It is a busy summer for the Muncy Historical Society as they continue to have a high profile in the community. On Saturday, August 7 at 7 p.m. They will be hosting the Paragon Ragtime Orchestra in the sixth annual “Pops at Pepper Street.” And on Saturday, August 14, beginning at 8:30 a.m. at the White Deer Golf Course, the Muncy Historical Society will be sponsoring The Muncy Cup Golf Tournament.

The Paragon Ragtime Orchestra is the world’s only year-round, professional ensemble specializing in the authentic recreation of “America’s Original Music” – the sounds of early theater, “silent” cinema, and vintage dance. PRO came into being due to Juilliard student Rick Benjamin’s 1985 discovery of thousands of historic orchestra scores of legendary Victor recording company. This extraordinary collection sparked Mr. Benjamin’s formation of his “Paragon Ragtime Orchestra” at The Juilliard School the following year. In 1988 the Orchestra made its formal debut at Alice Tully Hall – the first concert ever presented at Lincoln Center by such an ensemble. Since then, PRO has toured extensively across 48 States and several countries overseas, and their travels have taken the Orchestra to more than 700 performing arts centers.

The outdoor concert location is 232 Pepper Street, Muncy Creek Township, Muncy. Parking is available at Muncy High School and on Painter, Buffington, Lincoln, and Sherman Street Extension streets. In case of inclement weather, the concert will be held indoors, in the Muncy High School gymnasium, with on-site parking and street parking nearby.

In addition to music for all ages, the Muncy Historical Society will provide free popcorn. Come early and support the Muncy Band Association and/or Boy Scout Troop #25, who will both have picnic-fare foods available at their stands.

The “Pops at Pepper Street” free-to-the-public concert is sponsored by Muncy Historical Society and community-minded business partners and private individuals, along with a grant from the Pennsylvania Council on the Arts.

Now in its 21st year, the Muncy Cup Golf Tournament is a major fundraiser for the Muncy Historical Society’s community outreach objectives, including the development and maintenance of the Heritage Park and Nature Trail. Located along the West Branch of the Susquehanna River, the park highlights historical Port Penn, a commercial and residential suburb of the town of Muncy that blossomed out of the West Branch Canal industry of the 1800s.

A four-person scramble, the $75 registration fee ($300 per team), golfers enjoy refreshments, green fees, a cart, lunch, a “goodie” bag, and on-course contests, including a “hole-in-one” contest. There are optional activities such as a skins game, a $5,000 putting contest, door prizes, and a 50/50 drawing. The registration deadline is Aug. 7 and is limited to amateur golfers 18 years and older.

Earlier this summer, the Muncy Historical Society hosted a quilt show. The Society’s show featured more than 100 quilts. It included a judging component, with ribbons awarded for challenge wall hanging and bed quilts, hand-quilting, hand-guided and computer-guided machine quilting, appliqué, other techniques, use of color, youth, and wall hangings. In addition to ribbons, Best of Show, Best Original Design, Viewer’s Choice, and Judges’ Choice received original ‘impressionist’ oil paintings by Robert Hughes.

Nancy Simmons, of Duncannon, won Best of Show, Best Original Design, and Judges’ Choice for her entry entitled “Amish Chow Chow” and Viewer’s Choice winner, Brett Morgan, Muncy, received the most votes for his “Fancy Farm Boy (A Familiar Stranger)” wall hanging.

The “Log Cabin and Variations” Challenge winners were Annette Foresman and Karen Shipton for their wall hangings and Nancy Eischeid, Lucy Henry, and Annette Foresman for their bed quilts. Nancy Simmons, Nancy Celline, and Karen Shipton were ribbon recipients in the Applique category; Other Techniques winners were Susan Simpson, Brett Morgan, Lana Miller; and Nancy Simmons, Abigail Appleman, and Nancy Eischeid won Use of Color.

For hand quilting, Karen Shipton, Mifflinburg, took first and second place, and Nancy Celline was third place; Nancy Simmons and Abigail Appleman were first and second place winners in the domestic/hand-guided machine quilting category; and Nancy Eischeid, Jo Ellen Freida, and Amanda Hasemeier won first, second and third place honors in the computer-guided machine category. Lana Miller, Annette Foresman, and Susan Ball Faeder were wall-hanging winners; G. Ruggiero, Mary Jean Bower, and Abigail Appleman took the Contemporary category. Alice Schrack’s entry, “Alice’s Courthouse Steps,” received a rosette in the Youth Category.

The Muncy Historical Society is an all-volunteer, not-for-profit organization committed to making a positive impact on our community and our young people. The Society is committed to preserving local history and heritage for future generations.