The Victorian Era within Williamsport was carried to a conspicuous and ostentatious display of wealth as many men prospered during the Lumber Era.
This chair from the Park Theater is not only a relic of that particular building; it is also a relic from a time when towns had many movie theaters – not quite one on every corner, but certainly more than you typically find now.
So far, during the COVID-19 shutdown, the staff and volunteers at the Taber Museum have been doing most of the work to keep you entertained. But, now, it is your turn!
Behind the cell door in our 20th Century Gallery sits William Hummel, one of the most notorious villains in Lycoming County history.
When the Museum reopens, we will hastily be working on installing a few improvements to our exhibits in the Hall of Farming, Craft and Industry. One of the improvements will be an upgrade to an exploration of the liquid refreshments that many Lycoming Countians have enjoyed.
Lycoming County’s dominant lumber industry led to many related businesses, including a number of construction companies. One such company was the Vallamont Planing Mill, founded by J. C. Winter in 1891.
We, at the Lycoming County Historical Society, sincerely apologize for the continuation of the museum’s closure. We can’t wait to see you! And well, frankly, we aren’t as welcoming to all of our visitors.
This Durrwachter Bakery delivery wagon sits in our 20th Century gallery. Various Durrwachters have fulfilled a whole range of roles in the county’s history, from bakers and dairy farmers, to doctors, to a County Commissioner.
Clarence Charles Hart taught at the Williamsport Commercial College for twenty-four years. In addition to teaching, Hart hand-lettered hundreds of diplomas awarded by the Williamsport High School and schools in the surrounding communities of Ralston, Hughesville, Jersey Shore, Muncy and Montgomery.
One of the more notable landmarks in Williamsport is Brandon Park. Marjorie Rosser took her memories of Brandon Park and made this spectacular quilt around 1990, probably in celebration of its 100th anniversary.
This figure representing Madame Montour stands overlooking our Native American Gallery. This figure’s clothing shows the blending of cultures in Madame Montour’s time: the aesthetic is Native American, but the fabrics are European.
Once the most numerous bird species in North America, the passenger pigeon population declined quickly over the course of the 19th century. The one in our collection work of Williamsport taxidermist Charles Eldon.
You have to admire archaeologists- whether they are professional or amateur. Most have the patience of Job and the sleuthing mind of Sherlock Holmes. But, patience is your strong suit and you slowly uncover this incredible artifact- an Otter effigy.
So what’s the story with the wedding cake topper from a previous post? It sat atop the cake for a somewhat unusual wedding.
This large clock dial and “Lady Justice” are some of the few remnants of Sloan's Lycoming County Courthouse.
One of the most beautiful objects in the museum is situated within the Decorative and Fine Arts Gallery, in close proximity to a Tiffany Studios stained glass window and a Severin Roesen still life painting. It is the work of native son Bernard Katz.
One of the more unusual artifacts in our Hall of Farming, Crafts, and Industry is this dog-powered butter churn. It’s a perfect example of the ingenuity of the county’s residents in creating labor-saving devices in the pre-mechanized era.
The Darling Pump and Manufacturing Company, Inc., was opened in Williamsport in 1888 in response to the successful extraction of oil from Pennsylvania land.
What a journey these artifacts have had, from their origins over 200 years ago to today, including over 100 years as part of our collection. Perhaps they are a reminder that, while no crisis lasts forever, history – and the people who make it – endures.
A 1919 Model T Ford that started its journey in Canada; during a road trip to Washington DC, it broke down and ultimately made its way into the hands of Ferd Page, Jr. of Williamsport. Ferd also founded the Williamsport Aero Club, a group dedicated to building and flying model airplanes.
Severin Roesen only lived in Williamsport a short time, but it was long enough for the community to claim him as their own. Roesen’s specialty was still life oil paintings of fruit and flowers, as practically every identified work by him is some combination of those two subjects.
For 65 years, the Journal has been documenting the history of Lycoming County. But this history had been lost, except to those with access to the Society’s archives, where some 89 issues of the Journal repose. That has changed as of February 2020, when the board of the Society authorized the digitalization and online publication of the entire collection of Journal issues,
At the Lycoming County Historical Society, a rocking chair can tell you a lot! But in looking at it more closely, it reveals a more sinister past.
Lycoming County has a rich industrial heritage and Trimtex stands as one of the leaders within the County. In fact, it was one of the leaders in the United States in the production of fabric trimmings.
Check out this rocking chair - it is a real oddity- it is covered in postage stamps!
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