LancasterHistory

#ThrowbackThursday (#TBT): Adjust those antennas and tune those dials, it's Public Radio Broadcasting Day. In this photograph, a Lancaster man works on repairing radios for customers c. 1920.

While the month of January can be a quiet time at Wheatland today, it was not so quiet in 1866. In the chill of midwinter, Wheatland prepared for a wedding. Wedding guests filled the rooms, a chef prepared a special dinner, and family gathered together for the wedding of Harriet Lane and Henry Elliot Johnston. https://www.lancasterhistory.org/winter-wedding-at-wheatla/

Join us virtually on Thursday, January 20 at 7pm ET for our first lecture of 2022! Tune in via Zoom to listen to Dr. John Quist discuss "James Buchanan & Partisan Politics." Free & open to the public. Register today at https://www.lancasterhistory.org/events.

#ThrowbackThursday (#TBT): A train hurtles along snow-covered Pennsylvania Railroad tracks circa 1898-1905. Stay warm out there!

LancasterHistory is excited to announce our upcoming educational and public history programs for January - June 2022. From series favorites, like the Regional History Colloquium, to special subject tours of Wheatland, we're ready to bring you more opportunities to learn about local history this year. Read more and register at https://www.lancasterhistory.org/events.

Happy New Year from all of us at LancasterHistory! Thank you for spending the holidays with us and for your continued support. Whether you came to see us at the Campus of History or enjoyed viewing our posts from afar, we are glad to have been part of your year. Please note that all operations of LancasterHistory will be closed through February 1, 2022. We reopen to the public for the 2022 Season on Wednesday, February 2, 2022. We hope that the new year brings you happiness, health, and a continued curiosity for learning!

Enjoy learning about Lancaster County's history at home by checking out our free educational resources and activities online at https://www.lancasterhistory.org/learn. You can also browse our collections online at https://www.lancasterhistory.org/research/collections.

#ThrowbackThursday (#TBT): We hope your New Year’s Eve is as festive as this guy’s was at the United Steel Workers Local 295 clubhouse, c. 1950.

This scanned negative from the Armstrong World Industries Archive features a Sacramento, California holiday window display from December 1940. In addition to English, it includes Christmas greetings in Croatian, Italian, Greek, Norwegian, German, French, and Spanish. What might appear to be snow is the result of the negative deteriorating over time. Scanning helps to preserve against total loss of the image.

#ThrowbackThursday (#TBT): The Sachs family tree was lovingly decorated with lights and ornaments, c. 1910. Have a safe and happy holiday!

Did you know we have special hours this week and next week for Yuletide at Wheatland? While we're normally only open Wednesdays - Saturdays, we're open Mondays & Tuesdays this week and next week to give you additional opportunities to catch this year's tour! (No tours December 24 & 25.) Tours are available from 10am until the last tour of the day at 3pm.

#ICYMI Our December Colloquium, "The Music of Ephrata Cloister" featuring Christopher Dylan Herbert, is now available on LancasterHistory's YouTube channel. Check out the video along with past lecture recordings and other educational shorts on our channel. https://youtu.be/NDMp7HrIGEI

Did you know there was a pot for every occasion? This particular silver pot is used for coffee. The wait staff working at Wheatland may have served guests a cup of coffee after the meal. #wheatlandindetail

#ICYMI On April 15, we hosted Dr. Martha S. Jones for a virtual lecture about her 2018 book, "Birthright Citizens." Watch our on-demand recording of the lecture on our YouTube channel. https://youtu.be/GFJ3iciS0aw

April 1st has come and gone, and it's hard to believe we're almost at May 1st! But while April 1st is April Fools Day, but did you know it was also historically Lancaster's "moving day?" Also known as "Flitting Day," it was the day of the year that many property sales took place, loans became due, and people packed up and moved. http://ow.ly/wVSI50EonYe

It's dinner time at Wheatland! But what did that look like? How was dinner served? Learn what it may have been like to have been a dinner guest at Wheatland in "Dining with Buchanan." (And check out our Instagram to view Stephanie's #wheatlandindetail series to see what Wheatland's historic dinnerware items tell us today about food service.) http://ow.ly/Umwj50EoocE

The family of Thomas Armstrong (1836-1908; pictured right) emigrated from Londonderry in northern Ireland to NYC a few years before his birth. Although Armstrong is a surname of Scottish border origins, many Protestant Scots migrated to northern Ireland in the early 17th century before later leaving Ireland to take advantage of economic opportunities in America. The Armstrong family moved to PA when Thomas was a young boy, eventually settling in Pittsburgh where he established a cork cutting business in 1860 (bottom left picture) which he later ran with his brother Robert. Incorporated in 1891, Armstrong, Brother & Company registered the Circle A trademark in 1889 (top left picture). The company adopted the name Armstrong Cork Company in 1895 and Armstrong World Industries in 1980. #scottishamericanheritagemonth

