| 1806 - 2006 Bicentennial Celebration |
Clifford Township Bicentennial Celebration July 4th 2006 Weekend Saturday, May 6, 2006 The Clifford Township Community Alliance (CTCA) held its third annual Spring Fling Dinner Dance at historic Fern Hall Inn as the preliminary event in the celebration of the township's bicentennial. The theme reflected on the twenty decades leading to the present, in decoration, the music and apparel. The CTCA is proud to have its dinner-dance be a part of Fern Hall's history. June 2, 2006, Friday 6 - 8 p.m. Book Signing and Social at the Clifford Township Fire Hall. Clifford Township: Two Hundred Years by Sally Fischbeck and Patricia Peltz is here! Copies will be available for viewing, for purchase and for autographing by the authors; snacks and beverages will be offered by the Bicentennial Committee and community members. June 30, 2006, Friday The opening act of the three-day celebration was a barbecue and square dance sponsored by the Mountain View Garden Club. The Clifford Township Volunteer Fire Company's hall was rustically decorated with bales of hay, flowers and white lights. Terry J. Rockwell kindly provided music and instruction for square dancing. He spiced up the night with cha-cha, twist, polka and other dances. Speaking of spicy, Munley's Grove catered the barbecue chicken country buffet. Homemade baked goods and sweet treats courtesy of the Garden Club were enjoyed for dessert. Both Saturday & Sunday, July 1 & 2, noon to 6 p.m. at the picnic grounds Activities for both days include Historical booths displaying photos and artifacts on agriculture, barns, churches, early life, fire company, forestry, geology, and schools. Conklin’s antique carriage display, Civil War encampment, horse shoeing demonstration, free hay wagon rides, local artisans and crafters, sale of Clifford Township book and video with book signing at 5:00 p.m. each day, food stands run by local churches, old-fashion games for children, hit-or-miss engine making homemade ice cream, hands-on fun for kids of all ages (corn sheller, washboard and wringer, loom, treadle sewing machine, cream separator), historic tour driving maps, special postcards with bicentennial postmark. Activities for Saturday only, July 1 at the picnic grounds 11:00 Parade of Antiquity, Main Street to the picnic grounds where items will be on display. Music provided for the parade and at the picnic grounds by the Fife and Drum Corps, Lenoxville Band, the Penn Dixie Band and Berbaum’s Old Time Music Workshop (funded by PA Council of the Arts and PA Humanities Council). Essay and coloring contest winners announced at 2 p.m. and Ed McMullen’s pioneer theater for children at 2:30 p.m. Chicken and biscuit supper at the Clifford Methodist Church, 4-6 p.m., tickets available at the picnic grounds (first come, first serve, 250 tickets). Activities for Sunday only, July 2 at the picnic grounds 8-11 a.m. Firemen’s buffet breakfast at Fire Hall, 9-10:30 a.m. sign up for veterans motorcycle ride, 10:45-12:45 motorcycle ride, 11 a.m. open air nondenominational church service, music provided all day by a handmade "fairground" organ, 3 p.m. beard contest, 3:30 P.M. pie baking contest & auction, 4 p.m. antique auction, 5 p.m. quilt raffle drawing for two beautiful quilts! Activities on Sunday, July 2 at the Township Building, 1- 5 p.m. 1:00 p.m. Veterans Memorial dedication with taps, honor guard and patriotic music by the Lenoxville Band. 1:30-5 p.m. petting zoo, JoJo the Clown, baseball game, little league concessions and contests for children. Artists & Vendors The tent was full of unique offerings by the best of the local artisans and crafters. Those displaying their wares included: Stillwater Walking Staffs Elk Mountain Apiary 
Joyce's Craft Barrel Whistlehill Watercolors Tietz American Indian Art Ros-Al Florals & Antiques Tinkerbrook Cabin Stony Meadow Pottery Dirt Road Creations & Jewelry In-the-Dell Herb Farm Watercolors by Raquel Sweeney: Scroll Saw Art The Fudge Lady Botanical Art by Lucille Norella Earth'n Angels Pottery Primitive Painted Decor Ron Kozlowski: Rod-building demonstration Mike Kozlowski: Fly-tying demonstration Local art by Helmut Kunst Our Barns "Our Barns", a study examining how the construction of our township barns reflected the lifestyles and resources of the farmers who built them, 
was presented during the Bicentennial.
Alison Armstrong, Ph.D., discussed the aesthetic exteriors of our barns and John Watkins,
A.I.A., commented on the architectural aspects of our local barns. Residents who
participated in the building of these barns were available for comments and reminiscing. The Clifford Township
Supervisors together with the Clifford Township Historical Society,
Inc. received a Pennsylvania Humanities Council grant to host the project. The Pennsylvania
Humanities Council inspires individuals to enjoy and share a life of learning enriched by human
experience across time and around the world.
Old Time Music with the Berbaums 
Ed and Geraldine Berbaum played their Old Time Music on fiddle, guitar, alto saxophone, tin whistle, mandolin, banjo, mountain dulcimer, and harmonica. Their special fiddle presentations, followed by intergenerational discussions highlighting the importance of music in the everyday lives of our forefathers rekindled memories and sparked some great stories!! Their presentation was supported by the Pennsylvania Council on the Arts in partnership with the Pennsylvania Humanities Council to combine the arts and discussion, the heart of the humanities. Contest Ribbon Winners Our "just for fun" contests on Sunday afternoon of the Bicentennial Celebration turned out to be just that - a lot of fun! The Historical Society sincerely thanks all those involved for their enthusiasm and participation! The Beard Contest was coordinated by John Knighton and judged by Ellie DeFazio and Pete Marcho. 
Nine ribbons were awarded to our fuzzy friends in the beard growing contest
for "Best Look Alikes":
Gabby Hays: Frank Paasche & Bill Williams - a two way tie! Abe Lincoln: Dave Peck Earnest Hemingway: Phil McHugh, Chris Kutch, Richard Clark - a three way tie! Santa Claus: Lee McGurrin & Bill Congdon - another tie! And the ribbon for Most Original: Ed McMullen The Pie Contest was coordinated by Ruth Knighton and judged by Alberta Miller and Diane Miller. Eleven ribbons graced the delicious pies of our dedicated pie bakers! The following ribbons were awarded: 
Best Apple: Maureen Swetter
Best Combination: Michelle Clift Judges Favorite: Caroline Lynch Best Looking & Tasting: Kim Bostjancic Most Imaginative: Marge Wildenberg Best Peach: Colleen Heller Best Blueberry: Beverly Vauter Best Cream Pie: Mary Orazzi Best Double Crust: Lisa Valentine Most Original: Diane Foster Most Appealing: Tom Foster The pies were then sold at auction by our volunteer auctioneer, Tom Randt, with proceeds benefiting the Clifford Township Historical Society, Inc. A few pies were graciously bid back in to be sold twice!!! 
Click here to download a full color brochure including a detailed events schedule, directions and more... OR Click here for a schedule & picnic grounds map including artist & crafters list, locations of historical booths, entertainment and more... Pictures & Videos Please consider sharing your special pictures and videos of the Bicentennial for archiving by the Clifford Township Historical Society, Inc. PO Box 442, Clifford, PA 18413 |