Allison-Antrim Museum, Inc.

Phones and Instant Communication ~ The Carl's Drug Store was the "first" phone in Greencastle. ~ So...who did they call? ~ They had one phone in the store and one at home. ~ The Carl-family, wall phone (now hangs in the front hall of the Irwin House) and the Carl-family candlestick phone was in Carl's Drug Store. This allowed communication between the store and home.... ~ The Candlestick phone was made by Western Electric Company with Patent dates of: August 16, 04 (1904); September 19, 04 (1904); January 26, 15 (1915) ~ Before phones were common in Greencastle-Antrim households, the Carls allowed customers to use the store phone to make calls. ~ Today, we cannot imagine what it was like without telephones.... See more

WWII Bomber Pilot ~ On Tuesday, the Kinney family laid to rest their patriarch, John Edward Kinney, 103 years, six months, and five days old. ~ He was born October 25, 1917 in Turtlepoint, McKean County, PA. He married Helen (Ewing) Kinney on November 21, 1942. ~ John graduated from Penn State University in 1940 and was a WWII veteran. He served two tours of duty as a bomber pilot with the 6th Air Force on submarine patrol in the West Indies and with the 8th Air Force in Eur...ope. He flew B-18s, B-24s, and B-25s. John successfully flew "30" bombing missions over Germany. ~ Locally, John worked for Fairchild Industries as an aviation technical writer. ~ Outside work, he served his community in so many ways including being an active member of the Greencastle Presbyterian Church; 79 years involvement with scouting and served as Scoutmaster for 23 years of Greencaste's Boy Scout Troop 99; he was instrumental in securing the Jefferson St train station as the scouting headquarters; John served on the GASD board of directors for 18 years (four of them as president); he was an active member of the Shady Grove Ruritan where he is best known for his blue bird houses; and John was a Mason and member of Mt. Pisgah Masonic Lodge No #443 Greencastle. ~ "Thank you for your service!" Rest in peace John E Kinney. See more

Muddy Run, a tributary of the Conococheague, supported four different mills along its many branches. ~ At Kauffman Station, George Brown built his mill at the junction of two branches of Muddy Run. ~ A clover mill was southwest and between Brown's Mill and Rankin's Mill. ~ Rankin's Mill was located along the Williamson Rd. The miller's house still stands. ~ The Kiesecker-Shinham Mill was located at the intersection of Shinham and Frank Roads.... ~ Do you live along a branch of Muddy Run? ~ A no-drone map.... ~ When driving along the local roads, look for the Muddy Run signs. They are blue. See more

Play Ball! Greencastle-Antrim's third major league ball player! ~ Charles Bernard "King" Lear, chronologically, was the third player from Greencastle Antrim to reach the professional level. ~ "King" Lear was born January 23, 1891, son of Frank and Mary Baer Lear. (Mary was the sister of Phillip Baer.) ~ Charles played baseball for the Mercersburg Academy in 1910 & Mercersburg Academy finished the season 19-0. ~ King Lear also played for Princeton and then signed with the Cinc...innati Reds. ~ Unfortunately, his career ended two years later when he injured his throwing arm during training camp. ~ Charles "King" Lear died 45 years ago on October 31, 1976 after a lengthy illness. He is buried in Cedar Hill Cemetery. I wish I could have interviewed him. ~ Read his full biography at the Society for American Baseball Research: http://sabr.org/bioproj/person/e73f5313 ~ The very first MLB player from GA was George Burt Goetz. He pronounced his last name as "Goats," which became his nickname. He essentially had a one-game career at the professional level. ~ Charles "Togie" Pittinger/Pittenger, GA's second major league player was featured last week. See more

