Bullskin Township Fair—Since 1928

Bullskin Township Fair—Since 1928
A community coming together to showcase our agricultural heritage
Here are some Fair Facts!

In the mid 1900s fairs were held late in the year so that grains, corn, potatoes, and apples
could be exhibited.

Bullskin Township was formed in March 1784.

The 1929 fair was held at the Pennsville Baptist Church.

The FIRST Pennsylvania Barn Quilt trail is in Bullskin.

All exhibits were set up in the basement of the Grange,
including poultry!

Early fairs ran for three days.

2009 Fair Queen was Jessie Ross

Bullskin is listed in the book Barn Quilting and The American Quilt Trail as the first quilt
trail in Pennsylvania. We are linking our Pennsylvania heritage to the American Barn Quilt
Trail.

1930 was the first year the fair was held on these grounds.
As told by the early settlers, there was an old pioneer
from the mountains and he was to have killed an animal
of the bovine species (a wild bull)
of such extraordinary size that its skin would have
stretched across the entire area. Some people think that
is how our township got its name.
Eastern Star
This house was built around 1839 by the Washington Washabaugh family. He and his wife Anna
had twelve children that all lived in the house, one of them being David Washabaugh. In 1904,
David and Martha Washabaugh sold this farm to Charles and Ada Wadsworth for $4,500. It
included the barn, springhouse, and out buildings. In 1961, the Wadsworths sold the farm to Charles
Kendi. Brian Konieczny purchased this homeplace in 1996. The house and barn were in need of
much repair. The house had been home to chickens and cats! Brian worked diligently to bring back
the house that many before him had called home. The living room staircase and two fireplaces are
still an original part of the house. The stone that now encases the farmhouse and garage was all
hand picked and cut by Brian, and laid by the talented hands of Ray Ackerman. Brian and his wife,
Colleen, enjoy this farm with their six children. The family enjoys living off the land with their
farm, fruit orchard, and gardens.
Colleen is also the owner and founder of the Pennsylvania Barn Quilt Trail that can be trailed
through-out the world.
GPS Locator: 1103 Pleasant Valley Rd. Mt Pleasant, Pa. 15666
Eastern Star Cont’d
Double Dark Chocolate Cheesecake
Ingredients:
4 blocks cream cheese
½ cup whipping cream
½ cup sugar
1 cup melted chocolate chips
-Whip above ingredients together.
4 eggs
1 cup mini chocolate chips
-Blend in eggs and mini chocolate chips to above whipped
ingredients.
Crust:
1 ½ cups crushed chocolate graham crackers
½ stick melted butter
¼ cup dark cocoa powder
Combine crust ingredients until crumbled together and will hold shape in your hand.
Preheat oven to 325 degrees. Use a 9 inch spring form pan. Press crust down into bottom of pan.
Pour in filling. Bake 50 minutes until middle is set.
Summer Star Flower
i
In the spring of 1997, Amish workers were driven from Salisbury to Woodale to reset the beams in
this old barn. One of the workers, a young boy, fell from the top of the barn. The Amish men picked
the boy up and layed him on the hay, where he stayed until the workday was done. He did come
back a week later to work. After two months of hard work the barn was restored to its original
glory.
An inscription was found on the top of one of the beams: W.J.W. July 1st 1887.
This quilt was the first Pennsylvania Barn Quilt hung on July, 4th 2009.
GPS Locator: 1103 Pleasant Valley Road Mt. Pleasant, PA 15666
Eagle Ranch
Located at 1579 pleasant valley Road is a
beautiful 50-acre tree-lined farm which for the
past 19 years has been the home for the
Geesaman family and Eagle Ranch Ministries.
With Jacobs Creek bordering the back, the
farmhouse sits right along busy Route 982.
Being new to Western PA, much of the history
of the property is unknown to the current
residents. Kind neighbors have been able to
reminisce about former days, especially the
hearty dairy farm and milk production in the
1960’s. It is always enjoyable to have neighbors
stop by to share their memories of the farm and
activities held there.
We have been able to ascertain the dates of the buildings. The farmhouse was built in two sections.
The front of the house that faces the road was built in the 1840’s and features a “great room” which
runs the length of the house. The remaining structure was added about a hundred years later to
include a kitchen and a side porch.
The large barn on the property was built around 1940 and features a unique cement slab floor
upstairs. Dairy cows, goats, emus, beef cows, horses, and a multitude of cats have bedded down
there through the years. A new roof was placed by Lancaster County Amish workers in the 1990’s.
Other upgrades include horse stalls on the upper level and a rebuilt and strengthened upper hay loft.
While the farm continues to produce and grow, the main emphasis now is to sow Biblical principles
into the lives of men with addictions, allowing them to reap the benefits of a godly life. Eagle
Ranch is a place for men to come to learn from the Bible how their lives can be changed through a
personal relationship with the Loving God who created them.
Isaiah 40:31 But those who wait on the Lord shall renew their strength; They shall mount up with
wings like eagles. They shall run and not be weary, They shall walk and not faint.
GPS Locator: 1157 Pleasant Valley Rd Mt Pleasant, PA 15666
Eagle Ranch Cont’d
Peanut Butter Fudge
2/3 cup of canned milk
2/3 cup white sugar
1 cup brown sugar
1 teaspoon vanilla
½ cup peanut butter
½ cup chopped nuts
Cook five minutes. Pour into pan to let set.
Mrs. Brown’s Quilt
Brown’s Candy kitchen was established in 1951 by
West and Lucille Brown. Mrs. Brown is the former
Lucille Ross whose parents operated the Ross’s Tourist
Home. The tourist home is now is now a private
residence with the Brown’s Candy Kitchen located
behind the house. The home was once the original
residence of O.P. Shupe, whose father Daniel and
Grandfather Isaac built the adjacent flour and grist
mill, now the Pritts Feed Mill, which is still in
operation today.
The Brown’s started their candy business nearly fiftythree years ago. It began as a school project for
teacher, Lucille Brown’s students. She would help her
students prepare candy treats to take home for their
families. West Brown decided, if the children can
make candy so can he. He then went on to develop his
own chocolate candy recipes and the rest is history.
