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IN THIS ISSUE:

U.S Mint to Release Harpers Ferry Coin

Fifteenth Annual Don Redman Heritage Awards and Concert

Authors & Artists: A Centennial Celebration

Association’s Executive Director is Retiring

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1916-2016 National Park Service Centennial

“...which purpose is to conserve the scenery and the natural and historic objects and the wild life therein and to provide for the enjoyment of the same in such manner and by such means as will leave them unimpaired for the enjoyment of future generations.”

—National Park Service Organic Act

ollowing vigorous lobbying by indus-trialist and conservationist Stephen T. Mather (1867-1930), President

lished Harpers Ferry as a National Monu-ment in 1944, and then as Harpers Ferry National Historical Park on May 29, 1963.

Above left: First NPS Director Stephen T. Mather inspects a trail in Glacier National Park, ca. 1920s. (National Park Service Historic Photo Collection). Above right: NPS Director George B. Hartzog and former Director Horace M. Albright attend a dinner at Hilltop House, Harpers Ferry, WV, to celebrate the 50th Anniversary of the NPS, August 29, 1966. (National Park Service Historic Photo Collection)

Woodrow Wilson signed into law the Na-tional Park Service Organic Act on August 25, 1916. Congress charged the new agency with preserving and managing the great natural resources of America and assigned Mather as its first director in 1917. For a century, the NPS has been the steward of this country’s “crown jewels,” over 400 cultural sites including monu-ments, parkways, battlefields, cemeteries, and recreation areas. Congress first estab-

Published for the Members and Friends of the Harpers Ferry Historical Association

Spring 2016

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The picture which appears on our newsletter’s nameplate, dating from 1803, is one of the oldest prints of Harpers Ferry. Twenty years earlier, in 1783, Thomas Jefferson had declared that this view was “worth a voyage across the Atlantic.”

Recent DonationsAmerican Public Univer-

sity SystemChicago Civil War Round

TablePaula DegenMark ElrodJohn FryeGettysburg Civil War

Round TableDiane & John LofquistJoseph OnofreyPreservation Maryland

Armory Superintendent MembersDr. Robert Johnson Harpers Ferry, WVMike Hegarty, Our Lady of

Sorrows School Farmington, MINancy Myers, in Honor of

Don Campbell Harpers Ferry, WVJim & Suzanne Silvia Taunton, MA & Harpers

Ferry, WVEd Wheeless & Chris Craig Harpers Ferry, WV

Paymaster MembersJo (Kuhn) Curtis in

memory of Jim Kuhn and Alexander & Mary Murphy

Brandywine, MD Cynthia Mason Baltimore, MD

Master Armorer MembersAllison Alsdorf Harpers Ferry, WVCarolyn Blocker Crofton, MDKirk Bradley Sanford, NCKarl Buchspics Willow Grove, PA

continued on page 3

National Park WeekNational Park Week, April 16 to 24, 2016, is a nationwide celebration of our national heritage, with events and activities com-memorating the Centennial of the National Park Service. At Harpers Ferry National Historical Park the week kicks off with A Day in the Park, an event that brings out staff from all park departments—from interpretation to cultural resources to law enforcement—to engage with the public in fun activities that teach how the NPS operates. All national park en-try fees are waived for these dates. Activities in Harpers Ferry will run from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. each day in Lower Town.

U.S. Mint to Release Harpers Ferry CoinIn 2010, the United States Mint launched the America the Beautiful Quarters® Pro-gram, releasing five coins each year depict-ing one national park from each of the 50 states, the District of Columbia, and the U.S. Territories. This June, the Mint will release a coin honoring Harpers Ferry Na-tional Historical Park. The park will host two special events to mark the release. On June 7, 2016, at 6:30 p.m. join representatives from the U.S.

Mint for a coin fo-rum, which will offer the public an opportunity to learn and ask questions about the Mint and its programs. At 10 a.m. the next morning, June 8, the official launch features speakers and the unveiling of the new Harp-ers Ferry NHP quarter. The forum takes place in the Gather-ing Tent in Lower Town; the launch will be held on Hamilton St., Lower Town. Visitors may purchase up to $100 worth of Harpers Ferry Quarters in $10 rolls.

