The "An Historic Susquehanna Beach Town: Part I" Story

It was an ordinary day.  Sitting in my recliner reading about the nearby town along the mighty Susquehanna River known as Marietta, Pennsylvania.  It was only yesterday that I drove through Marietta for the first time in my life!  I have no explanation why I waited so long except for the fact that I never felt a need to drive the 15 minutes from my home to the north of Lancaster to Marietta in order to see what I for years thought was a run-down, dirty little nothing of a town.  And, then the other day I happened to Google "Marietta" and up pops the heading "Marietta, PA - A Historic Susquehanna Beach Town".  Wow, what have I been missing?  I love beaches!!  

Well, I grabbed my camera, my car keys, told my wife I'll be back in an hour or so and gave her a kiss as I headed out the door to the car.  Traffic was light as I headed west on Route 30 towards the Susquehanna River.  Took the Columbia exit and turned right toward my destination.  Within two minutes I had turned left at the sign that said, Welcome To Historic Marietta, Inc. 1872.  Wasn't long before I began to realize what I had missed for close to three-quarters of a century.  First of all, I felt alone as I headed down Market Street which I believe runs parallel with the Susquehanna.  There was no one on the sidewalks and barely a vehicle on the road.  I came upon some of the neatest architecture along the quiet street.  Original log homes, stone homes, all styles of architecture with both single, duplex and row homes filling the streets in front of me.  I noticed Victorian, Colonial American, Gothic Cottages and the few log cabins.  I eventually reached what I assume was the square and pulled to the curb to take some photographs.  I saw home after home that had "Historic Home" or "National Register of Historic Places" plaques near the front doors of homes and businesses.  Many of these places were built in the early 1800s.  

St. John's Episcopal Church in Marietta.

I stopped at the Episcopal Church for a photograph as well as an old gas station turned into a home that still had the original pumps in front of it.  This little town, once known as "Anderson's Ferry", has an historical theater, town museum, old bank, a few churches, a Meeting House and 147 cherry trees (at least when the online article I had read was written a few years ago).  I'm sorry to say that the only thing I can remember about Marietta was the disaster known as Hurricane Agnes that hit the town in 1972.  A fellow who I worked with at Manheim Township High School lived in the town and had his home covered with water.  We took up a collection for him to help with his recovery.  What I thought would be a quick drive through town ended up being a three-hour visit.  My photos today will give you an idea of what I saw during my very first time to drive through the town of Marietta.  Tomorrow I will give you a look at some of the historical spots in the town.  My only regret was that I never found the beach!  It was another extraordinary day in the life of an ordinary guy.

The Linden House.  One of the first large buildings I encountered as I enter Marietta.

The Linden House was built in 1805 by lumber tycoon Henry Cassel.  It was restored in the early 1980s.

A beautiful home on Market Street.

Another home on Market Street.

A stone and log home along Market Street.

Another log home.

I'm not sure if the log homes pictured here are in original condition or if they have been restored.

What evidently was a gas station at one time looks to be a home today.

Gas at the time was 15.9 cents a gallon.

The "Square" on Market Street in Marietta.  This was from a website with photos from Steve Bailey.

Photo as it appears today.

Another beautiful home on Market Street.

One more home. 

1/2 of a duplex along Market Street. Old wooden-siding home with tin roof.

Beautiful brick home on Market Street.

A row of homes along Market Street.

The "A True Friend Comes To My Aid" Story

It was an ordinary day.  Hammering in a nail on the new cedar siding that I purchased a week ago.  Today's story actually began years and years ago after I had been teaching for a few years.  My teaching position was at Manheim Township High School in the Industrial Arts Department.  For those not familiar with Industrial Arts, before that it was called shop and today it is known as Technical Education.  In the state of Pennsylvania it is a required course in the curriculum.  I began as a metal shop, wood shop and drawing teacher, but after a few years I was teaching entirely Graphic Arts and Photography.  A few years after I began at the school another shop teacher by the name of Hal was hired to replace a retiring teacher.  Hal had taught in New Jersey, but made the move to Pennsylvania to teach.  We became friends as well as fellow teachers, but didn't socialize very much.  We each had growing families that took up our time as well as I worked at the school doing all the in-house printing needs for the school district while Hal became part of a group of shop teachers who did home construction during the summer.  