Where's it at and what was its purpose? ~ What: It's a round-cornered, brick building with a metal hip roof and metal shutters. ~ Why: In 1875, fire destroyed almost all the J B Crowell Company's wooden buildings, for the second time. ~ What Buildings: The buildings included the foundry, the saw mill, and the office and storage buildings. Rebuilding began right away while the company worked under temporary housing. ~ When rebuilt, all of the 10 buildings were constructed of... brick. ~ J B Crowell Co was the first industrial complex in Greencastle. It was built on a two-acre lot, with South Cedar Lane and Leitersburg Road on the west and south and South Washington Street on the east. ~ The fireproof, round cornered brick building with metal roof and metal shutters was the Pattern house that stored the valuable foundry moulds, patterns, and designs. It was built on the west side of the train tracks along S Cedar Lane, away from the main buildings, just in case there was a third fire. ~ This building still stands along Cedar Lane next to the former Greencastle Antique Mall, soon to be occupied by Premier HVAC. The litlle, round-cornered brick building was converted into apartments in 2004. ~ A bookeeping ledger of the J.B. Crowell Company, from 1870 to 1877, was given to the museum by Ed Zarger. It is on display in the small exhibit room, upstairs, in the museum house. ~ The ledger provides an interesting look back in history and shows how important a part the J.B. Crowell Company played in the everyday life of Greencastle and Antrim Township, from farming to business and individual households. See more

Jacob B Crowell (Crowl) Manufacturing ~ 1850: Crowell became partners with George Bradley, whose foundry, on the southwest corner of S Carlisle and W Franklin Streets, was Greencastle's first factory. ~ 1861: 160 years ago, fire destroyed the buildings on Foundry Hill. ~ The beginning of Greencastle's industrial revolution: Both the foundry and the steam-powered sawmill in Greencastle changed the economic demographics of Greencastle. Even in the beginning, with only 10-20... employees, each business could out produce any of the skilled town’s craftsmen. ~ Crowell rebuilt his factory at Cedar Lane and S Washington Streets, at the current location of the Greencaste Antique Mall. ~ 1875: A second fire destroyed almost all of the company’s buildings, which were constructed of wood. The buildings included the foundry, the saw mill, and the office and storage buildings. Rebuilding began right away while the company worked under temporary housing. ~ All the new buildings would be constructed of brick. The sawmill building was on the northern end of the lot; machine shops ran the length of the property along Washington Street; a two-storied building next to the main building extended out to Leitersburg Street. The lumber products were stored in the center of the complex. By housing the foundry and boiler in separate buildings the danger of fire was considerably cut. ~ Across the alley, the valuable patterns and designs were housed in a special brick building (still stands) with rounded corners, metal roof and metal window shutters. ~ Image: Found in the former Greencastle Antique Mall, removed from the book Historical Sketch of Franklin Co, Penn 1878. ~ The long building is the future home of Premier HVAC. ~ The small sketches show before and after images of the factory in 1875. See more

Where can you travel back to 10,000 to 8,000 BC? ~ At: https://www.facebook.com/EbbertSpring/ : which is open dawn to dusk every day. ~ Or Allison-Antrim Museum, 365 S Ridge Ave, Tuesday to Friday, noon to 4 pm or Saturday, 11 am to 1 pm to see prime artifacts, in the North Exhibit Bay ~ From the Ebbert Spring Archaeology Collection: 10,000 BC to 8,000 BC ~ Paleo-Indian Period ~ The Paleo-Indian period was short and the population was small and mobile.... ~ Archaeology sites from this period are very rare and yet there is a Paleo-Indian archaeological site in our backyard at Ebbert Spring, 12633 Molly Pitcher Highway, Greencastle, PA 17225 ~ The oldest artifact found from this period at Ebbert Spring is the "fluted" Clovis point. ~ These points were used on long thrusting, stabbing, or throwing spears. ~ Environment: frozen tundra with tall grasses, small soft wood trees, and scrub brush throughout the entire northeastern U.S. ~ Who: small, wandering bands of hunters and their families. ~ Homes: They had no permanent living quarters but slept in simple, quick, makeshift lean-to shelters, rock shelters, caves, or under the stars. ~ Food: These hunters and gatherers followed now extinct big game animals, such as Woolly Mammoths, Mastodons, Woolly Rhinoceros, Short Faced Bears, Saber Tooth Tigers, Dire Wolves, Ancient Bison, Ancient American Camels, and Giant Ground Sloths. ~ Diets were augmented with insects, snails, small plants, roots, etc. See more