Association’s Executive Director to RetireHarpers Ferry Historical Association Execu-tive Director, Deborah Piscitelli, is retiring in Fall 2016 following 36 years with the as-sociation. Applications are currently being accepted for our next Executive Director. Visit www.harpersferryhistory.org to retreive a Position Announcement and Position De-scription. Applications are being accepted through June 1, 2016 or until the position is filled.

Above: Park and HFHA staff pose with Elleanor Bison during 2015’s successful A Day in the Park event. Below: Harpers Ferry Quarter

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http://www.harpersferryhistory.org

Master Armorer Memberscontinued from Page 2Donald & Patricia Burgess Harpers Ferry, WVCarole Powell Carter Harpers Ferry, WVHon. & Mrs. Thomas Cur-

tis and Family Baltimore, MDKim & Frank Edwards Edgewood, MDScot Faulkner Harpers Ferry, WVPatrice Flynn Harpers Ferry, WV Deborah Hale Harpers Ferry, WVRebecca Harriett Berryville, VANatalie Nichols Hill Argyle, TXJohn Hough Leesburg, VABruce Kramer Baltimore, MDAnne A. Long Myersville, MDSusan Pannell Harpers Ferry, WV Linda Parks Washington, DCGeorge Rutherford Ranson, WVMike Stoneberger Charles Town, WVParnetta Sutton Chicago, ILSamuel & Grace Tucker Adamstown, MD Clarke Wilhelm Granville, OH

NPS Announces Garnet Jex ExhibitIn 1960 Washington, D.C. artist Garnet W. Jex (1895-1979) donated a collection of oil paintings depicting Harpers Ferry between 1925 and 1960 to the community. The paintings will be exhibited on the second floor of the John Brown Museum in Lower Town throughout the Centennial year. Jex visited the town frequently to paint the changing landscape of Harpers Ferry. An inscription with the collection reads in part: “Presented to the community by the artist in recollection of many pleasant days among charming streets and buildings, be-sides rivers and upon the hills; in apprecia-tion also of the hospitality of townspeople.” From 1960 to 2007 the paintings hung in the meeting room of the Camp Hill-Wesley United Methodist Church. They’ve recently been exhibited at the Washington County Museum of Fine Arts in Hager-

stown, MD, the Cliffside Inn in Harpers Ferry, and the Museum of the Shenandoah Valley in Winchester, VA, following the museum’s restoration of the paintings. The exhibit opens May 7, 2016, with a 10 a.m. ribbon cutting and reception with words from Park Superintendent Rebecca Harriett and a talk on Jex by HFHA Execu-tive Director Debbie Piscitelli. In addition to 18 postcards of the paint-ings (sold individually or as a set), the Park Bookshop carries The Upper Potomac in the Civil War (HFHA, 2012), a collection of 51 watercolors Jex produced in the 1960s for the commemoration of the Civil War Cen-tennial.

Below: One of the Last Steam Locomotives, 1951, by Garnet W. Jex.

We Are Cooking!The HFHA Cookbook project started last year was put on a minor hiatus to accom-modate production of the park’s Centennial Programs and Events booklet. We are happy to have the cookbook project back in prog-ress. Thank you to everyone who contrib-uted recipes! Our goal is to officially launch the book at our annual membership meeting and pot-

luck this September. The event will include a special presentation with 19th century foodways expert Carol Anderson and Living History Ranger Melinda Day. We encourage members to bring along a dish from a recipe they submitted. Save the September 11 date and look for details in our next newsletter.

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2016 Don Redman Jazz Heritage Awards and Concert

Harpers Ferry National Historical Park will host the 15th Annual Don Redman Jazz Heritage Awards & Concert June 25, 2016, on the lawn of the Mather Training Cen-ter in Harpers Ferry. The evening includes the awards ceremony and performances by the Don Redman Next Generation Camp Scholars, and the Howard Burns Quartet with special guests. The award is presented annually to legends of jazz whose musician-ship, humanity, and dignity serve as an asset to jazz in the tradition of Don Redman, and whose work in music and education illuminate his spirit. This year’s honorees are Albert “Tootie” Heath and Charles McPherson. A Philadelphia native and younger brother of saxophonist Jimmy Heath and bassist Percy Heath, drummer Albert “Tootie” Heath first recorded in 1957 with John Coltrane. In his long career, Heath has worked with artists J.J. Johnson, Wes Montgomery, Benny Golson’s Jazztet, Ce-dar Walton, Kenny Drew, Sonny Rollins, Dexter Gordon, Herbie Hancock, and Nina Simone. Today the 80-year-old Heath is a regular instructor at the Stanford Jazz Workshop and producer and leader of The Whole Drum Truth, a jazz drum ensemble. Saxophonist Charles McPherson grew up in Detroit, studying with renowned pia-

