Lock House Spring Newsletter

S P R I N G 2 0 2 0
THE LEDGER
The Newsletter of the Lock House Museum
C O M I N G U P
Happy Anniversary...to us!
Museum Opening. As of
this publication there is no
opening date. Look for that
announced on FB and our
website.
Member's Dinner - postponed
and to be rescheduled. Please
watch FB or website for new
date.
May 16th -North Park Trail
Walk. 10 am. Visit FB or
website for cancellation
information.
June 13 & 14 - Pirate Fest
cancelled for this year.
The Lock House Museum is commemorating
its 50th anniversary this year! We are proud to
be Havre de Grace's first and oldest museum. It
is a major milestone for a small museum and it
has us thinking long and hard about how to keep
us moving forward and staying relevant in the
community for another 50 years. Mark your
calendars for an October celebration.
I have one special request: If you are an
original/early member or you know of
someone who was involved early on, please
contact the museum so we can include these
memories in our anniversary event.
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cont. from page 1
We plan to go forward with our May
membership drive because it is long overdue!
I appeal to those of you who have been members
and have lapsed to rejoin the museum to support
our programming, take part in our events or
volunteer. And, to those of you that have never
been a supporter of the museum, I want to extend
a special invitation to come aboard during this
special 50th anniversary year - truly a year none
of us will soon forget. Please feel free to use
the P H Oform T O B Y at Mthe A R Tend I N R . of S Mthis I T H newsletter to join or donate. If you prefer to pay online please go
to our website's 'Support' page.
As of this writing we don't have an opening date. Please follow our Facebook page or
website for updates. Our special photography opening show featuring the art of Malgorzata
Baker is postponed with no rescheduled date as of yet.
I hope that, at the time of this publishing, everyone has remained unscathed and safe
from anything to do with the Coronavirus. That it has been a strange couple of months is
an understatement and the uncertainty of the future makes it all the more stressful. Thank
you for your continued support throughout this trying time. Stay safe and hope to see you all
soon.
Joanne Healey
Director@thelockhousemuseum.org
M u s e u m W e l c o m e s N e w e s t B o a r d M e m b e r
Rich Stubing joined the museum board in November after volunteering for several
seasons as a guide and event helper. A computer engineer by trade, Rich is an avid history
lover and the Lock House is lucky to have his expertise and passion to add to our board of
directors. He and his wife, Debbie, have lived in Havre de Grace for 4 years and he lives so
close he can walk to all of the board meetings!
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September - 3rd Annual
Craft Beer & Wine Festival.
Please watch FB or website
for details.
October - 50th Anniversary
Celebration. Please watch FB
or website for details.
October 31st - Museum
closes for season.
P H O T O B Y M A R T I N R . S M I T H
Author Jacqueline Simmons Hedberg signs
her book for a young fan at our second
Shank Lecture in February.
November 14th - North Park
Trail Walk 10 am.
December 12th -
Candlelight Tour 4-8 pm.
December 12th & 13th -
Holiday Boutique.
How membership signups were handled back in the '70s. Anyone
recognize these folks or recognize the storefront?
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Candlelight Tour and Boutique Wrap Up
Thank you to all who gave their time and talents and opened their homes to support the
museum for the 2019 Candlelight House Tour and Christmas Boutique!
A special thanks to Gail Burcham, who is stepping down as greens chair after many years of
organizing, collecting and creating anything with greens, and passing the torch to Vicki
Stephens. And also, thanks to Sandy Chase, who is retiring from the jewelry room - her domain
for many years. Both of these women have given many years of their time and talents to the
Lock House Museum and it is greatly appreciated. (House photo credits to Pat Veturino)
P A G E 4

