Play ball! Allison-Antrim Museum is reprising the Jacob Nelson “Nellie” Fox exhibition for the benefit of Greencastle-Antrim’ returning Old Home Week friends and family members. The exhibition highlights the career of Franklin County’s own Nellie Fox, Major League baseball player. Jacob Nelson “Nellie” Fox (December 25, 1927 – December 1, 1975) lived in and grew up in St. Thomas, Franklin County, PA. He played for the St. Thomas American Legion baseball team. Nellie did not finish high school because at the age of 16, Connie Mack signed him to play for the Philadelphia Athletics minor league team. Included in the exhibit is the letter that Connie Mack wrote to Nellie’s mother Mae Fox.
Fox played for the Athletics for three years – 1947 through 1949; the Chicago White Sox – 1950 through 1963; and finished his playing career (1964 and 1965) with the Houston Colt .45s, which then changed its name in 1965 to the Houston Astros. Nellie’s Chicago uniform number “2” was retired upon his retirement from baseball.
Nellie’s accomplishments and stats include the following. Three Gold Gloves as second baseman. He led the White Sox to the 1959 World Series and because of his performance that season, he was named the American League’s Most Valuable Player. Fox was the third-most difficult hitter to strike out in Major League Baseball history. In 19 seasons, he only had 216 strikeouts. To date (2019), Fox holds the Chicago White Sox record of playing the most consecutive games, i.e. 798, which at his retirement, is the sixth most in the history of the Major Leagues. Nellie’s spectacular career led him to be selected for 13 All-Star Teams.
In 1975, Nellie Fox was diagnosed with cancer and died December 1, 1975. Jacob Nelson “Nellie” Fox was inducted into the Hall of Fame in August 1997. Joanne Fox, Nellie’s wife, received the award and upon accepting it said, “He played with all his heart, all his passion, and with every ounce of his being — that was the best way he could show his appreciation to all those who helped him learn the game that became his life.”
This exhibition has been made possible through the generosity of a friend of the Museum, Justin Mayhue, Hagerstown, MD. The exhibit includes memorabilia from Chicago and Houston, game-used bats, a game-worn cap, many photographs including Nellie with Yogi Berre and Brooks Robinson, baseball cards, a 1961 Chicago White Sox team-signed ball, a letter from Nellie to Joanne while he was serving during the Korean War, and much more.
There’s no admission charge to the Museum but donations are accepted. The Museum is open regularly Tuesday to Friday, noon to 4 pm and Saturday, 11 am to 1 pm. For more information, please visit: www.greencastlemuseum.org, Facebook, on Twitter @greencastlemuzm, or call 717-597-9010.
The February rotating exhibit at Allison-Antrim Museum, 365 S Ridge Ave, Greencastle, PA is its collection of the Brumbaugh Pennsylvania Governors’ Signatures. It will open on Saturday, February 9 and close March 9. The total collection is a sizeable assemblage of about 80 different documents of Pennsylvania governors’ signatures. The core group of 41 signatures in the collection was given to AAMI when the museum opened in August 1998 by the late Dr. Thomas Brumbaugh. It is a collection that he started in his youth and to which he continued to add “missing” signatures. AAMI believes this rare, educational, and historic collection is the largest collection of Pennsylvania governors’ signatures outside the number of signatures in possession of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. To officials’ knowledge, no other small, local museum or historical organization has such a collection or has focused on this topic.
From the Colonial era to the present, there have been 112 terms of office and 102 men who have served as governor of Pennsylvania. The figure of 102 does not include the only woman, Hannah Penn, wife of William, who assumed the duties of proprietor of the colony while William endured a lengthy illness before his death. Eight men served two different terms and one man served three different terms of office.
The exhibit is comprised of at least one primary document with the signature of each of the 50 men from the collection. Of local interest, are the signatures of William Findlay and Joseph Heister from Mercersburg, Pennsylvania. The signature of one of the signers of the Declaration of Independence, Thomas McKean, is also part of the exhibit. He was Delaware’s delegate to the 1776 Continental Congress, in Philadelphia.
The documents contain the governors’ signatures while in office, as well as outside their terms of office. The collection will be complemented by copies of illustrations, portraits, or photographs of each of the 50 men. As an accompaniment during the tour, visitors will be provided with a notebook containing historical sketches of each man’s service to Pennsylvania.
There is no admission fee but donations are welcomed and accepted. For more information please visit the museum’s website at www.greencastlemuseum.org, Facebook, on Twitter @greencastlemuzm, or call 717-597-9010.
Visitors can enjoy holiday fun at Greencastle’s Heritage Christmas, December 1, 8, and 15, 5:30 PM to 8:30 PM. Each Friday includes horse and carriage rides through downtown, cookie decorating, luminaries, carolers, holiday window displays, and a variety of music on the square. Enjoy a holiday train display at the 1909 Highline Train Station on South Jefferson Street. Children can bring their Letters to Santa to post in the special mailbox on the square. It is three consecutive Fridays of family fun in Greencastle PA.
On the first Friday of Heritage Christmas, December 1, Allison Antrim Museum is holding a Christmas open house from 6:30 PM to 8:30 PM. The 1860 museum house, situated on the original land tract owned by town founder John Allison, is decorated as a Civil War era home. Della Robbia fruit arrangements in the Victorian concrete urns and transom of the front door welcomes guests. Roping on the banister, fresh magnolia and boxwood greens, and cedar tree decorated with dried fruit, gilded walnuts, Marzipan fruit candies, gingerbread cookies, antique candle holders, and Civil War flags will take visitors back to a much simpler time. Vintage toys, period furnishings, and an 1800s one-horse sleigh are on display throughout the museum house.
In the German Bank Barn, enjoy the display of 1930s vintage boyhood toys. Susan Shaffer, of Joyful Arts Studio in downtown Greencastle, will lead guests during a come-and-go evening of painting a take-home Christmas ornament. Reservations can be made here or by calling 717- 658-2177.
Residents of the Greencastle area hold an annual “Light It Up” decorating contest. Visitors can enjoy the twinkling handiwork of local residents as Greencastle and the surrounding Antrim Township sparkle for the holidays. Be part of selecting the winner by casting a $1 vote from December 8 to 18. Proceeds benefit the Greencastle Food Pantry.
