Heritage News Volume 7 - Issue 1 March 2008 Download Current Issue as a .pdf: VOLUME 7- ISSUE 1 March 2008 Silver Lake Bank Building of the Center for Anti-Slavery Studies Montrose, Susquehanna County Celebrating Our Heritage      The Endless Mountains Heritage Region is celebrating its 10th anniversary this year! The agency was established in 1998 from the efforts of regional leaders developing a Management Action Plan and working closely with the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania's Department of Conservation and Natural Resources. This hard work by dedicated individuals to honor the agricultural history and rich natural resources of the region made the Endless Mountains a recognized heritage area in Pennsylvania.      Initially, the Endless Mountains Heritage Region functioned under the direction of the Northern Tier Regional Planning and Development Commission, its sponsoring agency. EMHR operated from various offices before seizing the opportunity to partner with the Bradford County Regional Arts Council as a tenant where we currently operate from the Washington Street Station in Towanda, Bradford County. EMHR continues to proudly serve the same four counties as originally established-Wyoming, Susquehanna, Sullivan and Bradford.      While we inevitably grow and evolve in some ways, we continue to remain true to our core mission- "to maintain and enhance the unique rural character and culture of our Endless Mountains" - and true to our core values in supporting the organizations and communities in telling the unique stories that make up this wonderful region of Northeastern Pennsylvania. Back to top        The Endless Mountains Heritage Region, Inc. is a non-profit, 501c3 organization registered as a Heritage Park agency of the Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources serving the Endless Mountains region-Bradford, Sullivan, Susquehanna and Wyoming Counties.      Our offices are located at the historic Washington Street Station overlooking the Susquehanna River on the Merrill Parkway in Towanda, Pennsylvania. One Washington Street Towanda, PA, 18848 570-265-1528 emhr@epix.net 2008 Membership Campaign Underway      The 2008 Membership Campaign of the Endless Mountains Heritage Region, Inc. is now underway. It is our hope that membership grows this year to an unprecedented level. Being a membership organization brings unique opportunities and challenges.      EMHR recognizes and accepts the responsibilities of "keeper of the flame" - being the focal point for exchange of information, expanding habits of regional thinking, raising public awareness, building capacity locally and regionally, and accounting for the progress of heritage in the region. But, we cannot serve this role without membership-individuals, organizations, businesses-all supporting the agency's efforts in preserving our legacy.       Please join or renew today by completing the Membership Application included with the Newsletter. Thank you for your membership and support! Back to top Searching for the Sign of the Goose      The story of the "Moravian Cabin", or the "Sign of the Goose" is beginning to gain new attention regionally. The favorite lodging site for 18th century travelers on the Wyalusing Path is chronicled in some writings and is capturing the imaginations of heritage enthusiasts in Sullivan and Bradford Counties. The exact route of the Wyalusing Path, and most notably, the Sign of the Goose, is not known. Speculation on the route of the path and the site of the "Moravian Cabin" is growing and lending itself to the formation of an interest group being co-facilitated by Sullivan County Historical Society, Wyalusing Valley Museum Association and Endless Mountains Heritage Region.       We have convened one meeting with fifteen individuals at the Wyalusing Museum, with guest Mr. George Yarns, retired state forestry officer. From this meeting an interest group was formed to explore further the facts and legends surrounding this aspect of regional history.      The Sullivan County Historical Society will host a special follow-up meeting on the Sign of the Goose and the Wyalusing Path on Saturday, April 13th, at 1:00 PM at the County Museum in Laporte, PA. This meeting will feature local author, John Orlandini, who has written extensively on the subject of the Wyalusing Path. Back to top
In This Issue: PA Heritage Week Susquehanna Greenway Searching of the Sign of the Goose 2008 Susquehanna Sojourn North Branch River Map & Guide Available Year of the Barn - 2008 Membership Campaign Membership Form Download Membership Form in Word format Membership Form as web page SPECIAL POINTS OF INTEREST: · EMHR Anniversary · Charter Day Events · Greenway Update · "The Goose Group" & Wyalusing Path · Year of the Barn North Branch Susquehanna River Map Guide Back to top

MARCH 7-16, 2008
THE STATE MUSEUM OF PENNSYLVANIA HARRISBURG, DAUPHIN COUNTY
Pennsylvania's Heritage Week
"Heritage Week is an ideal opportunity for families to learn more about their own history."
Linda A. Ries, Head, History and Archival Programs Pennsylvania State Archives