Hal is preparing to cut the next piece of cedar siding.

Hal and I retired from teaching in 1999 and have retained our friendship with department picnics, monthly retired teacher breakfasts, going to shows and concerts with our wives as well as taking photos of his bee-keeping hobby.  Hal is a master craftsman and I featured a story about a grandfather's clock he built for one of his three girls.  I recently had to do some demolition work on the corner of my garage at my home due to carpenter ants and after realizing the rebuild was too much for me to handle by myself and talking to Hal about it, he asked if I needed help, I decided to take him up on his offer.  Having worked more in the printing and photography trade for many years, it was great to have someone so familiar with the building trade to help me with my construction.  

Sliding another piece of tongue and
groove siding into place on the wall.

Hal knew exactly what was needed and helped me obtain the building supplies as well as supply many of the tools needed.  I thoroughly enjoyed working with Hal and getting a chance to talk about the "good old days" as well as learn a few things from him.  I must admit I was totally exhausted at the end of the first day of work and Hal suggested we call it a day when he saw I was struggling to keep up with him.  A few more hours the following day and my rebuild looks great.  I need to wait a few weeks and then I can stain the wood to match the rest of the house.  Hal and his wife Jeanne and Carol and I are marking our calendars for the summer to head to a few music concerts together with a meal before each one.  Had the best time renewing an old friendship with a great guy.  It was another extraordinary day in the life of an ordinary guy.

The final result thanks to Hal.

The "Don't Call Between 7:00 & 8:00 P.M. - Part II!" Story

It was an ordinary day.  Kind of day that after my evening meal I need to stretch our my legs and relax in my lounge chair.  Oh yeah...I also need to watch "Wheel of Fortune" and "Jeopardy" my two favorite evening quiz shows.  In Lancaster, Pennsylvania, that happens from 7:00 to 8:00 PM, Monday through Friday.  I do enjoy trying to outwit the contestants on "Wheel of Fortune" and guessing the puzzles before they can, but I must admit that I also enjoy doing battle with the contestants on "Jeopardy."  

Brad Rutter when he won the Battle of the Decades.

You may remember that the all-time record for most consecutive wins was Ken Jennings with 74, but that's because when Brad Rutter was a contestant, there was a limit on how many games you could win before you were considered a retired champion.  Actually, Brad Rutter holds the record for most cash won on the show with a mind-boggling $3,455,102.  This is the same Brad Rutter that I once had as a student at Manheim Township High School.  

A few years ago Brad visited the Manheim Township Public
Library to compete against the High School "Quiz Bowl" team.

Actually took his photo as a member of the "Quiz Bowl" a few years for the school yearbook.  The same Brad Rutter that really didn't apply himself in high school as he should have and ended up dropping out of Johns Hopkins University and working at a record store in Lancaster before making it big on "Jeopardy."  After his record breaking streak on the show he constantly made donations to his high school in honor of his high school "Quiz Bowl" coach and my friend Anne Clouser.  He still donates to our township public library and makes appearances at the library for Quiz Bowl Challenges.  But, the main reason I enjoy the show is the challenge it presents every evening.  The original daytime version began on March 30, 1964 on NBC with Art Fleming as the host and Don Pardo as the announcer.  When the show became syndicated and moved to evening TV it was hosted by Alex Trebek with Johnny Gilbert as announcer.  

Alex Trebek on the set of "Jeopardy."

