Over three days, members of the Nittany Farm Museum Inc. will plow more than 160 acres on six sites.
“We plow to give the farmers a helping hand,” George Wool said.
So what does he get in return for manning a 1938 tractor?
“A chance to exercise old machinery and keep memories alive,” said Wool, a Centre Hall resident who grew up on a grain farm in Nippenose Valley in Lycoming County. His adult life has included jobs in trucking, the lumber business and at Rockview state prison, from which he retired 11 years ago.
The three-day plow will be from Friday to Sunday, but Wool said Saturday is the public’s best chance to see the plowers in action, all on machines that are at least 25 years old.
“Some of them look better- than-new condition. Some don’t,” Wool said.
“Mine don’t,” he added with a laugh.
Wool participated in a smaller plow party last weekend. On Saturday, he’ll host and operate the food stand at the event, which is free and open to the public.
Saturday’s plow begins at about 9 a.m. at the Nittany Farm Museum at 3015 Lower Brush Valley Road, and should run until 4 p.m.
New hours, new history
The Penns Valley Area Historical Museum, at 244 W. Aaron Square, Aaronsbug, will reopen for the season Saturday with new hours and a display of more than 70 pieces of textile art. Most of the items, which date back more than 100 years, were crafted locally.
“It’s such fine, delicate work,” said Kay Gray, who helped procure the exhibit’s handmade needlework. That includes embroidery, quilts and crocheted and knitted work.
She’s been impressed “to see how much effort and work people put into beautifying things, when they lived a pretty simple, country life.”
The job started with growing the flax in the field, and included refining the fibers until they were fine enough to be put into a spinning wheel.
“It was quite an extensive process,” Gray said.
The museum’s permanent collections showcase the Penns and Brush valley regions.
Unlike last year, the museum will not have regular hours on Wednesdays and Sundays. Gray said the decision to reduce hours was a financial one.
The museum will be open from 1 to 4 p.m. on Saturdays, and by appointment throughout the summer and into the fall. To schedule, call Gray at 422-8277 or one of the other volunteers listed at http://pennsvalley museum.org.
Admission is free, but donations are accepted.
Ed Mahon writes about happenings in the Penns Valley and Brush Valley regions. Let him know about news at emahon@centredaily.com or 231-4619.
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