Spend a Weekend in Historic Muncy

MUNCY – Experience the beauty and charm of one of Pennsylvania’s finest communities as the Muncy Historical Society hosts its annual Historic Homes and Walking Tour from noon to 4 p.m. Sunday, October 16.

The $12 tour donation includes admission to celebrated Muncy homes and businesses, shopping opportunities, refreshments and interaction with members of the Pennsylvania Past Players.

The historical society offers its guests a different experience each year and, on Oct. 16, a combination of historic properties, incredible exhibits and personal engagements are included.

The first stop and the ticket center for the Homes and Walking Tour is the Muncy Historical Society, housed in one of Muncy’s earliest clapboard homes. The two and one-half story, seven-bay frame building represents the Greek revival style.

The Civil War theme continues with this year’s special exhibits at the 40 N. Main St. location.  One exhibit features a museum-quality display of Civil War Officer Presentation Swords” which served to decorate, recognize the rank or authority of, and award distinguished soldiers and officers during the war.

The presentation swords reflect master craftsmanship and art, with fine engravings and elaborate scrollwork on the blade and hilts. Several of the museum’s swords will be on display nearby and the contrast between dress, ceremonial or presentation versus battle-ready swords will be apparent.

The other exhibit will feature Civil War-related memorabilia specifically belonging to young men from the Muncy area including William Mohr’s drum, Capt. Peterman’s uniform, Dr. Hayes’ pistol, Lt. Colonel Milton Opp’s field desk and other veteran artifacts.

The properties are always interesting since the historical society features homes representing a variety of architectural styles, from colonial to Federal to Victorian eclectic. Some of the properties have been adapted for 21st century use: a female seminary and boarding house converted into one-family dwellings; a one-family, then a two-family dwelling now serving the community library; a colonial dwelling into a florist and gift shop; and a laid-up block garage into an artist’s studio.

One of the featured homes on this year’s tour is Muncy’s only Quaker stone house built in 1820. The house has been the home of many distinguished Muncy families including the Edwards, Rogers, Peterman, Taggart, Rickolt, Godbey, to the present owners, artists Bruce and Nella Storm.

The Savannah, Georgia-based Taggart Family, who brought their servants with them when they came to their Muncy home each summer, first made enlargements and major improvements to the house. To make this house their home, the talented Storms explored creative solutions by enclosing the screened-in porch, which serves as their fireplace room; readapting the attached garage to serve as Bruce Storm’s studio; and the couple totally renovated the third floor attic, creating additional living space, complete with antique and stain glass windows, Nella Storm’s art studio and the master bedroom suite.

“It was very important to us that we maintain the architectural and historic integrity of this 19th century structure," Nella said. "And, as avid collectors, we needed to capitalize on every available space to accommodate our antique furnishings and fine art."

She added, “Some doorways were closed-off, china closets were built-in, and, in one case, a ceiling dome was added so that our lead crystal chandelier could be hung. We were able to use a number of significant items that we had previously purchased, but had stored, including a magnificent New England circa 1780s fireplace surround, an Empire cast iron fence, and a Benjamin Pott door.”

The Storm’s antique collection have been borrowed for the Palmer Museum’s PA Tri-Centennial Exhibit at Penn State University and featured in Colonial Homes magazine.

In addition to the featured historic homes, this year’s tour includes an opportunity to come face-to-face with people whose joys and sorrows, triumphs and sacrifices marked the years of the Underground Railroad and the Civil War.

Living historians will give listeners a chance to meet the people, famous and forgotten, whose lives were shaped by the events commemorated in this, the 150th anniversary year of the start of the Civil War. Four members of the Harrisburg-based Pennsylvania Past Players Company will use a combination of storytelling, personal engagement and informal interaction to share their stories.

Coming to Muncy for the afternoon will be Frances Harper, antislavery orator, civil rights, women’s rights and temperance advocate; Dr. Henry Palmer, surgeon in charge of the largest Civil War military hospital; Marie Tepe, a vivandiere who nursed the wounded and brought water to the dying, wounded at the Battle of Fredericksburg, and recipient of the Kearny Cross; and John Morgan, drummer boy, who enlisted at the age of 15.

Ticket holders may park in one of the centrally located designated areas and most of the Muncy properties are within easy walking distance.

Advance tickets, at the discounted price of $10 for the Historic Homes and Walking Tour, may be purchased from 9 a.m. to noon, October 10 and 14, or by mail at P.O. Box 11, Muncy, PA 17756. Tickets the day of the tour are $12 and may be purchased at the Muncy Historical Society.

More information is available by calling the Muncy Historical Society at 546-5917. On the Internet at www.MuncyHistoricalSociety.org.
 

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