Woodville Plantation

Tuesday, October 5, 2010

Stoolball - America's Forgotten Pastime

If you are looking to turn an ordinary conversation into an argument, conventional wisdom suggests that you look to the topics of politics and religion. While these topics certainly will do the job, it is the topic of sports that will transform a cordial dialogue into vitriolic discord more quickly than any other subject matter. Behold the numerous radio stations, both national and local, that routinely capitalize on this paradigm. Listen as callers repeatedly change themselves into frenzied and hysterical madmen over a fumbled football or a misplayed fly ball.

Interestingly, the history of sport often evokes a similar passion, with heated debate accompanying the study of the evolution and origin of specific games. A sport whose origins are often contentiously debated is stoolball. If you suggest to a cricket fan that stoolball evolved into baseball, you may find yourself the recipient of the flat end of a cricket bat. If you suggest to a baseball fan that stoolball evolved into cricket, you may find yourself connecting with a Louisville Slugger. Regardless of its evolution, stoolball (in all of its varieties and forms), was a very popular and competitive sport in early America.

(To read the full article about the history of stoolball in early America, go to the latest issue of Woodville Plantation's newsletter, Window on Woodville.)

Monday, September 20, 2010

Claude Harkins to Speak at Fundraiser Dinner for Woodville Plantation

Claude Harkins is a man of American treasures and a treasure of an American man. His home is a veritable museum of Revolutionary era artifacts, much of it related to George Washington. He has a bronze of the Washington bust by Jean-Antoine Houdon. He owns china dishes and wine glasses that the General used. Then there’s the locket of Washington’s light reddish hair, the long strands valued at more than $200,000.

Whenever Mr. Harkins is not collecting, the retired CEO is either researching or writing. When he makes a presentation to school children, assisted-living facilities or patriotic groups, he does so with authority. This year alone, he’s spoken to 1,500 students.

On Sunday, October 3, 2010, this winner of the DAR’s Medal of Honor will be giving a lecture titled, “George Washington, Was He Predestined to Become the Father of Our Country?” Starting at 6:00 pm, the lecture will be held at the Allegheny Country Club in Sewickley Heights. A dinner and cash bar will also be included in the evening.

Presented by the National Society of the Colonial Dames of America, this event will benefit historic Woodville Plantation. Built in 1775, Woodville was the home of John and Presley Neville and a Whiskey Rebellion site. The oldest residence in Allegheny County open to the public, Woodville is also a National Historic Landmark.

Using colorful slides of historical paintings and engravings, Claude Harkins will present an interesting account of the life of George Washington, highlighting incidents not usually found in history books. “During his lifetime,” Harkins states, “there were many times when he could have and should have been killed – but he was never harmed.” Harkins points out several of these instances in his lecture, including the shots Washington took at Braddock’s Defeat, and the close proximity to which he approached the British line at the Battle of Princeton without even being grazed by musket fire.

Mr. Harkins will also bring with him a wonderful display of personally owned artifacts, including a flag from the Whiskey Rebellion and personal items once belonging to George and Martha Washington. The evening will end with a special surprise and a salute to the American flag.

Tickets for the lecture are $60.00 per person ($15.00 is tax deductible). To R.S.V.P., please contact Pittsburgh History and Landmarks Foundation (PHLF) at (412) 471-5808, and reference event #527.