In the beginning, the Brown’s, were co-operating the
Ross Tourist Home with her sister and selling candy out of their living room. Eventually her father
built on a kitchen area and showroom, which is attached to the Cape Cod style home the Brown’s
lived in behind the tourist home.
For over fifty years Brown’s Candy Kitchen has been renowned
for their specialty chocolate candies. Christmas is the busiest
time followed by Easter and Valentine’s Day. Through the
years, Brown’s Candy Kitchen remains one of the sweetest spots
in Mt. Pleasant.
The quilt above is an original quilt that Mrs. Brown made.
Standing behind the quilt is owner Rosemary Keefer’s daughter
Jaydra.
Stop in at Brown’s Candy Kitchen and sample some of their
delicious chocolates and other goodies.
GPS Locator: 616 W Main Street, Mt. Pleasant, PA 15666
Ohio Star Variation
In 1935, James and Alice Rhodes purchased this property of sixtyfour acres with only a bungalow on it. They moved into the
bungalow and began building a house. They moved into the twostory house before it was finished, they could see straight to the
roof! Then the building of a barn was next. Walter Shepler (Armish)
and crew built the barn.
Phyllis Rhodes remembers how her
dad farmed with horses and worked
another job. Her mom was CEO of
farming, milking, gardening, and canning. (Usually 500 quarts of
fruits and vegetables per season) “We lived a wonderful life.”
The Wilbur Rhodes family, (son of James and Alice), was the
second generation to farm the land. After that, (grandson) Eugene
Rhodes and Mary farmed for a number of years. The farm is
presently owned and operated by Donald Coffman, another
grandson of James and Alice Rhodes. He is currently repairing the
buildings on this lake view property.
Alice Rhodes’ recipe served for Thanksgiving and Christmas.
Suit Pudding
2 cups finely chopped suit
2 cups flour
2 cups sugar
2 cups bread crumbs
4 teaspoons baking powder
½ teaspoon of salt
2 eggs and milk to moisten
Add:
1 box of raisins
2 teaspoons of cinnamon
¾ teaspoon of nutmeg
½ teaspoon of cloves
Mix the spices in the flour. The dough will be stiff like bread dough. Put in a cloth bag, and steam
about four hours or until done.
Sauce for Pudding:
Brown 1 ½ cups sugar in skillet. Slowly keep stirring it, so it stays crumbly. If it begins to cake
remove from heat and keep stirring. Put it on the heat again, until it gets a little brown. Then add 3
cups of boiling water, stirring constantly, add half a stick of butter, thicken with two tablespoons of
corn starch and two teaspoons of vanilla.
GPS Locator: 360 Gimlet Hill Road Mt. Pleasant, PA 15666
Pennsylvania State Quilt Block
Mr. Bruner's quilt pattern was taken from The United States Patchwork Pattern Book. In 1907, the farm
magazine Hearth & Home sponsored a countrywide quilt block contest for each of the states and
territories. The selected block for our state of Pennsylvania is proudly displayed on the Bruner's
homeplace and highlights the keystone shape. Pennsylvania was given the nickname "Keystone State" in
the very early 1800's. At a Jefferson Republican victory rally in October 1802, our state was toasted as
"the keystone in the federal union" because of its key position in the political development of the U.S.
Earl and his wife Bobbie Bruner purchased this homeplace from Ed Junick in 1956. The acreage, stonecased house and outbuildings included a chicken coop that Mr. Bruner used to house his pigs. He and his
wife raised three children Ted, Terry, and Holly and together many happy memories have been made here
on the top of Gimlet Hill.
Mrs. Bobbie Bruner's Chocolate Chip Pumpkin Cookies
Cream 1 1/2 cups of sugar
1/2 teaspoon of salt
1/2 cup of oleo
1 teaspoon of cinnamon
1 egg
1 teaspoon of baking powder
Sift 2 1/2 cups of flour
1 teaspoon of baking soda
Add alternatively to creamed mixture with 1 cup of pumpkin. Stir
in 1 teaspoon of vanilla, 1 cup of chocolate bits and 1 cup of nuts.
Drop onto a greased cookie sheet and bake at 350 for 12 minutes.
GPS Locator: 333 Gimlet Hill Road Mount Pleasant, PA 15666
Eight Point Star
The original owners, John and Susie (Miller) Snider, lived in this home place in the late 1800s. The
following story was given to the current owners, Connie and Bill Rhodes.
The means of transportation for the Sniders was horse and buckboard. One afternoon, Susie Snider and
her daughter, Edna, her son, Leslie, and a neighbor Mrs. Wingrove, set out from this home, and began the
descent Gimlet Hill. Before starting down the hill, Susie, a heavy set woman, got off the buckboard to
walk. (Thus lightening the load) About the middle of the road, the backstrap on the buckboard gave way
and it lunged ahead. This knocked the poor unfortunate horse, Pet, to the ground and the buggy turned
over. Edna was thrown from the buggy onto the side of the road. Mrs. Wingrove and Leslie fell
underneath the buckboard. Susie, terrified about the precarious condition of her son and neighbor, lifted
the buggy with one arm and pulled them both out to safety. At this point, John, hearing Susie’s cries and
the commotion came down and unstrapped the riggings from poor Pet, and helped them all home. No one
was seriously injured but they were all shaken and sore. Pet was sold shortly after the accident, and John
bought his first Ford.
Connie and Bill Rhodes have lived in this residence for thirty-eight years and have two children, Michelle
and Joshua. Occasionally there have been accidents on Gimlet Hill, but they haven’t seen any buckboards
yet! The iron barn quilt is proudly hung on the front porch of the Rhodes’ home. It is in honor of all the
families and boarders that have passed through, that loved living or visiting here on top of
Gimlet Hill in Bullskin Township.
John and Susie (Miller) Snider
Wilmer and Sarah (Keefer) Coffman
Granville Lee and Sally (Thomas) Smith
William and Connie (Eutsey) Rhodes
GPS Locator: 317 Gimlet Hill Road Mt. Pleasant, PA 15666
Eight Point Start Cont’d
This was Connie’s grandmother, Hattie Flack’s recipe.
