The June 20th 3rd Saturday Hay Creek event at Joanna Furnace promises to meet the interest of everyone in the family. This free-admission event will bring together all the good things that spark a dad’s interest leading up to a special Fathers’ Day-classic, antique cars, hot rods and vintage motorcycles, antique machinery, 1950s Rock and Roll music supplied by a live band, guided tours and events in the historic complex and, of course, great food, Hay Creek style.
Start your visit by savoring the Hay Creek Breakfast Buffet. From 7 to 11 am, families are invited to enjoy a breakfast buffet which includes favorite breakfast “fixins”: ham, country sausage, bacon, chipped creamed beef, scrapple, scrambled eggs, pancakes, waffles, country fries, fruit, juice, and hot coffee. There is a cost. Children under 5 free.
Chicken BBQ will be available from 12 to 2 pm. The tasty dinner includes half chicken, baked potato, homemade baked beans, seasonal fruit, roll & butter, and beverage. Please call 610-286-0388 to reserve tickets.
Other usual luncheon foods will be available the entire day as well including hot dogs, hamburgers, French fries, cold drinks, ice cream and more.
Show cars and motorcycles interested in participating at the event should arrive between 7 am and 12 noon. Judging of vehicles will start at noon with unique prizes being awarded at 2:30 pm. An entry fee will be charged at the gate however, advance registration can be acquired on the Hay Creek Valley Historical Association website – www.haycreek.org.
Car/Truck Classes include Classic Truck Pre 1980, Truck Post 1980, Classic Car Pre 1969, Any Car Post 1970, British, German, Street Rod, Sport Tuner, and Muscle Car.
Motorcycle Classes include Custom (any make or year custom mc with major changes), Trike (3-wheels), Street Stock (any factory street bike), Street Performance (any performance oriented street bike), Antique (any make mc, pre 1960) and touring (any make or year touring mc).
In keeping with the Hay Creek Valley Historical Association commitment to return support back to the community, half of all the car and motorcycle show registration proceeds will be donated to the Keystone Iron Warriors. The mission of the “Iron Warriors” is to empower wounded veterans and their families, strengthen their quality-of-life, and educate the community about veterans who have been impacted by post-military service. This veteran’s group also assists veterans who suffer from debilitating injuries like amputations, burns, Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) and Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI). (Keystone Iron Warriors is a 501 (C)(3) Tax Exempt Organization).
Continuous historic casting demonstrations will run 9 am to 3 pm.
Visitors can stop by Joanna Furnace Casting House and discover how iron products were produced in the 19th century at Joanna Furnace. Skilled interpreters demonstrate how “cope & drag” sand molds were prepared to accept the molten metal that was poured into to them. This process was used to produce the countless cast products made at Joanna Furnace between 1791 and 1898.
A gathering of veterans and reenactors will be on hand with military displays.
Participating veterans will have displays of personal memorabilia from their various tours of duty. They include, Vietnam War Veterans Walter Gensemer of Reading & David Kolpak of Elverson. Korean War Veteran Chuck Walker of Coatesville. WWII Veterans – John Fleming of Birdsboro, George Moore who served in the US Army 1252nd Engineer (C) Bn. 3rd army in the European Theater of Operations, Bob Huber (recently featured in the Reading Eagle), and 98 year old William Moore of Mohnton.
David Kolpak will offer a question and answer session to visitors who have questions about the Vietnam War.
At 11:30 am Veterans will be honored with a special review and parade. This will include a patriotic motorcycle escort from the Joanna Legion Riders.
The Greater Pennsylvania Military Vehicle Historical Society (a military re-enactor group) will be on site showing vehicles from WWII, Korean War, and Vietnam War eras. They will also be overseeing the flag raising and lowering.
Vocalist Phyllis Hummel, of Narvon, will render the National Anthem at the 9:45 am Flag Raising.
At 2:00 pm a special solemn Flag retirement ceremony will take place. Visitors are encouraged to bring old flags to the event for proper disposal. The American Legion Post #537 of Joanna will conduct the ceremony.
Live on stage 1950s Rock ‘n’ Roll with The River’s Rockabilly Trio performing on stage from 10 am to 2 pm. The band was originally started it to honor American music of the 1950s including music from Bill Haley and his Comets, Carl Perkins, Chuck Berry, The Everly Brothers, Buddy Holly, Eddie Cochran, and , of course, the young Elvis Presley, along with other music . They bring this classic American style to the concert stage with superb showmanship and unstoppable energy; A Rivers concert is a joyful, boppin’ good, sing-along, time travel experience! The band has performed at many venues including the Fabulous 50’s Weekend in the Wildwoods and recently appeared on Philadelphia’s NBC 10.
For the kids….. A mini-petting zoo with a variety of farm animals.
The Hay Creek Valley Historical Association is a 501(c)(3) non-profit charitable organization dedicated to the preservation and education of America’s iron heritage. Net proceeds from this event support the research, restoration and educational initiatives at Joanna Furnace, a regional historically significant charcoal-fueled iron furnace. Anyone wishing to find out more information about any of the programs at Joanna Furnace can visit the Hay Creek Valley Historical Association website at www.haycreek.org or call 610-286-0388.
Admission and parking are free at monthly 3rd Saturday events.
The Historic Joanna Furnace site is located three miles north of Morgantown, on Route 10. Turn at Furnace Road. Admission and parking are free for these monthly 3rd Saturday Events.