We take banks for granted today. ~ What was it like without banks during the early decades of the Cumberland Valley? ~ How would your life be changed if there were no banks in Greencastle or the town where you live? ~ Cash only basis. No credit cards. No debit cards. No checks.... ~ Greencastle's first bank was Farmers & Merchants, 1814 to 1818.... ~ The next bank (52 years later!) was the First National Bank of Greencastle, established in 1870. ~ In 1908, Judge D. Watson Rowe (Lt Col, Co K, 126th PAV) shared his reminiscences of the time before banks existed. ~ If one would deposit money, "he" must ride or drive to Chambersburg, as I have done. Everything was paid for in cash. The merchant, four times a year, went to Philadelphia or Baltimore to buy goods. He put his money in a belt strapped around his waist next to the skin for safety, counted down the money for his cash purchases as he sold the goods afterwards, and kept the proceeds in his safe. The use of checks and drafts was not common at all, scarcely known Every one was security for his neighbor. When one went down, the rest followed in quick succession. The banks, too, were state banks. Some notes were counterfeit. A bank note Detector was in constant use." ~ By the 1860s there was widespread demand for a federal banking system. See more

Walk down memory lane and back into history when you visit Allison-Antrim Museum. ~ What are your memories of Greenpoint? ~ Did you know Steve Cunningham of Cunningham Transmissions was a big history buff & had a huge collection from the Battle of Little Big Horn? He did several exhibitions at Allison-Antrim Museum. ~ Did you know the Baumgardner family in town? ~ Open Tuesday to Friday, noon to 4 pm and Saturday, 11 am to 1 pm.... ~ As the Museum only has one staff person, please call 717.597.9010 to make an appointment. See more

From the Museum's Collections: Inside Philip Baer's Steinway & Sons Grand piano ~ "Doing so would destroy parts of the piano that can still hold the secrets to how instruments of this kind were made in the 19th century." ~ This Steinway & Sons grand piano was made in 1870, 18 years after Steinway began making pianos in Hamburg, Germany in 1853, and 10 years after the Museum House was built. ~ Burned on the soundboard is the serial #21367. We haven't yet determined if it was ...made for a specific person. ~ This model of piano (patented on Nov 29, 1859) was a transitional instrument & the best in its day. Its sound quality is not very good (compared to today's pianos). It has 83 keys, three less than today's full keyboard of 88 keys. ~ Baer purchased this used piano for his concert piano. After each concert engagement, this piano would have been taken apart by loosening the wing nuts that secure the legs, knocking the legs out, loading it on a bag wagon, and then transporting it to the train station to be shipped to the next concert destination. There were no trucks in those days. It takes four men to lift and load this piano. ~ This piano was a gift from the late Joe Henson, who lived in the Baer home at 140 North Carlisle Street. It is exhibited in the Large Parlor in the Museum House of Allison-Antrim Museum, Inc. ~ Restoring it to playing condition it would cost $7,000 (2001). ~ Parts are no longer made nor available for this era piano so any and all repairs would have to be handmade. Because of this, the piano would not sound as it originally did. ~ The conservator of music instruments at the DeWitt Wallace Museum in Williamsburg, VA strongly advised AAMI not to restore the piano. Doing so would destroy parts of the piano that can still hold the secrets to how instruments of this kind were made in the 19th century. ~ The making of today's Steinway & Sons Piano & their newest piano the self-playing Spirio via the iPad at: https://www.facebook.com/thisisinsiderdesign/videos/637634359911530/?q=steinway%20%26%20sons See more

