Listed below are just a few of the programs, exhibits, and events scheduled to take place at the Somerset Historical Center during 2008. 

Unraveling the Woof: Home Textile Equipment of Early America

November 17, 2007 - April 12, 2008        Somerset Historical Center

This exhibit features more than 25 rare and unique pieces of weaving and fiber processing equipment and spinning wheels related to home textile manufacture.  Among the wheels are moving spindle wheels, a pendulum wheel, a double treadle wheel, tow wheels, European style wheels, yarn swifts, clock reels, squirrel cage yarn winders, and others. The exhibit will highlight spinning wheels made by Somerset County wheel makers Joel B. Miller, his son Isaac, and his brother-in-law Thomas Lee.  Other textile-related artifacts will include tape looms, decorated flax hetchels, and two very rare flax scutching wheels.  The exhibit runs thru April 12, 2008.

"Learn to Spin" Workshop

February 7, 2008 and February 12, 2008       Somerset Historical Center       6:00 pm to 9:00 pm

Learn the basics of preparing and spinning wool through the use of traditional textile equipment such as hand cards, drum carders, wool wheels, and Saxony wheels.  The workshop will include an interpretation of unusual spinning wheels in the exhibit Unraveling the Woof and how they improved the process of spinning.  The workshop will be taught by the staff of the Historical Center.  Each participant will receive their own hand drop spindle.  Fee charged - $25.00 (includes materials).  Space is limited - 6 participants who don't have their own wheel, maximum of 10 participants total. 

Historia’s Secret: Historic Underpinnings & Accessories Construction Workshop Series

Mid-Nineteenth Century Lady’s Chemise

February 2, 2008           8:00 am       Somerset Historical Center

Sew your own mid-nineteenth century style chemise!  The original pattern is taken from a piece in the collections of the Somerset Historical Center.  These items were essential undergarments throughout the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries.  Basic sewing skills are required. 

Participants should bring to class a sewing machine, scissors, tape measure, yardstick, white thread, hand sewing needles and pins.  If you wish, an iron and ironing board would eliminate waiting.  Also, bring (or layer) a close-fitting tank or t-shirt to allow for accurate upper body measurements.  This chemise fits snugly to the shoulders.  We will spend the day learning about chemises and constructing one to take home.  Instructors will be on-hand to help throughout the day.

Class size is limited to six people.

$50.00 fee includes materials, pattern, information packet and a light lunch

Registration deadline: January 25, 2008

Historia’s Secret: Historic Underpinnings & Accessories Construction Workshop Series

1830s Lady's Housewife

March 1, 2008             8:00 am       Somerset Historical Center

Create a hand-sewn 1830s-era housewife, or sewing kit.  A housewife is a sewing kit or bag made of scraps of fabric sewn to a narrow backing to create pockets for holding sewing tools.  Although most often utilitarian, some were made for decorative purposes.  You will be instructed on the historic background of the housewife.  Our instructors will help you create one of these unique kits for yourself that you can take home the same day!  Please bring your hand sewing supplies: scissors, pins, needles and a tape measure.  Instructors are Carrie Blough and Gisele Blough.  Basic hand-sewing skills are required.  Fee charged: $35.00 includes materials, pattern, information packet and a light lunch.

Class size is limited to twelve people.

Charter Day - Free Admission

March 9, 2008       9:00 am - 5:00 pm       Somerset Historical Center

Free admission to the Somerset Historical Center in celebration of the anniversary of the granting of the charter founding Pennsylvania to William Penn.

Lecture Series: Spinning Wheels

March 16, 2008       1:00 pm       Somerset Historical Center

Florence Feldman-Wood, Editor of Spinning Wheel Sleuth Magazine, will provide an engaging oversight on the history of these essential pieces of 18th and 19th century technology.    
Refreshments/ Hors d’oeuvres at 1:00 pm,  program at 2:00 pm.  No fee charged.

Coopering School

March 28 - March 30, 2008    Somerset Historical Center

Learn how to make a wooden maple sugar "keeler" or bucket as used in the maple sugar industry of Somerset County. Participants will use traditional tools and techniques handed down through generations of Somerset County coopers. The workshop is designed for both beginner and advanced woodworkers with participants working at their own pace. A rare learning experience in craftsmanship and skills for a high level traditional trade! Maximum of 10 participants.  Participants will make their own maple sugar “keeler” during the course.  Fee charged - $150 includes course registration and all materials.  Call for a brochure and to reserve a place.

Now taking reservations for the 2008 Coopering Workshop!  The Coopering Workshop fills up quickly - please call the Historical Center at (814) 445-6077 for information on the 2008 Coopering Workshop!

Basketmaking Workshop

April 12, 2008       Somerset Historical Center       10:00 am - 4:00 pm

Learn to weave a beautiful market basket which will be both functional and decorative. James and Kitty Tomasik will lead this workshop which will teach the basic skills of material selection and weaving techniques.  Fee charged: $35.00, which includes all materials.  Limit 10 participants

Home School Day

May 2, 2008       Somerset Historical Center       9:00 am - 3:00 pm

A day of special educational programs designed for the home school student.  Home school families will be able to experience life as it was in the Glades region of southwestern Pennsylvania during the late 1700s.  Students will visit our 1770's log cabin to learn how pioneers preserved food, made their clothing, and built their homes.  A day of craft activities and hands-on learning opportunities will make for an exciting educational experience!  Fee charged: $3.00 per student, adults $3.50, children under 5 are free.  All materials are provided.  Pre-registration is required.

Wooden Bowl Hewing Workshop                               

August 8 & 9 2008       Somerset Historical Center       Aug. 8 - 6:00pm - 9:00pm      Aug. 9 - 9:00am - 4:00pm   

Participants will learn the mystery of traditional bowl hewing, handcrafting a large oval butter or dough bowl from a freshly cut log.  Wood selection and cutting, preparation, layout, drying and finishing techniques will be taught. All tools are supplied.  The  use of traditional hand tools such as the bowl hewer’s adze, scorp, spoke shave, and scraper will be employed in the workshop.  Instructor is Mark Ware, Museum Educator for the Somerset Historical Center.  Mark studied traditional bowl hewing from James Miracle (Miracle’s Mountain Crafts) of Middlesboro, Kentucky in 1977.  He has hewn more than 200 butter, dough, and maple sugar stirring bowls.

Limit 5 participants $75 which includes all materials.

Mountain Craft Days

September 5 - 7, 2008    10:00 - 5:00pm    Somerset Historical Center

The Somerset Historical Center will host the 39th annual Mountain Craft Days folk festival September 5^th, 6^th, and 7^th, 2008, from 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. each day.  Over 125 craft artisans, musicians, and entertainers will be on hand to interpret the rich frontier heritage of southwestern Pennsylvania.  Mountain Craft Days was founded in 1970 to preserve and interpret the wonderful historic craft and trades heritage of Somerset County, and with over 100 booths and a dozen outdoor performance sites located within walking distance of each other in gentle meadows and along wooded paths a wonderful mix of historical demonstrations, music, and food is available for visitors to explore and enjoy.

The event is rain or shine.  Weather permitting, there will be free on-site parking at the Historical Center on Friday September 8th.  A weekend shuttle bus will transport visitors free of charge to the site from designated parking areas on Saturday and Sunday.  Follow the directional signs to the designated free parking and shuttle areas.  The quick and efficient shuttle busses will run continuously starting at 9:45 a.m. each day.

General admission is $7.00 for adults; children 6-17 are $4.00, and children under 5 are free of charge.