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LEWISTOWN – “Look closely, because what once was may soon be gone.”
Forest Fisher, local historian and president of the Mifflin County Historical Society, should know.
His remark can be heard on the society’s latest project – a DVD that contains most of the photographs from the books “Mifflin County Then & Now,” and “More Mifflin County Then & Now.” Readers of the books and viewers of the DVD can plainly see that what once was may now be gone, but they can also see what has taken the place of buildings and other places that are now only memories.
The DVD contains a narration by Fisher, illustrated by photographs from the books that were selected from the historical society’s collection, and updated photographs of the same scenes, taken by Nathaniel Thierwechter. The narration is accompanied by lively background music, appropriate sound effects and labels identifying the locations and dates of the original pictures.
Fisher said the idea of producing the DVD based on the books evolved from presentations about the books that he has made to local organizations. Audience members commented that DVDs of the presentation would be appreciated so they could spend more time absorbing the information. Fisher took the hint to heart.
The new DVD contains two video tracks of about 25 minutes each, one highlighting “Mifflin County Then and Now,” and the other highlighting “More Mifflin County Then & Now.”
The DVD also contains a bonus feature: a two-part audio presentation of about 15 minutes each on “The Logan Guards of Lewistown, Pennsylvania,” in which listeners can relive the early days of the Civil War through narration and sound effects.
The DVD is available now for $10 plus sales tax, for a total of $10.60, at: The Mifflin County Historical Society office and library in the Historic Courthouse; on the historical society’s website at www.mccoyhouse.com (via PayPal by clicking on “store”); the Juniata River Valley Chamber of Commerce and Visitor’s Bureau, also in the Historic Courthouse; and Friendship Bookstore in Mifflin County Commons in Burnham.
Fisher said a third “then and now” book is in the works and expected to be in print in the fall of 2016.
2016 Picture the Past
calendar
Also hot off the press is the historical society’s 2016 Picture the Past calendar.
This year’s calendar marks the historical society’s 95th anniversary. Featured on the cover is a color photograph Thierwechter took from the City Hook & Ladder Fire Company’s ladder truck at the 2014 New Year’s Eve Chip Drop on Monument Square in Lewistown.
Inside are black and white images shared by community members or from the society’s collection.
“We try to solicit photos from the attic; somebody’s photo collection inevitably features something unique about Mifflin County,” Fisher said. The months in the calendar are illustrated by black and white photographs of: The New Lancaster Valley CCC Camp; the Naginey Quarry; the National Limestone Quarry at Shrader; a big snow in Big Valley; cabins in the Seven Mountains; the Alfarata Band; an Amish buggy from 1890; the Big Valley Cheese Factory; the Jaycees at Christmas time, and more.
The calendar is $5 (tax included), and is available now at: the historical society and chamber and visitor’s bureau offices in the Historic Courthouse; Miller’s Plumbing & Heating; Honey Creek Inn; Friendship Bookstore; Lewistown Pharmacy; Westside Gallery; Deihl’s Flowers; Northwest Consumer Discount Co.; and The Lake Dealership at 429 S. Main St., Lewistown.
The historical society also distributes the calendar to all fourth grade students in the Mifflin County School District and the private schools in the county for free.
Back in print
The historical society has also brought back into print the second book of Fisher’s series “It Happened in Mifflin County.”
Book 2, originally published in 2005, had been sold out, but is now available again.
The books contain expanded essays pertaining to Mifflin County history that originally appeared in the historical society’s newsletter, “Notes from Monument Square,” written from 1997 to the present by Fisher.
Some of the topics explored in Book 2 are: The Pennsylvania Canal; The A.L.S. – Apprentices’ Literary Society; Powwowing; the tornado of 1847; Susan B. Anthony’s visit to Lewistown; Lt. E.W.F. Childs, a heroic submariner; air mail delivery and more.
In addition to stories and illustrations, the books contain excerpts from local newspapers and history trivia.
The cost of the book is $17.75 plus tax, for a total of $18.80. It is available at the historical society office and library, and the chamber and visitor’s bureau in the Historic Courthouse; on the historical society’s website at www.mccoyhouse.com (via PayPal by clicking on “store”); and Friendship Bookstore in Burnham.