Octrolleyfest 2008!

It's back!!!! Come home to Darby and celebrate our vast History during Octrolleyfest!


Friends: We are only a few days out from October 18 and the celebration of the 150th anniversary of streetcars first coming to Delaware County. I hope everyone is feeling OcTrolleyMusterFestive. We hope it is going to be a good day and I am enclosing the schedule. The t-shirts are in and the ad-books are coming soon. There will be a final meeting at noon on Wednesday, October 15 at Sharon Savings Bank

Pictures from the Art Contest http://www.octrolleyfest.org/Oct-08-ArtContest.pdf are on display at Sharon Savings Bank.

If you have never heard Charlie Gracie Http://www.octrolleyfest.org/CharlieGracieBlurb.pdf or Joe Becton http://www.octrolleyfest.org/JoeBecton.html you are in for a treat. They will be givng free concerts on the Village Green (vacant lot at 8th and Main) Also, this is the first ever Darby Fire Co.No. 1 Fireman's Muster and there will antique equipment along New Walnut Street and also trolley displays and the Shiffler at Darby No. 1 on Quarry Street. Gerry Sena will also be there with his accordian

Ken Springirth, author of Southeastern Pennsylvania Trolleys (published September, 2008) wil give a talk and sign books at Darby Library at 1:00

A special treat will be Carla and Allen Messinger in a talk on "Lenape Lifeways: Introducing the First People of Pennsylvania presented by the Pennsylvania Humanities Council supported in part by a grant from the Pennsylvania Historical and Museum Commission at Darby Library at 2:00.

Dave King will show his spectacular "Back in the Day" Photo Display and we hope Tony Spano will show his historic pictures of Darby

We are planning a tour to Eden Cemetery, resting place of Streetcar Activists William Still and Octavius Catto.

The day concludes with a ceremony of dedication for a hstorical marker comemorating the oldest water powered mill in Pennsylvania built by Swedish Governor Johann Printz in 1645, more than 30 years prior to William Penn's arrival. That will take place at 4:45 (1645 railroad time) at the Blue Bell Inn on Cobbs Creek, next to t eh mill site and on the trolley route http://www.octrolleyfest.org/Oct-Route.html

PLEASE BRING A SERVICABLE COAT TO DONATE TO THE DARBY BOROUGH COAT DRIVE AND WE NEED CLEAN MILK JUGS FOR THE SCARECROW MAKING ON THE VILLAGE GREEN http://www.octrolleyfest.org/scarecrows07.html

We look forward to seeing you on Saturday. As friend John Bossong so eloquently put it

SEMPER FESTIVE

If you have any questions, please give us a call
THANK YOU for your help, pateince and support

John and Jan Haigis, coordinators
(610) 583-0788



Schedule– OcTrolleyMusterFest 2008
Saturday, October 18, 2008

9am - 3pm - OcTrolleyMusterFest –New Walnut Street at Powell Park
Sponsored by Darby Fire Company #1 – founded 1775
Antique equipment in action including the “Darby Ram,” Smoke House” Demonstration, fire prevention materials, flea market, DJ, and much more
(Vendors please call (267) 349-2783 )

10:30am - 2pm - Vintage Trolley Tours – on 1947 PCC reconditioned trolley:
guided tour through Darby, and parts of Yeadon, Colwyn and Southwest Philly.
Rides are free (space permitting) and no ticket is needed.

11am -12:30 pm – Legendary Rock and Roll Star Charlie Gracie in Free Concert on Village Green, 800 block of Main Street
During Charlie’s Break Time – Trolley Art Contest Winners Announced and Prizes Awarded

1:30 - 2:30pm - Joe Becton and his Guitar Explore the 19th century Roots of Jazz and Blues
on the Village Green

1-2pm - Talk and Book Signing by Ken Springirth, Author of Southeastern Pennsylvania Trolleys (published September 2008) at Darby Free Library, 10th and Main

2-3pm – 2-3pm "Lenape Lifeways: Introducing the First People of Pennsylvania Program by Carla and Allen Messinger presented by the Pennsylvania Humanities Council supported in part by a grant from the Pennsylvania Historical and Museum Commission. at Darby Library

4:45 pm – (16:45 railroad time) Dedication of PHMC Marker commemorating Old Swedes Mill, Pennsylvania ’s First Water-powered mill, built by Swedish Governor Johan Printz circa 1645
Cobbs Creek adjacent to historic Blue Bell on Cobbs Creek

5:45 pm - Celebration Dinner at Keya Graves Seafood and Steak Restaurant – 9th and Main
Music by Joe Becton - Sign up at Village Green Fair Information Table

Ongoing:

9-3 - Collection of Winter Coat donations. Sponsored by Darby Borough on the Village Green

9-3 – Village Green Fair – 800 block Main Street (Community Fair and Flea Market; Dave’s Back in the Day Photo Display; and 1922 Main Street photos from collection of Tony Spano

11 – 1 – Visit with the Ghost of the First Librarian (Tom Smith as John Pearson) at Darby Free Library, 10th and Main

11-4 – Visit with American and Swedish Colonial re-enactors – grounds of Historic Blue Bell

Other – Scarecrow-making and photos with Mr. Pumpkin on Village Green; Trolley display and videos with Bill Neal and music with Gerry Sena at Fire Co. #1; Tour by van of Eden Cemetery with historian Bob Seeley as Abolitionist Thomas Garrett to graves of trolley desegregation activists William Still and Octavius V. Catto, as well as singer Marion Anderson. Check at Village Green Fair Information Table for times and meeting places. Plus many surprises!!