December 6, 2006

Dear friends,

2006 has been a good year for KURC, although we certainly got off to a rough start. Last December 31 found us hauling out our pictures, furniture, t-shirts, books, and everything from The History Station, because Penn Eastern Railways wanted the space for offices. Taylor Oil Company generously offered us room to store most of our stuff, and the Chester County Visitors Center at the old Longwood Progressive Meeting also stored some things for us. It’s good to have friends!

Luckily, the Chadds Ford Historical Society came to our rescue and lent us a fine space in which to display much of our collection. They’ve been wonderful hosts all through 2006, and we appreciate mightily their hospitality and help. Through CFHS we’ve made new friends, and many visitors who came to see the John Chads House were pleased to find they could learn about the Underground Railroad, too.

Now, though, CFHS needs the space for a super exhibit they’ve planned, and we’ll soon be homeless again. Early in 2007 we plan to display in the Chester County Visitors’ Center at Longwood some of our precious items–the “slave” dress and other clothing a copy of the message Frederick Douglass wrote in Lydia Cox’s autograph book when he visited the Cox house a facsimile of Henry “Box” Brown’s wooden crate (climb in and feel the spirit!)
an intriguing little needlework piece, a “thank-you” from a freedom-seeker who was helped by a West Chester family

These treasures give a sense of the experiences of the fugitives and of their courageous helpers.

Now we need a new home, and we’ll be pleased to entertain any and all suggestions.
Plans are afoot to revamp The History Station, but it looks as if it will be several years before that happens.

In the meantime, though, we’re keeping busy. We’ll continue our Underground Railroad Heritage Tours, beginning in May and lasting through the summer and the Mushroom Festival. Watch our website for information about these. They’re increasingly popular, and reservations are necessary. Also, we have guides who will be happy to climb aboard a bus and lead a group tour of the Underground Railroad in our very historic area. Call 610-347-2237 to arrange a tour.

 

As in past years, we’ll sponsor reenactors who will bring African-American history to life for school students. Please contact us if your school might be interested.

Kennett’s East Linden Street has been in the news lately, as the Historic East Linden Project catches fire. Some of the best things about Kennett had their start in that old part of town: several of its industries and the tradition of diversity. Also, several Underground Railroad “station-masters” lived there. KURC applied for and received grants from the Chester County Community Foundation and Pennsylvania’s Department of Commerce and Industry (with Representative Chris Ross’s help) to find out when the older homes were built, who built them, and who lived there through the years. This is a rich area for research, and we hope to be able to share with students and the community as a whole the traditions of this area of our town.

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SAVING THE BEST FOR LAST: THE GREY SOX MOVIE !!
Early in 2007, we’ll present the premiere of our Grey Sox Documentary. In November KURC board members Linda and Rusty Jones hosted a party at the Life Center to celebrate this baseball team and its accomplishments, and Lincoln University’s Darian Bagley filmed team memorabilia and former players as they recalled their glory days.
KURC is proud to sponsor this record of a vivid part of Kennett’s history.
WATCH FOR IT!!!
Help us find the missing scorebooks! Where are they? Call Rusty Jones, 610-444-6392.

UPDATE: The movie is now available on DVD. Click here for the trailer and purchase info.
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Your assistance has helped in the past to teach hundreds if not thousands of people, from school kids to retirees, locals to overseas tourists, about our rich local history. To continue this worthy work, KURC needs to meet its 2007 budget. Thank you so much in advance for your generous gift.

Happy holidays and a fine 2007 to all our friends,

Mary Larkin Dugan, President

Board of Directors: Mary Anderson, Susan Darrel, Martin Greene, Darryl Hall, Linda and Earl Jones, Marjorie Kaskey, Louis Mandich, John O’Neal, Treasurery