Stuffing envelopes tonight at my dining room table in preparation for mailing out tomorrow the Gaslight News January issue #168.
Some 26 of the 123 names on the roster also get a reminder to please pay dues for 2017.
Oops! One of them is for me.
Watch for Gaslight News at end of January; meeting in Feb
Riverton’s most familiar icon captured in extraordinary photo
But not by me.
In case you are not one of her 100 Instagram followers, just had to show you Deb Lengyel’s perfect pic of Riverton Yacht Club captured during last week’s snowfall. Thanks, Deb!
Taken with an iPhone7, no less.
I am scrapping my digital camera in the morning. – JMc
Two Christ Church mugs with images from our archives
Need a last minute gift for a local history fan?
A few people have contacted us to ask if they could still buy historically themed gifts if they missed seeing our mini-museum during the Candlelight House Tour on Dec. 3.
I will be at Riverton Free Library from pm tomorrow, Tuesday, Dec. 20. We have several dozen mugs on hand, Romance of Riverton DVDs, note cards, flags, HSR gift memberships, as well as photo reproductions of many of the vintage images your see on our website. See the DVD and examples of mugs in the HSR Store.
If you missed our display on Dec. 3 this is a last chance to look around for a while.
If you can’t make it Tuesday, phone me, and I can come back Weds. or Thurs. The Library closes at 8:30 pm those nights. – John McCormick, newsletter and website editor
RFL’s Candlelight House Tour Sat., Dec. 3 plus HSR’s Museum for a Day
This cherished Riverton holiday tradition returns after a cancellation in 2015.
The weather forecast for this Saturday’s Candlelight House Tour in Riverton calls for 51 degrees and partly sunny skies. A tenth home has just been added to the tour.
Extra tickets have just been printed and are still available at the Library, The New Leaf, Orange Blossom Cafe, and Fresh Produce of Palmyra for $15 in advance or $20 day of the tour.
During your rounds of the decorated homes stop by The New Leaf for refreshment and entertainment.
After a two-year absence, the Historical Society of Riverton’s Museum-for-a-Day returns, this time to the Library’s basement.
Maybe we should call it Mini-Museum-for-a-Day since the space is small. Still, if you can venture downstairs, it’s worth the price of admission, which is free for this one day. Who knows when we can do it again?
HSR Board members have prepared a number of exhibits of materials from our seldom seen archives.
A remarkable highlight is Society member Dorothy Talavera’s own collection called A Family of Brides containing bridal gowns, photos, invitations, love letters, and mementos representing almost two centuries of brides in the same family.
Upstairs, in the Library’s meeting room, we will screen the 43-minute DVD Romance of Riverton, filmed in 1926. It is available again for $20 after a sellout in 2015.
Also available for sale upstairs will be reproduction prints of many of the postcards, photos, and maps plus historically themed mugs seen on our website. See more information about the DVD and the mugs here. – JMc
Rev. 12/1/2016: This bulletin from Deb Lengyel – Here is a link to the 8-page tour booklet for a sneak preview of the homes this year. It includes a list of businesses and shops open for the event, a map, and provides descriptive information filled with architectural and local history details for the places on the tour. A history lesson in itself! Thanks to Deb and Idea Patio Creative Services for again generously donating her design expertise and a part of the printing costs to the project.
Trish Chambers explains Christmas traditions and symbolism
In a program co-sponsored by the Historical Society of Riverton and the Riverton Free Library on November 17, Trish Chambers colorfully described many Victorian era Christmas traditions.
Using illustrations by renowned British illustrator Randolph Caldecott from the charming volume of old English Christmas traditions by famed American author Washington Irving, Ms. Chambers brought to life what a Christmas holiday looked like, smelled like, tasted like, and sounded like.
Rosemary, holly, and ivy decorated the homes representing friendship, love, commitment, and togetherness. The greenery symbolized resiliency in the coldness and darkness of winter.
When Queen Victoria married Prince Albert from Germany, he brought the German tradition of the Christmas tree.
Bayberry candles lit the manor houses adding light to ward off the winter grey. The celebration lasted for twelve days since guests traveled long distances to the manor houses in the countryside. Food and drink were plentiful, lavish meals were served accompanied by music and dramatic performances. 
Villagers sang outside the manor houses to entertain the guests. Children took an active part and were included in the celebrations.
See an online version of the 1886 edition of the entire Washington Irving classic here. – Susan Dechnik
Trish Chambers’ presents Old Christmas at RFL Nov.17
False voter registration in Jersey…
…in 1890, that is.
Be sure to vote.
What kid doesn’t like fire engines?
Readers have kindly supplied several images of Riverton’s fire fighting equipment, old and new.
Matt Mlynarczyk, who now lives in Virginia, sends us this scan of a Riverton fire engine. (We last heard from him last summer (Dig this, July 4, 2016) when he sent in a photo of a rare bottle labeled “MacMullin” he had found.)
Local residents may have read the Philadelphia Inquirer story in August about a two officers who rescued a “treasure” of thousands photo negatives that were slated for disposal by the Cinnaminson Police Department. This undated photo was among them.
Please advise if you can identify and date the above photo. – JMc