Franklin County Visitors Bureau Celebrate African American History, Women’s History, American History at Franklin County 11/30 Visitors Center
History is front and center at the Franklin County 11/30 Visitors Center in downtown Chambersburg. Step into the African American History Is American History selfie installation. Add your selfie to the exhibit. Discover distinctive people, like Royal Christian, Joseph Winters, and Zelda Barbour. Share a favorite quote or story. Take a moment and read about Franklin County’s USCT (U.S. Colored Troops) from Dum Spiro, Spero: Chambersburg’s Black Civil War Soldiers and Sailors or read the oral history of Bernard Ruffin’s Voices of Chambersburg. Exhibit open from February to May 1. Come in person or join virtually by snapping a selfie with your own backdrop and emailing to jpollard@explorefranklincountypa.com.
March brings Women’s History to the 11/30 Visitors Center with Vision, Voices, and the VOTE, a second self-building installation to encourage public participation. Learn about some of the first women of Franklin County, including revolutionary veteran Margaret Cochran Corbin and Franklin County’s first female judge, Carol Van Horn. Snap a selfie in person or join virtually by taking a picture of influential women in your life. Share the words of women, who inspired you. Exhibit open March 1 to May 1.
Inspired by the Martin Luther King quote: “The time is always right to do what is right,” Franklin County Visitors Bureau is sponsoring an essay contest. The contest is open to young and old. Doing the right thing shaped African American history, women’s history, and all of American history. Answer the question: What is your right thing? Submit the essay to Franklin County 11/30 Visitors Center, 15 South Main Street, Chambersburg, PA 17201. For prizes and further details, visit https://www.explorefranklincountypa.com/home/black-history-month-essay-contest/
Throughout April, Franklin County Visitors Bureau focuses on 300 years of American history in the county. The 2021 celebration will use cuisine as a connector of culture and history by hosting a series of four-cooking demonstrations—from the Pennsylvania German cooking of early immigrants through more current connections to Latin American flavors. Food connects people to home and family, to tradition and society, and brings people together. To top off the three-month celebration on May 1, Franklin County 11/30 Visitors Center will host Franklin County Flavor–300 Years of Food, a special multi-course, multi-cuisine food event. With more than 10,000 square feet of space and using two seatings, the 11/30 Visitors Center will safely be able to host up to 150 for this one-of-a-kind taste of history. Ticket sales open March 22.
February Speaker–Dr. Arnold Hence–Set For February 23
On Saturday, February 23, the Franklin County Visitors Bureau, working in conjunction with the Western Maryland African American Association, welcomes Dr. Arnold Hence with his collection of images of Hallowed Grounds, a collection of civil rights and African-American historic sites. The presentation will be held from 1 PM to 3 PM in the second floor Great Room of the Franklin County 11/30 Visitors Center. FCVB will give a virtual tour of more than a dozen significant African-American and Underground Railroad sites of Franklin County from 10 AM to Noon.
Dr. Arnold T. Hence has been “taking” pictures since the 8th grade when his mom gave him an old Polaroid camera, and “making” pictures for the past fifteen years. His photographic interests have been shaped by his life experiences. Dr. Hence retired as Executive Vice President of Forsyth Technical Community in January 2010 after serving 36 years in higher education. Since retiring he devotes more time and energy to photography, with one of his pictures having won a first place and judges’ choice award at the Dixie Classic Fair in Winston Salem, NC. While he has “bags and albums” full of pictures from the “pre-digital” era, his photographic interests for the past several years have included a growing civil rights and historic sites collection, landscapes, weddings, special events, and classic cars.. He is a former juried member of the Winston Salem Craft Guild and former Board member of The Associated Artists of Winston Salem. He has had solo exhibitions at The International Civil Rights Center and Museum in Greensboro, NC and the Apple Gallery in Danbury, NC.
After leaving high school in the 11th grade, he joined the U.S. Army where he served for seven years specializing in radar and computer repair. Following his discharge from the Army he did stints as a salesman, auto mechanic, electronics technician and part time musician to support his family. He once played at the famed Apollo theater behind legendary blues singer Al Green, early in his career. In 1972 he was one of nine people selected from the across the United States by the late Dr. Samuel DeWitt Proctor to receive a Graduate Fellowship to the Rutgers University Graduate School of Education without having a baccalaureate degree based on life experience. He has since earned Master’s and doctoral degrees in education from Rutgers University.
Born in Jackson, Michigan he was raised in Minneapolis, MN. His other hobbies include boating, music, and writing. He and his wife Anna, have two children and three grandchildren. Dr. Hence is also an ordained minister
Franklin County Visitors Bureau invites all to explore African American history in celebration of Black History Month and throughout the year.
Franklin County Visitors Bureau is highlighting February as National Black History Month, Library Lover’s Month, and Great American Pie Month. Of course, on the surface, it may seem there is nothing that these celebrations have in common. But, all of these celebrations bring attention to February, and all are strong focuses for Franklin County PA.
Black History Month is an annual focal point of the Franklin County Visitors Bureau. In 2018, the visitor bureau recommends viewing its Road to Freedom video to understand how important the area was as a route for escaping enslaved. The video can be viewed here. In addition, Franklin County Visitors Bureau recommends the Franklin County Historical Society’s presentation by author, pastor, and teacher Ed Maliskas on his book, “John Brown to James Brown – The Little Farm Where Liberty Budded, Blossomed, and Boogied” on Saturday, February 24 from 1-3pm. Maliskas will discuss the story of a small farm in Washington County from which John Brown led his famous raid. The property was later purchased by the Black Elks and hosted dances featuring James Brown, Aretha Franklin, Ray Charles, and many other famous artists. Appropriately, the event will take place at the John Brown House on 225 East King Street in Chambersburg, which was the northern headquarters of John Brown’s Raid on Harpers Ferry. Maliskas will have copies of his book for sale.
Library Lovers Month is a must-celebrate for Franklin County PA. The county is home to more than a dozen libraries—from county-supported libraries, community libraries, bookmobiles, college libraries, and Little Free Libraries. It is a good month to visit libraries, support with donations, and volunteer time. For Franklin County, the newly renovated Coyle Free Library in downtown Chambersburg is an asset to local residents and a welcome destination for visitors to Franklin County.
Finally, with the fresh fruit of Franklin County, celebrating February as Great American Pie Month is easy to understand. Throughout February, Franklin County Visitors Bureau plans to offer its favorite pie recipes on Facebook.com/FCVBen, incorporating the fresh fruits of Franklin County such as peaches, apples, blueberries, raspberries, pears, and even a delicious milk pie to recognize Franklin County cows are the second highest producers of milk in PA.
Explore Franklin County PA and celebrate Black History Month, Library Lovers Month, and Great American Pie Month. Enjoy trails of history, arts and architecture, recreation, natural beauty, fresh foods, and the warm hospitality of communities like Chambersburg, Greencastle, Mercersburg, Shippensburg, and Waynesboro. Franklin County PA is located just north of the Mason Dixon Line and is an easy drive to Washington DC, Philadelphia, and Pittsburgh. Explore more here or contact 866.646.8060 for help putting together your visit.