page 6 GlenRock CommunityGuide 2017-2018
World War I History Day exhibit at The Hermitage,
2017. Pictured are GRHPS members Bruce Packer( mayor of Glen Rock), Kay Tuite, Diane Herrlett and Bill Gilligan.
items that had been passed down in her family for over acentury,” Tryforos said.“ Families have played a big part in donating to our collection.”
There are many similar examples. One is a collection of original materials connected to the renowned architect, Carl Kemm Loven, donated by his daughter, Mimi. The large collection contains original blueprints, as well as several hundred documents, including personal letters and student notebooks, a drafting table and drawing instruments belonging to the architect.
Tryforos said the GRHPS has also received a variety of smaller items donated by residents, including photographs, postcards, books, clothing and uniforms. However, of all the items donated to the GRHPS, Tryforos said her favorites are those that have a personal story, such as the World War I uniform jacket donated by the Sinkway family. The jacket was worn by Garret Sinkway, whose name is on The Rock’ s Honor Roll plaque of local World War I veterans. There’ s also the complete MP uniform donated by veteran Paul Gutheil, who served in Germany in the 1950s.
All the donated items share a common but important trait besides being among the last vestiges of the past.
“ Each and every piece in our collection has a story to tell,” Tryforos said.“ I think it is
important to realize where you come from, what came before, and what sacrifices were made bythose who made the borough what it is today,” she said.
All the artifacts offer awindow tobygone days and, therefore, help the GRHPS fulfill its mission.
“ All of these materials help us learn more about the area’ s past and enable us to share that history with the public,” she said.
How the GRHPS shares these historical items is even inspired. The artifacts are on view at The Museum at the Station, GRHPS’ s headquarters, located inside an old Erie Train Station. GRHPS’ s displays are changed periodically while there are permanent exhibits featuring the Erie Railroad and artifacts from Glen Rock’ s farming history. Some past exhibits, on loan from local collectors, featured an extensive display of vintage toys and bicycles, as well as an original Civil War document. These items allow the GRHPS to present materials from outside its collection without requiring the owner to donate their items.
While the GRHPS designs displays with the goal of appealing to visitors of all ages, there isanextra effort to reach the borough’ s youngest residents.
Forexample, aTelephone Exhibit in 2016 that featured several old models was aparticular hit with youngsters. >
COURTESY OF GLEN ROCK HISTORICAL & PRESERVATION SOCIETY