The show has now won 33 Daytime Emmy Awards and the only post-1960 game show to be honored with the Peabody Award.  The worldwide show has now aired over 7,000 episodes.  A few bits of information you may find interesting are:  (1) Alex Trebek's real name is Giorgi Suka-Alex Trebek.  His mother is French-Canadian and his father is Ukranian,  (2) In his spare time he raises thoroughbred racehorses on his 700-acre ranch,  (3) About 25 million of us watch the show every week, (4) As soon as Alex has finished reading the answer, an employee flips a switch that allows the contestants to buzz in...they are called "the button enabler" and contestants can't buzz in until the switch is thrown, (5) Alex changes his suit five times a day, since he films five episodes daily and feels he should wear a fresh suit for each episode, (6) The theme song, "Think" was written by Merv Griffin as a lullaby for his grandson, (7) Only .04% of people who apply for the show ever make it onto TV (that explains why you have never seen LDub win on Jeopardy), (8) Alex actually watches every single episode of the show, since he loves to see himself on TV, (9) If you would ever have the chance to appear on the show, you are not allowed to ever appear on "Wheel Of Foutune", (10)  There is a team of 9 writers and 5 researchers who come up with all the questions, (11) And finally, Alex says he could kick the crap out of any player that ever was on the show.  So, how can you get on the show?  You can call the show's office in New York for an appointment and to determine eligibility.  Auditions consist of 10-30 individuals where you take a written test and mock games.  If they like you they will call you within 6 weeks.  There is also a Winnebago RV that travels around the USA and Canada where you can also tryout for the show.  As for me, I once saw the Winnebago RV with "Wheel of Fortune" on the side and drove right past it, since I knew I could never be on "Jeopardyn" had I made it on "The Wheel".  It was another extraordinary day in the life of an ordinary guy.  

The "Don't Call Between 7:00 & 8:00 P.M. - Part I!" Story

The Board on "Wheel of Fortune".

It was an ordinary day.  Just settled down in my leather lounge chair with a big dish of ice cream anxiously awaiting "Wheel Of Fortune" to begin.  This is the first of my favorite quiz shows that air in Lancaster, Pennsylvania from 7:00 PM to 8:00 PM on CBS.  Instantly, as the clock on my DVR hits 7:00 PM, there comes Vanna White and Pat Sajak from behind whatever curtain or prop they may have that evening.  

Chuck and Susan

But, you know, the show wasn't always the same as we know it today.  When it first started in October of 1952, when I was an 8 year old, it lasted only a year.  To be eligible for the show you had to have done a good dead.  Those who had done a good deed as well as those who had been helped by that deed both appeared on the show.  A wheel was spun with cash amounts on the wheel between $30 and $1,000.  When the wheel stopped, the amount next to the pointer was the amount that could be won.  Also displayed on the wheel was the number of questions that had to be answered to win the money.  I guess they had a hard time finding good Samaritans, since the game ended in a year.  Then in 1975 "Wheel of Fotune" turned up again, but then was known as "Shopper's Bazaar."  

Early photo of Pat and Vanna.

After one episode it again became "Wheel of Fortune."  The object was to spin a wheel to win money that you could spend on prizes.  The original host was Chuck Woolery and the original letter turner was Susan Stafford.  When a contract dispute between the network and Chuck occurred, Pat entered.  Susan was also replaced, but not before a few other turners were tried.  They just didn't have the Vanna wave and clap.  Pat Sajak has always hosted the syndicated version which began in 1983 and also hosted the network daytime version until 1989 when he turned that show over to ex-football player Rolf Benirschke.  As far as Pat, he as a disc jockey for the Armed Forces Radio Newwork during the Vietnam War and then became a weatherman for a TV station in Los Angeles.  

Pat Sajak

In 1981 he took the job with "Wheel of Fortune."  Now, Vanna is another story.  She was at one time a contestant on "The Price is Right", but didn't make it out of contestant's row.  In 1987 "Vannamania" swept the country when Vanna appeared on Newsweek, starred in TV's Goddess of Love and wrote Vanna Speaks, her best-seller autobiography.  She also appeared in Naked Gun 33 1/2 - The Final Insult.  In 1992 she was recognized as the world's most frequent clapper when she clapped 140,000 times that season.  She now averages 720 claps an episode.  

