NOTICE!
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OCTOBER 21, 2020
SERVING THE LOCAL COMMUNITIES SINCE 1954
VOL XXX • NO 36
Lions Collect Supplies For Hurricane Victims BY FRANCINE FULTON
Three Parkesburg Lamps are currently available as part of silent auction being held by the Parkesburg Free Library.
In the aftermath of the devastating hurricanes that recently hit Louisiana, members of the Christiania Lions Club immediately leapt into action, collecting much-needed supplies for residents affected by the storms. The Christiana Lions Club and Lion
Jim Groff, Pennsylvania Lions disaster relief coordinator, have a history of helping victims of natural disasters. In the past, Groff has traveled to help at tornado-devastated Joplin, Mo., and New Jersey towns hit by Hurricane Sandy. “During all of these disasters people want to give and be involved,� said Groff. “You just ask, and people give. It’s been a wonderful experience.� See Lions pg 2
Parkesburg Free Library director Tom Knecht (left) and staff member Janice Hoops display the three Parkesburg Lamps that may be bid on as part of a silent auction that will run through Nov. 14.
Parkesburg Lamps Part Of Silent Auction BY FRANCINE FULTON
ocal residents now have an opportunity to own a piece of Parkesburg history. Three Parkesburg Lamps, which were manufactured in Parkesburg between 1936 and 1952, are currently available as part of a silent auction being held by the Parkesburg Free Library, 105 West St., Parkesburg. The auction began on Oct. 5 and will end on Saturday, Nov. 14. Community members are invited to stop by the library to pick up a registration form and bidder’s number. Participants may bid as often as they like. The red lamps, which have been donated to the library for the auction, are all operational. They do not include a shade, but there is a component attached, called a harp, which can hold a shade. “(We determined that) whoever buys them would want to pick out his or her own shade,� said library director Tom Knecht. “They are similar, but (each) is etched with a different design.� Parkesburg resident Cathy Wilde Christ, who owns and is knowledgeable about the
The stems of the lamps are made of brass and resemble a long bell. Two of the lamps in the library auction have polished stems; one does not. “Sometimes people want to leave them (unpolished). Other times they want them shiny,� Knecht noted. “People who collect antiques would probably leave them (unpolished).� Christ reported that actor Clark Gable was said to have been a good customer of Thomas Glass Works and that the Parkesburg Lamps can be seen in the movies “ White Christmas,� “State Fair,� “The Glenn Miller Story� and the original version of “The Parent Trap.� In December of 1953, a fire swept through Thomas Glass Works. Eight fire companies responded to the blaze, but the building and surrounding areas were totally destroyed. Thomas never reopened after the fire. He sold his land and personal property, and he and his family moved to Florida. The lamps have now become collector’s items. For more information about the silent auction, readers may visit www.parkesburglibrary.org or call the library at 610-857-5165.
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After holding a collection drive for cleaning products and personal care items, the Christiana Lions Club, led by Lion Jim Groff (fourth from right), Pennsylvania Lions disaster relief coordinator, boxed up supplies that were then delivered by tractor-trailer to hurricane vicitms in Louisiana.
Vocal Harmonix Slates Virtual Open House BY DAYNA M. REIDENOUER
Women who enjoy singing are invited to attend a virtual open house hosted by women’s a capella show chorus Vocal Harmonix, the Lancaster chapter of Sweet Adelines (SA) International, on Monday, Oct. 26, at 7 p.m. The approximately 75-minute “miniclass� will showcase what the barbershop craft is about and provide some history and insight into Vocal Harmonix, formerly known as Red Rose City Chorus.
INSIDE THIS ISSUE
EXPLORE ACROSS TOWN, ACROSS PA . . . . . . . . . . .3 COMMUNITY CALENDAR . . . . . . . . . . .4 HISTORICAL MARKER UNVEILED IN CHRISTIANA . . . . . . . . . .7 HOUSE OF WORSHIP . . . . . . . . .11 CLASSIFIEDS . . . . . . . .13
See Vocal Harmonix pg 6
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Parkesburg Lamps, explained that Paul Thomas, a former truck driver, came to Parkesburg in 1934 with the idea of opening up a business in an old Parkesburg Iron Company building located at the corner of First Avenue and Brandt Street. Today that location is the parking lot of Planet Fitness. Thomas named his business Thomas Glass Works. He sold and produced lamps, vases, candelabras, paperweights, inkwells and glassware. His lamps were etched with different designs and came in different-colored glass, including cranberry, green, clear, blue, amber and amethyst. According to a written history of the lamps provided by Knecht, the electric table lamps were made to appear as if they had been converted from oil or kerosene. They also feature square marble bases. The history states that at first the marble lamp bases were cut by hand by Thomas’ workers with a hacksaw. Later, an employee invented a machine made from an old car engine that had an emery wheel attached to it that was used to cut the marble. The employees also used polishing and buffing machines.
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