LeRoy Heritage Museum Journal

LeRoy Heritage Museum to Begin Next Phase of Historic Hotel Renovation

2019-03-14T16:45:00.002-07:00

LeRoy Heritage Museum is set to begin the next major phase of renovation at the historic 1896 hotel where the organization is working to create an expanded regional museum highlighting southwestern Bradford County, Pennsylvania.

This phase of the project will include several upgrades necessary to convert the building from a residence into a commercial building. Some of the work will also focus on preserving the building’s deteriorated architectural elements.

Work begins with partial reconstruction of a rear two-story porch to provide a handicapped entrance on the first floor and a fire escape on the second floor. The handicapped entrance will see new decking to an existing porch, installation of a handicapped ramp, and installation of a handicapped accessible entrance door. The first-floor section of the porch will be finished by replacing missing siding, trim, a bead board ceiling, and railings.

The second floor of the rear porch will have old decking and rubber roofing removed followed by new rubber roofing, decking, railings; installation of a fire escape door for the ball room; installation of steps, landing, and railing from the ball room door to the second floor deck; along with other minor details.

Another part of the project will involve the construction of a fire escape bridge from the second-floor porch to the hillside at the back of the building. Due to obstacles that would prevent a normal fire escape stairway to the ground, the museum chose to install a fire escape in the form of a bridge that can also be used to load museum items into the second floor without the necessity of installing a much more expensive elevator. The fire escape is required in order to make the historic second floor ballroom available for public use.

A lift will be brought in as part of the project in order to access the third story shingled gable ends, where repair and replacement of wooden shingles will be done as necessary. In some cases, there are missing shingles, others are loose, and still others were replaced in the past with the wrong style of shingle. This part of the project is intended to repair all of the problem areas so that the building can be repainted in the future.

On the west side of the first floor, facing the driveway, three windows will be removed and siding will be redone to cover over these areas. These windows were not original to the building and are being removed both to provide more wall space for display in the main exhibit room and to cut back on the amount of UV light that would enter the room from the afternoon sun. Any other repairs needed to the siding around the building will also be done.

Funding for this phase of the project is provided by a grant from the Community Conservation Partnerships Program (Heritage Areas Program) under the administration of the Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources, Bureau of Recreation and Conservation. This program is administered locally by the Endless Mountains Heritage Region. The required match for this grant is being provided by the many donations received for the project since it began in 2015. Additional funds are being provided by proceeds of last year’s Barclay Mountain Heritage Day.

Since this project requires prevailing wage, the scope of the work was altered and parts of the project that the museum had hoped to do, amounting to an additional $70,000, had to be delayed. These were reconstruction of the front entrance porch to replace rotted materials and bring it up to current building codes. This would also move the entrance steps from the front of the porch to the side of the porch to move them away from the highway. Also delayed was reconstruction of a side porch to create a code-compliant fire escape and loading area for the main exhibit room. Finally, the concrete sidewalks required for access to the main entrance and handicapped entrance were delayed.

The LeRoy Heritage Museum has previously completed all of the demolition work that could be done with volunteer labor and has hired contractors to complete other work. These projects are the conversion of a first floor apartment back into one large room, removing flooring and installing a new plywood subfloor throughout the first floor of the building, building a handicapped restroom and making alterations to the plumbing to accommodate these changes, making alterations to the electrical system, installing a new heating and cooling system for the first floor museum area that works in conjunction with the existing system for the remainder of the building, and many other miscellaneous changes inside the building along with landscaping cleanup outside of the building.

In addition to finishing exterior projects that were delayed, the museum will need to finish some electrical, drywall and plaster repairs and finishing, hardwood flooring throughout the first floor, repairs to the original woodwork in specific areas, and a heating/cooling system in the ballroom.

When it is complete, the building will house a much larger museum than the current Mill Street location in LeRoy. The new museum will tell the story of southwestern Bradford County as a whole, including the Canton area, Granville area, LeRoy area, and the history of the coal and lumber towns on Barclay Mountain. The historic building was built by local lumbermen, the Lewis Brothers, with lumber sawed on the mountain from around Sunfish Pond. The Laquin Lumber Company sawmill was also built with lumber sawed by the Lewis Brothers.

The museum is still raising funds for the project and any funds above and beyond normal operating expenses are going toward the renovation. The cost to finish the project is $170,000 total but as in the past, the museum completes a phase of the project at a time when the funds become available. Never has the museum gone into debt to complete any building project it has done. With that said, donations to the project in any amount are vitally important because they allow the organization to build up a match that can be used to apply for grant funding.

The museum offers various campaign categories with different levels of permanent acknowledgment inside the finished museum such as: Platinum, $10,000 and above; Gold, $5,000 through $9,999; Silver, $1,000 through $4,999; Bronze, $500 through $999. All donations made specifically to the building fund, no matter the amount, are acknowledged inside the museum’s semi-annual magazine, The Monogram. Any contributions received now will help the museum complete more of the work that was delayed as a part of the current construction project. Gifts may be made in honor or in memory of an ancestor, immediate family member, friend, school teacher, or other person that the donor wishes to be recognized.

Donations to the project may be made online at www.leroyheritage.org/building-fund-donations or by mail at the following address: 10097 Route 414, Canton, PA 17724. More information about the project, including history, building plans, videos and more can be found by clicking on the Expansion Project page on the website. LeRoy Heritage Museum is a 501c3 non-profit organization promoting local history preservation and education in southwestern Bradford County. Donations are tax-deductible as permitted by the current tax code.

LeRoy Heritage Museum Releases Magazine; Begins Membership Drive

2018-09-25T06:05:00.004-07:00

The LeRoy Heritage Museum recently released the forty-first issue of its local history and museum news magazine, the Monogram, to its members. This full-color magazine contains 40 pages of information and photographs.

In this issue, the Daniel Innes home, Caledonia Lodge, on South Avenue in Canton is explored and there are several pages of photos showing interior architectural elements throughout the house. The house is currently being restored by Todd & Corinna Hartsch.

This issue also includes information on recently completed work being done as part of the museum expansion project and outlines work to be done beginning this fall.