Streussel Concord Grape Pie
4 1/3 cups Concord grapes
1 cup of sugar
¼ cup flour
2 teaspoons lemon juice
1/8 teaspoon of salt
Wash grapes. Remove and save skins. Bring pulp only to a boil. Cook two minutes until soft. Rub
through strainer while hot to remove seeds. Mix strained pulp with skins. Stir in sugar, flour, lemon
juice and salt. Place mixture in pastry lined pie pan.
Oat Streusel:
½ cup quick cooking oats
½ cup brown sugar
½ cup flour
¼ cup butter or margarine
Combine oats, brown sugar and flour. Cut in butter, sprinkle over top of pie filling. Bake at 425
degrees for 35 to 40 minutes.
Sweet Liberty
The barn on Jason and Hattie Etling’s property was
built in 1958. Hattie’s grandparents, Kenneth Calvin
Brougher and Charlotte Jean Brougher, were the
original owners of the barn. Kenneth built the barn
with two other hard working men. Hattie’s great uncle,
Glenn Bruner, Barney Geary, Donald (age 12) and
Duane (age 9) Brougher also lent a hand. Hattie spoke
with some of the builders, and their thoughts of hard
work brought out the fond memories of building the
barn. Her grandfather ordered the blueprints from a
man named Eugene Miller, who was also the man that
designed the barn. They made the first pattern, placing
it in the field on pieces of ply wood. One by one this
pattern came together to create the unique shape of the
barn roof. They used her grandfather’s ’57 Chevy to
put the trusses into place. Hattie asked her father, Duane, “What was your job at age 9?” With a grin
on his face, he replied “Dad had us pull nails, stack lumber and straighten all the old nails from the
previous barn we tore down that stood in its place.” Hattie and her husband Jason are still finding
those nails the two boys worked so hard on over fifty years ago. The men in her family worked
together to raise this barn and her grandmother and the women of the family cooked and baked to
keep their bellies filled.
This barn quilt is dedicated to the memory of Hattie’s
grandfather, Kenneth Calvin Brougher. The colors of the
quilt are in great honor of her courageous husband Chief
Warrant Officer Jason Etling, who currently defends our
freedom in the military.
Hattie Flack’s Peanut Butter Cookies
1 cup butter
1 cup brown sugar
1 cup sugar
1 cup peanut butter
2 eggs
1 teaspoon vanilla
Mix with spoon 2 teaspoons of soda and 3 cups of flour
Add rest of mixture. Form into balls. Roll into sugar.
Place on cookie sheet and flatten with fork.
Bake until golden brown on 375 degrees.
GPS Locator: 189 Gimlet Hill Road Mt. Pleasant, PA 15666
The Good Shepherd
This peaceful estate, which was once known as the Peterson Farm, is now home the Ivrea Sisters
convent and the Verna Montessori School.
In 1961 Sister Aurelia was sent to this country from Italy to look at the prospects of opening a
central house for the Sisters of Charity of the Immaculate Conception in the U.S. Upon arrival in
Mount Pleasant, this tree-lined picturesque land included a house and horse barns. Animals
scattered throughout the fields with a peaceful brook nearby was like a little piece of heaven. After
much prayer and a vision for greatness, the Sisters purchased the Peterson farm in December of
1961.
On September 8th 1964 the first group of children came to the Sisters for early childhood education.
Pictured are Sister Aurelia and Sister Virginia at a ground breaking ceremony. Bishop Gaughan
inspired the Sisters to learn the Montessori teaching method. They traveled back to Italy to do so.
In 1969 the horse barn on the property was
converted into a small school and it was
then that the Sisters began the Montessori
Method of teaching to the forty-five young
students. The blessing of the new
Montessori School was held on April 4th
1970. It was named in honor of Mother
Antonia Maria Verna.
With each New Year, the school continued
to be blessed with enrollment and
expansions to the school were needed to
accommodate. In 1972 another expansion was made which included the lower elementary school.
In 1979 an upper elementary extension was added and named Christina Hall. In 1986 Children’s
House was added and currently a fifth expansion to the
school is underway.
April 7th 2000, Mother Aurelia died just before the
school’s thirtieth anniversary.
In April 2010, the school family presented this quilt to the
Ivrea Sister’s as a gift to commemorate the Verna
Montessori School’s fortieth anniversary. The Good
Shepherd has led them on their mission of education and
it has granted success to the work of their hands.
Psalm 23: “The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want. He
maketh me to lie down in green pastures: He leadeth me
besides the still waters. He restoreth my soul.”
GPS Locator: 268 Prittstown Rd Mt Pleasant, PA 15666
The Good Shepherd Cont’d
This is an authentic Italian recipe from Sister Lucia Paladini.
Pasta Fagioli
1/2 pound dry beans
2 quart of cold water
½ cup olive oil
1 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon beef base
1 pound tubetti pasta
1 teaspoon chicken base
1 small onion
1 carrot
1 medium tomato
1 stalk of celery
Soak dry beans in warm water overnight. Wash the beans and put in a big pot. Put in the blender:
onion, carrot, tomato, celery with 1 cup of water. Mash them and pour in the beans, add oil and beef
with chicken base. Cook on the low heat for two hours or until cooked. In a separate pot boil water
and cook the pasta half done, strain and add to the beans let cook for five minutes. Then set to cool
before you serve.
Double A Hill
Double A Hill is a farmette in Woodale owned by Mark and Kelly Wilson. They have a stone house
built in early 1900’s and bought in 1996 and refinished by 1999 with the birth of their first daughter
Ally.
Double A Hill farm get its name from their two girls, Ally (age 11) and Arley (age 6), and the love
they have for the farm. The horses love to graze on these hillsides. It’s good for the horses’ muscles
and the familys as they have to carry hay to the horses on the hill.
The girls ride often in horse shows and both participate in Western Pennsylvania Youth Rodeo
Association. They started with just a small area for their black pony named Beauty. They thought
Beauty needed a companion. Now they have five horses.
Their barn quilt represents their love for a western flare and their true heart for patriotism.
Grape Salad
3 pounds grapes
Wash and let dry very well.
Mix together:
1-8 oz cream cheese
½ cup sugar
1 tablespoons vanilla
Beat together then pour over grapes
and stir.
