Blog Archives

VOLUNTEER SPOTLIGHT: LAURA

7/20/2022

Laura

Name: Laura
Location: Boiling Springs, PA
How long you've been volunteering for the museum and in what capacity: Volunteering since Spring 2022 as a docent.
Favorite place to hike in PA: Don't know yet, because I'm new to the state, but I do get to walk everyday around Children's Lake in Boiling Springs, so that's a start!
Favorite place to hike outside of PA: I was fortunate to live near the Blue Ridge Parkway in VA for eight years and my heart is still there. Walking through Big Meadows in Shenandoah NP is right up there, too!
Other hobbies (besides hiking): Bike riding, birding, traveling, visiting museums, researching and writing.
A fun fact or other information that you're interested in sharing with the group: I'm giving a virtual tour for Smithsonian Associates of George Washington's Mount Vernon in July and then leading an in-person tour of Alexandria and South Fairfax County in October. The tours are tied to the publication of my 10th book, "A History Lover's Guide to Alexandria and South Fairfax County" which came out in May 2022 (The History Press). My website is www.lauramacaluso.com.

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VOLUNTEER SPOTLIGHT: JEFF

7/20/2022

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Jeff, wife Tabitha & two month old son Luke

Name: Jeff.

Home: I live and work over in Gettysburg where I teach high school Government/Economics along with US history to 10th-12th grade students. My wife and I both originate from Philadelphia and moved to Adams county about three years ago.

How long you've been volunteering for the museum and in what capacity: For the past few years, I have been working to complete a graduate degree from Shippensburg University in Applied History. In short, the degree is basically trying to connect academic history to the community. This is most often accomplished with the use of museums or historical societies. The degree has students work and intern with a vast array of historical museums, hence my internship here with you all which I have been volunteering for about four weeks now. I am so happy to be working here as part of my program and would love to continue to volunteer afterward.

Favorite place to hike in PA: My wife and I love to be outside and we really appreciate living so close to the AT for some weekend hikes. I would say my favorite hikes are usually battlefields/or historical trails (what can I say, I’m a history teacher in Gettysburg) although if you are looking for more of a trail hike, I have always enjoyed going to “The Pinnacle” close to Hawk Mountain.

Favorite place to hike outside of PA: As for outside of PA, I also really enjoy Maryland Heights in Harpers Ferry or Acadia way up in Maine.

A fun fact or other information that you're interested in sharing with the group: I sadly am not a “thru-hiker” however, working here has certainly been stirring the urges. I have loved hearing all the stories at the front desk and helping wherever is needed. I want to give a sincere, Thank you, to all those I have met and who have helped me learn the ropes here at the AT Museum. It has truly been a pleasure to learn and work beside each of you.

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VOLUNTEER SPOTLIGHT: GREG

7/20/2022

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Greg opening the Museum with Natalie and Charlie from Mechanicsburg PA, two of his four grandchildren. Photo taken by Greg's daughter, Mary.

Name: Greg
Home: Bethlehem, PA
How long you've been volunteering for the museum and in what capacity: While section hiking Pennsylvania in 2020, Greg and his wife, Jane, stopped by the AT Museum on their way through Pine Grove Furnace State Park. They returned for a repeat visit this spring where they met docents Jennifer and Laura. When Jennifer asked if he had considered volunteering for the Museum, Greg thought that no, he hadn’t, but what an intriguing idea! After Julie arranged a docent training, Greg stepped in and has volunteered in two- or three-day chunks of time in June & July, staying over in his camper van at Piney Mountain in the Michaux Forest.
Favorite place to hike in PA: He and Jane belong to the Appalachian Mountain Club Delaware Valley and are shelter watchers at the LeRoy Smith Shelter on the AT near where they live. They first hiked as young marrieds in the mountains above Denver, Colorado.
A fun fact or other information that you're interested in sharing: Greg retired as an editor with Better Homes and Gardens for 21 years and became a freelance writer after moving to the Lehigh Valley to be near two of his daughters and their children in 2006. He likes to kayak with the Lehigh Valley Kayak and Canoe Club where he is learning white water kayaking, and he is currently working on a book about friendship and lessons learned from his best friend, who died of Alzheimer’s Disease a year and a half ago.

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A.T. Hall Of Fame Display Moved to Ironmasters; Will Be Expanded

7/13/2022

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A.T Hall of Fame display, Ironmaster's Mansion

The Appalachian Trail Hall of Fame display has been moved from the A.T. Museum to the Ironmaster's Mansion, a short distance away from the Museum, within Pine Grove Furnace State Park. The Hall of Fame display was moved to allow more room to tell the story of the Hall of Fame inductees. The Museum has also added several displays that take up considerable space, including the Benton MacKaye Sky Parlor exhibit on the first floor and the Interactive Map display, which will open soon on the second floor.

The Hall of Fame display is now located in a room in the southeast corner of the first floor of the Mansion. The room has been renamed the A.T. Hall of Fame Room. Presently the Hall of Fame Room has biographical displays of the first four Hall of Fame classes and a display about John "Bodacious" Beaudet, who carves the hiking sticks presented to each Hall of Fame inductee.

Plans are underway to prepare biographical displays for the subsequent Hall of Fame classes, as well as a display of several of the carved hiking sticks. Additional displays are planned for the future.

