Submitted photo
Native artifacts on display at last year’s Indians and Ice Cream Day at the Tuscarora Academy Museum.

MIFFLIN — It’s doubtful that any of the Native Americans that lived in Juniata County hundreds of years ago, ever tasted an ice cream sundae. They definitely didn’t have colored sprinkles. But as a fundraiser, the combination certainly works for the Tuscarora Academy Museum.

“Native artifacts are just something that people are drawn to,” said Jessica Eaton Guyer, curator for the Tuscarora Academy. “People are captivated and curious about the culture.”

Of course, the museum sits less than a mile from the Book Indian Mound, an archaeological site consisting of the remnants of a burial mound and prehistoric village. A wide range of pottery and a large number of bones, including 22 skulls, were discovered during an investigation of the site in 1929.

In 1986, the site was added to the National Register of Historic Places.

“That’s the thing about historical legends and lore, it’s fascinating to people,” Guyer explained.

Back by popular demand, the museum, operated by the Juniata County Historical Society, will host its second annual Indians and Ice Cream Day Sunday from 1:30 p.m. to 4 p.m.

Guyer stresses the ice cream, courtesy of the Crème Stop in McAlisterville, is available while supplies last. It didn’t last long a year ago when more than 100 visitors flocked to the museum, located at 472 Academia Road, Mifflin.

Last year’s event raised $600 for the museum.

“Before COVID, this event was held annually and it was really popular,” Guyer said of having the Indian artifacts on display. “I didn’t witness the full extent of it until last year, and I was blown away by the attendance. People caught a show and a tour and ate some ice cream.”

Organizers decided to add an ice cream fundraiser to the event last year – when the show returned after a brief hiatus due to the pandemic – and the popularity continued to skyrocket. The last Indians and Ice Cream Day was 2019.

So, while visitors feast on chocolate, vanilla, twist and orange creamsicle flavors as well as toppings, they can also feast their eyes on the displays of three local Indian artifact collectors.

They include Steve Zeiders, of Mifflintown, who has been collecting since 1962 and will have his vast collection on display. His tables will feature banner stones, drills, mini-axes, knives, hammer stones, sharpening tools, celts, engraved tools, stone bowls, scrapers, sewing needles, clay and stone pipes and a fire starter rock. This year alone, Zeiders has found an additional 55 artifacts.

Andy Paige, another avid artifact collector from Thompsontown, will bring his collection again this year. He plans to display a granite celt, large pestle – used for grinding or crushing – and a rare bell ax. Paige’s unique pieces include Susquehannock tubular trade beads from a Washington Borough site in Lancaster County. The glass tubular-shaped beads were brought to the United States by Europeans and were used for trade with American Indians.

Finally, Don Roddy, an acquaintance of Paige, has an immense collection and will be sharing his knowledge alongside the other two. He will showcase more than 50 years’ worth of items.

“They have so many artifacts and they’re very eager to talk about the history and origins of them,” Guyer said.

Visitors are also encouraged to bring any artifacts they have for an evaluation. The three collectors are also willing to inspect visitors’ items and possibly identify them as artifacts.

“People can bring their own things that they’ve found,” she added. “It’s like a show and tell. The guys will be able to estimate a time period and tell them how the relics were used.”

While the artifacts will be outside under canopies, the museum will also be open for regular tours.