The 27th annual celebration of the heritage of Alexandria, known as Hartslog Day, will be held tomorrow, officially beginning at 8:30 a.m., rain or shine.
Hartslog Day has been organized again this year by Don Litzenberger, a Huntingdon resident with strong Alexandria ties. He has had plenty of help from his wife, Margie, and a committee of people devoted to the event.
Hartslog Day began in 1975 as a homecoming celebration to promote the sale of “Hartslog Heritage” books and to unveil the Harts Logg marker in front of the Memorial Public Library. The Hartslog Museum was founded with the funds raised by the sale of the books. Once the festival was held annually, it became the museum’s chief fund-raising event to support its small operating budget.
According to Evelyn Bookhamer, Hartslog Day will proudly welcome around 175 artists and crafters coming from this area, all parts of Pennsylvania and surrounding states as well. Their stands will fill Main Street from Bridge Street to the Juniata Valley Medical Center. Bookhamer is assisted by Kim LeCrone and Debbie Kann.
Entertainment will begin at 10 a.m. on the lawn of the Memorial Public Library. The annual raising of the Pumpkin Pole on the library lawn will be directed by Jim and Sue Dilling sometime between 7:30 and 9 a.m. A parade of six Jaffa Temple units, Huntingdon Twirling Kittens, 65 Amish Country Cruisers from Lancaster, six local antique cars, Juniata Valley High School Marching Band, dignitaries and fire company equipment will be led by parade marshal Ed Wileman of Southside Alexandria.
According to Litzenberger, the Amish Cruisers are a club of street rod enthusiasts, led by P.J. Holtzapple, a native of Rockhill Furnace. The cars will be displayed at the American Legion Post after the 9 a.m. parade passes through town.
Bookhamer said shoppers will be able to choose items from booths containing quilts, jewelry, woodwork, paintings, baskets, candles, tole painting, teddy bears, pottery, stained glass, toys, ceramics, leather goods, photography, Christmas items, dried flowers, braided rugs and more. Some unusual features are hand-carved canes, fly tying, items made from goat’s milk, quilting, stained glass and copper sculpturing, fine art and child-size scarecrows.
“The Hartslog committee has worked diligently to maintain the standard of handmade crafts by the vendor, even though this is a difficult standard with all of the imported crafts flooding the market,” Bookhamer said.
About 10-15 children will be selling their own handmade crafts, according to Kristin Biddle, a teacher at Juniata Valley Elementary School. She is coordinating the children’s activities in the area behind Penn Central National Bank. Beginning at 9 a.m., children may try their hands at Japanese fish printing, apple head dolls, berry baskets, marbleized stationery, naturally dyed eggs, burlap moccasin making, clay play, popcorn string, stitching and braiding, pine cone decorating and mural painting. Joe Burkhard will have his animal petting zoo set up and Raystown Reading Council members will hold storytime.
“The activities are free, but donations may be given,” Biddle said.
Lisa Rowe and Kathy Harman are in charge of food vendors and organizations which are selling food. The United Methodist Church members will host their pancake and sausage breakfast from 8-11 a.m. The Juniata Valley Lions Club will pack chicken barbecue dinners at the Alexandria fire hall from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. The Reformed United Church of Christ will offer their famous hot sausage sandwiches in front of the church.
Other foods to look forward to are pizza and strombolis, all types of sandwiches, hot wings, french fries and sweet potato fries, onion rings, taco salads, ham barbecue, kettle popcorn, funnel cakes, monkey bread, apple dumplings and all of the other festival favorites. The food booths now extend up the three side streets off Main Street.
After the parade, the JVHS Band will play at 10 a.m., followed by the JVHS Select Chorus. Potter’s Band is scheduled for 11 a.m.; Ted and Ruth Reinhart will sing at noon; sisters Anita Roseborough and Regina Miller will sing together at 12:30 p.m.; Ron Shawver and Dively Family are scheduled for 1 p.m.; Belles and Beaus, 1:30 p.m.; Huntingdon Mixed Chorus at 2:45 p.m. and Second Edition at 3:30 p.m. Potter’s Band is led by Paul Veitch of Mount Union. The Huntingdon Mixed Chorus is currently comprised of eight men and 12 women. The group is open to new members, with no auditions.
Committee workers are Sam Miller, John Gaudlip, Paul Marsteller, Claire Bailey, Steve Lane, Walter Malcolm, Dale Schirm, George Lightner, Brad Howe, Kathy Harman, Ginny Mutti, Jerome Leamer, Mark Leamer and Tim Speck. Betts Holland and Kathy Jo Bush assist the Litzenbergers with information. Alexandria Fire Police provide traffic control.
Ron Trimer is in charge of free parking and free shuttle vans to and from Juniata Valley schools parking lots to Bridge and Main streets, the fire hall, Peter Simpson’s field at Sixth Street and Shelton Avenue, Juniata Valley Medical Center and Mead Westvaco. Parking is at a premium in town, so visitors are encouraged to park in the lots and use the buses.