Vanna White

If you watch the show daily, you may be interested to know that the wheel weighs 2,400 pounds, has 200 lights that can make two million colors and the noise it makes comes from 73 stainless steel pins hitting three rubber flippers.  There is only one wheel and one puzzle board which also is huge so when they travel on the road to different locations they carry about 1 million pounds of equipment.  And, thanks to you and me and all other wheel watchers, the show will continue for years.  It was another extraordinary day in the life of an ordinary guy.

The "Cover Girl" Story

The cover of Pediatric Insights from the Spring of 2016.

It was an ordinary day.  The little sweetheart we know as KJ has made the cover once again.  It was back in the Spring of 2016 that she made the cover of Pediatric Insights.  The little girl with the neat red glasses was featured in the magazine telling about her liver transplant, donated by a high school classmate of her mother Donya.  This time around she is featured on the cover, as well as a four page interior spread, of the magazine IMPACT which is a publication of Children's Hospital of Pittsburgh.  The cover features a photograph of Dr. Mazariegas, lead Pediatric Transplantation specialist at Children's Hospital, giving Kennedy a big hug.  

Kennedy and her mother Donya.

It was a few years ago that Kennedy visited the Clinic for Special Children in nearby Strasburg, Pennsyvania and was diagnosed with an extremely rare genetic disorder.  They knew she needed the help of a specialist and they knew exactly who to call.  Dr. Kyle Soltys is a transplant surgeon at Children's Hospital who travels to Strasburg to check on a few of his patients.  

The latest cover for UPMC featuring KJ.

One day he was told about Kennedy and after talking with her other doctors, they all agreed that a liver transplant would help correct some of conditions contributing to KJ's rare disease known as AdoHcy deficiency.  Dr. Mazariegas led the team of surgeons who did the living liver transplant for KJ.  The article in the magazine featured the neatest page-and-a half photo of KJ in her jean's jacket with a headline that screamed - Living Hope: Changing the Face of Transplant Medicine.  KJ is the cover girl for some of these remarkable new surgeries.  A final 2/3 page photo features Dr. Mazariegas with KJ on a Big Wheel.  Donya asked if I would frame the article for her and the resulting frame and photos can be seen here.  It was another extraordinary day in the life of an ordinary guy.

The framed magazine article.  Click on the image to enlarge.

The "Two Tales I Will Now Remember" Story

It was an ordinary day.  Have been reading in the papers and watching TV stories and documentaries about the 50th anniversary of the death of Senator Robert F. Kennedy.  Carol and I were talking about his death on June 5, 1968 and were trying to remember where we were that day when we heard the news.  We both could remember where we were the day his brother, President John F. Kennedy, was assassinated as well as the day we heard about the assassination of Rev. Martin Luther King Jr., but we had to talk a bit before we could remember the same information about the assassination of Bobby Kennedy.  

Headlines from the newspaper.

Perhaps after the assassin- ations of so many famous Americans in such a short amount of time, we have become almost used to these events happening on a regular basis.  As I read the stories in the newspaper about Senator Kennedy's death, I found a few interesting stories that I had not read before.  One story was about a witness to the shooting that said she heard two guns firing during the shooting, but authorities altered her story.  Now, after almost 50 years, someone may believe her.  Sirhan Sirhan was arrested, tried and convicted, as well he should have been, but was there someone else who pulled the trigger that day?  Nina Rhodes-Hughes still claims that she heard more than the eight shots said to have been fired that day.  The young actress told CNN that she never said there were eight shots, but that she'd hear 12 to 14 shots.  Three shots hit Kennedy and 6 others were shot that day.  It just doesn't add up.  Other witnesses also mention more that eight shots.  Audio analysis of the scene tell of at least 13 shots.  Even the direction of the shots has been disputed.  Nina was a young actress who had spoken to the Senator earlier that day.  In the kitchen where he was shot she said she had her eyes on him when she heard the first shots.  She said the Senator was almost facing Sirhan when he was shot in the back.  

