The Mercersburg Historical Society’ invites history lovers to The Hugh Mercer Symposium on Thursday June 13, 2019, in Kiel Hall of Mercersburg Academy. Hugh Mercer, namesake of Mercersburg, is an early Scots-Irish settler of the Pennsylvania frontier, selecting land west of the Susquehanna River in the Conococheague Settlement as his home. Mercer, a member of the defeated Jacobite forces of Scotland, fled his home in 1747 for the safety of America. He became the first trained physician in the Conococheague Settlement. Mercer was a close friend and associate to George Washington, ultimately joining in the conflict during the Revolutionary War, where he died in at the Battle of Princeton. Mercer’s death in the battle is the subject of Revolutionary artist John Trumbull’s painting titled The Death of General Mercer at the Battle of Princeton, January 3, 1777.
Presentations planned for the synposium include:
Hugh Mercer and The Jacobite Rebellion in Scotland by Mr. Jeff Dacus
General Hugh Mercer in the Revolution by Mr. Michael Cecere
Hugh Mercer and Freemasonry by Brother Chandler, Fredericksburg Lodge No. 4
All speakers will participate in a panel discussion at the conclusion. The fee for the day-long conference is $40 per person and includes a luncheon. Register on Eventbrite. Contact the Frankin County Visitors Bureau for an invitation or mail payment and attendees to:
Mercersburg Historical Society Attn: General Hugh Mercer Symposium P.O. Box 115 Mercersburg, PA 17236
Step back 300 years and explore the earliest settlements of Franklin with the Franklin County Visitors Bureau Spring Into History Frontier & Colonial Tour on April 6, 9 AM to 4 PM. Participants will meet at the Franklin County 11/30 Visitors Center to begin the tour with a brief overview of early Franklin County and early America. The tour takes in sites of frontier settlement and raids by the native tribes. Living history portrayers at Conococheague Institute and Fort Loudoun. Learn about these early residents of the Cumberland Valley. Glimpse their lifestyle, culture, customs, and challenges.
Single tickets are $50/ person or two tickets for $75. Bring a friend and save! Lunch is included along with several historical items and information pieces. Payments can be mailed to Franklin County Visitors Bureau (FCVB), 15 South Main Street, Chambersburg, PA 17201 or dropped at the Franklin County 11/30 Visitors Center. For those preferring to register online, the event is live on Eventbrite and can be accessed here. (Eventbrite includes a processing fee.)
Experience a new awareness of American history and gain respect for the frontier settlers in the Spring into History Conococheague Settlement Frontier & Colonial Tour.
Open your home and heart to one of the pets of the Cumberland Valley Animal Shelter.
Muriel is a 2-year-old lop-eared rabbit who was surrendered to the shelter because her owner could no longer care for her. She is a sweet bunny that will need to be spayed before she gets adopted, but she is looking for someone who has done their rabbit research and knows what it means to own one. Could you be right for Muriel?
Hank was brought into the shelter in a trap and we found out he was already neutered and quite a nice boy. No one came to claim him, so now this 7-year-old fellow is looking for a home. Hank really loves attention and kitty treats! He will make someone a wonderful companion.
Franklin County offers many pet-friendly festivals and recreation opportunities throughout the year.
The Franklin County Visitors Bureau (FCVB) invites the public to the November 24th grand opening of the Franklin County 11/30 Visitors Center, named for its location at the intersection of the two historic Routes 11 and 30 in downtown Chambersburg. The grand opening coincides with Small Business Saturday 2018 and is a day-long event from 10 AM to 7 PM. It includes walking tours, book signings, speakers, musical entertainment, and tours of the facility. At 5 PM and 6 PM, FCVB will host a live performance of 300 Years of American History, including 1864 Ransoming, Burning & Rebirth of Chambersburg. Visitors can enjoy the performance from inside the 11/30 Visitors Center with an indoor light show or enjoy a radio-style broadcast outdoors where an exterior light show will accompany the story.