In another bowl mix together:
1/3 cup brown sugar
1 cup chopped pecans
Mix together in a bowl and then pour over
grapes.
GPS Locator: 263 Oremine Hill Road Scottdale, PA 15683
Stone Cabin
This stone cabin was built in 1938 by the CCC boys of the Work
Progress Administration. In 1933, Franklin D. Roosevelt proposed to
Congress plans to lift the country from the hold of the Great
Depression. This emergency work program became known as the
Civilian Conservation Corps and employed young men and
transformed the nation’s landscape. The CCC boys fought forest fires,
planted trees, built roads, buildings, picnic areas, swimming areas,
campgrounds and created many state parks. The men were local
workers and the sandstone was picked and cut here, in Bullskin. Must
likely around the cabin.
It was used for years as a Boy Scout camp.
Recently the cabin was donated by the
Eutsey family to be used by the Bullskin
Historical Society, as their gathering place.
It also houses many historical artifacts from
the area. Beside the stone cabin stands the
historic Mt. Vernon Iron Furnace.
This quilt is made of iron and the quilt block pattern
is the Old Cabin. This design was used by Anna Jane
Eutsey in her quilting. She was an honorary member
of the Bullskin Township Historical Society.
These cherries were picked from Mrs. Eutsey’s sour
cherry tree.
Anna Jane Eutsey’s Sour Cherry Pie
3 cups sour cherrys
1 ¼ cup sugar
¼ cup flour
Pinch of salt
1 tablespoon butter
First bring the salt and butter to a boil then put cherries and all the ingredients into a pot and heat all
together. Put into pie crust. Bake at 425 degrees for 30 to 40 minutes.
GPS Locator: Eutsey Road Mt. Pleasant, PA 15666
1959 Minneapolis Moline
Ronnie Hogan purchased this 1959
Minneapolis Moline tractor from Tim
Zufall. Together with Russell Caldwell
and Keith Firestone, they built the tractor
for pulling in 2000. The engine came from
the South Connellsville Water Plant. Here
it was used as an auxiliary water pump to
pull water from the river and run the
generator when the power went out. The
tractor came from Ohio and runs on
propane rather than gasoline.
Moline tractors came into production in
the 1920s in Minneapolis, Minnesota. The
company continued building farm equipment until 1969 when the Oliver Company bought them
out.
Pictured here are Ronnie and his son,
William Hogan. William, age 11, is now
also pulling tractors- a 782 Cub Cadet
garden tractor.
Darlah’s Baked Lasagna is a favorite of
Ronnie and William.
Baked Lasagna
1 pound lasagna
1pound ground beef
2 pound ricotta
2 cups mozzarella cheese
1 tablespoon parsley
Dash of cinnamon
3 eggs
½ cup grated Romano cheese
1 quart sauce
Cook lasagna as directed. Brown meat and chill. Mix ricotta, parsley, nutmeg, cinnamon and eggs.
Alternate in baking pan; first layer of sauce. Then layer of cooked lasagna. Spread ricotta; sprinkle
some meat and mozzarella cheese on the lasagna. Repeat layers until all lasagna is used. Top with
the remaining sauce and sprinkle Romano cheese. Bake at 375 degrees for 30 minutes.
GPS Locator: 257 Gault School Road Connellsville, PA 15425
Janet Hogan’s Quilt
In 1941, William Francis Hogan Sr. and Florence Blanche, his wife
bought this homeplace on Gault School Road, which included a
house, an old wooden barn and twenty-two acres. They had ten
children, seven boys (one of which is Bill Hogan Jr.) and three girls.
Bill remembers walking to the Gault Schoolhouse each day with his
siblings.
July 1st 1958, Bill married Janet
King. They bought the family’s
homeplace, in 1961. Together they had Cindy, William, Kenny,
Dennis, Ronny, and Amy. In 1969, Bill decided to replace the old
wooden barn with a new one. The block used for the barn came
from Ken Wiltrout’s place. They used a 1962 Ford shortbed truck
to haul the block. The children at this time ranged from ages two to
ten. Bill gave the kids the job of cleaning the old cement from the
blocks and awarded them one penny for every block that passed
his inspection. Bill said it was the same Ford shortbed that took the
whole family each Sunday to Normalville, to Janet’s parents for
Sunday dinner. Some of the best memories were made driving to
Sunday dinner with all eight Hogans packed in the truck. Especially
in the middle of winter, when there was ten feet of snow, piled up
on each side of the road.
This quilt is hung in loving
memory of Janet Hogan
who passed away April 28th
2009. Janet made this
embroidered quilt in the early 80’s, and worked diligently
for over three years until it was completed. The barn quilt
was done to match her handiwork and give tribute to her
memory. It was given to Bill by his granddaughter Kylie, as
a gift.
GPS Locator: 224 Gault School Road Connellsville, PA 15425
Janet Hogan’s Quilt Cont’d
In the Hogan household these Filled Cookies never lasted long! Janet filled these cookies with many
different fruit fillings!
Filled Cookies
1 cup oleo
1 teaspoon baking soda
10 cups of flour
1 cup white sugar
2 cups brown sugar
1 teaspoon vanilla
2 eggs
3 teaspoon cream of tartar
1 cup sweet milk
½ teaspoon salt
3 teaspoon baking powder
Bake 375 degrees. Fill with fruit filling of your choice.
Thunder’s Quilt
Setting atop the hill on Longanecker Road in
Bullskin, Joe and Jan Brown enjoy a mountain view
with their horses and an array of other animals and
critters. This couple has an amazing caring
compassion for animals. Jan just nursed a tiny
hummingbird back to health and enjoys seeing him
thrive now on her flowers!
Their barn quilt hangs behind their house on their
newly built horse barn. The quilt block pattern is the
Star of Many Points is in done in loving memory of
their horse named Thunder
who passed away on June 5,
2010 at the age of 33.
“Thunder was more than a pet;
he was a member of our
family for 29 years. He was quite a show horse in the 80’s and always a
good trail horse later in life. Jan would often take him for a walk in the
woods, enjoying the wildlife along the way. Thunder was always willing to
give little children a ride. He would make the children laugh when we put
him in his stall. Before we could latch the door, he would grab it with his
lips and sling it back fast! Thunder was way more than just another horse.