157 years ago! It was in our backyard. ~ Mont Alto Ironworks ~ From The Pilot, April 5, 1864, page 2, Passing Events &C. ~ "It is said that Holker Hughes' Mont Alto iron works have been sold to a company from Scranton, Pa., for a sum exceeding two hundred thousand dollars. Some time since, the Ahls, of Cumberland county, Pa., purchased the Antietam iron works in Washington county, Md." ~ The images: an artist's drawing & a newspaper photograph of the area.... ~ Daniel and Samuel Hughes built the 'cold blast' iron furnace in 1808. ~ The diameter of the water wheel, which provided the power, was 30' in diameter with a depth of three feet. ~ The furnace produced 18 to 20 tons of high-quality pig iron per week, which was then hauled by wagons, south to the Potomac River at Williamsport, MD. ~ The pig iron was loaded on boats and from there to the various markets. ~ A foundry was built in 1815, which produced holloware and stoves, which were taken to market in Baltimore, by wagons. ~ Hughes built a rolling mill, along the West Antietam Creek in 1832. ~ In 1835, a nail works was built near the rolling mill. ~ In 1864, the Mont Alto Iron Company purchased the iron works complex and 17,000 acres of land. ~ The oak trees in the mountain forest were required and used for making charcoal, which was the heat source for the furnaces. ~ Would have loved to been able to walk through the grounds. See more

What! No banks in Greencastle. ~ In 1908, Judge D. Watson Rowe shared his reminiscences. ~ If one would deposit money, he must ride or drive to Chambersburg (or further as Chambersburg was established in 1803) ~ Everything was paid for in cash. ~ The merchant, four times a year, went to Philadelphia or Baltimore to buy goods. He put his money in a belt strapped around his waist next to the skin for safety, ... ~ ...counted down the money for his cash purchases as he sold the goods afterwards, and kept the proceeds in his safe. ~ The use of checks and drafts was not common at all, scarcely known ~ Every one was security for his neighbor. When one business went down, the rest followed in quick succession, like a row of bricks on end. ~ Some notes were counterfeit, & some from defunct banks far away. A bank note Detector (a human being) was in constant use... ~ The first bank in Greencastle was Farmers & Mechanics Bank, which opened in 1814. It was located on the southwest corner of the square. That bank failed in 1818 and for almost a half century (46 years), Greencastle was without a town bank, until the First National Bank of Greencastle opened in 1864. See more

At Kauffman's Station & in Greencastle ~ Today, we're all familiar with the shipping companies USPS, United Parcel Post, Federal Express but did you know Greencastle and Antrim each had an express shipping office? ~ It was Adams Express Company, established in 1854. It is stil in operation, now known as Adams Diversified Equity Fund. ~ In the mid-19th century, it was a freight & cargo forwarding company with local agents & offices in many small towns in PA, wherever there wa...s a train station, including Greencastle & Kauffman Station. ~ George Eby signed (on the receipt below) as the Adams Express agent, in Greencastle. ~ On the NY Stock Exchange, it is one of the oldest companies & is one out of five companies that has "operate(d) as a closed-ended fund since 1929." Adams Express has paid dividends since 1935. ~ On September 8th 1863 (just two months after the Battle of Gettysburg), George W Ziegler shipped, via Adams Express, a carbine (then valued at $15) to Daniel J. Ridgway (coal shipper by trade), in Pottsville, PA. ~ Daniel L Ridgway died May 24, 1873 but alas the carbine was not listed in the probate of his estate. ~ The Adams Express sign (see second image below) is hung left of the Kauffman's sign. Kauffman's sign gives the distance to Harrisburg from Kauffman's as 60 miles and Winchester, to the south, is 56 miles. ~ There is no extant photograph of the Adams Express Office in Greencastle in the mid-19th century. ~ The only thing sweeter than this would be finding the carbine that was shipped. See more

Today, November 2, 2020, marks the 175th! Birthday of Frances "Dolly" Harris Lesher ~ Dolly Harris is the only Civil-War era Greencastle & Franklin County woman... to be honored, with "military honors" upon her death, as a Civil-War heroine for her bravery in confronting the Confederates, as thousands of them passed by her home at 37 N Carlisle St, Greencastle. ~ Dolly tied a Union flag about her waist and called the Confederate soldiers "traitors and scoundrels" as she waved the Union flag at them. ~ Knowing the danger of her actions, Dolly hid a dagger in the pocket under her Civil War skirt. ~ One year ago today (2019), family members from all around the United States, gathered for the dedication of a granite monument that will forever mark Dolly's resting place. ~ Family members do not know why a monument was never placed at her gravesite. ~ Happy 175th Birthday Dolly!! See more

Native American female, witnertime buffalo robe. Created with natural Earth pigments from berries and minerals. Make and appointiment to see it Tue to Fri, noon to 4 pm by calling 717.597.9010 "or" come see it next Saturday, November 7, 10 am to 4 pm at the Antique Arms Show.