Sirhan Sirhan

Sirhan's lawyer says there were too many shots, too close together, that they all could have come from his gun.  Nina told of shots being fired from two different directions before she fainted.   When she regained consciousness she saw Kennedy on the floor with his wife above him.  She was horrified and ran from the pantry yelling "They killed him!"  She told authorities she would be glad to testify, but was never called to do so.  So what really happened that day?  Was Sirhan Sirhan really the culprit who killed the Senator?  Did two gunmen fire the shots?  Will we ever know?  This was one story that I read about the shooting while the second one was about a young man with the name of Juan Romero who was 17 at the time of the shooting that day.  He was working in the hotel's kitchen that day when Kennedy was ushered through the kitchen.  Kennedy paused to greet the employees and Romero extended his hand to shake the Senator's hand.  As he shook Kennedy's hand somebody shot him.  According to Romero, Kennedy asked after the shots, "Is everybody OK?"  Romero said "Yes" before cushioning the senator's head with his hands.  He said he could feel a steady stream of blood coming through his fingers.  He had a rosary in his shirt pocket and took it out and wrapped it around Kennedy's right hand as they wheeled him away.  

Juan Romero immediately after the shooting.

The following day, while sitting on a bus, a woman recognized him from his photograph in the newspaper and talked to him.  He remem- bered "looking at my hands and there was dried blood in between my nails."  The day before the shooting he remembered meeting Kennedy after the Senator had made a phone call.  He and another employee had arrived at his room with room service.  Kennedy put the phone down and told Romero and another employee to come in.  Romero remembered coming out of Kennedy's room feeling 10 feet tall after talking with the Senator.  After the shooting, Romero remembered purchasing a new suit and going to Kennedy's burial site in Arlington Cemetery to offer his respects.  He said, "When I wore the suit and stood in front of his grave, I felt a little bit like that first day that I met him.  I felt important.  I felt American.  And I felt good."  I'm sure there are many other stories from the day of the shooting and afterward that have been told, but these two are the ones I will remember.  Even thought I may not know where I was the day he was shot, I now have memories I will remember forever.  It was another extraordinary day in the life of an ordinary guy.

The "A New Family Moves To Harrington Drive" Story

It was an ordinary day.  Snickerdoodle, our new cat who arrived at our back door a few months ago, was looking out the window next to me and making noises that emanated from deep in his throat.  I knew he had spotted something so I put down my book and stretched my body to take a look for myself.  To the right of the window, about ten feet up in the arborvitae trees, was what had drawn his attention.  

If you look hard you can see three beaks sticking up in the
air, waiting for mom or dad to divvy up a few worms.
Click on image to enlarge it.

A robin had just arrived with a mouthful of worms to feed her new family that was alive and well in the nest she and her mate had constructed along our home.  I could see three tiny heads with small yellow beaks sticking out of the twigs and grasses they had been used to make their nest.  One by one the mother feed the brood and after she left to find more food, the male robin arrives with more worms.  

Feeding time once again.

The recent wet weather has made finding worms an easy chore for the mom and dad.  For the next two weeks Snickerdoodle and I made multiple daily checks on the parents and fledglings, watching as they grew and gained a fine covering of feathers.  I even managed to shoot a few photos from the sharp angle where they had built their nest.  One afternoon a storm arrived and one of the adult robins sat on top of the nest, with wings spread open, to protect the three fledglings.  If we needed to check on Snickerdoodle, we knew exactly where we could find him.  And then, just as quick as we found them, they were gone.  Snickerdoodle still looks out at the nest, but after a quick check, he's at the back door waiting for the squirrels and chipmunks to stop for a peanut that Carol has just thrown out to them.  It was another extraordinary day in the life of an ordinary guy.

