Bullskin Township Historical Society News Letter

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BULLSKIN TOWNSHIP MISTORICAL SOCIETY Fall 2012 V alame I Jlumoer J

00 HERITAGE

PRESIDENTS REPORT By: Mary Kay Geary I am so proud of the work that the Bullskin Township Historical Society has done before me becoming President.

Man; projects have been done in the Township, starting with the work at the Artesian Well on Ore Mine Hill Road, the Jdl and Plaque at the Bullskin Elementary School, the Plaque on the Hemminger Crist Mill on Keefer Road and all of the work at the Iron Furnace and the Stone Cabin. Thank you everyone who helped!

It is now time for the Society to become a place of information in the future I would like to see the Society have the resources available to help people to research their heritage. My goal for this year is to gather information from the prayer cards of deceased family members of Bullskin Township. 1 am asking for anyone who has extra prayer cards to send them to our Society. Also, any newspaper articles or stories that you may want to share, please pass along to our Society. Your family stories and life is our history.

What happened yesterday is history today and today will become history tomorrow History Happens in Bullskin Township! Let's make History!

 • 1 i '

OUR HERITAGE

is published quarterly for members of the Bullskin Township Historical Society to provide area information from the past and present and to keep everyone updated on what our society is doing, Extra copies of this issue are available at the Stone Cabin for SI a copy, We welcome submissions of manuscripts and photos of our area, however, we reserve (he right to edit all articles. Our Heritage is published in March, June, September, and December and is mailed to all members of the Bullskin Township Historical Society.

OFFICERS Mary Kay Geary ~ President Kimberly Brown - Vice President Bonnie Brougher - Corresponding Secretary Renee Caruso - Recording Secretary Beverly Quinn - Treasurer Bill Geary-Auditor

This WPA Keystone was donated to the society by Wiley Miller. Witcy will be giving a talk about this item at our Heritage Day Festival in October. Thank you for this wonderful donation. Our society appreciates it greatly!

DIRECTORS Randy Brown-Cliff toson Bill Geary- Jim Whetsel Connie Rhodes - Tammy Ross

Winter Issue Deadline All submissions for the winter issue of HERITAGE" must be received no later than November 1.

Please contact Kim Brown at 724-787-0853 or at bullskinhistory@aol.com We want to thank everyone who contributed to this issue, It is greatly appreciated! More photos and articles are needed!

"OUR

FALL 2012 -

Bonnie Brougher - Chairperson It's that time again! Out Heritage Day Festival will take place on SATURDAY - OCTOBER 20th from 10am till Dusk (Rain or Shine) at the Mount Vernon Furnace Grounds in Wooddale. Admission and Parking is FREE! You can park in the upper lot of the Bullskin Township Fairgrounds and take the shuttle or take a short five minute walk on the Iron Furnace Trail.

We will be having historical talks and displays, a Circuit Riding Preacher and his horse, live entertainment, demonstrations by artists, children's activities, and colonial costumed vendors and artists. This year we will be having a Pet Photo Contest for kids. See our website for rules and entry form. We will also have on hand the Boy Scouts and Girl Scouts from our area. All this and LOTS of delicious foodl So mark your calendars and plan on attending this fun and educational event! • For more information about the Heritage Day Festival see our website at www.bullskintownshiphistoricalsociety.org OR call Bonnie Brougher at 724-887-4322

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Robert G. Mull 1925-2012 "To

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SEP 20 - Monthly Meeting. 7:00 PM at the Mount Vernon Stone Cabin OCT 18 - Monthly Meeting. 7:00 PM at the Mount Veinon Stone Cabin OCT 20 - Heritage Day Festival. 10:00 AM till Dusk. Held at the Mount Vernon Furnace Grounds. For more information call Bonnie Brougher at 724-887-4322 NOV 7 - Field Trip to Berlin Area Historical Society in Somerset County. For more information call Kim Brown at 724-787-0853 NOV 15- Monthly Meeting. 7:00 PM at the Mount Vernon Stone Cabin DEC 20 - Annual Christmas Banquet. 6:30 PM at Brady's Restaurant