He was a friend and a companion and sometimes even a comedian with a
personality that will never be matched! I’m sure the good Lord will take a
liking to him and we’ll be sure to meet up with him again someday!”
Revelation 4:11 Thou art worthy, O Lord, to receive glory and honor and power, for thou hast
created all things, for Thy pleasure they are and were created.
This recipe has been brought to many
gatherings by the Brown’s!
Broccoli and Cauliflower Salad
1 head of broccoli
1 head of cauliflower
1 medium onion, chopped
2 cups of cheddar cheese
1 pound of bacon, fried crisp and
crumbled
Dressing for salad
1 cup of sugar
1 cup of mayonnaise
2 tablespoons of vinegar
Mix together all ingredients and keep refrigerated.
GPS locator: 312 Longanecker Road Connellsville, PA 15425
Freedom
This farm dates back to 1875. When Homer and Hazel Hoffer bought the farm back in 1972, they
began refurbishing the house. Hazel’s brother, Clyde Snyder, started sawing through an interior
wall and ruined his saw blade immediately upon hitting loose stones. Unsure of why the stones were
there, some folks suggested insulation purposes or maybe even to stop the Indian arrows! The small
wooden barn was used by the Hoffers to house farm animals, kept for the family butchering. Their
children included four girls and three boys. Hazel reminisced about the following story.
“We were out feeding a large steer within the electrical fence, which my husband constructed, to
keep the animal contained. The steer was loosed into the outside pen and oh my, he went wild! Our
three teenage boys grabbed onto the steer to try to get him back into the barn. The steer, being
neighborly, took our three young men and went visiting right onto the neighbor’s porch! I was
praying, at that point, that he didn’t go through her front door!”
In 2001 the Hoffers sold the homestead to their granddaughter and her family. Scott and Susan
Bennington now live here with their four children. This iron barn quilt pattern is named Freedom
and was made in the summer of 2009. During which time Scott was serving in Iraq, for Operation
Iraqi Freedom.
This recipe was Hazel Hoffer’s
grandmothers.
Poor Man’s Gingerbread
1 cup raisins
1 ½ cups water
½ cup shorting
Boil together for 20 minutes at a slow boil.
Cool.
Sift together into mixing bowl
2 cups flour
½ teaspoon cinnamon
Pinch of salt
1 cup sugar
½ teaspoon ginger
1 teaspoon baking soda
2 dashes nutmeg
Add: cooled raisin mixture and stir well,
add 1 beaten egg, 1 teaspoon vanilla and 1
cup chopped nuts.
Mix well. Bake at 325 degrees for 30
minutes or until done in a greased jellyroll
pan. Ice with your favorite icing.
GPS Locator: 3447 Country Club Road Scottdale, PA 15683
Double Wedding Ring
At the age of 11, Curtis Geary was given his first trio of Black Rosecomb chickens by John Shawley at
the Bullskin Township Fair. Since this young age, chickens have been a big part of his life and this
breed in particular. He has been raising, breeding and showing these black beauties for years. Curtis
“lived” in the chicken house doing research and working in the poultry lab, during his undergraduate
study at Penn State. During his college years at Penn Veterinary School in Philadelphia, he took up
residence above the garage of Lucas Leone, the founder of Eggland's Best eggs.
Dr. Geary met Sarah Kruest in 2000 on a farm call to check her steer for the Fayette County Fair. Sarah,
a licensed vet technician and a true farm girl at heart, grew up in Vanderbuilt on her family's farm and
showed dairy cows and goats for 4H. The two began working together soon after in Dr. Geary's clinic.
In 2005, Sarah bought her first White Leghorn from Joann Musick in Latrobe. She has been raising
champion Leghorn chickens ever since.
These two poultry prizewinners were married in the fall of 2009 and together they show their champion
chicken breeds all over the eastern seaboard. The quilt that adorns their Pennsylvania-style barn was a
wedding gift from Curt's parents, Bill and Mary Kay Geary. It is the Double Wedding Ring quilt block.
In April of 1948, Louis A. and Anna E. Zylka purchased this farm from Hannah S. Ridenour. In April of
2004 it was purchased by Dr. Curtis Geary from Mrs. Zylka. Here they raise their chickens along with
various other farm animals on this peaceful estate.
GPS Locator: 1184 Mount Pleasant Rd Mt. Pleasant, PA 15666
Double Wedding Ring Cont’d
Stuffed Mushrooms
8 lg. mushrooms
2T. minced onions
Dash garlic salt
2 T. grated parmesan cheese
2T. butter
1/4C. fine bread crumbs
1/2 tsp. salt
1/4 C. sour cream
1/2 tsp. oregano
1 tsp. parsley flakes
Clean and remove stems from mushrooms. Melt butter. Brush mushroom caps with melted butter. Chop
stems. Sauté onion and chopped stems in remaining butter for 5 minutes. Add all remaining ingredients
to sautéed onions and stems and mix. Fill mushroom caps with mixture. Bake at 375 degrees for 20
minutes.
Carpenter’s Square
Art Graham began woodworking in 1930 in the 7th
grade. In high school he received on the job training
with two older carpenters. He worked nearly four years
in the service during WWII in woodworking. Mr.
Graham worked seventeen years for Allegheny Power
and retired in 1980. After that time he taught his trade
in Connellsville’s Vo-tech.
He has had his own woodworking shop for thirty years.
He has made his wife, Nelda of sixty-four years, many
beautiful things over the years, as well as pieces for his
five children. His work is varied from cabinets and
built-ins to furniture and mill work. He restored a room
in the Carnegie Library in Connellsville and it was
named the Nelda Graham room in memory of his wife.
He hopes to stay busy and continue doing his craft that he loves.
-“By the way, my high school principal told me in 1935 that I had no future in woodworking!”
GPS Locator: 140 East End Road, Connellsville PA 15425
Carpenter’s Square Cont’d
This is a great recipe to take to big gatherings.
