On April 16, the Hay Creek Valley Historical Association presents the next Third-Saturday event of 2016. Throughout the months of February to July, the HCVHA presents a special event each month focused on a special theme. In April, this monthly Joanna Furnace event celebrates the year 2016. This year is a significant year in area history. In 2016, HCVHA commemorates the 300th anniversary of the first iron manufacture in Pennsylvania; the 40th anniversary of the annual Hay Creek Festival; and nationally, the election of the 45th President of the United States.
As the first two events will be celebrated throughout the year, the 2016 election will be celebrated at this April event.
“The goal of Hay Creek is to educate the community about our local history,” said Executive Director Mark Zerr. “Sometimes we like to be somewhat light and teach history in a fun manner. This time, we are celebrating our former presidents by honoring some of their favorite foods. So at our breakfast buffet, visitors will enjoy the favorite foods of 13 U.S. Presidents as part of our breakfast buffet menu. One thing we do know, our presidents liked to eat.”
The Presidential Breakfast Buffet at Joanna Furnace will be served on Saturday, April 16 from 7 to 11 a.m.
This month’s special buffet menu includes: Franklin Roosevelt’s Sunday Night Sausage, John Kennedy’s favorite Crisp Bacon, James Buchanan’s Scrapple, Lyndon Johnson’s Chipped Creamed Beef, James Madison’s Ham, William Taft’s Hashed Brown Potatoes, Grover Cleveland’s Scrambled Eggs, Gerald Ford’s Apple Pancakes, William Taft’s Waffles with Maple Syrup, Richard Nixon’s Fresh Fruit, Abraham Lincoln’s Fruit Cobbler & Gingerbread, Harry Truman’s Orange Juice and Ulysses Grant’s Black Coffee.
During their time savoring the breakfast buffet, diners will enjoy live, patriotic and Americana music performed by the Hay Creek Valley’s Lady of Song, Phyllis Hummel.
After the Presidential Breakfast Buffet, visitors are invited to continue their morning by strolling through the huge HCVHA Flea Market to shop for new and used merchandise. Household, antiques, crafts, clothing, tool items and much more will be featured in the market.
Seller reservations are not required to sell items in the flea market. Sellers are asked to bring their own table(s) and set-up prior to 7 a.m. on the morning of the event. Flea Market sites are approximately 10 feet by 12 feet and are offered for a nominal fee. Individuals with questions about the market should contact the Kathleen at 610-914-8152 or e-mail info@haycreek.org.
Other events on the April 16 Third Saturday at Joanna Furnace include guided tours of the historic complex. On the free tour visit and learn about the blacksmith shop, blowing engine house, casting house, furnace stack, the charcoal house and museum, the office/store and the mansion site. Tours start at the Blowing Engine House and will last approximately one hour.
In addition, people can meet the working Joanna Furnace Blacksmith in the restored Blacksmith Shop. In the Casting House, iron worker interpreters will demonstrate the iron casting process used at 19th century Joanna Furnace to manufacture a full line of iron products.
All the activities for this event on Saturday, April 16 will take place from 7 to 11 a.m. at Historic Joanna Furnace located three miles north of Morgantown, off of Route 10. For entrance to the historic site, turn into Furnace Road. There is free admission and free on-site parking at this event. However, there is a cost for the Presidential Breakfast Buffet event.
