Familiar Faces Community Day 2007 will be more
Mary Lynne Spazok
exhilarating than ever. Question any second grader and they will tell you about Gilfillan Farm. Every October, our public school academic curriculum ensures that these youngsters achieve knowledge of Upper St. Clair’s vibrant history. From that hands on visit, they learn that Mr. Sickle from Greenfield Farms in Perryopolis will bring his farm animal petting zoo, sheep for shearing, and Belgian horses for those ever-popular wagon rides. On Saturday, May 19, these pupils will guide their families about the farm where they will recognize many “familiar faces.”
St. Clair students then paid tuition. She continued her education at the University of Pittsburgh, then accepted her first job, teaching first graders in Mt. Lebanon. Before retirement a retail career included management of a trendy area gift shop. Dorothy has an innate gift for all things beautiful. Other volunteer efforts include St. Louise de Marillac Church, USC and Ruthfred Acres Women’s Club, and the South Hills Knitters Guild. Margaret “Peg” Harmon is a threeyear member of the USC Historical Society, bringing 50 years of volunteer experience to her post. At the farm, she is a front
and family backgrounds, afford everyone the opportunity to learn and appreciate the efforts of our forefathers. Peg’s other volunteer efforts include Westminster Presbyterian Church, Baker and Streams Schools, Trotwood Garden Club (the 1830 Log House Herb Garden), and Bowling Green State University Alumni Board. Today, at her home, that childhood victory garden tradition continues with the cultivation of an aromatic organic garden. About Gilfillan, Peg has a high regard for this environmental, historical, and educational treasure. The homestead gives a foundation to Upper St. Clair to
Dorothy Holden
Peg Harmon
Jean Brown
Dorothy Palombo Holden, a volunteer of 40 years, has dedicated the last five to Gilfillan. Her attitude is, “If you join a group, you should help wherever you are needed. A person learns as much from the past as he does from the present.” Therefore, she can be found as a USC Historical Society docent at Gilfillan’s formal parlor. The farm is special to Dorothy because South Hills Nursery, with a lot of green space, two plow horses, barn cats, and a myriad of trees and flowers, was her home. She says, “I can’t imagine living without them.” Early on, Dorothy attended McMillan School (now St. John Capistran Church). The school housed four rooms with eight grades. What you didn’t learn the first time around you learned the second. In ninth grade, Dorothy moved on to high school in Mt. Lebanon where Upper
door greeter and an upstairs tour guide. Describing furnishings, but as importantly the family who inhabited these rooms, are Peg’s responsibilities. She states, “It is fun, instructive, and gives me a sense of contributing to my community.” Born in Meadville, Peg finds working at Gilfillan reminiscent of nurturing the family victory garden. The family cocker spaniel, Buff, helped Peg tend to parsley, thyme, and rosemary herbs as well as scrumptious summer vegetables. After chores, leisure activities included swimming, snow skiing, and suburban street competitions such as Kick the Can. Loving grandparent visits always included a game or two of Chinese checkers. In this age of transient families, grandparent visits are so valuable. Stories of family heritage, which include interactive lessons about history, national, local,
enlighten the past and ensure the future. Peg asserts, “We are indebted to the Gilfillans and the Upper St. Clair Historical Society for spending untold hours to preserve the house, maintain the grounds, and man the open house events for all to partake in.” In past UPPER ST. CLAIR TODAY articles, you have learned that Jean Brown has dedicated the past five years to the conservation of Gilfillan. Stopping by for photos and research, I quickly came to learn that her niche of tranquility is the family farmstead. She is most often found in the Historical Society office (a wooden table and chair) where dancing sunlight illuminates the workspace year round. It is here that newspaper clippings, photos, and personal account correspondence are carefully read, then filed for future reference. Written, phone, and cyber inquiries are the norm
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UPPER ST. CLAIR TODAY Summer 2007