Harvest Pumpkin Brownies
1 can (16 ounces) pumpkin 4 eggs
1 teaspoon vanilla
3/4 cup vegetable oil
2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1 tablespoon pumpkin pie spice
1/2 teaspoon nutmeg
1/2 teaspoon salt
2 cups flour
2 teaspoon baking powder
1 teaspoon baking soda
2 cups sugar
Frosting
6 tablespoon butter, softened
1-8 oz package cream cheese, softened
1 teaspoon vanilla
1 teaspoon milk
2-2 1/2 cups confectioners' sugar
1/8 teaspoon salt
In a mixing bowl, beat the eggs and then beat in the oil, and pumpkin; add vanilla Stir until well mixed.
Combine the dry ingredients; stir into pumpkin mixture and mix well. Pour into a greased 15in. x 10-in.
x 1 in. (jelly roll Pan) baking pan. Bake at 350 degrees for 20-25 minutes or until done. Cool completely.
In a small mixing bowl, beat the butter, cream cheese, vanilla, milk and salt until smooth. Add
confectioners' sugar; mix well. Frost brownies. Store in refrigerator.
Flying Geese
When Chuck's Aunt Mary and Uncle Tom moved "home" to Connellsville from NJ where they had
lived and worked for 25 years, they bought a house on Race Street, in Connellsville. Aunt Mary
gave the house to Chuck and me in 2005 when she was no longer able to keep it up.
With over one acre of ground and nearly 30 trees on
the property, Tom and Mary quickly realized they
would need an "out building" to store all the tools
necessary to keep up with the grounds. So Tom, who
had excellent carpentry skills, built the small barn in
the back yard. There was plenty of room for the lawn
tools, a nice table for Mary to pot plants, many
shelves for storing planters and pots, tools, etc., and a
loft to keep rakes and shovels and post hole diggers
and extra wood for Tom's hobby. When we moved in
and began to clear out the shed, we found 26 leaf
rakes! Even with 15 Oak and maple trees, 26 rakes is
a few too many! We're still using them!
Tom painted the barn, a nice bright red with white trim. Sadly he passed away after living here only
seven years. So the shed was used but never "spruced up". A few years ago, Chuck decided to paint
it and put on a new roof; we got my Dad to make planter boxes for the windows. He chose a perfect
shade of bright red, and of course white trim. Shortly after, we
were approached by Colleen Konieczney about displaying a
Barn Quilt patch on the shed. I had several quilts that were
made by Chuck's Grandmother Oglevee in the early 20th
century. Chuck says he remembers the quilting frames set up on
the third floor of his Grandma's house all of his childhood.
Many of Grandma Oglevee's quilts were made in the "Flying
Geese" pattern, and we chose one of those in dark blue and
white; the blue fabric is scattered with tiny stars. We thought
this would be perfect for the side of our bright red shed. Indeed
it looks beautiful.
Because space on the front of the shed was limited, we hung the
"patch" on the north side, so you will have to park just off the
street in front of our house and walk over to the shed to view the patch, but you are always
welcome, so please come and visit.
GPS Locator: 1317 Race Street Connellsville, PA 15425
Flying Geese Cont’d
This is a recipe that has truly been in the family for at least 60 years.
1-2-3 Fudge Sauce
1-12 0z. can evaporated milk, such as Carnation brand
2 Cups sugar
1 teaspoon vanilla.
3-1 oz squares unsweetened or semi-sweet chocolate (bitter sweet is also good.)
Put the milk, sugar, and chocolate in a heavy sauce pan and cook over low heat until the mixture
boils. Take off the stove and add vanilla. Beat with an electric mixer till thick and smooth.
Stand By Me Farm
David L. Baldwin was born and raised in the township of Mt. Pleasant, in a family of fourteen kids,
with a coal mining father. He left at the age of seventeen and stayed away for forty years, pursuing
and working in a professional career. His partner, Lee, is from Alabama and is an eighteenth
century history buff. David is a sentimental man interested in his family genealogy and local
history.
The opportunity arose to purchase the old Tarr House in Tarrs, PA.
Without much thought or hassle to do so they bought the property.
His dream was to always have a small scale farm. Scottdale Builders
constructed a small dairy goat barn for them. Presently, there are
four Oberhasli and four Sable doe goats (all bottle fed here). They
are waiting to be bred this winter, and to kid in the spring so milk
production can begin for fresh goat’s milk, cheese making, soaps
and other items. Their goats have quite a picky diet and get the best
attention anyone can give them; they are also very affectionate and
playful. They have lots of area to roam, but stay near their living
quarters, listening to music (one day classical, the next day country).
They also have a pet dog, a Great Pyreneese pup, named Wookie
who lives with them and is learning the life of a work dog. “We also
have chickens and the eggs are the best. They get fresh lettuce and
tomatoes everyday.” They have been working hard to clear the back
of the property and now it’s like a small park to sit and relax and
listen to the trains go by. (Music to their ears!)
With the old house built in the latter part of the nineteenth century, it
has sturdy bricks outside and in the interior walls. “Not even the
trains rattle it. This is the place where I plan to spend the rest of my
days. Just us, the dogs, the chickens, and our goats. I only hope that everyone in this world gets to
live their dream!”
“This Star of David quilt is done in memory of my parents, Kenneth and Pearl (Hoyman) Baldwin,
my sisters, Mary Lou and Sarah as well as my brothers, Kenny and Don (Chris). You guys are
sorely missed and always in my heart.”
“This recipe, found in my grandmother, Sarah Pearl (Anthony) Hoyman’s book she wrote her songs
and recipes in and now is in possession of my aunt, Anna Catherine (Hoyman) Jordan who shared
this with me. There were no baking instructions as I am sure my grandmother knew just how to
watch the cookies in the oven. I do remember on the 1950’s until her death that she used a coal
burning stove and oven. This one you will have to figure it out on your own.”
GPS Locator: 1080 Route 31 Tarrs, PA 15688
Stand By Me Cont’d
Ginger Cookies
1 cup of sugar
1 cup of lard
1 cup of molasses
1 cup of buttermilk
2 eggs
4 teaspoons of baking soda
2 tablespoons of ginger
Flour to make the dough not to stiff, roll thin.
Cut to your choice of shape.
