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June 1, 2010 12:08:15
Posted By The Curator
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Hello All!
Here are a few pics from our recent plaster restoration. We still have a long way to go, but it's been a great start!
Durable Restoration of Ohio performed the work. They are known for jobs including the Warren Harding and Rutherford Hayes houses among other remarkable buildings!
They really made our parlor looks spiffy!
At some point mid 1900s, forced air heating was installed and a floor beam was cut through to accomodate it! They had to jack the floor up in the library and reframe the area to keep the 2nd floor on the 2nd floor!
Durable was able to save samples of the removed plaster, discovering the bottom or original layer of paint! We were able to match the color using the handy computers at Sherwin Williams Paints and return our ceiling to its original color!
More photos of the completed rooms soon!!!!!!
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January 25, 2010 02:28:43
Posted By The Curator
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With new Mayor Christopher Soff stepping into his office recently, a perfect opportunity is presented here to discuss Meadville borough, and eventually city in terms of an organizational history. This week, we will track how Meadville became a city, where its original boundries were, and other little known facts about the place we all know and love.
Meadville was a village in Allegheny County, and once it was established, Crawford County in 1800. It remained a village for over twenty years, however, and was not incorporated into a borough until March 29, 1823. Its original boundaries were as follows:
Beginning at the east end of Kennedy’s bridge; thence along the Meadville and Mercer Turnpike Road, to the place where the south line of the south alley crosses said road; thence east along said alley to the Susquehanna and Waterford Turnpike Road; thence south along said road to the place where the north line of William Clark’s farm crosses the same; thence east along the said line to the east end of the town track; thence north along said line to the northeast corner of Samuel Lord’s farm; thence west along the north line of Samuel Lord’s land to the bank of French Creek; thence along the meanders of said creek to the place of beginning.
Upon the first election of borough officers, held May 5, 1823, Thomas Atkinson was elected Burgess (the borough term for mayor at that time). Atkinson was best known as the owner of the first newspaper in Meadville and his daughter Salome is hanging in Baldwin-Reynolds House. The last Burgess was William Reynolds, holding a term in 1865. He made history in this regard as on February 15, 1866 Meadville was granted a new charter and became an incorporated city. Reynolds served the first term in Meadville as mayor in 1866 before stepping down, making him the “last and first” in this area. Meadville was, in 1860, a borough of 3702 people and a city of 7103 in 1870, growing considerably. Others of considerable local renown such as John Dick, S.B. Dick, Alfred Huidekoper, Gaylord Church, H.L. Richmond, and John Earle Reynolds held one or the other of these offices, depending on the time period.
We have been a city since 1866 and have had our ups and downs, but have one thing for certain- we act like the village from which we came. I am happy to call this area home as for as large or spread out Meadville becomes, one can still find familiar faces walking through town and a helping hand is never hard to fine. I’m thankful that we are still in touch with our small town roots. Welcome Mr. Soff to the mayor’s office and I hope you enjoy the city in which you will help to run. We certainly do!
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January 11, 2010 10:43:54
Posted By The Curator
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Hello All!
We're looking for oodles of new volunteers for our 2010 season! We are always looking for help in one of the following areas
Gardening
Housekeeping
Tour Guides
Filing/Clerical
Museum Inventory
Receptionists/Greeters
Research
Museum Exhibit Prep
Event/Program Prep
Fall Leaf Raking
Tree Trimming
Painting
and much much more!!!!!
If you'd like to help out in any of the following areas, please shoot us an email at museum@baldiwnreynolds.org or fill out the volunteer box on our website!
http://www.baldwinreynolds.org/contact.htm
Just scroll down and select "volunteering" in the drop down box!
We'll be emailing you back very soon and getting everyone aquainted and involved as the winter and spring progress. Hope to hear from you!
-The Curator
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December 13, 2009 11:11:28
Posted By The Curator
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It’s officially the start of the Holiday Season or at least it looks it as I sit here at The Crawford County Historical Society’s annual holiday book fair. With holiday parties coming (and food on my mind), what better way to celebrate the holiday season than to make one of Katherine Reynolds’ recipes for your next holiday party!