Each issue lists the items recently donated to the museum collection and this issue is no different with a long list of hundreds of individual items added to the museum collection this year. The magazine also has a history of two portraits depicting John & Milly (Packard) Ferguson that were acquired by the museum this year.

Other stories in this issue include the 2018 Dwight Harris Photography Exhibit; LeRoy’s Historic Kelley Bridge; 183-Year-Old Document, Missing for Decades, Received by LHM; photos of local tornado damage, the Hawbaker Charity Golf Tournament; and several pages of photos of the first annual Barclay Mountain Heritage Day.

“We always receive several positive comments when each issue is sent to our members,” said Matt Carl, magazine editor and museum president.

Every issue of the Monogram brings its readers new local history research and photos of local historical sites that they may not have the opportunity to see.

The semi-annual magazine is automatically mailed to members. Anyone may become a member by mail or online at www.leroyheritage.org. The membership categories are Individual - $25; Group (household, business, or club) - $35; Senior Citizen Individual (starting at age 62) - $15; or Individual Life (individual, business or club) - $500.

LeRoy Heritage Museum is beginning its 2018-19 Membership Drive and Annual Campaign for which members will receive a mailing soon. Now is a great time to join the museum as memberships run from October 1 until September 30. New members receive the most recent issue of the Monogram in addition to other benefits such as invitations to special events including the Member’s Day Chicken Barbeque in the spring where annual reports of museum accomplishments are made and a tour of the ongoing building project is conducted. Members also receive professional email updates during the year highlighting upcoming events and activities; special discounts on selected gift shop items during the annual Christmas event; free museum admission and the opportunity to schedule research appointments.

LeRoy Heritage Museum has over 200 members in 16 states across the nation whose support makes it possible to preserve the history of southwestern Bradford County including Canton Borough, Canton Township, LeRoy Township, Granville Township and former Barclay Township on Barclay Mountain.

LeRoy Heritage Museum is located at 257 Mill Street, LeRoy. More information may be found at www.leroyheritage.org; by writing to 10097 Route 414, Canton, PA 17724; or by calling 570-364-5003. LeRoy Heritage Museum is sponsored in part by the United Way of Bradford County.

Barclay Mountain Heritage Day, August 11, to Benefit Museum Building Project

2018-07-30T06:12:00.000-07:00

In just over one week, LeRoy Heritage Museum will host Barclay Mountain Heritage Day on August 11, 2018, from 10 am to 4 pm. The event will be held at the community grounds next to the museum located at 257 Mill Street in LeRoy, Bradford County, PA.

Barclay Mountain Heritage Day will highlight the mountain and educate visitors about its history, which is one of the goals of LeRoy Heritage Museum. At the same time, proceeds raised from the event will benefit the museum building project as it repurposes an 1896 shingle-style Victorian hotel as an expanded museum. The hotel was built in LeRoy using wood sawn on the mountain. Thanks to a grant received through the Endless Mountains Heritage Region, significant renovations will occur at the building this year. Funds raised from Barclay Mountain Heritage Day will be used to accomplish as much work as possible as part of the upcoming contract. In order to finish the project and move the museum to its new location, a total of $135,000 remains to be raised. Those interested in making a larger tax-deductible donation to the project can get a full-color brochure in the museum gift shop with project information, photos, and giving categories that will be permanently acknowledged in the new museum.

Barclay Mountain Heritage Day will feature the Pennsylvania Professional Lumberjack Organization demonstrating the tools and work of the old time lumbermen on the ball field diamond at 10 am; “Noggin Hill,” Philadelphia’s popular band specializing in old-time, bluegrass, and Americana will perform from 11 am to 12:30 pm near the community building; Matt Carl, President of LeRoy Heritage Museum, will present a program on the early history of Laquin and its connection with the hotel in LeRoy, at 12:30 pm under the main program tent; and award-winning teacher and musician, Van Wagner will delight the audience with the program, “Soft Coal, Hard Times” at 1:45 pm followed by a concert of heritage music presented by Wagner at 2:50 pm also under the main program tent. All those interested in these programs/concerts are advised to bring their own camping chair for seating if they wish as seating for these events won’t be provided.

Throughout the day, exhibitors will be sharing and demonstrating from their own tents or tables throughout the grounds, both inside the community building and out. Some of these include the Pennsylvania Game Commission; Bradford County Conservation District (bark peeling and the tanning process); Civilian Conservation Corps Historian, John Eastlake; Pennsylvania Lumber Museum (log sawing and other activities); Bradford County Historical Society (exhibit of Barclay Mountain photographs); Tioga Point Museum (exhibit of historical maps); Abandoned Pennsylvania Coal Mines Facebook page administrator, David Kyle Fowler (coal mining tools and photo display); Brian Kingsley Logging (modern logging equipment); Chief Oil & Gas; Energy Transfer Partners; LeRoy 4-H club; and other private collectors including Charles Wittig, Mike Hauk, and the Kobbe family.

In addition to exhibitors, various vendors will be onsite selling their work, including local reproduction railroad station signs, town signs, woodcrafts, photography, books, and hunting blinds.

A “Kid’s Area” will be available at the rear of the community building including a Petting Zoo offered by the LeRoy Community 4-H club and activities offered by the LeRoy Kidz Jam club.

A variety of food will be available throughout the day. LeRoy Heritage Museum will be selling ice cream, funnel cakes, kettle corn, and drinks with proceeds benefitting the building project. PDR’s catering will also be onsite selling Italian sausage, hot dogs, cheese steaks, hamburgers, fresh cut french fries, deep fried Oreos, snow cones and drinks. A few areas will be furnished for those wishing to sit down and enjoy their lunch.

Inside the front room of the community building, a large Chinese Auction will be going on all day and there will be 50/50 tickets sold throughout the day. Anyone interested in donating a basket of items or a single item to the Chinese Auction to benefit the building project can drop them off on the morning of August 11 between 7 and 9 am at the community building.

The current museum on Mill Street, as part of its collection, houses the largest number of Laquin artifacts available for public display anywhere. The museum and its gift shop, where local history books and souvenirs can be found, will be open during the event.