Plummer-1960
This quaint little red barn (30x22 ft) located in the Allegheny
Mountains on the Dennis C. and Wilma J. Plummer farm in
Sidman, Pa. which is in Cambria County. It was constructed in
1960 under the direction of Frank P. and Coletta M. Plummer
by three of their sons (Clarence, Richard, and Dennis). The
property is a three generation family farm originally purchased
by George and Gertrude Plummer in 1918. Dennis inherited the
farm in 1973 and refaced the barn in 2003. Dennis and Wilma
raised their three children (Melanie, Jason, and Jennifer) on the
farm and are now enjoyed by their grandchildren (Dennis and
Olivia Richardson, Sierra and Jacob Plummer, and Edward
Raptosh). The barn quilt was purchased for the 50th anniversary of the barn. God willing, the
family farm will be handed over to Jason D. Plummer, son of Dennis and Wilma and then to Jacob
D. Plummer, son of Jason Plummer thus becoming a five generation family farmette. Of
interest is the fact that Frank and Coletta raised 10 of their fourteen
children on the farm. It has been a family working farm for 82 years.
Oatmeal Cookies:
2/3 cup granulated sugar
2/3 cup packed brown sugar
1/2 cup stick margarine/butter
1/2 cup shortening
1 teaspoon baking soda
1 teaspoon cinnamon
1 teaspoon vanilla
1/2 teaspoon baking powder
2 large eggs
3 cups old fashioned oats
1 cup all purpose flour
1 cup raisins
Heat oven to 375
Mix ingredients together. I mix all the dry ingredients
together and then add.
Drop dough by rounded tablespoonful onto ungreased cookie
sheet.
Bake 9 to 11 minutes or until light brown.
**If you are tired of raisins - add dried cranberries, cherries, chocolate chips and/or nuts.
** I use local honey instead of white sugar. I add more oats and a little more flour because the
dough is much moister with the honey. I also reduce the brown sugar to our particular taste.
GPS Locator: 115 Black Road Sidman, PA 15955
Adams Family-Century Farm
The Adams Farm in East Huntingdon Township was awarded
the distinction of a Century Farm by the Department of
Agriculture upon meeting the criteria of being a working farm
owned by the same family for at least 100 years.
The present owner, James Adams, recalls the days when his
father, Welty, delivered milk to the Alverton, Tarrs, and
Ruffsdale areas using a horse and buggy. Local residents can
also remember a time when they purchased milk directly from
this local farmer by going in the milk house, and filling their
own jugs. James, currently 89 years old, was born and raised on
the 149 acre farm that has been in his family since 1900,
although documentation shows the legal purchase year as 1903.
Adams’ grandparents, Charles and Sue (Tarr) Adams, originally
purchased the farm from the Dillingers, who ran a local
distillery. The date of construction of the farmhouse, with walls
of horsehair and lime plaster, is unclear. The earliest
documentation is approximately 1830. It is believed that the bricks for the house were kilned right
on the property. The family has managed to retain all of the original 149 acres which was purchased
over 100 years ago for $40 per acre. The rolling hills and several well-maintained outbuildings of
the farm are a testament to the dedication and hard work of the entire family over the years.
Mr. Adams now raises only beef cattle but maintained a
working dairy farm with registered Holsteins until 1995.
He and his wife, Doris, who passed away in 2003, worked
the farm together for their 63 years of marriage. James will
always proudly say that his wife was in the barn at 3 a.m.
every morning to make ready for the morning milking that
began at 5 a.m.
Mr. Adams’ oldest of
four daughters, Sharon
Solomon, is the creator
of the quilt that is represented
by the barn quilt.
The lily of the valley was the
favorite flower of Adams’ wife
and serves as a beautiful memorial to her.
GPS Locator: 543 Adams Bowser Rd., Mt. Pleasant 15666
Adam’s Family- Centery Farm cont’d
French Pastry
7 C. sifted flour
1tsp. salt
1 T. sugar
1 lb. lard (2 C.)
Mix as for pie dough. Crumble 2 cakes Fleishman’s yeast and add to above mixture. Mix well. Beat
4 eggs & 1 C. milk. Add to dry ingredients. Knead thoroughly. Put in cloth bag – tie tightly, & soak
in cold water (add ice cubes) for 2 hours, having bag covered. Take by teaspoons & pat thin using
powdered sugar instead of flour. Add filling and fold over. Bake at 450 until brown.
Filling:
Mix together in saucepan:
1 C. sugar
4T.flour
Stir in:
1-1/2 C. crushed pineapple (juice & all) #2 can
4 T. lemon juice
3 T. butter
¼ tsp. nutmeg
Cook slowly, stirring constantly, until thickened 5-10 mins. Cool. Filling for 4 doz. cookies
These DO NOT freeze well and are a “last minute preparation” cookie. They can also be filled with
apricot or raisin filling.
Blooming Hart Quilt
Our house was built in the early 1950’s and has been in
the Hart family since 1954. The house, a cottage, a garage and
shed sits on 1 ½ acres in Blooming Valley, PA. We are in close
proximity to Woodcock Dam as well as Greendale Cemetery
which is well-known and visited for its spectacular rhododendron
display every year. We are three doors down from the quaint 2room schoolhouse attended by Dick as a boy.
Dick enjoys motorcycling,
woodworking and raising Alaskan Malamutes. (Dick makes sure the
dogs have milk even if we don’t.) He also enjoyed coaching our two
sons, Dave and Tom, through their Little League years.
I ( Lee Hart) am a self-taught quilter. I was always mindful that if I
took lessons, I would find out all I was doing wrong, and it wouldn’t
be fun anymore! I had a “dream come true” moment last year when I
received word that my quilt entry had been accepted by the American
Quilter Society’s 2010 Show in Paducah, KY. Only 400 quilts are
chosen from around the world each year. All my quilting and embroidery work is done by hand. I
do not own a sewing machine. Dick loves to supervise! The quilt (below, on the left) is named:
"Hush, the Fairies are Gathering." Below, on the right, are patterns that have been laying around my
house for years. There was no other way to tie them together except to use the same colors.
We did not inherit the Earth from our parents………………….
We are borrowing it from our children.
NATIVE AMERICAN PROVERB
GPS Locator: 2511 Roudebush Street, Blooming Valley, Meadville, PA 16335
Blooming Hart Quilt Cont’d
This recipe is from the kitchen of Dick’s beloved grandmother, Ruth McGowan.
