Monday, October 23, 2023

The "Jack Brubaker Presents "Phebe Gibbons" Story

It was an ordinary day. Reading an article in my Sunday LNP newspaper about a Thaddeus Stevens museum being eyed for Gettysburg, Pennsylvania.  The story, written by one of my favorite columnists, Jack Brubaker, carries the headline..... Thaddeus Stevens museum eyed for Gettysburg.  

                                                              Jack Brubaker
                                                    Story Teller Extraordinaire

He tells the paper's readers that the Thaddeus Stevens & Lydia Hamilton Center for History and Democracy is coming to Steven's former home and office on Lancaster's South Queen Street in 2025.  The world-class museum will examine the lives and works of Stevens and Smith, as well as the Underground Railroad that they and others used to help African Americans free slavery.  The story also tells readers that another museum will open soon in Gettysburg  that will feature mostly items and works by Stevens.  Seems that the Thaddeus Stevens Society will launch a fundraising effort soon to create the new museum in Gettysburg.  The new museum will display Stevens' letters, period books and newspapers, stoves manufactured at his iron furnaces and other artifacts related to Stevens' early life in Gettysburg and after he moved to Lancaster.  I'm anxious for the new museum to open so I can make a visit to see more about Lancaster's own Thaddeus Stevens.  Jack Brubaker, known as "The Scribbler" to those of us who live in Lancaster County, has been writing his column in Lancaster's Sunday News for years.  I enjoy it since it almost always deals with the history of Lancaster County and surroundings.  Today's (Sunday, Oct. 22, 2023) column tells mostly about the new museum that is expected to come soon to Gettysburg.  As for Jack...well I got to hear a talk by Jack this past week when he made a visit to Lancaster's Woodcrest Villas which is a retirement community in Lancaster County.  The event was well attended and Jack gave a great talk about Phebe Earle Gibbons, who is recognized as the first national writer to draw attention to the Pennsylvania Dutch, especially the distinct group known as the Amish.  Phebe was primarily a writer who was sympathetic to the plight of fugitive slaves and supported the abolition of slavery as well as other progressive causes.  Among other things, she was the least active of the operators of the Gibbons' Underground Railroad Station along Mill Creek in Upper Leacock Township, just north of Bird-in-Hand.  Jack's talks and stories are always a treat to listen to and are tremendously historical, especially to those of us who were born and raised in Lancaster County and now live at Woodcrest. Jack's well attended talk should have been an indicator to Jack that we love his talks and hope he returns soon.  
It was another extraordinary day in the life of an ordinary guy.  PS- Jack, the photo of the two of us wasn't the best...so I didn't post it!  PPS -  A few of the covers of books that Jack has authored follow.  Click on to enlarge.










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