After about 20 years of being in Allison-Antrim Museum’s collections, a new discovery has been made. ~ It is not bear but a female, wintertime, buffalo hide, and it is not a rug but a robe or perhaps sleigh blanket. ~ Female buffalos existed in Pennsylvania up to about 1750 as did antelopes, one of which is depicted on the hide. ~ The circles around the edge possibly represent moons & the seasons of the year with the Moon’s color changes. ~ Native American tents, such as the ...one drawn, were also used in Pennsylvania up to about mid-18th century. ~ Overall, the paintings were possibly a hunting map showing the locations of seasonal hunting throughout the year. ~ The "paint" used was all made from the earth, i.e. berries and or minerals. ~ J. Craig is stamped on the hide in four places. After much research by one of the Museum’s board members, it was determined that a James Craig was a trader, in western Pennsylvania, with Native Americans. ~ The hide was shown to an expert in Native American artifacts and believes the hide may date to the 1770s. ~ The hide was protected by the green velvet material, which was slip-stitched to the hide. The stitching was carefully snipped last year to reveal the painting. ~ The hide is on exhibit in the Barn's South Exhibit Bay. ~ Come see it Tue to Fri, noon to 4 pm OR ~ At the Antique Arms Show, Saturday, November 7, 10 am to 4 pm. ~ More information can be found at: https://greencastlemuseum.org/antique-arms-show ~ Tickets are $6/person at the door or via PayPal at the web link above. ~ Allison-Antrim Museum will be adhering to all Pennsylvania State COVID guidelines including the taking of temperatures at the door with a non-touch, digital thermometer. Masks are required to be worn by everyone inside along with social distancing. ~ Lunch items can be purchased outside from Lizzy's Restaurant. ~ For more information call 717.597.9010 See more

It is All Hallows Eve this weekend. ~ What stories have you heard about the Irwin House being haunted? ~ When the May family lived here in the 1990s, the voice of a little girl laughing was heard. They named her Sophie. ~ On occasion, a group of children was heard giggling and laughing in the attic. ~ Small trinkets disappeared. ... ~ Sounds have been heard in broad daylight - repeated knocking at the back door but no one was there. ~ And, furniture being pushed acrossed the wooden floors but no one was there. ~ I've learned to acknowledge outloud that "someone" is there and move on with my tasks. ~ A gentleman in a top hat and 1800's attire was seen walking the grounds in broad daylight on a Sunday afternoon. ~ Have you lived in a haunted house before? See more

Wouldn't it be nice to have a mass-transit system in Franklin County? ~ Well, there was mass transit trolley system in southern Franklin County in 1905: Union Station at Shady Grove, PA. ~ These three trolleys (Greencastle on the right, Hagerstown in the middle, and Waynesboro on the left) converged at this point (Union Station) in Shady Grove everyday, carrying passengers from one town to another. ~ Contrary to the information known in 2004, when the first Greencastle-Antr...im pictorial history book was written and published, the Hagerstown-Shady Grove rails were not built until 1905. ~ The Hagerstown-Shady Grove line almost didn't happen as plans were to build the trolley rails between Hagerstown and Waynesboro, via Leitersburg. Those plans were scrapped at the last minute and so the "Northern Line" was constructed. ~ Behind the Greencastle trolley car is a small building that serves today as the U.S. Post Office for Shady Grove 17256. ~ The bluilding left of the Hagerstown trolley was the Union Station ticket office. See more

