Special Events for Victorian Weekend at the Mercer County Historical Society

The Mercer County Historical Society has planned several special events at its headquarters for Mercer’s Victorian Weekend, July 16-18.

During the Mercer Community Band Concert on Friday evening, the Western PA Civil War Reenactors Society will be setting up their encampment in the backyard at MCHS. They welcome visitors at any time during the weekend to stop by and learn what life was like in a Civil War camp.

Saturday, July 18, the activities will include an Artists Reception, a Dolls’ Tea Party, a Used Book Sale, and an Underground Railroad Walking Tour, in addition to special displays of our doll collection. The Reenactors encampment will continue on Saturday. All museum displays and galleries will be open for tours from 10 a.m. until 3:00 p.m., except while the Grand Victorian Parade passes our headquarters

At 12:00 noon, an Artists Reception for Steve Van Woert of Mercer and Ben Beck of Greenville will be held on the lower lever of MCHS. Van Woert, the owner of Signs of an Art Attack and the mayor of Mercer, completed a serious of paintings on the walls of our Native American Gallery. Beck, a Spring 2010 fine arts graduate of Thiel College, recently painted a mural in the Industrial Gallery, depicting Mercer County’s industrial heritage. Both artists will sign their works and light refreshments will be served.

At 1:00, the Western Pennsylvania Civil War Reenactors Society, in conjunction with MCHS, will conduct an authentic Grand Army of the Republic rededication ceremony at Citizen’s Cemetery for Private Robert S. Reed. Reed, a Mercer native, was a veteran of the 55th Massachusetts Volunteer Infantry (Colored) during the Civil War, and later returned to Mercer and became a member of the local GAR post. You are invited to be a part of this historic celebration of Mercer County history. Those interested will meet at the Historical Society prior to the ceremony at 12:30 p.m.

At 2:00, there will be a Dolls’ Tea Party for girls 6-10 years of age and their dolls. Girls will be able to learn about some Victorian customs plus a little of the history of dolls while sipping on tea and enjoying light refreshments in our headquarters. There is no cost, but reservations are necessary. Call our office at 724-662-3490 or email info@mchspa.org.

At 3:00, the Underground Railroad Walking Tour will return for its perennial Victorian Weekend presentation. Executive Director Bill Philson will lead this tour, describing local buildings, the Underground Railroad and various African-American communities in Mercer County, and the Civil War. The walk, lasting over two hours, will include both Mercer cemeteries. Wear your walking shoes and meet at the front door of the Society before 3:00.

The Book Committee will be holding a Used Book Sale from 9 a.m. until 2 p.m. In addition to books on history, you will find travel guides, textbooks, coffee table books, and many other selections culled from our large collection.

On Sunday, July 17, our museum will be open from noon until 3:00 p.m. The Dolls’ Tea Party (2:00) and the Underground Railroad Walking Tour (3:00) will be repeated and the Civil War Reenactors’ encampment and Used Book Sale will continue.

Call us at 724-662-3490 with questions or further details about any of these events. Victorian Weekend is sponsored by the Mercer Area Chamber of Commerce. Please check their website at www.mercerareachamber.com for other activities for the weekend. We hope you can join us in Mercer for this special weekend.