Path [2400]: News Chapter News
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Last Updated: July 1, 2024
CALIFORNIA AMADOR #1059
We are working with the Livermore Heritage Guild in restoration of Midway School so our community can visit and students can learn what education was like in 1873-1940s. We are questing for primer books and desks of that period. Our completed project this year was restoring the window frames! This year’s programs included: Diana McIntyre's program introduced us to the historic, scientific breakthroughs in cancer therapy and physics research by Sir Cunningham McLennan, her uncle! We learned the history, techniques and modern art of basket making from Master Basket Weaver, Nancy Briemle. Judy Bates presented the history and demonstrated the joy of playing records on her husband, Carl's, “Grandma’s 1912 Victrola.” We had an in-depth tour of the McHenry Mansion built in 1882 in Modesto in its holiday splendor with its curator, Wayne Mathes. Sharon Penner introduced us to the history and craft of Lizzie High Dolls. We continue to restore, preserve, and learn about history. |

ILLINOIS MARKET SQUARE #1090
Although the temperature was 0 degrees, members of Market Square #1080 ventured out for their January meeting. They enjoyed a unique opportunity to bring their antique jewelry for appraisal by Heidi Harder, a fifth generation gemologist. They were amazed at how the value had increased over the years on jewelry that had been passed down through their families.
MISSOURI SHOAL CREEK #1363
Thinking outside the antique box and learning to peruse our acquaintances may give Questers Chapters a fresh approach to planning and organizing monthly programs as we learned at one of our recent meetings. At that time, our members enjoyed a delightfully fun program about Blue Grass or Porch Music. During the presentation we learned the origins and key players in this genre. The distinctions from country, western, and hillbilly music were explored along with explanations of the terms, breaks, tight harmonies, and types of venues. As the music was playing, there were lots of toes tapping and people singing along. The presenter is active in the blue grass community and is a neighbor of the hostess for this Questers meeting. It is safe to say that this was one of the highlights of our monthly meetings. |

NEW HAMPSHIRE NIPMUGS #814
Nipmugs #814 gathered at the Robert Frost Farm, a state historic site in Derry, NH, where the poet resided with his family from 1900-1911. We reunited on May 19, 2021, for our first meeting after Covid and to celebrate our 45th anniversary year. It was a lovely, warm and sunny, spring day, and the sight and scent of lilacs greeted us as we entered the property, a fitting tribute after the long months of isolation from Covid. We toured the historic property with a docent and were treated to a lecture on Robert Frost by a local college professor from St. Anselm College, Dr. Gary Bouchard, to expand our knowledge of the poet. We picnicked at the site and were thrilled to be reunited in person with our Nipmug friends.
Nipmugs #814 gathered at the Robert Frost Farm, a state historic site in Derry, NH, where the poet resided with his family from 1900-1911. We reunited on May 19, 2021, for our first meeting after Covid and to celebrate our 45th anniversary year. It was a lovely, warm and sunny, spring day, and the sight and scent of lilacs greeted us as we entered the property, a fitting tribute after the long months of isolation from Covid. We toured the historic property with a docent and were treated to a lecture on Robert Frost by a local college professor from St. Anselm College, Dr. Gary Bouchard, to expand our knowledge of the poet. We picnicked at the site and were thrilled to be reunited in person with our Nipmug friends.

