Presented by the Northampton County Historical & Genealogical Society October through December

October, 2016-March 1, 2017  “Cabinet of Curiosities”  Exhibit, Sigal Museum, 342 Northampton St., Easton, PA.

Within the depths of the Northampton County Historical & Genealogical Society collection are never-before-seen artifacts that will ignite your curiosity and send shivers down your spine! The Sigal Museum will showcase its eerie, weird, and most curious objects from the collection vault. Visitors will learn the stories behind strange objects like the Apache Skull Cracker, Benjamin Yowell’s own Cabinet of Curiosities, the Korean Death Pot, Little Master Bobby, and many more.

What is a Cabinet of Curiosities? For hundreds of years, people have been collecting items relating to the natural world, archaeological wonders, religious relics, art — almost anything you can think of! People shared their collections with each other to learn about these artifacts and to entertain each other. Visitors can step back in time and be the first to lay eyes on never-before-seen objects. Dare to explore the museum’s best kept secrets? Attendance free with paid admission.

October until February 1, 2017  “Spirits of Easton” Exhibit, Sigal Museum 342 Northampton St., Easton, PA.

Alcoholic beverages hold a special place in global history, with roots dating back more than 4,000 years! Particularly in early American history, this remains true. When small villages and towns were set up in the new world, often two of the first things to be built were a brewery and a grain mill. Easton was no exception. Brewing and distilling have a rich history in the local area as well.

In partnership with Porters’ Pub, the Northampton County Historical and Genealogical Society presents “Spirits of Easton” — a small but enticing exhibition on some of the early brewers of 19th century Easton and surrounding areas. Join in reminiscing about the Seitz, Kuebler, and Veile brewing companies and others through a display of exquisite vintage bottles, grain ledgers, photographs, and more.  Attendance free with paid admission.

Lectures and Programs

October 7, 7 pm  Colonial Dinner Theater: “Easton in Crisis 1755”  Bachmann Publick House of the Northampton County Historical & Genealogical Society, 2^nd and Northampton Sts., Easton, PA

Presented by the Bachmann Players, Benjamin Franklin comes to Easton to help resolve the crisis with the Indians.

The Bachmann Players bring Easton’s colonial history to life. The Players, locally based amateur historians and actors, recreate the people and events of the seventeen hundreds, using  historic documents, letters and diaries to detail the growth of Easton and the nation. The audience enters the turbulent days of 1755, at the outbreak of the French and Indian War. The action surrounds the playgoers, as they experience a full colonial-style catered dinner at the 1753 Bachmann Publick House as it would have been 261 years ago. $50 per person. Reservations required: Call 610.253.1222. For background information, contact Christopher Black, leader of The Players, at chrisblack@bachmannplayers.com

The Bachmann Players, left to right: Tom Pucci, Howard White, Louis Giannobile, Christopher Black, Jesse O’Neill.

October 15, 6:00 – 9:00 pm.  The Lehigh Valley Wine Auction, co-sponsored by the Northampton County Historical & Genealogical Society and the Children’s Home of Easton, at the State Theatre, 453 Northampton St., Easton, PA

The premier wine auction of the Lehigh Valley offers an extensive selection of outstanding vintages, offered in live and silent auctions, and draws aficionados from around the nation. Tickets for the food and wine pairings are available at www.lehighvalleywinegala.com, at the Sigal Museum, or at 610-258-2831, ext 153.

October 15, 1 pm “Easton at the Forks: A Novel,” talk and book-signing by Rebecca Price Janney, at the Sigal Museum, 343 Northampton St., Easton.

Janney will provide a preview of her story that is both historical and entertaining as her main character, Erin, strives to learn everything about her ancestral family lineage. Janney takes you from Erin’s present-day quest to search the family tree back to the 18th century with actual happenings of Erin’s ancestor’s role in Easton.

Both Peter Kichline (Janney’s ancestor as well) and Erin Miles are trying to make sense of life after losing their spouses.  As Sheriff of Northampton County, Pennsylvania, he’s on the trail of an elusive thief, finding that challenge much easier to deal with than running a household.

Janney is the author of eighteen prior books and has been writing since she was fourteen. For background information contact Rebecca Price Janney at rebeccapricejanney@gmail.com

The program is free with museum admission. For information, call the Sigal Museum at 610.253.1222.

October 22, 2 pm  “Haunted Crime Scenes: Forensic Investigation and Ghost Stories,” by Dr. Katherine Ramsland, Professor of Forensic Psychology and Director of the Master’s Program in Criminal Justice at DeSales University.

She has published 56 nonfiction books (among them Murder in the Lehigh Valley and Bethlehem Ghosts), 16 short stories, 3 novels, and more than 1,000 articles on serial killers, criminal investigation, and criminal psychology.  Sigal Museum, 342 Northampton St., Easton, PA.

What happens when you blend forensic investigation with ghost stories? Author and explorer Katherine Ramsland adds a unique twist to our local tales. Attendance free with paid admission at the Sigal Musem, 342 Northampton St., Easton.

October 22, 7 pm  Colonial Dinner Theater: “Easton in Crisis 1755”  at the 1753 Bachmann Publick House of the Northampton County Historical & Genealogical Society, 2^nd and Northampton Sts., Easton, PA

Presented by the Bachmann Players, Benjamin Franklin comes to Easton to help resolve the crisis with the Indians. Diners enjoy a colonial dinner while interacting with the characters, as Benjamin Franklin comes to Easton to help resolve the crisis with the Indians.

