Like a See-Saw

This winter weather has been like a see-saw, a playground teeter-totter. The temperature has been up then down and back up again; snow then rain, then ice and snow. It’s been a strange winter weather pattern. Then we have a few weird people who have to torture a woodchuck, wake him from his hibernation, pulling him from his snug den, and lift him into a world of cold and snow. I’m not sure why PETA hasn’t tried to intervene on his behalf in 123 years of this tradition. Surely the people of PETA or ASPCA have taken notice and should have staged a protest by now.

On a side note, while I was cataloging books that were donated to the Chestnut Ridge Historical Society, I found a hand written recipe for cooking a groundhog. It suggested in the recipe that a young woodchuck was preferable. As a joke, I sent a copy of it to the Punxsutawney Historical Society. They either didn’t think it was funny or they were just rude. We never received a thank you note for sharing the vintage document.

Members of the Chestnut Ridge Historical Society try to keep the many local photographs, documents, and artifacts secure. It’s our goal to preserve and protect as much of the history of the Laurel Highlands as possible. We keep files of the cemeteries, obituaries, and family histories which we are constantly being updated. Because of our limited space we sometimes will offer a donation to the historical society of another area if it has no local ties.

I often remind people as they are spring cleaning or as old folks say, “breaking up housekeeping” to please keep your local historical society in mind before tossing out old documents, maps, photographs, or anything of historical significance. If the family wants to keep the item, most societies will be happy to photocopy documents and photographs and have them available for others to find this historically valuable article as they research local history or family genealogies.

At our showroom in Stahlstown, Pennsylvania, we have shelves filled with records and walls covered with photographs. File cabinet drawers hold articles that are too numerous to display. There are several display cases with military memorabilia, school information, local sports uniforms, ledgers, and a case with small items. We have on display a local physician’s cabinet that was donated and most recently we have two antique quilts on display.

The society is open every Wednesday from 11 AM until 3 PM and Saturday 10 AM to 2 PM. Please stop by, someone will help you find the things you’re looking for.