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North Park Loop (aka Joe K.) Trail
Many of you may know it as the Joe K. Trail, but the official name is the North Park Loop
Trail. Maybe you've been on it and enjoyed the new Lily Run Bridge that opened last spring
that completes the loop. Maybe you know Joe Kochenderfer for his tireless efforts of adding
more trails around the city (and a dedicated Lock House volunteer too) but when I asked
him how long ago this project started I was surprised that it was an effort that began over
two decades ago.
He explained that the trail that we enjoy today was a huge community effort introduced
by Anna Long that involved the Lower Susquehanna Heritage Greenway, the City of Havre
de Grace and the Excelon Corporation. Initially, the trail utilized help from many Havre de
Grace individual citizen volunteers and groups, Americorp out of Perry Point, military
groups, the Havre de Grace Green Team, and the Scouts to name a few who cut the trails,
built the bridges, hauled countless yards of gravel, along with the constant mowing and
hacking over the years to keep the trails clear. 2001 saw its first guided trail walk led by Joe
himself. Last year, the final leg of the 20-year project was completed with the bridge over
Lily Run. Its opening has seen a tremendous increase in hikers, bikers, and photographers.
Joe has been the trail guide all these years, leading individuals and school groups,
talking about the trail, history of the area, natural history, plants and animals. It is a labor of
love and starting this year he has handed the reins to his daughter, Judy Glassman, who
has been training with her father for years. The guided trail walks are offered 4 times per
year with the next one on May 16th at 10 am (please check our website for cancellations).
The entire trail is marked with blazes with the trail head at the top of the museum drive
(there is a map available at the end of the museum driveway). Guided tour or on your own it
is a 1.5-mile trail through woods and wetlands and along the river. Special tours can be
arranged by calling the Lock House Museum. Wear appropriate footwear as it can be
muddy and dogs on leashes are welcome.
Joe Kochenderfer, left, leads a group on the North Park Loop Trail.
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Museum's Newest Gift
As a fitting donation for our 50th
anniversary, this painting was recently
given by one of our original members,
Mrs. Johnnie Lee Witt, of Kingsport,
Tennessee. Both she and her husband,
David, who passed last year, were
responsible for much of what we have
today. Mrs. Witt was the first curator of the
museum. Her records sit next to me on
very neat and orderly index cards.
Although the museum uses software for
its collections, I often delve into her files
looking for bits of information and missing
Early Lock House painting by Mitsue Elston.
clues.
The Witts left Havre de Grace to retire to South Carolina (later Tennessee) in 1985. I
have been in contact with Mrs. Witt since receiving the painting about getting her early
museum memories on paper. She said being the first curator was one of her proudest
accomplishments. She had her system and never refused anything that was given to the
museum. She was laughing when she told me that they "were a bunch of complete idiots.
"We didn't know anything about starting a museum. But it was fun to pick someone's brain
like James Wollon, (the historic architect who studied the building) or someone else who
would happen to come along and offer some sort of expertise." There is barely a book or
item that doesn't have the Witt's imprint on it. This painting is not the only gift that we've
been given by the Witts.
Volunteer Today
If you love history, historic buildings and talking to people about
history and old buildings, then the Lock House is the place for you!
Looking for event help, board members, and guides.
www.thelockhousemuseum for a volunteer application
P A G E 6

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B o a r d M e m b e r s 2 0 2 0
O f f i c e r s
P r e s i d e n t - A n n M a r i e S e r w a
V i c e P r e s i d e n t - J u l i e R u h n k e
T r e a s u r e r - o p e n
S e c r e t a r y - B e v e r l e y M u r r a y
M e m b e r s
C a r o l A l l e n
B r a d F o g e r t y
J i m M i l n e
V i c k i O ' K e e f e
The museum interior had a facelift this winter.
R i c h a r d S t u b i n g
B o a r d A d v i s o r
J o e K o c h e n d e r f e r
J o a n n e H e a l e y
Lock House Museum
PO Box 253
817 Conesteo Street
Havre de Grace, MD
21078
410-939-5780
info@thelockhousemuseum.org
www.thelockhousemuseum.org
Ever notice that the Lock House has one
shuttered window in front and wondered
why?
The simple answer is that it is a false
window. According to the report from the
historic architect in 1977, this window was
originally false and historically accurate for
the time. Why it was done is not an easy
answer to find but one source suggests
symmetry (but that doesn't seem to be the
case here). Other ideas?
E x e c u t i v e D i r e c t o r
P A G E 7

May
MONTH
MEMBERSHIP
OR JOIN
RENEW
TODAY!
Be a part of our next 50 years!
2020 is a big year for the Lock House Museum, celebrating
50 years of progress and looking ahead to the future. What
will the next 50 bring? We know we want you to be part of it!
Name: ________________________________________________________________________________
Address: ______________________________________________________________________________
City/State/Zip: _________________________________________________________________________
Phone: _________________________________Email: ________________________________________
_____ Happy Anniversary donation $50 for 50 years!
_____ $35 Support Level
_____ $60 Support Level
_____ $100 Support Level
Donation amount: _______________
Total enclosed: __________________
Make checks payable to:
Susquehanna Museum of Havre de Grace
Po Box 253
Havre de Grace, MD 21078
OR,
visit our website to pay online
(www.thelockhousemuseum.org)
_______Here is my form, I paid online