The Bachmann Players bring Easton’s colonial history to life. The Players, locally based amateur historians and actors, recreate the people and events of the seventeen hundreds, using  historic documents, letters and diaries to detail the growth of Easton and the nation. The audience enters the turbulent days of 1755, at the outbreak of the French and Indian War. The action surrounds the playgoers, as they experience dinner at the 1753 Bachmann Publick House as it would have been 261 years ago.

A full colonial-style catered dinner is served during the play, with ale or cider. $50 per person. Reservations required: Call 610.253.1222.   Contact Christopher Black, leader of The Players, at chrisblack@bachmannplayers.com

October 29, 5:00 – 8 pm  “Haunted History Night: A Halloween Museum Crawl” at Sigal Museum, Mixsell-Illick House, and Bachmann Publick House, of the Northampton County Historical & Genealogical Society, offices at Sigal Museum, 342 Northampton St., Easton, PA.

History and ghostly chills combine in a series of candlelight tours hosted by the Sigal Museum, Bachmann Publick House and the Mixsell-Illick House museum. Discover the weird and strange at the Sigal Museum’s exhibit, Cabinet of Curiosities.  Meet ghostly soldiers from the Revolutionary and Civil War, pirates and privateers; take your photo with the Headless Horseman at Bachmann Publick House. Listen to very fastidious 19th c. Miss Mary’s account of Mixsell ghosts, take part in a Victorian séance and parlor games at Mixsell-Illick house. Visitors wrap up the night after 8 pm at the Halloween Party, Sigal Museum, for light refreshments. Best historic costumes win prizes.

Tickets available “day of” at all three sites   $10.00 adult, $5.00 for children 6-12 and groups of ten or more, Children under 5 free, $8.00 for adults in costume

Sigal Museum, 342 Northampton St.

Bachmann Publick House, 2^nd & Northampton Sts.

Mixsell-Illick House, 4^th and Ferry Sts.

October 29, 11 am – 1 pm  Children’s Art Program:  Magic Lanterns, Sigal Museum, 342 Northampton St., Easton, PA.

Free and easily attended sidewalk art program for children and their adults offered at the Sigal Museum. Sponsored by Crayola, they will be led by Art Educator Holly Houser, who knows how to lead children to a final project in just a few happy minutes. Children make Magic Lanterns just in time for Halloween. Free.

November 12, 1 pm  “Seeing the War: Stories behind the Famous Photographs of WWII,” illustrated talk by military historian David P. Colley.

The famous pictures from Life magazine and the seldom-seen snapshots of individual soldiers, sailors, and correspondents have a unique capacity to induce awe, respect, and wonder. Who were these men and women? Colley has been researching the subjects of World War II photographs for more than twenty years. As he explains: “We never stop and ask about the toll of war or what happened to the men afterward. Many were killed or wounded or suffered deep psychological scars. The year 2015 marked the seventieth anniversary of the end of that war. It will undoubtedly be one of the last times this nation honors its living World War II veterans.” Colley will point to local angles – an Easton sailor and a Bethlehem-Allentown nurse, plus men from the 28^th Division, (the Pennsylvania National Guard division) plus General Mcauliffe of Bastogne fame. A section of Rt 33 in Bethlehem Township is named after him.  Colley will hold a book-signing after the talk.  Free with museum admission .

November 26  Candle lighting: Community evening with showing of the Peace Candle video every hour on the hour at the Sigal Museum, 342 Northampton St., Easton.  Every adult admission receives a Peace Candle Poster. Call 610.253.1222 for details or consult website at sigalmuseum.org.

December 9 and 10  “Deck the Halls: An American Celebration of Christmas,” at the museums of the Northampton County Historical & Genealogical Society.

Friday, December 9, 6 – 8 pm  Candlelight tours at Sigal Museum, Bachmann Publick House, and Mixsell-Illick Museum.

Saturday, December 10, 1 – 4 pm  “Christmas in the Colonies at the 1753 Bachmann Publick House” — sip cider and experience early American Christmas traditions, Second and Northampton Sts., Easton; “A Victorian Holiday” with eggnog to sip, dramatic readings, and making a paper chain at the Mixsell-Illick Museum, 4^th and Ferry Sts.; enjoy punch and seasonal treats, listen to holiday carols, view vintage toys at the “Retro Christmas Party” at the Sigal Museum, 342 Northampton St.

Tickets available at any of the sites on the event date or purchased in advance at the Sigal Museum: $10 adults, $5 children 6-12, free for children 5 and under. Information: Sigal Museum 610.253.1222 or sigalmuseum.org

December 17, 1 pm  Commemoration of the Battle of the Bulge and Memorial program for Morris Metz.

In this battle, otherwise known as the Ardennes Offensive, Hitler had hoped to break up the Allied (Canadian, British, and American) forces and thus regain control over the war in Europe. The battle started in late 1944 in eastern Belgium and northern Luxembourg and ended 41 days later in January 1945. Of the 81,000 American casualties, 19,000 were killed, 47,000 wounded, and 15,000 taken prisoner; 100,000 Germans were killed or wounded as well.

Members of the Lehigh Valley chapter, Veterans of the Battle of the Bulge, will lead a commemoration of the role played by the late Morris Metz in keeping the public, from school children to adults, aware of the conditions surrounding that battle and the price paid by the Allies to win that battle. The public is invited to join in the commemoration. Metz, who served with the U.S. Army in the 94th Infantry Division and fought in Belgium and Luxembourg, headed the Lehigh Valley chapter from 2003 until 2015. He died August 8, 2016.

Program free with admission at the Sigal Museum, 342 Northampton St., Easton