Kirk Johnson was a leading music dealer in Lancaster. He opened his first store in 1885 and expanded his enterprise in 1911 with a building designed by C. Emlen Urban. The building still bears his name today on its front façade at 24 West King Street next to Steinman Park. This advertising card promotes the sale of Wilcox & White parlor and self-playing organs at Johnson's store. (Artifact generously donated by Steven Harvath.) #newacquisition

A Princess Feather quilt is a type of quilt made with a popular 19th century applique pattern known for the swirling circles of feathers. This Princess Feather quilt was made in c. 1864 by Susan Kline of Quarryville, PA. It was passed down through Swisher and Kline families before it was recently donated by the family to the LancasterHistory collections. (Artifact generously donated by Thomas R. Deimler, in memory of his wife, Shirley A. (Swisher) Deimler.) #newacquisition

Addison Buch and his business partners began manufacturing agricultural implements, threshing machines, horse rakes, and fodder cutters at Elizabethtown's only steam-powered factory around 1870. Buch's sons soon joined the business in 1890. The Buchs discovered a market for wheelbarrows and improved upon the design by banding the wooden wheel with steel. They added a variety of barrows and lawn and garden tools to their product line. Later, grandson John Buch commented, "Those wheels were the secret to their success." The company was in operation until the 1940s. #archivesfriday #archives

James Buchanan was born on this day in 1791! He was known to love his whiskey, and so we raise a (fake) glass in a toast to celebrate his birthday. To learn more about Buchanan’s favorites, including his favorite drinks, check out our blog post at http://ow.ly/r9zJ50EmNTw.

Though this particular Queensware plate did not belong to Buchanan, we know that he purchased four lots of Queensware at an 1842 Slaymaker auction. He likely used his Queensware sets for more informal dining. This particular Queensware plate is flow blue china and named after the blue glaze blurring or flowing in the firing process. #wheatlandindetail

#OTD James Buchanan was born in Cove Gap, Pennsylvania in 1791. Many people like to celebrate their birthdays by enjoying some of their favorite things. To celebrate Buchanan's birthday, we've put together a short blog entry on some of Buchanan's favorite things.

#ThrowbackThursday | Tomorrow is "Wear Your Pajamas to Work Day!" In this photograph from the Lancaster Recreation Commission Collection, two kids are delicately roasting their popcorn while in their pajamas. Add a movie, and that sounds like a good night in! #PJDay

Meals at Wheatland consisted of several steps before it got to a person’s plate. Join Museum Associate Stephanie Celiberti as she breaks down meal service at Wheatland. Read more in the blog entry "Dining with Buchanan" over on our website. https://www.lancasterhistory.org/dining-with-buchanan/

This service bell was used to call the wait staff who served meals at Wheatland. During meal time, the wait staff would be working in the Butler’s Pantry, which adjoins the dining room. Being in close proximity to the dining room enabled them to hear the service bell. They may be called in to bring in the next course or to clear out dishware. #wheatlandindetail

Domestic staff at Wheatland would have carried a main course on this large serving platter belonging to Harriet Lane Johnston and her husband, Henry. This serving platter is part of a Pink Parisian set that Harriet and Henry had commissioned. The Johnston Family Crest and Henry E. Johnston’s initials are painted at the center of the platter and can also be found on many of the other pieces in the set. #wheatlandindetail

#ThrowbackThursday | An Amish woman tends to her flower stand at Lancaster’s Southern Market. Designed by C. Emlen Urban, the market was built in 1888 and was located on South Queen Street. It continued to operate as a farmer’s market offering produce, meat, and even flowers until 1986. It was later used by the Lancaster Visitors Bureau and as City Council Chambers.

Tea time! Did you know that James Buchanan’s Limoges china was at the White House for a Royal visit? An 1860 reporter for Harper’s Weekly indicated that Buchanan used this china at the White House along with the Pierce Presidential china during the State Dinner for the Prince of Wales. #wheatlandindetail

#ThrowbackThursday | Employees of the John Agourides candy factory take a break from making chocolate Easter bunnies in 1931. Pictured from left are Mr. C. Sales, Nick Sacoulas, Mrs. Veitch, Bob Vafias, Mary Vafias, John Agourides, Steve Galanos and Gus Galanos. The factory was located at 31 South Lime Street in Lancaster.

How do you trim your trees? In this episode, Museum Associate Stephanie Celiberti explains what decorations could be found on trees during the holiday season in the Victorian-era. To learn more about this year's Yuletide at Wheatland program or book your spot on a virtual tour, please visit https://bit.ly/yule2020fb.

