Visiting Harry Packer Mansion, Jim Thorpe, PA

Here is a little peek inside the

Harry Packer Mansion 

now operating as a Bed and Breakfast

in Jim Thorpe, PA

Does it look a little familiar?

It was the inspiration for Walt Disney World's

Haunted Mansion.
( Personally, I don't see it.
But it has most similarity to Paris' Phantom Manor) 

Maybe that is why they host 

Murder Mystery Weekends!

In 1874 this mansion was built as a wedding gift for Harry Packer by his father Asa. 

It is right next door to Asa's mansion.

I guess he wanted to keep an eye on the newlyweds.

Here is the view from Harry's window of
Asa's mansion.

Asa Packer made his fortune as the founder of 
Lehigh Valley Railroad and Lehigh University.

So, come on in and sit a spell,

cause you actually can!

Just purchase a glass of wine in the room across the way

and enjoy it while soaking up the surroundings.

Or you could sit here with that wine.

Thanks to Robert and Patricia Handwerk.

who purchased the property in disrepair in the 1980's

and restored it to it's glory.

How sad it would have been to have lost this beauty.

The Harry Packer Mansion

19 Packer Ave.

Jim Thorpe, Pa 18229

(570) 325-8566

All the photos from this gallery can be found here.

The Men in Blue

Civil War Re-enactments by the PA 69th Irish Volunteer Infantry

at the Winterfest in Jim Thorpe, PA

I also posted about the Winterfest in Jim Thorpe here.

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All the photos from this gallery can be viewed here.

Winterfest, Jim Thorpe, PA

Jim Thorpe has absolutely nothing to do
with the town in Pennsylvania bearing his name.

The officials of Mauch Chunk,
or 'Bear Mountain' in the language of the Lenape people,
purchased the name from Jim Thorpe's wife after his death

in an effort to up tourism in the town.

This Victorian era small town is certainly picturesque.

Surrounded by small mountains

and beautiful structures,

it makes a nice day trip from Philly.

The Winterfest activity is primarily focused on the Mug Walk.

An ingenious marketing idea that gets you into

every participating store in town.

You purchase your mug at the Visitor Center by the old railroad station.

By visiting the participating stores, 

you receive a little something for your mug:

Soup, chili, hot chocolate, crackers, cookies, popcorn, candy, etc.

not actually served in the mug though.

It is a great way to get reluctant husbands into the quaint shops

they would otherwise never wish to frequent.

In addition to the Mug walk

there was an industrious chain saw wood carver at work.

And a not as industrious ice carver.

Street musicians whose sounds echoed  up the street.

And a few other things taking place throughout the town.

I will be posting about the Civil War rein-actors
and a tour of Harry Packer's mansion
in the next couple of days.

For now, I'll enjoy some hot chocolate in my
new Jim Thorpe mug.  :)

To visit the town, there is plenty of parking at the railroad station

for a reasonable fee.

2 Lehigh Ave, Jim Thorpe, PA

A Springish Day

We really needed this nice day!

I drove  with the sunroof open all day - 

It helped release some of the cabin fever 

from feeling snowed in for a couple months.

And these two cuties were releasing their cabin fever in a different way.

The wind has kicked up

and the temps dropped again,

but it is not as cold as it WAS!

Racing Eyes

I love the look of these blue eyed dogs.

I went to a sled dog event on Saturday

and there were so many blue eyes.

A beauty in white.

Look at the hair on this one,
it reminded me of a lion!

This gal, whose name escapes me,
was the calmest dog ever!
She was enjoying a belly rub
while her hyper cousins were in the races.

 

She was a visitor, not a racer.
I guess that explains the relaxed temperament.

I did another post on this event here.
All my photos from this gallery can be viewed here.


Annual Kiwanis Club

Dog Sled Challenge and Mushing Education

Lake Lenape Park, Sellersville, PA

Free admission

MUSH!

When I think of sled dogs I think of Alaska, not Pennsylvania.

But guess what?  I found some in Perkasie, Pennsylvania!

Ready...Set....Go!

There was a variety of different races at the event.

And once one dog was taken to get harnessed up,

the others all started getting hyped,

almost like they were saying, "Pick me, pick me!"

After the races $5 would buy you a little ride.

Mush! (Actually, I didn't hear anyone say "Mush.")

Don't you just love this hat?

It was the first time this event was held. 

It would be fun if they have it again next year.

I will be posting some photos of just the dogs on Tuesday.

Annual Kiwanis Club

Dog Sled Challenge and Mushing Education

Lake Lenape Park, Sellersville, PA

Free admission

The GPS Squirrel

I watched this squirrel start digging in the snow.

He was determined and I wondered what he was doing.

Now how did he know exactly where that nut was buried.

I think it was the squirrels that invented GPS.

Stained Glass at Glencairn Museum in Bryn Athyn, Pennsylvania

Glencairn is now a museum,
but once served as the home of
Raymond and Mildred Pitcairn.

It is hard to imagine that at one time this place was a residence
with such intricate stained glass. 

Perhaps the Glencairns had the future in mind
when they built their home. 

Because today,
while also serving as a museum,
there are other events of interest here. 

I posted about the Medieval Festival held at Glencairn here
or you can view photos here.

Glencairn Museum 
1001 Cathedral Road, PO Box 757
Bryn Athyn, PA 19009

Medieval Festival at Glencairn Museum

I visited Glencairn Museum today.
They were hosting a Medieval Festival.

The museum is affiliated with the The Academy of the New Church
and Bryn Athyn Catherdral in Bryn Athyn, PA.

At one time the museum was a home for Raymond and Mildren Pitcairn.

It was built between 1928-1939.

This would have been quite the home!

It definitely has a Medieval feel to it.
The museum has artifacts from throughout the ages.
and holds interest on its own.










But today, there was an added bonus.

Medieval music demonstrations.







Illuminated Text demonstrations.







A replica of the Gutenberg Press.







Stained glass making demonstrations.



Reinactors to take you on a Pilgrimage





And enthusiastic Medieval visitors in costume.



Those offering demonstrations were very knowledgeable and experts in their craft.
The tour was by students of the Bryn Athyn College and was a little scripted,
but creative effort was obvious.

I had no idea this museum had so much to offer.
At $5 for admission, this was a bargain.

1001 Cathedral Road
Huntingdon Valley, PA 19006
(267) 502-2600

Photos from this post can be found here.