PENNSYLVANIA CONESTOGA #63
On the property that was once a dairy farm, a dilapidated Chester County bank barn was purchased and renovated by the Stack family to house the largest private collection in the country of tools, wagons and trucks devoted to the ice industry. A perfect example of both restoration and preservation as well as an example of collecting at its best, the museum defines the Questers mission. Through a fascinating tour by two members of the Stack family, which included the owner, we began our journey with the story of ice from harvest to delivery beginning in the 1500s to its more recent industry decline. The museum houses 3 floors of ice history, which is handicapped accessible with elevators and is also expertly curated and precisely exhibited to tell its story. Through black and white video footage, old photographs and graphics, a massive collection of all things ice, as well as a refrigerator train car outside, it becomes a “not to miss” museum in West Chester, PA. Following our tour, we had a lovely, autumn, outdoor lunch at Four Dogs Tavern, (Marshalton Inn), which is on the National Register of Historic Places. For more information about the museum, see www.antiqueicetoolmuseum.org.
On the property that was once a dairy farm, a dilapidated Chester County bank barn was purchased and renovated by the Stack family to house the largest private collection in the country of tools, wagons and trucks devoted to the ice industry. A perfect example of both restoration and preservation as well as an example of collecting at its best, the museum defines the Questers mission. Through a fascinating tour by two members of the Stack family, which included the owner, we began our journey with the story of ice from harvest to delivery beginning in the 1500s to its more recent industry decline. The museum houses 3 floors of ice history, which is handicapped accessible with elevators and is also expertly curated and precisely exhibited to tell its story. Through black and white video footage, old photographs and graphics, a massive collection of all things ice, as well as a refrigerator train car outside, it becomes a “not to miss” museum in West Chester, PA. Following our tour, we had a lovely, autumn, outdoor lunch at Four Dogs Tavern, (Marshalton Inn), which is on the National Register of Historic Places. For more information about the museum, see www.antiqueicetoolmuseum.org.

PENNSYLVANIA Militia Hill #5
Militia Hill #5 decorated historic Laurel Hill Mansion in Fairmount Park for the Holidays as their project for this year. The mansion was built in 1767 and is situated high above the Schuylkill River. After various intriguing owners and an interesting history, it was restored for the Bicentennial in 1976 and has been continually maintained by the Women for Greater Philadelphia, Inc. The Questers created a delightful setting for Christmas tea in the music room and dining room. Another area featured a festive New Year’s celebration.
Militia Hill #5 decorated historic Laurel Hill Mansion in Fairmount Park for the Holidays as their project for this year. The mansion was built in 1767 and is situated high above the Schuylkill River. After various intriguing owners and an interesting history, it was restored for the Bicentennial in 1976 and has been continually maintained by the Women for Greater Philadelphia, Inc. The Questers created a delightful setting for Christmas tea in the music room and dining room. Another area featured a festive New Year’s celebration.
VIRGINIA ROBERT E. LEE #60
Since 1956, the Robert E. Lee chapter #60 (REL #60) of Arlington, Virginia, has fully embraced the Questers motto: “It’s fun to search and a joy to find.” REL #60 became the first chapter in Virginia to join the national organization on October 24th, 1956. In June 2022, we celebrated our 65th anniversary with a party featuring fashions and recipes from the 1950s, with Questers International President Pam Todd joining the celebration. We enjoyed a program on the chapter’s history, including donations of over $15,000 to Questers International and over $64,000 to a variety of historic preservation projects. Twenty-eight organizations have benefited from our chapter’s philanthropy. We’ve supported projects at Arlington House, the Robert E. Lee Memorial, including preservation of a Lee family bible. In 2010, we began donating to the Historic Preservation Department of Mary Washington University in Fredericksburg, VA. The Chapter has 25 members who give programs, host meetings, arrange tours, and keep their eyes and ears open for new opportunities to support historic preservation in our community. |
WASHINGTON FIDALGO FINDERSKEEPERS #1264
“Hello, my name is Seid Wah Yut. A mural featuring my family had been in storage since it was vandalized. To the rescue came Fidalgo Finderskeepers with their fundraising and a grant from International Questers! Bill Mitchell, who created it, chose to honor my family as early settlers from the 1900s. It was the first of his plywood murals to be restored, but because of this P&R project, the city and other community groups are restoring more murals. Our mural is hanging on a brick building at the corner of 4th St. and Commercial Ave. I am shown here, standing next to a poster created to advertise the Questers search for new members who want to learn how to actively support Preservation Projects in our city and to learn about the treasures in their homes. We are fortunate that the estate of Bill Mitchell left 189 murals to the city of Anacortes. The first mural was created in 1984.” |