Parking for the event will be available on the lower ball field on the community grounds and the Tomlinson field located across the bridge on Mill Street (entrance near the intersection with Southside Road). There is also parking available on Mill Street but the museum requests that visitors please respect our neighbors and do not park in or block driveways or mailboxes. Handicapped parking will be available at the event entrance.

The event offers free admission and free parking. This is made possible by 22 sponsors including Premier Co-Sponsors, Chief Oil & Gas and Energy Transfer Partners; Oak Sponsors, the Bradford County Room Tax Fund and the Bradford County Tourism Promotion Agency; Walnut Sponsor, O-SO-KO-ZE Camp Members in Memory of Frank Browning; Hemlock Sponsors, Schoonover Plumbing & Heating, Inc., First Citizens Community Bank, Brian Kingsley Logging, Kellogg Mountain Rod & Gun Club, Vicky L. Droll in memory of John Maguire, Jeannine Kozen in memory of Watson L. Barclay; and 12 Pine Sponsors and additional Promotional Sponsors that will be acknowledged on the day of the event.

More information about Barclay Mountain Heritage Day may be found by visiting www.leroyheritage.org or by calling 570-364-5003. Don’t miss this exciting event!

LeRoy Heritage Museum Reports on Progress of Building Project

2018-06-26T17:39:00.002-07:00

The LeRoy Heritage Museum is pleased to report that it has surpassed the halfway point in its building project fundraising campaign, an accomplishment that has taken a great deal of work. The campaign began at the end of October 2015 and over the past 2 ½ years contributions to the fundraising effort have been received from many generous donors. This year, however, the campaign received a boost with the addition of a grant received through the Endless Mountains Heritage Region; a contribution from Chief Oil & Gas; the honor of being chosen as a beneficiary of the 2018 Glenn O. Hawbaker Charity Golf Tournament; and other special gifts.

The original goal that was set in 2015 was $250,000, which was in addition to the generous donation of property at 10097 Route 414 in LeRoy by Rodney & Vicki Mott that was reported at that time. The goal included not only funds for renovation of the new museum, but also funds to start and grow an Endowment Fund for the museum to provide long-term financial support for the new property. Thanks to donors who have designated funds specifically to start and grow the Endowment Fund through the Community Foundation for the Twin Tiers, fundraising efforts have mainly focused on the building project.

Of the amount raised for the building project, about half has been spent on finishing the highest priority renovations first. This includes a new heating and cooling system for the public portion of the first floor, fire and security, changes or additions to existing plumbing and electrical, installation of a chimney liner and a checklist of other minor repairs. Where possible, the museum has responsibly saved money by completing necessary demolition or other easy work using volunteer labor.

The new building contains the public portion of the building as well as the private caretaker’s apartment and office. Minor updates were made to the private part of the building using volunteer work.

The remainder of work to be completed is all in the public side of the building where the new museum will be located. The remainder of the amount raised to date will be used to complete a large project on the exterior of the building beginning later this year. This phase of the project will see three of the deteriorated entrance porches completely replaced with code compliant steps and handrails, the installation of a handicapped access ramp to the rear of the building, installation of code compliant exterior panic doors, removal of first floor windows on the west side of the building, the installation of sidewalks connecting the main entrances, the restoration of deteriorated architectural wood shingles on the third floor of the building and miscellaneous pieces of siding where necessary, replacement of a deteriorated beam on the rear of the building, and dependent upon estimates, the installation of a second-floor fire escape on the rear of the building. The building will be repainted. The museum also plans to enlarge and grade the parking area and improve drainage around the building.

The upcoming project should take care of all or a majority of the exterior work required by code. Once this has been accomplished the focus of fundraising and renovations will then turn to the interior needs of the building where emergency lighting and lighted exit signs will be installed, drywall will be needed in selected rooms and/or walls, some existing plaster will be repaired, a hardwood floor installed throughout the public portion of the first floor, two bathrooms finished, trim repair or replacement as necessary, painting and finish work. A heating/cooling system for the ballroom will be one of the final projects.

The total remaining to be raised to finish the interior projects is $135,000. In order to move to the new building sooner, the refinishing of the second-floor hall floor and the ballroom floor at a cost of $5,000 will take place after the museum has moved in unless a contribution of the funds is made before then.

The sooner the goal is met, the sooner the museum will be able to move to the larger building and then turn the current museum into a local history research center. If the museum were able to raise these funds by the end of this summer, the entire project could be finished and the building ready to be moved in to by the summer of 2019.

“We have gone through an extensive renovation project before and it gave us a lot of experience in preserving old buildings and repurposing them for use as a museum and learning center,” said Matt Carl, LeRoy Heritage Museum president.

This time, Carl said the project has moved faster because the museum started with a more complete building.

“The Open Hand Grange took many more years to finish because it was not structurally sound and was badly deteriorated,” said Carl. “I remember when we began that project, the floor joists and sills in that building were completely rotted and I partially fell through the floor.”

While the current building is much larger and has to be brought up to code for commercial use, the overall structure is sound with the exception of one section of sill.

The LeRoy Heritage Museum’s most recent fundraising effort is the upcoming event titled Barclay Mountain Heritage Day, to be held on August 11, 2018. Proceeds from the event will benefit the building project allowing additional projects to be finished.

Those who are interested in financially supporting the building project will find further information on the museum website at www.leroyheritage.org where an entire page is dedicated to the project plans, history of the building, photos, and a donation page where an online contribution can be made. The official full-color project brochure can also be downloaded or a copy can be found at the museum. Various giving levels come with different forms of permanent acknowledgement in the new building. Potential donors who are considering a large donation to the project may also wish to meet with the museum president to discuss the possibilities. LeRoy Heritage Museum is an incorporated 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization and is registered with the Pennsylvania Bureau of Charitable Organizations.

The accomplishments of the museum over the years prove that a contribution to the LeRoy Heritage Museum is put to good use. Some examples are the construction of clean, professional, and detailed exhibits; the collection of thousands of important local history items and research material from southwestern Bradford County including the collections of several local historians; the publication of a local history photo book; the printing of 40 issues of the museum’s history magazine; and years of walking tours, theater programs, school tours and other special events.

