historical artifacts to the society. Today the older log and woodframepartofthehouseissetupthewayahomewould have been at the time the Montgomery family first lived there and includes items donated by their descendants. Although the Montgomery House and neighboring Boyd House weren’t able to be open for a year because of the Covid19 pandemic, the members of the Historical Society put that time to good use, going through many of the donated historical items that had been in storage and creating new displays. Since mid-April the two buildings have been reopened for public tours on Sunday afternoons from 1 to 4 p.m. It’s a great destination. On a recent Sunday, I spent several hours there looking at the fascinating displays and talking to the Historical Society volunteers who were eager to tell visitors about the houses. One room in the Montgomery House is dedicated to Geisinger Hospital founder Abigail Geisinger and contains some of her personal belongings including a beautiful needlepoint chair. I learned that Mrs. Geisinger, born Abigail Ann Cornelison in 1827, had been married twice – the first time to a distant cousin, Jacob Cornelison. After she was widowed, she married George Geisinger in 1866 when she was 39. Next door to the Montgomery House is the Boyd House, built in the early 1880s by Daniel Montgomery Boyd, grandson of Daniel Montgomery and great-grandson of William Montgomery. The Elks Lodge purchased the house in 1923 and used it until 1999. Since purchasing the Boyd House, the Historical Society has turned it into a museum that is home to some unique collections. There’s the Military Room that has a huge collection of military items from all eras of American history.
You can help the Historical Society continue the Montgomery and Boyd House renovations by donating to the Boyd House Fund, PO Box 8, Danville, PA 17821.
Uniforms, medals, enlistment papers, newspaper articles track America’s military history. You could spend hours in there and still miss something! In the Business & Industry Room you’ll find items including documents, pictures and even cast iron stoves from the mining and iron industry that was a huge part of Danville history for a century. One of the items that will surely catch your eye is an advertising backdrop from the old Opera House in town that takes up a whole wall. As if that isn’t enough to keep you there for hours, there’s a room with Native American artifacts including a display of arrowheads that were found in the surrounding fields, streams and river. No matter what your interests are, you’re sure to find an exhibit whether it’s musical instruments, toys, clocks or early photos. The Historical Society also has assembled clothing and accessories that highlight the fashions from the 19th and 20th centuries. And there’s a library with historical books and documents. Planavisitsoon.EvenifyouhavebeentotheMontgomery andBoydHousesbefore, you’ll findsomanychanges and new exhibits that you’ll be glad you gave it another try. The two houses are open Sundays from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. from April through October and by appointment during the winter season. Admission is $10 if you are not a member of the Historical Society. Members, young children and students from kindergarten through 12th grade are free.
Cast Iron Stove and Military Room that can be found in the Boyd House
5
Powered by FlippingBook