The 11/30 Visitors Center is strategically located at these two main travel arteries of Chambersburg, the county seat of Franklin County, and establishes a gateway to explore Franklin County PA. It will feature five different exhibits, changing themes every eight weeks. The grand opening exhibits are Remembering World War 1, Artisans of Franklin County, Stone Arch and Covered Bridges of Franklin County, On The Move in Franklin County, and Fresh Foods of Franklin County. Along with the exhibits, FCVB will associate an itinerary to each theme for visitors to explore the five main communities of Chambersburg, Greencastle, Mercersburg, Shippensburg, and Waynesboro plus areas in between or “around the bend” such as Fort Loudon, Mont Alto, Fayetteville, or Rouzerville.
FCVB coincided the Grand Opening of the 11/30 Visitors Center with Small Business Saturday because small town flavor is one of the draws for the half-million visitors to the county annually. FCVB is supporting several shopping giveaways and activities in Chambersburg, Greencaste, and Waynesboro. The retail and hospitality sector of Franklin County supports more than 15,000 jobs and is the core of more than $300 million of visitor spending annually.
FCVB purchased the 10,000-sq.ft. brick and marble building at 15 South Main Street in December 2016. The property, constructed in 1865, served as a bank throughout its existence. Historically known as the First National Bank of Chambersburg and in later years, Unitas Bank and Sovereign Bank, it last functioned in May 2015 as Santander Bank. With $1.6 million in renovations, FCVB transformed the property to the Franklin County 11/30 Visitors Center to tell stories of history and humanity and share the county’s healthy fresh foods, inspiring art, architecture, and entertainment. The two main vaults of the bank remain intact. One will host videos of the county and the other will hold the itineraries to help launch visitors throughout Franklin County.
Franklin County 11/30 Visitors Center Grand Opening Schedule: November 24 – 10 AM to 7 PM
10 AM to 10:45 AM – Brussel Café – Coffee & Waffle Cake
10:15 AM– 10:50 AM – Walking Tour departs for Downtown Walk of History
11:00 AM – 12:30 PM – Mike Marotte presents: “World War I Touches Franklin County”
12:15 PM – 12:50 PM – Walking Tour departs for Downtown Walk of History
1 PM – 2:30 PM – Ted Alexander presents: “The American Civil War in Franklin County”
2:15 PM – 2:50 PM – Walking Tour departs for Downtown Walk of History
3:00 PM – 4:30 PM– Ghost Pit Presents “Spirits of 15 South Main”
5 PM – Franklin County: 300 Years of American History, including 1864 Ransoming, Burning & Rebirth of Chambersburg
6 PM – Franklin County: 300 Years of American History, including 1864 Ransoming, Burning & Rebirth of Chambersburg
Exhibit viewing, video presentations, and building tours from 10:30 AM to 4 PM. Musical entertainment will be provided by semi-finalists and finalists of Franklin County’s musical contest A Cappella & Unplugged.
Franklin County: 300 Years of American History, including 1864 Ransoming, Burning & Rebirth of Chambersburg is a variation of the annual light show. Visitors can enjoy the presentation from inside or outdoors. Two show are provided for visitors to enjoy both experiences.
Bob O’Connor will make a presentation entitled Harriet Lane -The First Lady of Washington at Renfrew Museum and Park on Sunday, June 10 at 2 pm. The 45-minute program will consist of the history of Harriet Lane and her ties to the Pennsylvania area and her impact in Washington. Lane was the niece of James Buchanan who served as the 15th President of the United States. Since Buchanan wasn’t married Lane served as the official hostess for the White House during his Presidential term.
O’Connor, who lives in Charles Town, WV, is an historian who travels and shares his passion for history. While serving as Director of Tourism in Washington County, Maryland O’Connor became involved in touring historical sites such as Antietam Battlefield and Harpers Ferry National Historical Park. He shares Civil War history with groups of all ages and travels cross country to make presentations.
O’Connor’s interest in history was sparked on a 1958 trip to Galesburg, IL where he attended the 100th anniversary of the Lincoln-Douglas debates. Carl Sandburg was the featured speaker. O’Connor worked full-time and part-time as a newspaper reporter, and at various jobs — many that required writing press releases, news articles, or reports. He published his first article when he was in 7th grade – in an Illinois Historical Society for junior high students.
The Harriet Lane presentation is free to the public and will take place in the Wagon Shed Room located inside the Visitors Center. O’Connor will have his books for sale. To learn more about O’Connor please visit his webpage at www.boboconnorbooks.com. For a complete listing of Renfrew Museum and Park’s calendar of events please visit www.renfrewmuseum.org.