For more information about the museum, visit the website at www.leroyheritage.org, check out the museum on Facebook or Twitter, call 570-364-5003, or visit during regular hours every Saturday, 1 to 4 pm. LeRoy Heritage Museum is sponsored in part by the United Way of Bradford County.

Barclay Mountain Heritage Day Event Schedule Released

2018-06-12T11:14:00.001-07:00

In less than two months, LeRoy Heritage Museum will host Barclay Mountain Heritage Day on August 11, 2018, from 10 am to 4 pm. The event will be held at the community grounds next to the museum located at 257 Mill Street in LeRoy, Bradford County, PA. Plans are coming together for a great event that will highlight the mountain and educate visitors about its history.

The featured programs for the day include the Pennsylvania Professional Lumberjack Organization demonstrating the tools and work of the old time lumbermen on the field at 10 am; “Noggin Hill,” Philadelphia’s popular band specializing in old-time, bluegrass, and Americana will wander the grounds playing music from 11 am to 12:30 pm; Matt Carl, President of LeRoy Heritage Museum, will present a program on the history of Laquin at 12:30 pm; and award-winning teacher and musician, Van Wagner will delight the audience with the program, “Soft Coal, Hard Times” at 1:45 pm followed by a concert of heritage music presented by Wagner at 2:50 pm.

Throughout the day, exhibitors will be sharing and demonstrating from their own tents or tables throughout the grounds, both inside and out. Some of these include the Pennsylvania Game Commission; Bradford County Conservation District; Civilian Conservation Corps Historian, John Eastlake; Pennsylvania Lumber Museum; Bradford County Historical Society; Tioga Point Museum; Abandoned Pennsylvania Coal Mines Facebook page administrator, David Kyle Fowler; Brian Kingsley Logging; Chief Oil & Gas; Energy Transfer Partners; and others including private collectors. Additional exhibitors are still being accepting.

A “Kid’s Area” will be available including a Petting Zoo offered by the LeRoy Community 4-H club. Food will be available throughout the day and raffles and other fundraising activities will be going on during the event to raise funds for the LeRoy Heritage Museum expansion project as it works to convert a historic 1896 hotel in LeRoy into a larger museum where the history of southwestern Bradford County, including the mountain, can be more effectively told. Local lumbermen, the Lewis Brothers, built the hotel with trees harvested from the mountain.

The current museum on Mill Street, as part of its collection, houses the largest number of Laquin artifacts available for public display anywhere. The museum and its gift shop, where local history books and souvenirs can be found, will be open during the event.

“We’ve had an amazing response to the event during the planning stages,” said Matt Carl. “Our patrons have been asking us to do something like this for years and now they’re excited to see it develop.”

Additional parking area was added for the event due to the large crowd that is expected throughout the day.

The event will have free admission and free parking with handicapped parking available. This is made possible by 22 sponsors including Premier Co-Sponsors, Chief Oil & Gas and Energy Transfer Partners; Oak Sponsors, the Bradford County Room Tax Fund and the Bradford County Tourism Promotion Agency; Walnut Sponsor, O-SO-KO-ZE camp members in memory of Frank Browning; Hemlock Sponsors, Schoonover Plumbing & Heating, Inc., First Citizens Community Bank, Brian Kingsley Logging, Kellogg Mountain Rod & Gun Club, Vicky L. Droll in memory of John Maguire, Jeannine Kozen in memory of Watson L. Barclay; and 11 Pine Sponsors that will be acknowledged on the day of the event. Sponsorships are still being accepted until July 4.

Those interested in making the event a success by volunteering on August 11 should contact the museum through its website or phone number and the museum will provide opportunities where help is needed.

More information about Barclay Mountain Heritage Day, including sponsorship opportunities, or for those interested in exhibiting their Barclay Mountain related collection, visit www.leroyheritage.org or call 570-364-5003. LeRoy Heritage Museum is sponsored in part by the United Way of Bradford County.

Tioga Point Museum and LeRoy Heritage Museum to Co-Host Dwight Harris Photography Exhibit

2018-04-21T17:11:00.001-07:00

Tioga Point Museum and LeRoy Heritage Museum will co-host an exhibit of the 1890s and early 1900s photography of Dwight Harris with exhibits opening at each museum on Saturday, May 5, 2018. The LeRoy images will be on display at LeRoy Heritage Museum and the Sayre images will be on display at Tioga Point Museum. The public is invited to visit both locations during the upcoming season to view the important images from each community. The Tioga Point Museum is open Tuesday and Thursday, 12 – 8 pm, and the first Saturday of the month, 10 am – 1 pm. LeRoy Heritage Museum is open Saturdays, 1-4 pm, beginning on May 5th.

Dwight Harris was born in 1881 and grew up in LeRoy, Pennsylvania. Taking up the hobby of photography as a teenager, he recorded scenes of LeRoy on glass plate negatives showing images of people and places along Mill Street and Main Street where his Harris relatives owned property for many years. During his early life in LeRoy he worked as a teamster hauling lumber and coal from Barclay Mountain. He moved to West Franklin and finally to Sayre in 1906 where he operated a milk route in the Valley for 30 years. Harris continued his photography in Sayre and recorded many early images of houses and businesses in that area when Sayre was still a relatively new community.

Dwight Harris died in 1973. His collection of glass plate negatives made their way to the Tioga Point Museum in Athens but since the negatives were unidentified, it remained a mystery as to where the photographs had been taken. In the mid 1990's, Tioga Point Museum published a few of the images in the Daily Review with a caption asking the public if they recognized the photos. One of the images was instantly identified as a building from LeRoy, Pennsylvania. Over 20 years later, the negative collection was reevaluated, images were made from the plates and they were catalogued by the Tioga Point Museum. Earlier in 2018, Todd Babcock, President of Tioga Point Museum and Matt Carl, President of LeRoy Heritage Museum, worked together to identify the images and discovered around 30 images from LeRoy and many more from Sayre. The LeRoy images show some of the earliest views of the community that are known to exist.

Both museums invite the public to view this newly rediscovered collection this year. More information about each museum can be found at www.tiogapointmuseum.org or www.leroyheritage.org.

