On Oct. 10, a "History Day in the Park" festival will be hosted by the Greater Elmer Area Historical Society in Centennial Park and along State Street in Elmer from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. The event will be a chance to celebrate our community and our local history, and it will include historical displays, vintage cars and trucks, antiques...
On Oct. 10, a "History Day in the Park" festival will be hosted by the Greater Elmer Area Historical Society in Centennial Park and along State Street in Elmer from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. The event will be a chance to celebrate our community and our local history, and it will include historical displays, vintage cars and trucks, antiques evaluations, information booths by non-profits and local businesses, and activities for children.
One special item that will be on display will be the No. 7 Plate from the train engine that was involved in the 1888 railroad accident at Palatine. The train wreck occurred just after the Blizzard of 1888, when three engines derailed in the midst of the snow banks. This number plate from one of the destroyed engines will be on display for the day courtesy of the Ward family.
Another special display will be a commemorative plaque honoring local World War I veterans, that once stood in the Friendship Methodist Church. One of the veterans honored on the plaque was Frank D. Sayre, namesake of the local VFW chapter. During the fire of 1970 which completely destroyed the church, the plaque was damaged by the heat and smoke. The plaque has recently been restored, and will be on display at the History Day event.
Elmer's first fire engine, the "Merrimac" built in 1853, will also be on display at the event, along with other antique vehicles. The Merrimac was built in Massachusetts and brought to Elmer in 1887. The hand drawn pumper was used until 1913, when it was retired to be only brought out for parades and events like History Day.
The highlight of the event will be an "Antiques Roadshow"-style evaluation of antiques. Visitors are invited to bring their antiques from home to learn more about their history and to get a free public evaluation from experienced antiques dealers from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. (Monetary values may or may not be given.) Bob Brooks of Bob Brooks Auctions, Mike Cooke of Royal Port Antiques, Frank Stubbins of WheatonArts Volunteer Glass Blowers, and Paul Showers Auctioneer will be available to share their input on the antiques brought for appraisal.
A slideshow on the Barns of Salem County will be running at History Day in the Park, with photographs compiled by Chic Jansky and Libby Myers. Chic and Libby have been traveling around all of Salem County during the past year, photographing every barn in order to preserve images of these disappearing pieces of the past. They will also be presenting a program on the Barns of Mannington and Pilesgrove at the next meeting of the Greater Elmer Area Historical Society on Oct. 15 at 6:30 p.m. at the Elmer Borough Hall.
Some of the other historical exhibits that will be on display at the event include: antique tools, Native American arrowheads, vintage vehicles, old photographs of the area, and displays by the Greater Elmer Area Historical Society, the Genealogical Society of Salem County, the Salem County Historical Society, and the Friends of the Hancock House.
Games and crafts for children will be available at the booth hosted by Appel Farm; additional activities will be hosted by other organizations. There will also be informational booths by local businesses and non-profit organizations. This event is free for the public to enjoy.
For more information, email the Society at greaterelmerareahistory@gmail.com, call 856-358-6171 or 609-670-0407, or visit our facebook page at facebook.com/greaterelmerareahistoricalsociety. The event will be held rain or shine.