Snickerdoodle keeping a close watch on the bird's nest.

One more view of feeding time.

The "The Memory Painters" Story

It was an ordinary day.  Happened to pick up one of the Lancaster County Historical Society publications that I recently purchased at the book sale held at Franklin & Marshall College in Lancaster, Pennsylvania and began reading a story about Hattie Klapp Brunner who was an antique dealer as well as artist.  

Hattie Brunner

Her artwork reminded me of the style of painting used by Grandma Moses and "Dottie" Woods, my mother who began her painting career in her 70s.  Hattie Brunner was born in nearby Reinholds, East Cocalico Township, Lancaster County, Pennsylvania on November 27, 1889.  She was one of eight children born into a farm family and began working at the age of seven after her father died.  She took a job caring for an old woman and later was hired on a farm in return for room and board and a salary of $1.00 a month.  When she turned 10 she took a job as a house servant in West Cocalico. She had an intense love of music and graduated from the Philadelphia Conservatory of Music and was the church organist at Swamp United Church of Christ in Reinholds from 1912 to 1918.  Eventually she married and she and her husband operated a general store in Reinholds for many years.  

Grandma Moses

She and her husband Raymond also dealt in antiques.  It wasn't until 1957 that Hattie started painting watercolors after being encouraged by her husband's grandson.  It was a Sunday when she presented her grandson with a set of watercolors.  While sketching a farm scene, the seven-year-old had a problem drawing a horse.  Hattie helped him with the drawing and afterward her grandson pleaded, "Now, Grandma, you paint!"  She painted strong, colorful, nostalgic scenes based on memories of her life in Lancaster County.  She worked mostly in her sewing room or kitchen where she painted on a flat surface.  

"Dottie" Woods

She was a prolific painter who completed more than 600 watercolors as well as hundreds of greeting cards before her eyesight began to fail.  Her paintings were what she called "sofa size", 10"x 14" and 17"x25" in size.  She died August 2, 1982 at what at the time was St. Joseph's Hospital in Lancaster, Pennsylvania.  Hattie Brunner was what was known as a "Memory Painter"; a painter who had no training, was past middle age and experienced a past that was inspiring.  She, Grandma Moses and "Dottie" Woods were all "memory painters" whose style and paintings look very similar.  All three experienced a past that inspired them and whose memories were a storehouse of all they knew about the world.  I realize I may be a bit prejudiced by placing my mother with Hattie Brunner and Grandma Moses, but that's OK, since this is my story.  After viewing some of the work of all three, you too may agree with me.  It was another extraordinary day in the life of an ordinary guy.  PS - The first three paintings were painted by Grandma Moses, the second three paintings were painted by Hattie Brunner and the last three were by "Dottie" Woods.  All three were members of the "Memory Painter" classification.

The "My Brother Steve: A True Friend" Story

It was an ordinary day.  Just dropped off my latest framing job at my brother Steve's house in nearby Ephrata, Pennsylvania.  Steve is five years younger than me, but also five inches taller than I am.  If I had to describe him it would be: handsome, athletic, funny, helpful, a bit crazy, caring, a good dunker and most important, a great brother.  

Phillies poster and team from their Championship year.

The latest job that I just framed for him was a 40 inch by 32 inch collage which featured a large Boston Red Sox poster and 26 individual baseball cards from their 2004 World Series Championship season.  Fun job to frame, but very challenging since one card was extremely small while others were close to a quarter of an inch thick.  Steve knows someone in Ephrata that is a Red Sox fan who happened to see one of the Philadelphia Phillies posters I did for Steve and asked him if he could do one for him featuring the Red Sox.  

My brother Steve and myself.