Bits & Pieces of History: Where was it & What was it? ~ About 190 years ago: It's the only known image of the Greencastle Presbyterian Church c. 1830. ~ Circa 1737, the East Conococheague Presbyterian Congregation built a log structure for worship at Moss Spring, on land donated by William Rankin. ~ During the French & Indian & Pontiac Wars, the log structure was burned, and the congregants then met in their homes. ~ The Red Church, c. 1767 was a weatherboard structure that w...as painted red and also built at Moss Spring. This church was used for about 60 years until 1828 when a building of brick was constructed in town on the two lots, where the current Presbyterian Church now stands at West Baltimore Street and South Jefferson Street. ~ That brick structure is the one shown in this image, which is on the 1853 Greencastle map, and identified as Presbyterian Church. ~ The 1853 map of Greencastle (on loan from Bob Kugler) can be viewed in the main hall of the Allison-Antrim Museum, Inc. museum house at 365 S Ridge Ave, Greencastle, PA 17225, Tuesday to Friday, noon to 4 pm, and Saturdays, 11 am to 1 pm. ~ Please call 717. 597.9010 to schedule an appointment. See more

Jeremiah Rankin's Mill c. 1754 - what caused its demise. ~ The mill was powered by Muddy Run and was located on the Williamson Road (about one mile west of Rt 11) where the Muddy Run crosses the road. ~ For many decades, the property was owned by the Craig family. The Craig family sold the property in 1943. ~ During WWII, when roofing materials were scarce, the roof of the mill caved in and could not be repaired because of the war effort. ~ Everyone thought the stone structu...re would survive until the war was over and the roof could be replaced. ~ But that wasn't the case. Without the roof the almost 200 year old stone building crumbled in upon itself, requiring it to be razed. ~ There's always a "new" piece of history yet to be discovered! ***264 years ago on July 8, 1756, during the French and Indian War, Caspar Walter, miller, was killed and four of his children were taken and adopted by the Native Americans. ~ Eight years later, the children were released, only recognizing their mother by a song which she had sung to them many years earlier. ~ The 2nd photograph is a rare inside image of a 18th century grist mill. The Hurst frame held the gears and buhrstone together. Muddy Run powered the waterwheel shaft that turned the gears and rotated the buhrstone to grind the grain. ~ You can find both these images in Allison-Antrim Museum, Inc.'s two pictorial history books - Images of America Greencastle-Antrim (2004) and Greencastle-Antrim Revisited (2007). Both are for sale at the museum or the Greencstle-Antrim Chamber of Commerce. See more

Sandy Hollow - visit it virtually. ~ Not long ago, I received an inquiry about Sandy Hollow, the site of the first Old Boys reunion picnic in 1902. ~ Sandy Hollow is on private property and cannot be accessed without permission. ~ Ten years ago, Sandy Hollow was featured during the 2010 Old Home Week, at which time folks had the opportunity to have a picnic lunch at Sandy Hollow. ~ Now, from you very own computer desk, mobile phone, or tablet... ... ~ you can enjoy this virtual, edge to edge, 360* GigaPan camera panoramic view of Sandy Hollow, along the Conococheague Creek, Antrim Township, Franklin County, PA: http://www.gigapan.com/gig/5e9d13bfc423bb47846e66e0d42669c3 ~ Sandy Hollow is where the "Old Boys" met for their first Old Home Week get together in 1902. ~ Zoom in for closeups. Zoom out for the full panoramic view. ~ Knowing the legacy, "imagine" yourself here in 1902. ~ ENJOY! See more