2012 New Members Tim 4 Shelly Auer Jarod & Christina Brougher Dennis Fait Bill & Katie Fultz Chelsey Hall Donald 4 Thelma Ritchey Job 4 Bonnie Slezak

Mount Pleasant. PA Scottdale, PA Mosherville. MI Mount Pleasant, PA Mount Pleasant. PA Uniontown, PA Connellsville, PA

4 - 01R

Old Mudd Schoolhouse To Be Demolished

Trustees of the Paradise United Methodist Church ha removed from its present site.

indicted that the old Bullskin Township landmark, the Mudd School, will soon be

The age of the Mudd School is not actually known. It is thought that it might have been built sometime in 1831, for it was shortly after Jacob Stouffer purchased the farm at Greenlick Creek in 1831 he gave land for the Paradise Church and the schoolhouse. The original Schoolhouse was constructed of logs or stone and was coated with mud or clay, and that is how it got its name.

The present building now standing on the Paradise Church property was constructed out of brick about 1880 - 1881. The 40' x 50' classroom was furnished with desks nailed to the floor. The desks in the early days accommondated two pupils. The larger desks were at the rear of the room and became smaller as they continued to the front of the class room. The boys were seated on one side and the girls were seated on the other. The room was heated in the winter by two potbelly stoves, one in the front of the room and one in the rear.

In the 120 years that the school was open, it is estimated that about 1,000 students attended. From the tim of the first classes in Mudd School until 1956, the last classes, one teacher taught all the subjects in the one room school house.

Mudd School, or as some called it, the country school, served the community in many ways. It served as an educational center and a social center. Spelling Bees and festivals, debating societies, singing schools, and occasional church services were held. It served also as a voting precinct. Behind the schoolhouse were many free-for-all fights and baseball games. Many young lovers also spent their time together in the shadows of the old Mudd School.

This typical one room, country school, Mudd School will soon be gone, but will long be remembered by many people throughout the ages to come. The Paradise United Methodist Church trustees will erect on the present site of the school, a memorial, the Mudd School Bell, with appropriate information concerning the school, in memory of the past educational institution and social center.

As Published In The MOUNT PLEASANT JOURNAL - July 11, 1968

FALL 2012 - 5

The Race Is On! Ray Poorbaugh rode a bull and Sherrick Rhodes rode a horse. They each tired to ride their animals up the ore mine dumps. Ray's bull made it to the top, but the girth of his saddle broke and left Ray at the bottom of the hill!

These two also raced on the horse and bull. The bull was afraid of the horse, so they left Ray get a head start on the bull. Sherrick would come up from behind on the horse and that would cause the bull to run even faster!

Submitted By: Ed Poorbaugh

*1912* News From 100 Years Ago *William Howard Taft is President.

Local Trivia Quiz 1) In what year was Bullskin Township formed?

A) 1761 B)1784 01768 D) 1780

*Federal Spending for the year stood at 69 Billion Dollars.

2) In 1830 what was the townships population?

A) 1,073 B) 1,231 C) 1,435 D) 1,786

*New Mexico and Arizona are admitted as states #47 and #48.

3) Which two villages are the oldest in the township?

A) Wooddale B) Pennsville C) Laurelville D) Pleasant Valley

*The unsinkable oceanliner "Titanic" sinks on its maiden voyage. 1517 drown. *The "First Lady" Helen Nellie Taft planted the first cherry tree in Washington DC. *Juliette Gordon Howe founds the Girl Scouts of America. *Box seats at the World Series cost $5. The Boston Red Sox win. *Woodrow Wilson is elected President of the USA. *America's Favorite Cookie - the OREO was introduced.

4) How many one room schoolhouses were once located in the township?

A) 18

6)11

C)21

0)24

5) How many Iron Furnaces were once operated in the township?

A)l B)2 C)3 D)4 6) In what year was the Bullskin Township Historical Society formed?

A) 1994 B)1995 C) 1996 D) 1997 (ANSWERS ON BACK PAGE)

OUR HERITAGE

Don I Miss Oul - Mark Your Calendars!