LeRoy Heritage Museum Releases Fortieth Issue of Local History Magazine

2018-02-07T09:24:00.002-08:00

The LeRoy Heritage Museum recently released the fortieth issue of the Monogram, its semi-annual local history and museum news magazine. The new 40-page issue tells the story of Owenheim, one of the cottages at Minnequa Springs built during the era of the second hotel.

The Monogram was first published just months after the museum was formed in 2001 and has continued uninterrupted over the past 17 years. Today it is mailed to over 200 members in nearly 20 states across the nation, from Connecticut to California, from Florida to Washington State, from New York to Texas.

Picking up where the former Canton Area Historical Society Newsletter left off, the Monogram has endeavored to publish new local history research and stories alongside news about recent contributions to the museum collection, news about recent events, updates about museum building projects, and more.

Beginning as a four-page black and white newsletter that was duplicated on a copying machine, the publication slowly grew in pages and quality with each issue. The printing was moved to a professional printer but remained a smaller publication until 2009. At that time LeRoy Heritage Museum was finishing its first building project at the former Open Hand Grange and wished to show the progress with full color images. By this time, the museum had already changed again to a new printer that had the capability of printing full-color publications on a commercial press. Over the next few years, the Monogram transformed into a full-color magazine averaging between 28 and 36 pages per issue. In honor of the fortieth issue, the current release is 40 pages, the largest ever printed. The total of all issues combined amount to nearly 1,000 pages of content. With page sizes measuring 8.5x11”, the publication is always packed with plenty of photographs and information.

The Monogram was named after one of the newspapers published in LeRoy in the 1890’s titled, “The Weekly Monogram”. An issue of this original newspaper can be viewed in the exhibits of LeRoy Heritage Museum.

Each issue of the Monogram features one newly researched local history story written by museum president, Matthew Carl. Even if a particular topic has been written about by past local historians, the museum has more material and research tools available than past historians, making it possible to write more complete stories than in the past. This has made the Monogram very popular among museum members who enjoy learning about topics that have been forgotten.

Like the museum itself, the Monogram has focused on the history of southwestern Bradford County with stories featuring the history of Canton, LeRoy, Granville, Laquin, and surrounding areas. The current issue tells the story of the Owen family of New York who built Owenheim on what was known as Maynard Hill above Minnequa, and also the Haywood family who owned the house for several decades. Both owners were wealthy widows. One was a friend of the nations most wealthy citizens. One was a cousin of the nations 11th president. One was the granddaughter of the Confederate General who was in charge of all Confederate prison camps east of the Mississippi River during the Civil War. Both had sons who committed suicide. One was involved in a scandal that ended in murder. The fascinating story gives another glimpse into a little known part of our areas history.

Anyone may receive the Monogram by becoming a member of LeRoy Heritage Museum. Visit www.leroyheritage.org and click on “Become a Member” where you can join online or download a membership form and mail it in. For more information about membership or the museum, call 570-364-5003. The LeRoy Heritage Museum is sponsored in part by the United Way of Bradford County.

Barclay Mountain Heritage Day Coming to LeRoy, August 11, 2018

2018-01-16T10:54:00.001-08:00

LeRoy Heritage Museum is excited to announce a new chapter in its history by introducing a new event in 2018. On Saturday, August 11, LeRoy Heritage Museum will host Barclay Mountain Heritage Day from 10 am to 4 pm at the LeRoy community grounds next to the museum.

The new event is designed to celebrate all topics pertaining to Barclay Mountain and to bring those subjects together in one event where many people with common interests can spend the day learning more about the mountain. Barclay Mountain Heritage Day is an educational event, featuring lectures, demonstrations, exhibits, music and food.

There is no admission fee to the event. The museum will be soliciting sponsors, allowing the public to learn from and enjoying local history for free. Donations will be accepted during the day and proceeds from the event will benefit the museum expansion project, as it works to restore an 1896 hotel in LeRoy for a larger regional museum to cover southwestern Bradford County including more of the mountain’s vast history. The hotel was built by local lumbermen with wood harvested from the mountain.

The day will feature a full schedule of events including a lumbering program, coal mining program, heritage music concert, and more. Throughout the day, displays will be available from a number of authorities in Barclay Mountain history including Civilian Conservation Corps, abandoned mines, forest and stream conservation, coal mining and lumbering tools, railroading, hunting and more. The history of Sunfish Pond, where the first Game Refuge on private land in Pennsylvania was established, will be recognized.

Anyone with a collection of history objects, photography (old or new), mounted game harvested from the mountain or anything else pertaining to the mountain is welcome to contact the museum and register to set up their own display at the event to share their passion with others. There will be no cost for setup but exhibitors are limited to two 8-foot tables, which they will need to supply. Outdoor displays under pop-up tents are encouraged. Limited indoor space will be available. During the event descendants of families who worked on the mountain in any capacity will be honored with a special badge.

LeRoy Heritage Museum will be open during the event with special photo displays and brand new merchandise in the gift shop that will be released this year.

More details will become available in the months leading up to the event. Anyone interested in having a display at the event should contact the museum through its website at www.leroyheritage.org or call the museum office and leave a message at 570-364-5003. Anyone interested in receiving more information about sponsorship opportunities should also contact the museum. The museum will not accept craft booths, flea market booths or similar sales setups as this is intended to be primarily an educational event for all ages. Mark your calendar and join us for a full day of activities on August 11, 2018 and stay tuned to the museum website and social media sites for more information as it becomes available.

LeRoy Heritage Museum to Host "Toys of Christmas Past"

2017-11-30T16:39:00.007-08:00

LeRoy Heritage Museum announces its annual Christmas event scheduled for Saturday, December 9, 2017, 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. This year, the event is titled, “Toys of Christmas Past,” and will feature special exhibits of old toys from many generations, a book signing, and the museum gift shop will be open with special deals to help complete your Christmas shopping list.

Many generations of toys will be on display from the early 1900’s up to the 1980’s. Some toys will be from the LeRoy Heritage Museum’s collection including many new additions added in recent years, while others will come from private collections.

The exhibit will feature dolls, a doll house and furniture, doll cradles, cast iron and pressed tin toys and train sets, homemade wood toys, tea party dishes, early homemade and commercially made board games and much more. All of the regular exhibits will also be available. Come and reminisce with your children!

