Thank you to our donor!
New Acquisition: Lutheran Home Books!
The LTHS recently acquired a collection of Lutheran Home newsletters that date back to the early 1900s. These publications will be a valuable source for our next "Village" series booklet on Freehall, which will include information and photographs related to The Lutheran Home at Topton. Pictured (below) is our board member Bonnie Solt perusing the newsletters.
Thank you to our donor!
|
|