Morgantown/Honey Brook townlively.com
NOVEMBER 30, 2022
SERVING THE LOCAL COMMUNITIES SINCE 1954
VOL XXX • NO 43
Celebrate Christmas In Birdsboro BY FRANCINE FULTON
The annual Christmas in Birdsboro celebration will take place on Saturday, Dec. 10, from 4 to 8 p.m., with the hub of the activities centered at Main Bird Park, 226 N. Water St., Birdsboro. Visitors to the park will find a sale of crafts, food trucks and children’s craft activities. “This year we are adding a Polar Obstacle Course, a giant inflatable snow globe and a mechanical reindeer, which is like a mechanical bull,” said Christen Thompson, president
of the Birdsboro Parks and Recreation Department. “Santa will be brought in on a Birdsboro-Union Fire Company fire truck at 5:15 p.m., and he will be in the gazebo (and available for photos).” There will be live music in the park, including several groups from Daniel Boone Area High School District, including the district chorus and high school jazz band. There will also be performances by Turning Pointe Dance Studio, Abundant Life Church and Threefold Blessing. There will be a bonfire in the park and free wagon rides through town. See Christmas In Birdsboro pg 2
Walkways at the Joanna Furnace Iron Works complex will be lit with luminarias and the historic buildings will be illuminated with spotlights.
Event At Joanna Furnace To Re-create An 1870s Holiday BY FRANCINE FULTON
hile the Christmas at Joanna celebration gives visitors a chance to enjoy holiday shopping and music, sample seasonal foods and beverages and warm up by the bonfire, the event is also an opportunity to learn about the traditions and history of the local iron furnace complex. The Hay Creek Valley Historical Association (HCVHA) will present Christmas at Joanna on Friday, Dec. 2, from 5 to 9 p.m. and on Saturday and Sunday, Dec. 3 and 4, from 4 to 8 p.m. at Historic Joanna Furnace, 1250 Furnace Road, Geigertown. During the event, visitors will be transported back to 1872, when the furnace was owned and operated by the Smith family. “We always (celebrate) 150 years from what year we currently are in,” explained Mark Zerr, HCVHA executive director. “Basically, the 1870s were the most prosperous times at
where visitors will see aluminum Christmas stars being poured. These limited-edition stars will be for sale in the office/store building. Also featured will be Victorian dancing, a live Nativity presented by Moving Communities to Christ (MCC) Church each evening from 6 to 8:30 p.m., traditional wagon rides around the complex, a Kids’ Santa Craft Workshop, face painting, arts and crafts and a children’s light maze. Local musical groups will perform around the bonfire, which will be tended by members of Boy Scout Troop 241 of Plowville. Homemade foods offered for sale will include sausage sandwiches, hot dogs and hamburgers, pork and sauerkraut with mashed potatoes, macaroni and cheese, kettle corn, grilled chicken sandwiches, soups, chili and homemade “furnace fries.” New this year will be a pork barbecue and macaroni bowl and holiday cupcakes offered for sale by Troop 543G of Plowville.
Honey Brook Presbyterian Church, 4331 Horseshoe Pike (Route 322), Honey Brook, will present its sixth Polar Express event, featuring a train display and craft show, on Saturday, Dec. 10, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Admission is free and open to the public.
See Christmas At Joanna pg 8
See Polar Express pg 3
A live Nativity will be featured.
Church To Present Polar Express Craft Show, Train Display BY FRANCINE FULTON
INSIDE THIS ISSUE Birdsboro Posts Holiday Lights Contest . . .2 Piercing Word Sets Christmas Production . . . .4 Community Calendar . . . .4 House Of Worship . . . . . . .9 Classifieds . . . . . . . . . . .10
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Joanna Furnace.” According to Zerr, the Smith family was operating Joanna Furnace during this time period, as well as Isabella Furnace in Elverson. During the event, the Joanna Furnace mule stable will be transformed into the parlor of the Victorian mansion of Ironmaster L. Heber Smith and his wife, Ella Jane Grubb Smith, who are holding a holiday party. Zerr noted that every effort is made to make the celebration as authentic as possible. For example, visitors may notice the antique English Staffordshire china on the dining room table. The china is on loan from Gary Kurtz of Elverson. The historic site’s buildings will also be open for touring. More than 1,000 glowing luminarias will light the walkways between the buildings. The luminarias will be lit each evening by volunteers from Boy Scout Troop 543, Plowville. New this year, live metal casting demonstrations will take place each evening in the casting house,