The museum will also be selling the new book, “Defending Democracy: Bradford County in World War I, A Centennial Remembrance”, published by the Bradford County Historical Society. Matthew Carl, who researched, edited and designed the book is both the Manager/Curator of the Bradford County Historical Society and the President of LeRoy Heritage Museum. Matthew will be on hand to sign books during the event.

A large selection of homemade Christmas treats and baked goods will be available for sale in the gift shop in addition to a long list of local history book titles, puzzles, CD’s and DVD’s, t-shirts, Canton throws, and many other excellent Christmas gifts. Several books will be discounted just for this holiday event.

Admission to the event is a donation at the door to support the work of the museum. All proceeds help to support the continued preservation of the museum and research library collection as well as the continued expansion project at the museum’s second location.

If you still haven’t experienced the charming and professional exhibits that are offered at LeRoy Heritage Museum, don’t miss out on this event. The museum features objects that tell the story of southwestern Bradford County including Canton, LeRoy, Granville, Laquin and the surrounding area.

LeRoy Heritage Museum is located at 257 Mill Street, LeRoy. For more information about LeRoy Heritage Museum, or to order books and memberships online, visit the museum website at www.leroyheritage.org. Also find LeRoy Heritage Museum on Facebook or Twitter in order to keep up with recent news and announcements. The LeRoy Heritage Museum is supported in part by the Bradford County United Way.

LeRoy Heritage Museum Releases New Website

2017-11-20T19:49:00.001-08:00

The LeRoy Heritage Museum is pleased to release a completely redesigned website with the addition of many new features, additional social media presence, and a new online store. The website, found at www.leroyheritage.org, is sponsored in part by funding from the Bradford County Room Tax Fund and the Bradford County Tourism Promotion Agency.

The new website presents a more streamlined, vibrant and colorful look, while at the same time providing all the details patrons need to know. It also more evenly represents all of southwestern Bradford County, the area covered by the museum.

By clicking on “Visit", all of the information about how to visit and what can be seen when you’re here can be found including a page that answers the question, "What Makes this Area so Interesting?" An interactive map identifies the museum location and a few clicks will provide instant directions from a potential visitor location to the museum. An improved Events page makes upcoming events easier to find and other pages have new and revised content.

The museum expansion project is covered with additional information and images. The project brochure is available for download and a place to make donations to the project is offered.

One of the most exciting additions to the website is an Online Store with many products from the museum gift shop available for order and shipment just in time for Christmas shopping. Currently available are local history books, Bradford County History Playing Cards, and memberships. Additional items will be added to the online store in the future and this will make it possible to order products from the museum even during the off-season when the museum is closed. The museum will have the capability of offering special online sales in the future. In the past, the museum has had one or two items on its site, but did not have the capability of setting up an entire store. This is a significant improvement.

The new site also incorporates links to additional social media sites. While the museum has had two Facebook pages for several years now, one for the museum and one for Barclay Mountain history titled, "Barclay, Laquin and Sunfish Pond", a Twitter page and a YouTube channel have been added and content will be posted randomly on these platforms as a result of requests received from patrons. Facebook and Twitter will feature news and events and YouTube will highlight local history and the ongoing museum expansion project. A direct link to the LeRoy Heritage Museum Tripadvisor page is also provided for those who have visited the museum and wish to leave a review.

The museum preserves the history of Canton Borough, Canton Township, Alba Borough, Granville Township, LeRoy Township and the coal and lumber towns on Barclay Mountain. Anyone with an interest in the history of southwestern Bradford County should visit the website and learn more about the work of the museum.

LeRoy Heritage Museum is sponsored in part by the United Way of Bradford County.

LeRoy Heritage Museum Receives Parsons/Keagle/Jones Collection

2017-11-12T17:26:00.001-08:00

The LeRoy Heritage Museum is pleased to announce the addition of the Parsons/Keagle/Jones collection to its museum and archives. The collection contains 1,000 individual items including hundreds of local photographs, documents, ledgers and account books, scrapbooks, genealogy, Canton history, furniture, clothing, and much more.

Representing 200 years of Canton area history, the collection was contributed by the family of the late R. Lloyd Jones & Phyllis Keagle Jones who accumulated the local history in their home, originally known as Owenheim, at Minnequa, north of Canton. Purchased by Lloyd & Phyllis Jones in 1949, Owenheim dates back to the second Minnequa Springs Hotel era and was built by Mrs. Thomas J. Owen, a member of the wealthy Owen family of New York City, who made their fortune in the shipping industry of the late 1800’s. The summer home was later purchased by Gertrude Haywood of North Carolina and continued to be used as a summer cottage for approximately 40 years. The property would be owned by Saint Anthony’s Guild of Paterson, New Jersey, prior to Mr. & Mrs. Jones purchasing the property for a vacation home, and ultimately their retirement home. The house had been in the Jones family for nearly 70 years until it was recently sold.

Local and family history was accumulated in the house over the years and during the past month the family worked with the LeRoy Heritage Museum to provide a future home for the collection. Multiple visits to the house were made over the past month and several truckloads were moved to the museum.

Matthew Carl, President of LeRoy Heritage Museum, spent three hours photographing Owenheim, both inside and out, focusing on its architectural details and beautiful interior woodwork. Nearly 250 photos were taken. Stories about the house, related by the family, were also written down.

Next, material found in an attic room was documented, photographed and then carefully removed for preservation. Known as the “chauffer’s room”, because it is believed that the family chauffer once lived there, this room is tucked into the far end of the attic, with the door somewhat hidden behind a large chimney. Although it may have originally been used for the chauffer, there was evidence that the room was used for a brief time by writer, Ernest Eagles Haywood, son of Gertrude Haywood, as a study. The room seemed frozen in time with documents and maps that belonged to Eagles, along with pin-up pictures of 1920’s era actresses, flags and maps of foreign countries (a hobby of Eagles), and drawings done by a friend of Eagles, all tacked to the wall. A makeshift writing desk that had been in the room since the Haywood’s owned the house was also moved to the museum. Eagles committed suicide as a very young man, less than four years after leaving Owenheim and moving to the city. His mother wrote a book about his life, which is also in this collection, along with a box full of letters and early magazines addressed to Ernest Eagles Haywood.

