Month: January 2013

“I wish I’d taken that.”  When Mrs. Pat Solin included this photo in an email to me, that is exactly what I thought. 

Photographer Dick Paladino tells us, “On the afternoon of December 10th, I took my daily drive along Bank Street and was smitten by the ‘other-worldly’ sight of the yacht club, ‘floating’ in the fog.  I immediately rushed home to get my camera, with the hope that I’d return in time to capture the image.”

If you have a photograph, new or old, that has captivated you, please allow us to display it here.

But, I digress.

See the PowerPoint about the past issues of two Riverton and two Palmyra newspapers that are now available

Pat’s main reason for emailing me was to follow up on the meeting of the Board of the Riverton Free Library Association of the night before where I made a Show and Tell presentation explaining  how the Newspaper Digitalization Project developed and some of what is in it.

It was basically my Thank You note to the RFLA in the form of a PowerPoint for my new toy – the digitalized files of the old newspapers. I wanted to communicate to our benefactors what a treasure-house of information they have made available to the public and to explain that the project just completed weeks ago actually started in the 1980s.

Here is the 23MB PowerPoint about the Newspaper Digitalization Project that I showed to the RFLA group Monday evening, Jan. 28. 2013.

You can view the slide show with Microsoft’s PowerPoint program or the free Microsoft PowerPoint Viewer. As always, please advise if you find any errors or omissions. If you have a question or can add any facts or reminisces about anything you see in the slides please leave a comment.  And please let us know what you find of interest in the newspaper files. – John McCormick, Gaslight News editor

 

Click here for a membership form that you can print out and mail in. Contact us at rivertonhistory@usa.com if you have a question. 

If you read this from a distance and are not able to attend meetings, you may still partner in achieving our education and preservation goals with the favor of sending a donation to help fund the cost of operations or by earmarking an amount for one of the Society’s special projects.

I finished the layout for an eight page expanded issue of the Gaslight News and 51 copies into our usual run of 230 copies our second-hand laser printer broke down,  I think for the last time.

That used printer that I paid $100 for in 2009, sure doesn’t owe us anything, but paying retail prices for the type of homemade color editions that I had been cranking out of my own desktop publishing house just isn’t sustainable.

So I pared down the newsletter to four pages after I found out that getting the eight page issue printed in all color would cost over $500. A commercial print service will provide a downsized half color/half black+white issue. Look for it in the mail possibly by late next week.

Meanwhile, here is the digital version of the four-page January 2013 issue of the Gaslight News. A slip  for your use in paying 2013 membership dues will be sent with the newsletter as soon I can get it out.

Posted here is notice of the January 31 HSR meeting (NOT Jan.24 as posted before) at the New Leaf. Costumed historical interpreter Alisa Dupuy presents, “A Young Queen Victoria.” Admission $10. Seating is limited. Please reserve your seat by calling President Gerald Weaber at 856-786-6961, or contact him at  rivertonhistory@usa.com.

Here is a re-cap of the November presentation, “Christmas Past” by Jane Peters Estes. It did not make it into the scaled down issue.

Readers who have investigated the historical newspaper files: what newsbits, images, or information did you find that intrigues you? – John McCormick, Gaslight News editor

 

 

 

Alisa DuPuy, the creative first-person historical interpreter with the remarkably authentic gorgeous gowns returns to the HSR in the guise of Queen Victoria Thursday, January 31, 2013, at 7:00 p.m. $10 admission.

The longest reigning British monarch whose name defined an era will visit the New Leaf Tearoom at 606 Main Street to enjoy tea and dessert with us as she dishes about the inside stories of her family, her life at court, and her romance with Albert with whom she had nine children.

After an assassination attempt this “Grandmother of Europe” once quipped, “It is worth being shot at to see how much one is loved.”

Regular attendees of such performances are well-familiar with the historical interpreter’s convention of staying in character and referring to the past in the present tense while employing inventive dramatic techniques and often encouraging audience interaction.

The New Leaf’s genteel decor is a fitting  setting for this special visitation of Her Highness that includes tea and light refreshments served on the Tearoom’s beautiful china .

$10 per person. Seating is limited for this reserved seating event with Queen Victoria . Please call  Gerald Weaber at 856-786-6961, or contact him at  rivertonhistory@usa.com .

Find out more about Ms. DuPuy’s repertoire of real and fictional characters and see some amazing gowns and dresses from time periods spanning the 18th through 20th centuries at historicalteas.com. – John McCormick, Gaslight News editor

We received our first Christmas greeting of sorts when Jane Peters Estes delivered in person her delightful and informative presentation, “A Christmas Past” to our November Historical Society meeting at Riverton School.

Like a time-traveler from the 19^th century attired in authentic holiday apparel of the American Civil War era she explained the origins of dozens of Yuletide customs and traditions and cited various sources to support her findings.

The highly regarded and sought after lecturer has published articles in Civil War Lady Magazine, Citizen’s Companion Magazine, Philadelphia Bride Magazine and People Magazine. Her well-researched stories about the inception of mistletoe, wreaths, Christmas trees, and Santa Claus, of course, proved a welcome diversion for an audience suddenly faced with thinking about the preparations for the holidays that lay ahead.

She frequently illustrated her historical narrative with antiques and collectibles such as vintage greeting cards and postcards, children’s toys, and typical Civil War era Christmas gifts. An audience of historical society types must be a tough crowd to teach new tricks, but Ms. Estes succeeded with such examples as the “church baby”—a handkerchief doll used by little girls during the Civil War which, if dropped during the service, made no noise.

Perhaps Ms. Estes’ less well-known holiday references such as the infamous 1826 Eggnog Riot at West Point appeared to elicit the greatest fascination from the audience. All eyes were certainly on her when she agreed to show the room what held up her  hoop skirt.

And, on that note, we end this recap of that most entertaining presentation.

Note to readers: If you see on any Community Calendar an invitation to hear this exceptional speaker, please consider this summary an endorsement to attend. Jane’s other topics include: Civil War Nurses, Fashions of the 1860s, Victorian Mourning Customs, History and Lore of Weddings, Women’s Lifestyles of the 1860’s, Vivandieres, Pets of the Past, and Women at the Battle of Gettysburg.    – John McCormick, Gaslight News editor