In 1920 one in three men belonged to such organizations as the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks or the Independent Order of Odd Fellows. More Americans belonged to fraternal societies than to any type of organization with the possible exception of churches. Ed John, retired teacher and president of the Goschenhoppen Historians, will address society rituals and regalia and how these groups provided much more than a place for members to meet socially.

Whether you need to store kindling, potatoes, a remote control, or your latest knitting project, this basket will fit your need, measuring 10” x 10” x 11”. You can choose to weave it natural or add color to create a pattern - the choice is yours! Whether you are a novice or an advanced weaver, Karen Wychock will help you make the perfect addition to your homer. You may bring a bagged lunch.

This program is free of charge thanks to the support of KeyBank. We ask that you pre-register to ensure enough supplies (215-679-3103 or meredith@schwenkfelder.org). Fun for all ages. Younger children may need the assistance of a parent or guardian.

Local quilt historian Barbara Garrett will present a walk through 175 years of quilt making in the US, from approximately 1780 to 1950, using her collection of historic reproduction doll quilts. Barbara designs and makes historic doll quilts based on actual antique quilts using the theme "These are quilts a mother could have made for her daughter's doll with the scraps left over from the quilt she just made for her family."

She will share approximately 150 of them to illustrate the time periods, styles, trends and stories of quilts during our country's history. The program is 2 hours and includes an opportunity for questions at the end of the presentation. This is an in-person program and will not be recorded.

Local historian Tom Henry will share his knowledge of the farms and structures razed during the construction of the Green Lane Reservoir.

This program is free thanks to the Friends Local History Fund. You may attend in-person or via Zoom, but reservations must be made by the previous Friday, September 26.

Free of charge but please register by calling 215-679-3103 or emailing Meredith Reinhart at meredith@schwenkfelder.org.

This workshop focuses on the sgraffito technique used by 18th and 19th century Pennsylvania German potters to make expressive designs in their folk art pottery. Sgraffito means to “scratch,” and workshop participants will draw and scratch a design on a redware plate. No experience required. Participants may chose plate size but limit of 3 plates as time permits. All the sgraffito tools and books for ideas are provided.

Workshop fee of $60, Materials fee of $38 for a 7” plate or $50 for a 10” plate.
Registration deadline is September 12.

Join curator Candace Perry for an exploration of how the introduction of Lager beer to Philadelphia around 1840 influenced saloon culture and was a major contributing factor to the rise of the temperance movement of the 1800s. Candace will intertwine her research on he great-great grandmother, Miriam Hitchcock Cole, a 19th century suffragette and temperance advocate, with the colorful history of saloons and how they inspired a crusade that would eventually bring about Prohibition in the United States.

In this lecture, Pastor Nick Pence will explore some recent applications of Open AI in translating the Corpus Schwenckfeldianorum and explore how this technology can assist in studies of historic and genealogical interest. If you have documents which need translation, bring them along and we can work on how to shape our results.

At one time, cigar making was more than a hobby for one’s own enjoyment. This short-lived industry provided work for thousands of people in many small-town communities and was a large part of their local economy. Here is an opportunity to learn about some of the local cigar factories—where they were and what happened to them. This program in free thanks to the Friends Local History Fund, but reservations must be made by Friday, July 18 by emailing info@schwenkfeder.org or calling 215-679-3103.

Let us visit the Ocean quilt exhibit, from the Carrefour European Quilt Show, for inspiration as we create our own ocean themed masterpieces.

Program is free of charge, though we ask that you pre-register to ensure enough supplies. Contact Meredith at 215-679-3103 or meredith@schwenkfelder.org.

Fun for all ages. Younger children may need the assistance of their parent or guardian.

Come join us for a fun workshop—making a posy pincushion based on an antique design! Charlotte copied a wool pincushion in our collection that dates to the late 19th–early 20th century and was found in Berks County. You will need to have at least advanced beginner sewing skills to participate. We will provide all supplies including your choice of wool, thread, and if you want, a button for your posy center.

More than a century before the township one-room-schools came into being, there were sincere efforts by most all fledgling congregations to provide the basics of reading, writing, and math for their children. Bob Wood will discuss how early church schools stood in the shadow of every church and community pay schools dotted the landscape.

Scott Reagan, folk musician and Schwenkfelder descendant, and the German fold band Pälzer Krischer will perform PA Dutch fold music as well as some songs in Palatine German dialect, which is closely related to PA Dutch. 

Doors open at 4:30pm; program runs form 5:00 PM - 6:30 PM. Admission fee $3/person. Register by June 22

Folk Art nature crafts, drawing & painting using stencils and your imagination!

Program is free of charge, though we ask that you pre-register to ensure enough supplies. Contact Meredith at 215-679-3103 or meredith@schwenkfelder.org.

Fun for all ages. Younger children may need the assistance of their parent or guardian.

We join with our partners at the Lehigh Valley Passport to History to bring special events this last weekend of June. On Saturday enjoy a Seasonal Saturday Program and on Sunday special music.

2025 will be the 13th year of the all day, free celebration of music, at over twenty locations throughout the Upper Perkiomen Valley!

Make Music Upper Perk is always free and open to the public

For the past three hundred years, the Pennsylvania Dutch in SE Pennsylvania have maintained a unique cultural identity, to some extent preserving the dialect, but even more importantly, their food! Alice Wolfgang will showcase more than 60 historic recipes in order to help you eat up the past!

The Penn Dry Goods Market is a textile-focused antiques and vintage show with dealers hailing from Pennsylvania and other locations on the east coast. Our dealers are among the best in antique textiles, offering samplers and other needlework, quilts, coverlets and woven objects, linens, yardage, sewing smalls, sewing tools and equipment, buttons, baskets, and general Americana. Visitors will find treasures from across the country and around the globe at a variety of prices!

The Penn Dry Goods Market is a textile-focused antiques and vintage show with dealers hailing from Pennsylvania and other locations on the east coast. Our dealers are among the best in antique textiles, offering samplers and other needlework, quilts, coverlets and woven objects, linens, yardage, sewing smalls, sewing tools and equipment, buttons, baskets, and general Americana. Visitors will find treasures from across the country and around the globe at a variety of prices!