Egg Nog (No 1)
Beat very light and thick the yolks of 6 eggs. Stir the eggs gradually into a quart of rich unskimmed milk, add half pound of sugar, half pint of brandy and grated nutmeg to taste. Next beat the whites of 3 eggs by themselves and stir them quickly into the mixture. Divide into two pitchers and pour it back and forward until it has a fine froth.
Egg Nog (No 2) Six eggs, half a pound of sugar, half a pint of brandy or whisky, three pints of cream whipped into a froth. Beat the yolks of the eggs and the sugar together until it is a froth, add the brandy or whisky, next the whites of the eggs beaten stiff, and then the whipped cream.
Salmon Croquettes 1 can of salmon, 1 egg well beaten, 1 / 2 cup fine bread crumbs, salt, cayenne pepper, nutmeg, juice of half a lemon. Drain off the liquid and mince the fish, melt and work in 1 tablespoon of butter, season, and if necessary moisten with a little of the liquid, add the crumbs. Form into rolls and flour thickly, and stand in a cold place an hour. Fry in hot fat, and serve on a hot platter, garnish with parsley.
Coconut Macaroons1 / 2 lb. of fine desiccated coconut. 1 / 2 lb. pulverized sugar. Whites of 2 eggs, beaten very stiff with a pinch of salt. After eggs are well beaten add sugar and beat together, add coconut, and roll into balls into your hand. Bake.
Crullers (No 1) 4 eggs, 4 tablespoons of hot lard, 5 or 6 tablespoons of sugar , a little nutmeg, salt, flour to make stiff enough to roll out, fry in hot lard.
Crullers (No 2) 2 cups sugar, 1 cup butter, 2 / 3 of pint of buttermilk or sour milk, 1 teaspoon soda, 4 or 5 eggs, cinnamon, nutmeg, roll thin and cut out. Fry in hot lard.
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December 2, 2009 06:23:57
Posted By The Curator
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Last Friday, I ventured out into the world of retail madness in Meadville to find more people unsuccessfully searching for the perfect Christmas present than I could count. Crowds pushed past each other to find a DVD player or new laptop, but few found a gift that was personalized to their recipient’ s interest. Well ladies and gentlemen, we have the solution to all of your gift giving needs!
The Crawford County Historical Society will be hosting their annual Holiday Book Fair this Saturday, December 5th from 10 AM until 2 PM at the historical Society at 411 Chestnut Street. Presents for any age group or interest will be featured for your perusal and purchase along with book signings, free coffee, Christmas cookies, a door prize, and more!
This year we will be featuring two new Arcadia books for you to choose from. Picture histories of the Guys Mills area by Cheryl Weiderspahn and the Lake Erie Bessemer Railroad by Kenneth Springirth will be available for purchase along with many other local favorites. In addition, gift certificates will be available for purchase good for merchandise, memberships, services, or tours of the Baldwin-Reynolds House Museum.
Several tables will be set up featuring books relating to the Oil 150 (the anniversary of Edwin Drake’s first oil well), the railroad, including William Reynolds writings on the first railroad in our area (the Atlantic and Great Western), and much more! A special sale table will be featured to allow shoppers an opportunity to buy some of their favorites for greatly discounted prices. Several prints of local historical interest and collectibles such as glass paperweights and other creations from one of Meadville’s first glass factories, circa the 1880s will be present. In addition, a fresh pine wreath will be given away as a door prize, with all in attendance eligible to enter. No purchase is necessary for this opportunity.
Cheryl Weiderspahn will be on hand from 10am until noon to sign and dedicate her book on Guys Mills. This lifelong Crawford County resident has put together one of the most complete histories of the Guys Mills and Randolph Township area available. She will be happy to help answer questions on this area if possible.
We welcome the public to attend this event, stop in for refreshments or just to say hello and look around. We’d love to see you and we’d love to help you find that perfect gift this Christmas season!
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