     The Pennsylvania State Archives will celebrate Heritage Week from March 7-16 by exhibiting the 1681 Charter from England's King Charles II granting to William Penn the land that became Pennsylvania. Because it marks the formal beginnings of the Commonwealth, the Charter is Pennsylvania's birth certificate. All four pages will be on display at the State Museum.      Staff members of PHMC will present "Charter Chats" twice daily during the week. A highlight of Heritage Week will be Sunday, March 9, when Pennsylvania Historical and Museum Commission offers free admission to the 25 historic sites and museums that make up the popular Pennsylvania Trails of History. March 9 is also Family Heritage Day, a celebration of family and community history, during which the State Museum's Curiosity Connection and Planetarium will be open free of charge.      
      Regionally, the Pennsylvania Anthracite Heritage Museum in McDade Park, Scranton will offer an afternoon of family activities, free of charge. Residents of all ages are invited to browse the exhibits, participate in children's heritage activities and enjoy refreshments at the Anthracite Museum, which is located at McDade Park, off of Keyser Avenue in Scranton, Lackawanna County.
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Susquehanna River and the Greenway Partnership

     Our agency will coordinate with the staff of Susquehanna Greenway Partnership and PA Department of Conservation and Natural Resources the third-year agreement providing for the Endless Mountains Heritage Region as the Regional Lead Organization through the Partnership. EMHR anticipates continuing to serve in this role, providing vital education and outreach assistance, regional organization and project development for the North Branch of the Susquehanna River.
     We are excited about the opportunities in communities along the river. Cooperating with Delaware & Lehigh National Heritage Corridor, our greenways coordinators are actively working with leaders in Shickshinny, Nescopeck, Tunkhannock, Laceyville, Wyalusing, Sayre and Susquehanna Depot to identify and develop projects tied to the strategic focus areas of the Partnership- river access, historic preservation, trails, "rivertowns", connectivity, and environmental protection.
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2008 Susquehanna Sojourn: Celebrating River Towns, River People

     The Susquehanna Sojourn is an educational and awareness-raising event that involves a group of canoeists paddling a segment of the Susquehanna River, camping on her shores and interacting with local towns and villages. The river is the largest tributary and provides almost half of the freshwater to the Chesapeake Bay.
      Over the course of the Sojourn, families, scouts and individuals partner with local residents in river-related service projects and activities. The event promotes environmental stewardship and inspiring conservation of our natural resources. The 2008 Sojourn starts at Corning, New York and ends at Camp Lackawanna at the Vosburg Neck near Tunkhannock in Wyoming County.
      EMHR staff and project partners will be cooperating to make this Sojourn a mutually beneficial event for the canoeists and the river towns and heritage sites from Sayre to Vosburg. If you are interested in sponsoring a portion of the event or participating with us in an interpretive session for the sojourners, please contact David Buck, Greenways Coordinator, at (570) 746-3272 or the EMHR office .
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North Branch River Map & Guide Available

     Endless Mountains Heritage Region is cooperating with retailers to make the valuable map & guide available to the public. This product is the result of a joint initiative of EMHR and the Pennsylvania Environmental Council, working with funding from the National Park Service Chesapeake Bay Gateways Network.
      The following groups have supplies of the guide instrumental for river enthusiasts:
Columbia/Montour Visitors Bureau
Fitze's Store, Tunkhannock
Laceyville Hardware
Endless Mountains Nature Center
French Azilum, Inc.
Pure Pennsylvania, Hallstead
Endless Mountain Outfitters, Sugar Run
Greater Wyalusing Chamber of Commerce
Endless Mountains Visitors Bureau
North Pennsylvania Country Artisan Store, Towanda
Wyoming County Chamber of Commerce
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2008: The Year of the Barn

      The Northern Tier Cultural Alliance is celebrating "2008: The Year of the Barn." EMHR is very excited about supporting this initiative which contributes to the agricultural theme and vision of our agency.
      According to NTCA, "It is our hope that residents and visitors alike will take time to appreciate the unique and varied architecture that surrounds us on local farms. Farm architecture can help us understand the lives of families who lived and worked in those buildings in the past as well as those who are doing so today."
      Jennifer Swain and Ruth Tonachel of the Northern Tier Cultural Alliance (NTCA) are currently conducting an inventory of regional barns. If you own or are aware of an historic or unique barn and would like to be a part of this cooperative project, all you have to do is fill out a simple survey that tells about your barn. The survey can be obtained at the NTCA office at the Washington Street Station in Towanda, or at the website, www.ntculturalalliance.org. Or, you may email info@ntculturalalliance.org to request a form or call the office at (570) 265-4093.

Information collected will be archived with NTCA in Bradford County and also added to other statewide inventories of historic barns, if not already included. Different architectural barn designs will be selected for inclusion in a self-guided driving tour brochure. No barn will be included in this brochure without owner permission. Call (570) 265-7455 for more information.
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Download Membership Form in Word format

View and print Membership Form from web page