Cake Topping/Dessert
1 ½ cup chopped walnuts
2 cups coconut
1 cup brown sugar
1 stick margarine
¼ cup milk
Mix and cook 3-4 minutes. Use as icing for a cake, or eat it alone as a dessert.
Above: Grand-daughter Brooke enjoys rides with Keeto in the dog cart Grandpa made for her.
THE GOODELL SISTERS
Carrie and Margaret Goodell were the daughters of
Todd and Ella Parsons Goodell. Carrie was born in
1908, and Margaret was born in 1910.
They both spent nearly their entire lives living on the
Goodell Farm. The Goodell sisters both graduated from
Edinboro High School and went on to graduate from
Edinboro State Teachers College in 1932. Carrie earned
a masters degree in Education from the University of
Pittsburgh, while Margaret earned a masters degree from Northwestern University. Both sisters
taught school and worked in a variety of businesses outside the home.
They emulated the appreciation of horticulture instilled in the by their parents, and continued the
work of planting flowers and shrubs adjacent to the main house – currently used as the welcome
center – which was begun by their parents in the 1920s. They
continued to cultivate and expand their gardens, as well as their love of
nature and study throughout their years, well into the 1970s.
During the early 1970s, Carrie and Margaret expressed their interest in,
and worked toward finding a way to leave their property and
horticultural legacy to the community for a place for the growing of
trees, shrubs and flowering plants – a place where the general public
could enjoy the wonders of nature.
Hard work and frugality allowed the sisters to realize that desire and
they generously donated their estate to the Erie Community
Foundation, which through a donor-advised letter of agreement
led to the creation of Goodell Gardens & Homestead.
Carrie & Margaret in the 1920s.
Through this decision by the sisters, Goodell Gardens & Homestead and the Edinboro community
have been made stewards of 78 acres of green space in the Borough of Edinboro with a mandate to
create a significant regional community resource. The site overlooks Edinboro Lake, is adjacent to
Edinboro University and possesses access from both US Route 6N and State Route 99. The sisters
also left us a vivid account of their lives on the Goodell Farm in their photos and diaries. Margaret
took photos during a time spanning from the 1920s to the
1980s. Carrie kept a daily diary from 1944 until 1992.
With such historically-significant tools at our disposal
combined with generous support from the community,
Goodell Gardens & Homestead is slowly growing into the
facility Carrie and Margaret had hoped it would.
Todd & Ella Goodell with daughters
Carrie and Margaret in the 1980s.
The Goodell Sisters Cont’d
Here’s a recipe from the Goodell sisters’ kitchen that reflects their famous frugality.
The eggs, milk and butter would have come from their farm. The nut meats used were gathered
from their own Butternut trees (White Walnut) on the property.
From “New Cake Secrets,” published in 1931 by Igleheart Brothers, Inc, Evansville, Indiana.
Economical Gold Cake
2 cups sifted flour
3 egg yolks, beaten until thick
2 tsp. baking powder
¾ cup milk
½ cup butter
1 tsp. vanilla, or ½ tsp. orange extract
1 cup sugar
Sift flour once, measure, add baking powder, and sift together
three times. Cream butter thoroughly, add sugar gradually, and
cream together until light and fluffy. Add egg yolks; then flour,
alternately with milk, a small amount at a time. Beat after each
addition until smooth. Add flavoring. Beat well. Pour into two
greased 9-inch layer pans and bake in moderate oven (375F) 25 to
30 minutes. Spread Seven Minute Frosting (see below) between
layers and on top and sides of cake. Sprinkle broken nut meats
over cake before frosting becomes firm.
Seven Minute Frosting
2 egg whites, unbeaten
1.1/2 tsp. light corn syrup
1.1/2 cups sugar
1 tsp. vanilla
3 Tbsp. cold water
Put egg whites, sugar, water, and corn syrup in upper
part of double boiler. Beat with rotary egg beater
until thoroughly mixed. Place over rapidly boiling
water, beat constantly with rotary egg beater, and
cook 7 minutes, or until frosting will stand in peaks.
Remove from fire, add vanilla, and beat until thick
enough to spread.
Wild Mountain Thyme Farm
Heidi and her husband Bryan bought the farm almost 3 year years ago. Heidi
and Bryan have two daughters, Sarah is 10 and Maggie is 7 years old. They
both love the farm.
Heidi makes the most wonderful soap and
lotions. Since moving here and buying milk
goats, all of the soaps and lotions now have
goats milk in them. She has a shop that she
created from and old garage on the property, and
we are open almost every day in the summer.
They also have Angora goats and the most
beautiful yarns from the goats and a few sheep.
They raise all sorts of chicken, turkey and ducks.
They free range and the eggs are so tasty and
healthy.
I (Edna Kotrola) moved in with my daughter, Heidi and her husband
Bryan, from Newark, Delaware. I am originally from Texas and
learned my love of quilting from my grandmother. I have been quilting
about 50 years. I founded Quilts for Comfort, which is located in
Newark, Delaware, about 10 years ago. This group makes quilts for the
local hospitals. All of the quilts have come from community quilting
bees held in the area. To date, they have delivered almost 8,000 quilts
and more than 5,000 women, men and children have participated. I do
maintain a website for more information, www.quiltsforcomfort.com.
Eventually, I hope to have some community quilt bees in this area of Pennsylvania.
I have always been interested in Barn Art, and I hope more people in
oru area will participate. My Bar Art pattern is the Bear Paw, and I
chose it because in the spring-time the bears come down the
mountain across our property and up the mountain on the other side
of the property.
GPS: 8 Miles West of Wellsboro, Pa. on Route 6
Wild Mountain Thyme Farm Cont’d
Grandmother’s Gingerbread
(Edna Rhodenbaugh’s Gingerbread & it’s still very good today!)
1 cup sugar
3 whole eggs
1 cup sour milk
1 tsp. each—soda, ginger, cinnamon, cloves
1 cup butter
1 cup molasses
3 cups flour
Stir hard and bake slowly in flat pan.
Maggie Hart
Sarah Hart
Carey Patch Quilt