HFHA Milestone EventAuthors and Artists: A Centennial Celebration

nist Barry Harris. His professional jazz career began at age 19. He performed in New York with Charles Mingus from 1960 to 1972, collaborating often with Harris, Lonnie Hillyer, and George Coleman. McPherson has toured the U.S., Eu-rope, Japan, Africa, and South America with jazz greats Barry Harris, Billy Eckstine, Lionel Hampton, Nat Adderly, Jay Mc-Shann, Phil Woods, Wynton Marsalis, Tom Harrell, Randy Brecker, James Moody, Dizzy Gillespie, and others. He recently showcased his original compositions and arrangements with a seven-piece ensemble at Lincoln Center. McPherson was also the featured alto saxo-phonist in the Clint Eastwood film “Bird,” a biography about Charlie Parker. The free awards ceremony and concert will begin at 5:00 p.m. at the Stephen T. Mather Training Center, 51 Mather Place, Harpers Ferry, WV 25425. For additional information contact the park’s Information Center at 304-535-6029.

This event is sponsored by the Harpers Ferry Historical Association, Harpers Ferry National Historical Park, the Jefferson County NAACP in cooperation with the Don Redman Heritage Society of Piedmont, WV, and the West Virginia Division of Culture and History.

HFHA celebrates 100 years of our national parks and 45 years of our association with the event Authors and Artists: A Centennial Celebration. The event will take place in the Tent on the Green, June 11, 2016, from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. The event welcomes back authors and artists whose creations have graced our shop walls and shelves throughout the years. Authors will appear throughout the day to read from their current work and sign books. Visiting artists will be on hand to represent their work.

The day also features a silent auction listing work by various artists including for-mer artists-in-residence Louise Minks and Kris Parins, and photographer Tony Sweet. Additional items include Charley Harper posters and limited edition prints by John Paul Strain and Mort Künstler. Confirmed artists and authors:

• Andrei Kushnir, en plein air artist with a new publication, Oh, Shenandoah: Paintings of the Historic River and Valley,

Albert “Tootie” Heath (top) and Charles McPherson.

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which contains over 263 of his paint-ings

• Dennis Frye, author, speaker, and Chief Historian, Harpers Ferry National His-torical Park

• Lawrence Freiheit, author of Boots and Saddles: Cavalry During the Maryland Campaign of September 1862

• Robert O’Connor, author of The Perfect Steel Trap: Harpers Ferry 1859 and many other titles, including a new release about the Murphy Farm

• Earl Mills, photographic artist• Daniel Toomey, author of The War

Came by Train and The Civil War in Maryland

• Dave Gilbert, author of A Walkers Guide to Harpers Ferry and Waterpower:

Mills, Factories, Machines and Floods at Harpers Ferry, 1762-1991

• Timothy Snyder, author of Trembling in the Balance: The Chesapeake and Ohio Canal During the Civil War

• Bob Cohen, author of Trip by Rail: In the Shenandoah Valley on the B&O Railroad

Additional artists and authors will be announced as they are confirmed. Check our website and Facebook page for updates. Following the event, a private reception will be held in the River Tent for all HFHA members and these authors and artists to celebrate the 45th anniversary of the as-sociation. Look for formal invitations to the reception in May.

The Harpers Ferry His-torical Association is on Facebook! Search Face-book for “Harpers Ferry Historical Association”. “Like” our page to receive notifications of upcoming park special events, book-shop news, and related park information.

❏ I wish to join the Harpers Ferry Historical Association (new member)❏ I wish to renew my membership (renewal)

Please enroll me in the following member category (check one):❏ $25 Armory Worker – Basic membership for a family household.

Benefits include a newsletter subscription, a 15% discount on all bookshop purchases, a vinyl decal, and invitations to annual meeting and events.

❏ $25 Sarah Jane Foster – An alternative basic membership for edu-cators. Benefits include the above plus open house for teachers and discounts on programs for teachers.

❏ $50 Millwright – For those members who are frequent visitors to the park. Benefits are the same as Armory Worker category plus a 12-month Harpers Ferry Park entrance pass.