In no time Steve was online and within a few weeks had obtained all the cards from the Sox.  Some cards are auto- graphed, some are metal and one even is a real collectible being that it is #1 of 10.  Most cards are vertical, but four of them were horizontal making it a tougher job to lay out.  I designed the job on a computerized mat cutter at Grebinger Gallery where I work part-time.  The result was stunning with the blue and red team colors and the large poster in the top center of the job.  I'm not sure what he was going to charge the person who wanted the job done, but some of the cards had to be very pricey.  To the new owner I'm sure it will be priceless!  I did the work for my brother for no charge since we will spend a week at the shore with he and his wife at no cost to Carol and me.  Check out the photos of my brother and myself as well as the finished Boston Red Sox poster.  It was another extraordinary day in the life of an ordinary guy.

Another poster I did for him of Richie Ashburn with poster and baseball cards.

The latest poster of the 2004 World Champion Boston Red Sox.

Handsome brother Steve on the right at his son's wedding.

Highschool photo of Steve's championship form. Holds the school record with 42 points in a game, and that was when there wasn't a 3-point shot.

Steve and LDub enjoying a dunkin' cookies session.

His crazy side when we had our ears pierced before his son's wedding.

  

The "The Art Of Printmaking" Story

One of the very first block prints I did during my class in Graphic
Arts.  I worked along with the students to show them how to
use the tools and how to make the prints.  This was from a 5"x7"
piece of wood that had linoleum attached to it.  After printing I
used water colors to add some color.   Below it is a sheet of postal
stamps.  My students weren't expected to mat and frame their work!

It was an ordinary day.  Looking at a few of the block prints that I made maybe fifty years ago while teaching Graphic Arts at Manheim Township High School in Lancaster, PA.  One of the first projects my classes would do each year was a linoleum block cut which taught what was referred to as relief printing or printing from a raised surface.  

The Lancaster Museum of Art at the Grube Mansion.

To accomplish the project the students would draw a design on a linoleum block what was "type high" or .918" (the height of a piece of lead type used to print the letter.  They would then use cutting tools to cut the background from the block, allowing what remained to be inked and printed in a relief press.  During every class I would work along with them so they could see what I created and follow my lead.  

Pictured here is a wood block and a linoleum block that
can be used for printmaking.  The wood block has already
been cut with a design.  The tool could be used to do the cutting.

What we were accomplishing was what was known as print- making.  The four forms of printmaking are relief (woodcuts - and sometimes done on linoleum), intaglio (also known as etching and done on metal or plastic), screen printing which is printing through the image, and lithography which is printing from a flat surface (which would be printing from a metal offset plate or printing from a stone).  

Another relief print on display at the museum.  It is on
wood and shows the tools used to create it.  

Recently two shows opened in Lancaster, Pennsyl- vania on the art of print- making.  One show was at the Demuth Museum in downtown Lancaster titled "Print- making through History: Artist Prints" while the second show, titled "The Art of he Big Print: Master Lancaster Printmakers" opened at the Lancaster Museum of Art in what is known as the Grube Mansion, a few blocks from the Demuth Museum.  

This press was on display in the museum.  It
could be used to print blocks that were type high.

I chose to visit the later since the show featured six local printmakers who were each given a large 30x40 inch piece of Baltic birch wood on which they could make a relief print.  Hand tools, such as metal chisels, were used to cut the design in to the wood.  It was then inked with a roller and printed onto paper.  The areas of the piece of wood that were cut away will not receive ink and therefore not print.  I visited the Lancaster Museum of Art and had the chance to see the six large prints.  Two of the artists work in woodworking with the remainder being involved in education in either administration or teaching.  

A sample from one of the six artists in the show.  This print
was done by the head of the art department at a local high school.

I loved walking from one large "block" to the next, examining each and having the chance to see the final result.  Also on display were some of the tools used by printmakers as well as a small press that could be used for printing the blocks.  My hope is I get a chance to visit the Demuth Museum to have a chance to see a few other historic examples of printmaking.  I never tire of viewing results of what I taught while a high school teacher.  It was another extraordinary day in the life of an ordinary guy.