Plan To Join US On Our

Field Trip A field trip is being planned for WEDNESDAY - NOVEMBER 7th. We will be traveling to the Berlin Area Historical Society in Somerset County. This is a must seel We will be getting tips on how to display donated items and how to categorize and file important documents for researchers. We will also be touring their Heritage Haus Museum and Barn.

We will be leaving the Mount Vernon Furnace Grounds at 8:30am sharp! We will be car pooling for your convenience. AND we will be having a late lunch at Oakhurst Tea Room!

Please join us for this fun day of history and fellowship! For more information, please contact Kim Brown at 724-787-0853.

2012 Heritage <&ay Queen JCendall looker JCendall is ihe 17 year old daughter of\-Kenny and Tonya <&ooher. She attendsjflchievement House Charier School where she is in her senior year.

In her spare time she enjoys riding quads, hunting, and trail riding with her horse "Showgirl". ^Kendall plans on taking guitar lessons this fall. She helps on the Wiggle tlairy .farm and in the winter months assists her father in their butcher shop. ^-Kendall plans to attend college to study nursing and hopes to one day own her own farm. Congi-atulations Xendattmn Sul'iniiltii By: TlieHarilagf, &ay Queen Committee â&#x20AC;˘flutta %_â&#x20AC;˘ Jarkie Xeefer

FALL 2012 - 7

Please Help The Society If you tuani to keef> ctvryoin- // e

Hew Members Wanted!!!!

"Uneeda Bakers"

OREO SANDWICH

If you know someone that might tajof Mug a member of oar Historical Society

em THEM M umicujiom A membership to our society also makes I great gift for tint "turd to tif for" person! fterf membership receives our taarterlf Newsletter!

Oreo Cookies ~ WO years Old ~ Introduced in 1912

MEMBERSHIP APPLICATION Send this form with SIO annual per person or $20 per couple for dues to:

BULLSK1N TOWNSHIP HISTORICAL SOCIETY P.O. BOX 724 MOUNT PLEASANT, PA 15666

Men From The Mudd District Taken in front of the old Mudd School - Late 1890's SEATED: Austin Rhodes, Norman Lyons, Rev. Wcyant, Jacob Zundall, Homer Hokc, Edward Kuhns SECOND ROW: Elmer Smith, Joseph Spaugy, James Kinneer, Roy Cooper, Albert Wiltrout, James Mull, John Bowser, Ellsworth Dick, Robert Washabaugh.

Clarence Beyer, Homer Kinnccr 3ACK ROW: Harry Kuhns, Irwin Walker, Cleveland Washabaugh, James Gilbert, Charles Wadsworth, Abraham Grccnawalt, Riicy Ncdrow, Louis Yothers, Lafayette Brothers, Norman Washabaugh

Bullskin Township Heritage Day Sponsored by: Bullskin Twp. Historical Society www.buUskintownsfaipbistoricalsociety.org When: October 20th- 10:00am until Dusk Where: Mt. Vernon Furnace Area Located offRt. 982, Wooddale (Map enclosed) This event is geared toward the Iron Furnace Era and is set in a woodland area on Mt. Vernon Furnace grounds. All spaces are outdoors (10x10). We are asking that you dress in colonial attire and demonstrations of your arts are requested.

I. II. IE.

IV. V.

There is no electricity available at sites.

Must supply your own tent, table and chairs.

Free registration -Report to Furnace area between 7:00am-9:00am.

A. You must unload at Furnace area.

B. Then park vehicle at Bullskin fairgrounds upper lot C. Then walk approximately 5 minutes(8GO yards) to the Furnace area and begin to set up your space.

Free parking and Free admission Due to limited spaces, please respectfully contact the Heritage Day Committee if you are unable to fulfill your obligation.

-Keep this portion-

Any Donations will be accepted.

-Return this portion by October 1st Name: Art (Please describe):

Phone: Address: For questions or concerns please call 724-887-4689 or 724-887-4322 Return bottom registration portion to: Connie Rhodes 317 Gimlet Hill Road Mt. Pleasant, PA 15666