Do you have ancestors who fought in the Revolutionary War? Follow this link to find out: http://www.digitalarchives.state.pa.us/archive.asp ~ This link (with thanks to Kathy Simmers McKay) goes to a study on Revolutionary War Veterans from Franklin County, compiled by the Franklin County Chapter of the Daughters of the American Revolution: http://lcweb2.loc.gov//american%20rev%20sold%20frankl%20co ~ Next year we will all celebrate the 245th Anniversary of July 4, 1776 and t...he American Revolution. ~ Who were some of the Antrim Rev War soldiers? (There was no Greencastle at the time.) ~ There were four Johnston brothers - Col. Thomas, Col. James, Maj. John, and Dr. Robert Johnston. ~ Attached are some of their Revolutionary War PA records. They were residents of Antrim Township, in Cumberland County (est. 1750). Franklin Co was not established until 1784. ~ Amazingly, Dr. Robert Johnston had 41 single PA record cards for various reasons. He is the first individual with that many records that I've ever seen. He was paid, as were all the American soldiers, in British pounds, and paid quite well for his service to his country as a surgeon. ~ Dr Robert was at Yorktown, at the surrender of Cornwallis, October 19, 1781. ~ From January 1775 to 1781 Dr Robert served as: the surgeon to the Sixth Battalion; Surgeon General for the Southern Department of the Army; and was the personal physician and friend to George Washington. Dr. Johnston was present at Ticonderoga, Saratoga, Valley Forge, and the surrender of Cornwallis at Yorktown. ~ Do you have Rev War, War of 1812, WWI, WWII ancestors from PA? If so, follow the link below to access your ancestors' PA war records or other war records here - "free": http://www.digitalarchives.state.pa.us/archive.asp ~ To see a letter written to Dr. Robert Johnston from (Mad) Anthony Wayne, visit: https://www.bidsquare.com//c-1776-revolutionary-war-docume

Do you know from where Orchard Circle got its name? ~ On the eastern edge of Greencastle, at 327 E Baltimore St, was J. P. Rahauser & Brother business, i.e. Joseph P and Gideon Rahauser. ~ 327 East Baltimore St is the property just east of Besore Library. The huge white house. (See the 1868 map for location.) ~ They dealt in harvesting machines. ~ They operated a large apple orchard, i.e. Orchard Circle!... ~ They imported draft horses from the West & stabled them in the barn on the family property. The horses were sold to a select list of local customers & buyers in Philadelphia, Baltimore, & D.C.! ~ Joseph & Gideon also bred trotters for harness racing. ~ J P Rahauser & Bro operated during the late 1800s and was "one of the most important business enterprises of the borough. The sales amounted some years to $45,000 or $50,000, and averaged $35,000." ~ Regarding the advertisement by the Walter A. Wood manufacturer of hay rakes (which the Rahausers sold), there was a definite purpose for putting the image of a little girl on the hay rake seat (it was adjustable - even for little kids). The rake was so easy to use that even a little girl could drive the horse with both hands on the reigns! "A lad or lovely lassie can control it equal to any man." See more

The late Ed Bearss’ 21 years ago in November 1999 ~ ...gave his first of eight presentations to Allison-Antrim Museum members and the public. ~ His topic: The PA 126th Regiment at the Battle of Fredericksburg, introduced by the late Ted Alexander. ~ To watch Ed Bearss’ first presentation, in 1999, follow this link: https://greencastlemuseum.org/videos. ~ Born June 23, 1923, Ed Bearss died at the age of 97 on September 16, 2020. Bearss was a talking head for Ken Burn’s ...Civil War series and for the TV series, Civil War Journal. ~ He authored 20-some books and spoke extensively on various aspects of American military history including the American Revolution, Civil War, Indian Wars, and WWII. ~ Bearss was a tour guide for the Smithsonian Associates. In addition to lecturer, he was the Chief Historian of the National Park Service from 1981 to 1994 and was then appointed Chief Historian Emeritus of the NPS. ~ During Bearss’ tenure with the National Park Service, he was instrumental in developing historical interpretation for War in the Pacific National Historical Park in Guam and the U.S.S. Arizona Memorial in Pearl Harbor, Hawaii. Bearss, a WWII, U.S. Marine, was in combat in the Pacific Theater, during which he was seriously wounded in action, while charging a Japanese machine gun nest. Bearss also led tours of the D-Day battlefields in France. ~ Since the beginning of the Speaker Series in 1997, Allison-Antrim Museum was honored to have Ed Bearss as a speaker and lecturer on eight occasions. See more