Recent Events

Book Signing with Mina Samuels

                      Author Mina Samuels enjoyed an afternoon at the Columns for her book signing.  Her new novel, The Queen of Cups, is scheduled for major release in the new year.  The book imagines the life of Juliette Peirce in the years prior to her marriage to philosopher Charles Saunders Peirce.  Juliette's past has been shrouded in mystery for many years and this book dares to make assumptions in order to piece it all together.  If you wish to purchase a copy please go to Ms. Samuel's website: www.thequeenofcups,com,  or look for an appearance by the author in January at local bookstore Mill Run Booksellers, located in the Upper Mill.

Collaboration Celebration!

                       The P.C.H.S., Dingman's Ferry Delaware Township Historical Society, and students Ryan Balton, Nicholas Troianao, and Brett Fuchs of Delaware Valley High School collaborated for an informative and insightful look at the Tock's Island Project and its effect on the town of Dingman's Ferry.  Once known as "the twin to the village of Milford," Dingman's Ferry contained mills, blacksmith shops, churches, stores, Inns, and many private residences that were destroyed or left to ruin as a result of the aborted Government plan to dam the Delaware River and create the largest natural(?) recreation area in the Eastern United States.

                      The very talented students from Delaware Valley produced and directed a much heralded documentary regarding the Tocks Island Project, which was shown at a recent exhibit opening at The Columns.  The exhibit, a combination of materials belonging to both Historical Societies, opened on April 28th.  The exhibit is a tribute to the spirit of the people of Dingman's, past and present, who have valiantly strived to keep the memory of their town alive and well through pictures, artifacts, and memorabilia. 

                      At the opening, JoAnn Parsell, President of the Dingman's Ferry Delaware Valley Historical Society, and Lori Strelecki, Museum Director for the P.C.H.S., spoke proudly of the collaboration, noting the importance of mutual support among the "official museum of the county" and its fledglings-meaning all township and borough societies in Pike County.  The P.C.H.S. offers an invitation to all other historical societies in our fine County to create, or assist in the creation of, an exhibit depicting their individual, important histories.

For more information on collaboration, please call Lori at 570-296-8126.

Civil War Wedding...

                      The weekend of April 22nd & 23rd, N.Y.'s 156th Civil War re-enactors were back!  This year, instead of repeating what they did last year, they performed a Civil War wedding ceremony.  Two members of this amazing group renewed their wedding vows, professing their undying love for one another, even after all the years they have been together.  The backdrop of the event was the ever so majestically beautiful, Columns Museum, with its trees and flowers in full bloom. The Civil War wedding made for a memorable weekend not only for the re-enactors, but also The Columns.

Art, History, & Bobby Kyle

           On March 4th, 2006 The Columns hosted a Blues benefit concert, followed by an extraordinary art auction,  The event was held to help raise the much needed funds for the replacement of the historical building’s roof.

           The evening was filled with blues-ical sounds, exquisite art, wine and cheese, and memorable moments.  Bobby Kyle wailed out the sultry sounds of the blues and reminisced of his childhood in our historic town of Milford, while listeners tapped their feet, nodded their heads, and truly let his sounds take them to another place.

           Immediately following the benefit concert, everyone gladly went downstairs to the make-shift art gallery, to place their final bids on the masterpieces up for auction.  On the "auction block" were many beautiful pieces that were donated by local artists, including historical prints of local attractions by Bruce Frank, “satirical portraits of societal life” by the creator of the Gibson Girl, Charles Dana Gibson, and many other miscellaneous works of art. 

           The event sold out and put the Columns one giant step towards its goal of replacing the dilapidated roof.   "We did much better than I ever anticipated!"~ Lori Strelecki, Museum Curator

           Although the event was quite a success, they are still in need of funds for the replacement of the roof that has been preserving Pike County's History for the last couple of decades.  If you would like to donate to the fund for the roof replacement, please contact Lori Strelecki at 570.296.8126 or email her at pchs11@earthlink.net.