Williamson is an Assistant Professor of Political Science at Lycoming College.

Muncy to Host 36th Antique Show

Muncy Historical Society's annual antique show, now in its 36th year, will be held from 5:30 to 9 p.m. Aug. 27, with an opening night reception, and 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Aug. 28. The $4 admission, with a hand stamp, is good for both days. The juried, indoor show will be held at Geringer Social Hall, 213 N Main St, which is an air-conditioned facility with plenty of parking.

Diversity, along with an emphasis on national history, enables Muncy to host a fine-quality Americana show. The show offers an impressive range of antiques and visitors can find a selection of 19th and 20th century American and English furniture, fine early porcelain and glass, stoneware and pottery, quilts and vintage textiles, estate jewelry, folk art, primitives and Americana, military memorabilia and more.

The society initiated an antiques show as a fund raiser to support its preservation initiatives. Show admission proceeds will be used to help defray costs associated with its multi-year Muncy Heritage Park and Nature Trail project.

Bill Poulton, antiques show manager, also is the president and executive director of the Muncy Historical Society. He serves as the spokesperson and fund-raising chairperson for many of the society's special projects and events.

"One of the great things about our quality antiques show is that we focus on quality and product diversity," Poulton said. "Also, we do not emphasize one antique over another but look to offer our guests as much variety as possible so that our show has broad-based appeal to a spectrum of antiques collectors, other antique dealers and the general public," Poulton said.

Participation in the Muncy show is by invitation only. The show manager must have seen a vendor's product or the vendor must have been referred by a participating dealer. To take part in this juried show, each exhibitor must not knowingly misrepresent any merchandise as to age, condition, authenticity or price. All merchandise must conform to the antiques (at least 100 years old) and collectibles (at least 50 years old) guidelines. (Sale of newer collectibles, craft items and reproductions is not allowed). Each item must be labeled or ticketed with an indication of the item’s timeframe or authenticity and the item’s price. If an item is post-1950 but considered among collectors as rare and/or highly desirable, the item must be labeled with the time frame and authenticity.

Before the show opens, each booth is juried by knowledgeable antiques professionals who screen each booth for quality and compliance with the show guidelines. Exhibitors must remove all items deemed objectionable by the jurors and show manager.

"Because we are a juried show, our customers can feel comfortable knowing that non-exhibiting antiques collectors have evaluated the merchandise in each booth. These jurors are hand selected because they are particularly knowledgeable about a variety of antiques, have a reputation of fairness and honesty and are considered by their peers to be leaders in their profession," Poulton said.

Each year as visitors from around the world converge on the South Williamsport area, my hometown pride is renewed. I know that people in this valley are once again rolling out the red carpet for families and friends of the game and its young champions. Why am I so confident? Because from a young age I witnessed the annual event and its response from local folks.

Childhood memories have always included LLB games as soon as I was allowed to walk the three blocks from home to the ball field at the bottom of the "hill" in South Side. If my classmates were playing a home game, I rushed through our supper so I was at the field for the umpire’s shout "Play Ball!" Sometimes, I could even convince mom to skip a ho-hum meal and buy a hot dog at the game instead. That smell of hot dogs and French fries became a familiar part of Little League memories. Many years later at Lamade Field during World Series Week, my parents were cooking and selling hot dogs and French fries as a fundraiser for mom’s Eastern Star chapter.

One of my first long distance bike rides across the river was to the World Series. It was an easy route. I’d head for dad’s gas station on Riverside Drive, cross the metal mesh walkway of Maynard Street Bridge, follow Maynard Street to the end, turn left and follow Fourth Street until my friends and I spotted the crowded parking lots and ball field — the site of the original championship games. Later, I would turn right on Fourth and go to the YWCA and the roller skating rink but that first ride is rooted in Little League.

My collection of World Series Programs begins with the 1954 edition. That year I was the same age as the players and they were all heroes in my eyes. Then too, the mystery of these boys living in other cities and towns across the country fascinated my twelve-year-old mind. My travels outside of Williamsport were limited to visits with family in rural Pennsylvania. That first program, full of black and white pages of team pictures, commentaries and full page ads from sponsors is far different from the full color pages of today’s programs but what makes my 1954 booklet special are the scribbled autographs of Carl Goth, Texas; Roger Mariano, Kenneth Hubbs and many others too difficult to read now. These faded signatures from 1954 are a reminder of an important pre-teen summer. To my surprise while penning this article, I discovered that the 1985 program featured Ken Hubbs’ life. The story of his Major League career with the Chicago Cubs and a description of his personal life. The article in 1985 was written some 30 years later as a memorial to that young boy from the 1954 LLB Series who died a budding Major League star in a plane crash in 1964.

My program collection had a thirty-year break because those teen and young adult years had other memories. I traded in my two-wheeler for dad’s Chevy and drive-in movies were more exciting than collecting autographs at the World Series. I lost interest in cheering at the games in August but never lost interest in the annual celebration of the boys of summer.

It wasn’t long until my connection to LLB would again sprout new roots. With three sons whose interest in sports led me back to the ball fields of Brandon Park and the South Side field of my own childhood during their 8-12 years. This time, I appreciated volunteer coaches, umpires and assistants who gave up their free time to teach both baseball skills and sportsmanship. I especially valued coaches who taught that winning wasn’t always the most important goal but emphasized fair play.

My priorities, too, shifted during those baseball seasons. Raised to spend Saturday mornings cleaning house, I abandoned that routine as a young mother, choosing instead to be in the bleachers cheering our sons’ team. When mom questioned my decision; my explanation was simple. "Cobwebs will always be there but missing a homerun or a terrific fly ball catch in the outfield may only happen once."

The World Series took on a new meaning during those years when a son was picked for an All Star Team in district playoffs. Although the team was eliminated early on the road to the series, our pride and his grew yet another root in LLB.

Whether on or off the ball field bleachers, each year as the world turns its attention to the World Series, that foundation of enthusiasm and hometown pride is restored again.