Among the items found in the collection are hundreds of Canton photographs collected by Eleanor Parsons Keagle, mother of Phyllis Keagle Jones. Eleanor Keagle was Canton’s local historian for many years and had the opportunity to acquire many photographs of the area dating as far back as the mid-1800’s. Eleanor also came from a long line of Parsons family members in Canton. Consequently the collection contains many generations of record books, letters and documents not only important to family history, but also important to the early development of Canton. The late Roger Keagle, brother of Phyllis Keagle Jones, had worked extensively with this material during his life. While a small collection of material was donated to the Bradford County Historical Society by Roger during his life, the larger part of the collection that was stored at Owenheim is now at LeRoy Heritage Museum.

Some other pieces in the collection include: a Victorian era high-back bed from the Dana cottage at Minnequa, another cottage from the second Minnequa Springs Hotel era that was later owned by Leon & Eleanor Keagle; a pump organ that belonged to Frank & Bertha Davis of Tioga County, Pennsylvania; a framed portrait of Lizzie Washington, a former slave that moved to Canton after the Civil War; a brass candlestick from the former St. James Episcopal Church of Canton; antique dolls and doll furniture; early Canton area Girl Scout memorabilia and photos; records of Dr. James W. Parsons, physician of Canton; 1850’s era ledgers from Canton stores; books of local interest; and an extensive collection of Canton school history.

Over the coming year, the museum will be preserving the research collection in archival safe boxes and folders to make the material available for use. The material will be used in future museum publications and exhibits.

The LeRoy Heritage Museum has brought together the collections of several previous local historians and the addition of this collection is one of the most important it has received.

Anyone who has local history material pertaining to the areas of Canton Township and Borough, Granville Township, LeRoy Township or former Barclay Township (now part of Franklin) are asked to contribute items to LeRoy Heritage Museum by calling 570-364-5003.

LeRoy Heritage Museum is sponsored in part by the United Way of Bradford County. The museum has recently closed for the season. For more information about the museum and how to support its ongoing expansion project, visit the website at www.leroyheritage.org or find the museum on Facebook for all of the latest news.

Landscaping Finished

2008-06-26T20:46:00.001-07:00

Drywall has Arrived

2008-06-26T20:18:00.001-07:00

The first delivery of drywall arrived at the museum on Tuesday, June 24, 2008. It is exciting to see the drywall because it means the interior of the museum will finally start to look finished. We will be scheduling some work bees to get this project underway. Help will be needed as we are using 5/8" drywall throughout the building - in other words, it will be heavy!

Ready for Drywall

2008-05-24T22:10:00.000-07:00

Matt working on the blown-in insulation.

Renovation continues on schedule with the completion of fire wall insulation and blown-in insulation behind the original wainscoting on the first floor. The next phase is drywall, meaning that we are getting very close to the end of the project. We have made tremendous progress since last summer and it is gratifying to see the museum coming together.

Electrical and Insulation Done

2008-04-08T19:43:00.000-07:00

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The electrical rough-in was completed last week as well as wiring for a building PA system. This was followed by an inspection of the electrical system. New icynene foam insulation has been installed throughout the entire second floor, attic, gift shop, stairway, and along the perimeter of the basement. We will soon be installing fiberglass insulation in the stairway fire wall. Following an inspection of the insulation, it will finally be time to install drywall!

In addition to all of this work, the siding on the front of the building has been completed.

Electric Finished, Vaper Barrier Installed

2008-03-22T19:24:00.000-07:00

I've said it many times, but once again we have made significant progress this past month. As you can see in the photo, we have installed a vapor barrier on the walls throughout the building in preparation for the foam insulation that will be installed in each wall cavity. This photo was taken in what will be the Rancy K. Morse Memorial Library. The electrical rough-in work is just about complete and should be finished next week. Following the inspection, the insulation will be installed throughout the building and then the we can finally install the drywall. With so much working being completed, we would be grateful to receive your extra financial support this month. Thank you for your support!

Electrical Underway

2008-02-23T08:28:00.000-08:00

The electrical phase of the museum project has been underway for about three weeks so far. The basement, gift shop, and entry foyer have all received their rough wiring. Next will be the exhibition room, main stairway, library, office, and exterior fixtures.

Wire everywhere!

A recessed light in the Gift Shop.

Doors & Windows Installed

2008-02-23T08:07:00.000-08:00

After two months of restoration, our front double doors and two windows have returned. These parts of our building look very similar to the way they would have been when first installed in 1876. The original door hardware has been cleaned and reinstalled along with a reproduction door lock and hinges. This project was done in memory of former museum member, Dean Chaapel.

Original 1876 door hardware shown above.

Reproduction hinges to match originals.

Original latch and reproduction lock.

Light Fixtures Arrive

2008-01-28T18:51:00.000-08:00

We received our order today for the reproduction lighting fixtures that will be installed in the museum facility. These are fixtures that are very similar to the lights that were installed in the building when electricity was first used. The reproduction lights will add a touch of history to the finished project.

Electrical Work and Insulation Projects

2008-01-24T20:40:00.000-08:00

We are quite excited to report that the next phases of our museum renovation are ready to move forward! The next phase will begin the first week of February and will include the installation of a new electrical system. According to records found in our building when we purchased it almost seven years ago, the first electric was installed in the building in 1930. It cost the grange $50.24 to have the electrical system installed. Today it is costing the museum 400 times that amount to have the building rewired.

The electrical work that we are having done includes the installation of 52 receptacles, 10 recessed lights, 15 restoration fixtures, 3 sections of track lighting with a total of 12 heads, 2 exterior lights, 10 fluorescent lights, 8 lighted exit signs, and 12 emergency lights. We are using metal clad cable to help prevent fire. A phone line is also being installed to the office.

Following this work, the building will be insulated with foam which should make an air tight museum that is capable of being climate controlled.

We are also anticipating the soon return of our front doors and two large windows that have been undergoing restoration for the past month and a half.