❏ $100 Master Armorer – A supporting membership category. Includes all benefits of the Millwright category plus U.S. Mint America the Beautiful Quarters® featuring Harpers Ferry, member recognition in our newsletter and at our annual meeting, and a special tour.

❏ $250 Paymaster – For businesses, vendors or family donors who wish to contribute to the Association’s mission. Benefits include 15% dis-count on all bookshop purchases; a newsletter subscription; vinyl de-cal; invitations to annual meetings, events, and association-sponsored education programs; a 12-month park pass; U.S. Mint America the Beautiful Quarters® featuring Harpers Ferry; recognition in newslet-ter and at annual meeting; special tour; and additional membership card.

❏ $500 Armory Superintendent – For supporters (individual and corporate) who wish to perpetuate Association and Park education programs. Benefits include 15% discount on all bookshop purchases; a newsletter subscription; vinyl decals; invitations to annual meeting, events, and education programs; U.S. Mint America the Beautiful Quarters® featuring Harpers Ferry; recognition in the newsletter and at annual meeting; special tour; an Amercia the Beautiful pass (for use in all parks) for individuals; and a display plaque for businesses.

Harpers Ferry Historical Association Membership Application

❏ I am not interested in receiving member ben-efits, but I would like to make a contribution in the amount of ________ to aid the mission of the Harpers Ferry Historical Association.

❏ I am a Charter Member and would like to make a donation of ________.

❏ Check if this is a new address for you

_____________________________________________Name

_____________________________________________Address

_____________________________________________City State Zip

_____________________________________________Telephone

_____________________________________________E-mail

Please clip and mail to:

Harpers Ferry Historical Association P.O. Box 197 Harpers Ferry, WV 25425

Phone: (304) 535-6881 Fax: (304) 535-6749 Email: hfha@earthlink.net

100 Years - 100 Members

This year Harpers Ferry NHP will mark the Centennial with a variety of events and programs following the NPS directive to “CONNECT with and CREATE the NEXT GENERATION of park visitors, supporters, and advocates.” All of these events can be found in the park’s 2016 Programs and Events booklet, which also includes the Summer Tour Pro-gram, youth activities, Living History events and workshops, nature tours, and Cultural and Natural Resources programs.

National Park Service Centennial, continued from Page 1

We’re a third of the way to reaching our centennial goal of 100 years - 100 members. Help us now by becoming a member, giving a membership gift to family or friends, or spreading the word about the many ways we

support your national park. Please consider a $100 Master Armorer membership this year to show your appre-ciation for 100 years of the beautiful and uniquely American national park system.

Help us in our efforts to be “green” by renewing your membership online! www.harpersferryhistory.org

Historian Frederick Tilberg leads a tour along Shenandoah St. in 1955, prior to NPS restoration. The large building on the right, once Kaplon’s Department Store, no longer stands. (Historic Photo Collection, Harpers Ferry NHP)

If you have not received this booklet, please be sure to pick up a copy during your next visit to the park, or view it online at www.harpersferryhistory.org.

Non-Profit OrganizationU.S. Postage

PAIDHarpers Ferry, WV

25425Permit No. 12

Harpers Ferry Historical AssociationPost Office Box 197Harpers Ferry, WV 25425

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The Harpers Ferry Historical Association operates the Na-tional Park Bookshop in Lower Town Harpers Ferry. Profits from sales are returned to the park to support inter pretive and educational programs to enhance your visit. You are invited to join this unique organization and be a part of Harpers Ferry’s special family. For more information call (304) 535-6881, send e-mail to hfha@earthlink.net, or visit our website at www.harpersferryhistory.org

ExEcutivE DirEctorDeborah K. Piscitelli

EDitorCathy Baldau

Graphic DEsiGnErDave Gilbert

BoarD of DirEctorsDavid Gilbert, PresidentJames Silvia, Vice PresidentSuzanne Silvia, SecretaryWayne Welty, TreasurerPatrice FlynnCarol GallantJim JenkinsBob JohnsonDoug PerksWayne WeltyEd Wheeless

ARPERS FERRYistorical Association

http://www.harpersferryhistory.orghttp://www.harpersferryhistory.org/files/uploaded-images/centennial booklet 2016.pdfhttp://www.harpersferryhistory.org/http://www.harpersferryhistory.org/