Tour President James Buchanan’s Wheatland virtually this year for Yuletide at Wheatland! Join a tour guide, in real-time over Zoom, to traverse the festively decorated halls and rooms of the 1828 mansion. From the comfort of your home, learn about the public and personal life of James Buchanan through the lens of Yuletides and traditions past. Learn more and purchase your ticket at https://www.lancasterhistory.org/visit/yuletide.

From our home to yours! Enjoy virtual tours of this year's Yuletide at Wheatland program! Learn more and reserve your spot at https://www.lancasterhistory.org/visit/yuletide.

Wow! Thanks to your amazing support, we met our second challenge goal of the day. Murray, Lancaster, thank you for your extraordinary support on this extraordinary day! We're so grateful for the support of this incredible community.

There's still time to register for tomorrow evening's virtual lecture, The Election of 1852: The Road to Disunion. The lecture will take place only on Zoom at 7:30pm Eastern on October 28. Register for free at https://bit.ly/1852-event.

Our next Matching Challenge is coming up! From 7-9pm, Murray will match every dollar raised for LancasterHistory during the ExtraGive up to $5,000! Can you help us meet our match? Thank you so much to Murray, Lancaster for their support!

What does linoleum have to do with Lancaster? Learn about Armstrong Cork Company's latest product, linoleum, in the early 1900s and their marketing efforts to promote the new flooring in our latest blog mini-series, "This Program Brought To You By," by Dr. James McMahon. http://ow.ly/1QAo50C2GrS

Your gift of $500 can help support educational resources and free virtual field trips for schools, like our new Wheatland 360 Virtual Field Trip! (Check it out at https://www.lancasterhistory.org/learn/wheatland-360!) To make a donation to LancasterHistory during the ExtraGive, please visit https://www.extragive.org/organizations/lancasterhistory.

Visit the decorated halls and rooms of President James Buchanan's Wheatland online through our new Wheatland Virtual Tours! Facilitated through Zoom, join your tour guide for a real-time tour of both floors of the presidential home. Learn more and register today at http://bit.ly/wheatlandvirtual.

LancasterHistory is excited to announce our new Wheatland Virtual Tours! From October 22 through November 14, join us on hour-long, virtual tours of the historic halls and rooms of President James Buchanan’s Wheatland. A knowledgeable tour guide will lead you, in real-time, through both floors of the mansion from the comfort of your home. Tickets now available! http://bit.ly/wheatlandvirtual

Save the Date! Support LancasterHistory on Saturday, October 24th for a Museum Store Saturday! Browse select Museum Store merchandise outdoors, featuring art and goods by talented, local artisans. Learn more at our Facebook event, Museum Store Saturday.

Exciting news! The James Buchanan Presidential Library is now available online. Sort and search through thousands of digitized documents pertaining to the 15th President of the United States, his family, and home, Wheatland. Learn more and search the Library at http://bit.ly/jb-library.

Today is #NationalVoterRegistrationDay! Are you registered to vote? Learn more, register, or check your voter registration at https://vote.gov/.

Join Museum Associate Stephanie Celiberti as she breaks down 18th-century clothing from head to toe in order to reveal how women displayed their wealth through the clothes they wore in the 1760s.

LancasterHistory loves its dog friends. Doug the dog got loose over the weekend and is lost in the vicinity of the Campus of History. If any of our regular dog walkers (or people walkers) see him, please let us know and we’ll pass it along to his mom! Picture of Doug shown below for reference.

Popular in the 17th and 18th centuries, blanket chests were often used to store valuables, linens, blankets, and clothing. Enjoy our latest coloring book page, created by Jenny Germann, of a 1767 painted blanket chest from LancasterHistory's collections. Feel free to share your finished coloring book page with us on Facebook and Instagram! (@lancohistory on IG)

ICYMI - A recording of the August 11th "History of the Conestoga River" online lecture is now available on YouTube. Thank you to the Lancaster Conservancy for making it available! https://youtu.be/D5pnR0JViFE

NEW Archives & Library Assistant Martha Abel created an online, interactive map with additional details about 166 tobacco warehouses examined in John F. Bennawit, Jr.'s research on Lancaster City tobacco warehouses from 1870-1920. Users can click around the map to view different locations, photos, history, present use, and more. Check it out!

Prior to establishing a permanent presence in Australia in 1960, the Foreign Operations Office of Armstrong Cork Companynow Armstrong World Industriespartnered with local agents such as Charles T. Midlane to assist in managing imports. Learn more about "Armstrong in Australia" in Project Archivist Dr. James McMahon's latest blog entry. http://ow.ly/RH4W50AYRd0

Join us as we explore more historic artifacts in our "Lancaster in the '60s" exhibit! In this video, Stephanie Townrow shows us two fabulous 1960s dresses that our featured in our exhibit.