To Restore or Not to Restore

2007-12-30T17:30:00.000-08:00

Over the years one of the questions I have heard most often is this: "Why did LeRoy Heritage Museum choose to renovate and restore a building rather than build a new one? Wouldn't it have been easier to just build new?"

I don't think I have ever addressed this question in writing so now is a good time to explain the ideas behind what we have been working on for almost seven years.

When LeRoy Heritage Museum was formed, one of the buildings for sale at the time was the Open Hand Grange. It was well known that this building needed significant work, more than most private individuals would be willing to spend. The building, however, represented the history of agriculture in our community. If it were to be destroyed, a significant part of our history would be gone. Our ancestors built this building with volunteer labor to advance and strengthen the agricultural and rural life that they had worked so hard to establish. What would they think if we simply let the hall be torn down just because it would require extra work to save it?
We started from scratch. We were able to raise just enough funds to purchase the building - $1,500. In order to raise enough funding to buy a piece of land and then build a new building may have started at $10,000 and gone up dramatically from there. It is incorrect to assume that we could have received state and federal grant funds to build a new museum. This type of grant funding is only awarded to preserve existing and historic structures - not to build new buildings.
The Open Hand Grange hall contained several local historical treasures that would have been lost had we not made the attempt to acquire the building.

We have created a strong building that now is updated to meet current building codes while at the same time maintaining some of the features that make it a historic building.

Preserving what our ancestors built is important if we want today's children and new residents to understand the history of our town.

Ready for Mechanicals

2007-12-29T20:47:00.000-08:00

New Service Panel

I can safely say that we are now ready to have our mechanical systems installed at the museum. It has taken a lot of effort to get to this point. One of the ongoing projects has included the installation of furing strips in many parts of the building, especially the second floor. It was necessary to place these on the ceiling in the future library to help strengthen the ceiling and also to help level the surface where drywall will eventually be placed. The furing strips were donated by a local sawmill.

One of the projects completed this past year was to have underground electrical service run to the building and a new service panel installed (pictured above). Thankfully the materials and labor for this project were donated by a local contractor, saving the museum a substantial amount of money.

Now we are moving on to our next phase - electrical. This will include wiring for recessed lighting, track lighting for exhibits, restoration light fixtures to match what was originally in the building, outlets, and a phone line.

Immediately after this is completed we will have insulation and heating/air conditioning contractors lined up to complete their work.

We have had estimates completed on this work and the board of directors will be reviewing them early in January. We were very fortunate to have received funding to be able to complete these projects.

When these three phases of the renovation are finished we will be well on our way to completion. Hopefully you are as excited as we are to be moving at such a rapid pace. This is where the sacrificial gifts from our members, friends and others are making the difference.

Thank you for your part in this project!

Rancy K. Morse Library

2007-12-25T18:08:00.000-08:00

A feature of our new facility will be the Rancy K. Morse Memorial Research Library. The museum Board of Directors named the library in 2007 in memory of a man who preserved a significant amount of local history of both recording it on paper and by erecting three monuments throughout LeRoy.

This library will be located on the second floor of the museum building. Everything from original records to family files, genealogies, and photographs will be available.

The goal is to place all of these records in fire-proof filing cabinets to protect them for the future.

The library will include LeRoy Township and Barclay Mountain information. It will be very exciting to finally have a place to do research on our area. To see a list of material that will be available in the library, visit our website.

If you have information or photographs to add, please let us know!

An Overview of 2007

2007-12-25T14:09:00.000-08:00

What a year we have had!

As many of you know, I'm often quite busy with projects and I don't have the opportunity to update the LHM Renovation Journal as often as I'd like. But between Christmas and New Years, things slow down a bit and I take the opportunity to update the museum website.

What I would like to do this year is take a moment to review the long list of accomplishments that were made as part of the museum restoration project this year. I find it quite amazing to think back over the past six months and remember where we were and how much work has been completed.

Following is a list of projects completed since June 2007:

Replaced metal roof with a new roof deck and new 40 year architectural shingles.
Removed aluminum facia and vinyl soffit and restored wooden facia and soffit.
Repaired, leveled and straightened architectural roof returns and installed new shingles on each return.
Installed custom-made wooden attic vents to provide increased ventilation.
Reinstalled our gutters and added leaf-guards to one side.
Restored or replaced the wooden siding on three sides of the building with the same material and painted with top-of-the-line paint.
Constructed a side porch with two sets of steps and a roof covering it that has a bead board ceiling.
Constructed a handicapped access ramp and a porch with a roof over the porch that has a bead board ceiling.
Constructed an exterior fire escape stairway from the second floor.
Poured four concrete pads (one at each set of steps and the ramp).
Installed three exterior doors with panic hardware. The doors are replicas of the original four-panel exterior door found on the side of the building.
Installed 11 new insulated windows.
Installed underground electrical service and conduit for telephone service.
Installed new service panel and had the electricity turned on in the building for the first time in approximately 8 years.
Installed furing strips on the ceiling throughout the second floor and stairway.
Installed rafter supports throughout the attic.
Created an attic storage area and a new attic access.
Had the 1876 front double doors and two remaining original windows removed to be restored to their original look. Reinstallation is scheduled for January 2008.

As you can see we have busy! Last year, a timeline was established on paper to help guide the remainder of the project. At each meeting, the board reviews the timeline to understand where the project currently stands and what is left to be completed. This timeline takes us to the end of Summer 2008 at which time we anticipate being finished with the building.

We received several contributions this past fall that have allowed us to continue the project through the winter. Thanks to one large contribution, we are able to continue completing projects clear through until Fall.

Once the holidays are over the Board of Directors will go back to its regular monthly meetings. Several quotes will be reviewed in January for several different projects including electrical, insulation, and heating/air conditioning.

Needless to say we are excited to move ahead and complete these projects. Once this is finished, we will have drywall and several small projects to finish which should take us into the Summer.

LeRoy Heritage Museum, Inc. has come a long way since its first meeting on May 19, 2001. We have worked hard to create a facility that will last for years. We hope that if you have not yet become a member that you will consider coming on board. Great things are happening in LeRoy.

New Windows Installed

2007-12-03T17:16:00.000-08:00

Eleven new windows were installed today.