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Hall Of Fame Outdoor Event Announced For October 1, 2022

7/12/2022

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The Appalachian Trail Museum announces that the 2022 Class of the Appalachian Trail Hall of Fame will be honored at the A.T. Hall of Fame Outdoor Induction on October 1, 2022. The Induction will begin at 1:30 pm and will be held at the Furnace Stack Pavilion, adjacent to the Museum in Pine Grove Furnace State Park, near Gardners, PA.

The induction ceremony will be a free event, but registration will be required due to limited space. To register, send an email to atmbanquet@gmail.com The induction ceremony will be one of a full schedule of events taking place during the Hall of Fame weekend.

Hawk Metheny on Katahdin

The M.C. for the 2022 Banquet will be Hawk Metheny. Hawk was recently named Vice President of Regional and Trail Operations of Appalachian Trail Conservancy. Hawk has served for 32 years working in various levels of Appalachian Trail management and stewardship. Before joining ATC in 2010, Hawk worked for more than 20 years with the Appalachian Mountain Club in multiple backcountry management positions, served multiple consecutive terms on the ATC Board of Directors, and chaired the ATC Stewardship Council. Before his recent promotion, Hawk served as Senior Regional Director of ATC's Northeast region.

Hawk thru-hiked the A.T. in 1993 (Hawk-Who-Walks GA—>ME) and has hiked many other sections of the A.T. since. He has thru-hiked the Pacific Crest Trail, the John Muir Trail twice, and has section hiked the Long Trail in Vermont.

As previously announced, the 2022 Hall of Fame class honorees are the late Jim & Molly Denton of Front Royal, Virginia; JoAnn & Paul Dolan of New York, New York; Laurie Potteiger of Harpers Ferry, West Virginia; and Tom Speaks of Cleveland, Tennessee. More information on the 2022 class can be found HERE.

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Maurice J. Forrester, Jr. 1930-2022

7/11/2022

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Maurice J. Forrester, Jr. passed away at home on the morning of July 5, 2022.

Maurice spent his entire adult life advocating for and documenting hiking trails, especially in his native Pennsylvania. From 1975 to 1992, he served Appalachian Trail Conference (now Conservancy) as Treasurer, Newsletter Editor and member of the Board of Managers. He served as Chair of ATC's 1989 Biennial meeting in East Stroudsburg, PA. From 1976 through 1989, he served Keystone Trail Association as President, and then as Newsletter Editor. His quarterly column, "The View From Cogan Station", appeared in KTA's newsletter from 1978 through 1992. He has also served on numerous trail advocacy boards and committees in Pennsylvania.

Maurice was a founding director of the Appalachian Trail Museum. During that time, the Museum Board was looking for a suitable location for the Museum. Several proposals, like a location in Harpers Ferry, did not pan out. Maurice was the one who led the effort to secure its home in the Old Mill building at Pine Grove Furnace State Park. To a very large extent, we have Maurice to thank for the location of our Museum.

Mr. Forrester will perhaps be best known for his writings. He served as editor of several editions of the Appalachian Trail in Pennsylvania. He is co-author of A Grip On The Mane Of Life, the definitive biography of Earl Shaffer, the A.T.'s first thru-hiker. He also wrote the forward to Earl Shaffer's famous autobiography, Walking With Spring and to Larry Luxenberg's Walking The Appalachian Trail. He was the lead author of the history of KTA's first 50 years.

Maurice's obituary can be found HERE. The services will be private. There is a place there for friends and acquaintances to post condolences.

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"APPALACHIAN TRAIL MUSEUM UPDATES", July 4, 2022

7/4/2022

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SPECIAL INDEPENDENCE DAY / JULY THE 4TH. HOLIDAY EDITION ! ! !

Dear Appalachian Trail Museum Friends,

I feel that I must leave-off my vacation
to write at least a few lines in tribute to our
Great American Holiday, Independence Day !,
the "4TH. OF JULY !"

Here are today's special activities in our
Museum's home, Pine Grove Furnace, click on,
~ 4TH. OF JULY SPECIAL EVENTS ! ! !

Here are the Park's July 2022 Activities,
~ JULY 2022 SCHEDULE OF ACTIVITIES

Following re-printed from 2021: click on special,
(note 3 links in it are out-dated, and do not work),
~ INDEPENDENCE HALL & LIBERTY BELL

Some 4th. of July musical videos with fireworks !
~ 4TH OF JULY FIREWORKS & MUSICAL VIDEOS

HAPPY TRAILS !

Robert "RED WOLF o'da SMOKY'S" Croyle
A. T. Museum Membership Secretary
email: atmuseumfriends@gmail.com

U S Mail Address:
A. T. Museum
1120 Pine Grove Road
Gardners, PA 17324

FYI ~TO SUBSCRIBE TO RECEIVE THIS NEWSLETTER:
click on & complete with name & email only, SUBSCRIBE.
Add atmuseumupdates@gmail.com to your “contacts”
so the newsletter is not blocked by your server. ~ "Red Wolf".

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VOLUNTEER SPOTLIGHT: LAURA

VOLUNTEER SPOTLIGHT: JEFF

VOLUNTEER SPOTLIGHT: GREG

A.T. Hall Of Fame Display Moved to Ironmasters; Will Be Expanded

Hall Of Fame Outdoor Event Announced For October 1, 2022

Maurice J. Forrester, Jr. 1930-2022

"APPALACHIAN TRAIL MUSEUM UPDATES", July 4, 2022

SPECIAL INDEPENDENCE DAY / JULY THE 4TH. HOLIDAY EDITION ! ! !

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