Last TVRR Car Still Exists

This is a photo of the car as it sits today in an enclosed shed.

This is a photo of the car as it sits today in an enclosed shed.

   This past summer the society was offered the last existing Tuscarora Valley Railroad Car by the owner. Due to our decision to take ownership of the Tuscarora Academy we realized that we could not take on this financial responsibility. However, we did some research and tried to have it placed onto the Preservation Pennsylvania At Risk list.

Having it placed onto this list would have possibly gotten the car some attention from an individual or organization and maybe gotten it a new home and complete restoration. It was unfortunate that it was not chosen to be on the list but we want to let everyone know that it is still available if anyone is interested in re-locating it and having this very important piece of local history restored.

If you or you know of someone who would like to save this last existing Tuscarora Valley Railroad car, you can contact the society who will contact the owner.

TVRR Combine Car when it was still in use

TVRR Combine Car when it was still in use.

 

Keep Your 2015 Calendar Handy!

This painting depicts the Tuscarora Academy in the winter and was painted by local artist Dennis Hutchings.

This painting depicts the Tuscarora Academy in the winter and was painted by local artist Dennis Hutchings.

The Juniata County Historical Society is beginning the planning stages of setting up a fund-raiser at a local winery to help with operational costs for their recent acquisition of the Tuscarora Academy. Stay tuned in to this page for updates and keep your 2015 calendar handy so you can mark the date in August when the fund-raiser will be held. The day’s events are sure to be filled with lots of historical things to do, see and buy!

It’s Not Unusual … Oh Yes It Is!

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The Coast Artillery Officer’s coat laid out for inspection at the Archives Room.

Sometimes the JCHS gets some unusual things! Recently a county resident brought in remnants from a military uniform that had been found buried in dirt along Lions Club Park Road. That then led our volunteers to research what type of uniform it was and if it was original.
The uniform’s insignia, buttons, and the braid were all used as clues. The material itself was faded and dirty, but it looked black versus dark blue. After lots of web searching about military insignia, checking with local Civil War buffs, and an email and photo exchange with the curator at the Civil War Museum in Harrisburg, here’s what we learned:
According to Brett Kelly, Curator of Collections at the Civil War Museum, it appears to be a M1902 Coast Artillery Officer’s Coat. The insignia was correct for that time period, and the button is a Brooks Brothers Great Seal button made from 1902 to 1910. Kelly doubts it is a reproduction.
As early as 1882 leaders realized that heavy fixed artillery and mobile field artillery units needed different types of training, so in 1901, the Artillery Corps was divided into 30 companies of light (field) artillery and 30 companies of heavy (coast) artillery. The U.S. Army Coast Artillery Corps (CAC) was officially established in 1907 and was responsible for coastal and harbor defense. After World War II, in 1950, the two artillery branches merged back together.

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The distinctive unit insignia of the U.S. Army Coast Artillery School was approved on October 16, 1929. The Great Seal buttons were made from 1902-1910 by Brooks Brothers.

Thanksgiving Holiday – Archives CLOSED

clipart-thanksgiving-RiGLbqdiLJust a quick reminder to let you know that the Juniata County Historical Society Archives will be closed the week of Thanksgiving (November 24th week).  The Archives will re-open on December 2, 2014.

Happy Thanksgiving!

Artifacts at Academy Draw A Crowd

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Andy Paige American Indian Artifact Collector from Thompsontown

   Sunday, July 13, 2014 there were a lot of gnats at the Tuscarora Academy Museum, but that didn’t stop the 60 visitors who came to see the collections of American Indian artifact collectors Andy Paige, Dennis Zeiders and Steve Zeiders. The Zeiders men have been hunting artifacts since the 1960s and have a vast amount of quite interesting items in their displays, many hard-to-find ones too. Paige, who began hunting artifacts more recently, also includes unusual pieces in his collection. His latest find was a bake oven used by the American Indian which he holds in the photo above. The piece was heated then the dough was placed onto the rock and baked into warm, tasty bread.

 

Steve Zeiders identifies an artifact brought to the event by a local. Zeiders is an avid hunter and collector, a hobby he's been doing since a teenager.

Steve Zeiders identifies an artifact brought to the event by a local. Zeiders is an avid hunter and collector, a hobby he’s been doing since a teenager.

Dennis Zeiders [right] shows off some of his pottery and a plow to visitors at the Tuscarora Academy. He, his cousin Steve and Andy all have different items which makes a full-rounded display of items that describes how the American Indians lived and maintained their way of life.

Dennis Zeiders [right] shows off some of his pottery and a plow to visitors at the Tuscarora Academy. He, his cousin Steve and Andy all have different items which makes a full-rounded display of items that describes how the American Indians lived and maintained their way of life.

The Tuscarora Academy, open every Sunday through the end of August from 1:30 to 4:00 p.m, will host a Civil War Reenactors’ encampment the weekend of August 15, 16 and 17. That weekend, the museum will be open Saturday, from 1:30 to 4:00 p.m. Hope to see everyone there!

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