.
“President’s Message”
The Mt. Gretna Arts Council wishes you a happy
summer and is pleased to present another edition of our popular “Calendar of
Summer Events” for the 2008 season. Many thanks to the members of the Arts
Council for all of their tireless efforts in this endeavor. Thanks to all
the advertisers and sponsors including the Pennsylvania Council on the Arts.
Have a fun season.
Thomas Clemens
President
Mt. Gretna Arts Council
Mt. Gretna Arts Council Board of Directors
Tom Clemens –
President Patty Gokey
Dale Grundon - VP
John Hambright
Leslie Hall Buchanan -
Secretary Deborah Hurst
Cindy Myer –
Treasurer Jessica Kosoff
Janice Balmer
Shirley Miller
Jeff
Hurst Virginia
Minnich
Ceylon Leitze
Mike SHermanl
Jim Burchik
Scott Zellers
Debbie
Clemens
Introduction to
Mount Gretna
Welcome!
If you are visiting Mt.
Gretna for the first time, you will find a special community. The
architecture varies from turn-of-the-century cottages to beautiful modern
homes. The landscape is enchanting: gentle hills, tree-lined roads and
trails, a lake and stream.
Throughout the summer,
cultural activities flourish. Whether it’s art, music, theater, crafts,
religion, or literature, Mt. Gretna has it!
Despite its small geographic area, Mt. Gretna has
five distinct areas with their own governing bodies: Mt. Gretna Borough &
Pennsylvania Chautauqua, Mt. Gretna Campmeeting Association, Mt. Gretna
Heights, Conewago Hill, and Timber Hills. There are also several
independent organizations that provide summer activities and events.
We hope you enjoy all
that Mt. Gretna has to offer!
Pennsylvania
Chautauqua
Since the Pennsylvania
Chautauqua’s founding in 1892, its summer activities have been an integral
part of Mount Gretna summers. In keeping with its Mission to promote a
program of the arts, religion, culture and recreation, the Pennsylvania
Chautauqua offers a wide variety of summer activities; book reviews, art &
craft lessons, Sunday worship services, lectures and presentations, organ
recitals, musical concert, Outdoor Art Show, theatre, nature walks, and
travelogues. The Cicada Festival is dedicated to providing family
entertainment at family prices and much more! Summer in Mount Gretna is
magic for young and old alike.
Borough of Mount
Gretna
The Mount
Gretna Borough is the municipal governing body covering the same
geographical
area as the Pennsylvania Chautauqua. The Borough provides civil services
for homeowners in this area of Mount Gretna, plus some contracted services
for other areas of Mount Gretna. Responsibilities of the Borough include
public streets, lighting, trash collection and recycling, leaf removal,
police services, snow removal and public ordinances. Borough maintenance
personnel also provide a wide range of contracted services for the
Chautauqua and for some other areas in the community.
The Borough
established the Water & Sewer Authority, a separate entity that is
responsible for the maintenance and operation of the water and sewer
systems, and for the sewage plant to the west of Mount Gretna.
Mt. Gretna Campmeeting Association
The Mt. Gretna
Campmeeting Association originated in 1892 as a tent site in the Mt. Gretna
pine forest, grouped around a central meeting area for summer religious
services. Soon thereafter the tents were replaced by closely packed
“gingerbread” style cottages, and the meeting area became the site for the
Tabernacle – one of the two unique outdoor circular auditoriums built in Mt.
Gretna during the late 1800s.
Today, many of the homes
in the Campmeeting section of Mt. Gretna retain the heritage and appearance
of the original cottages of a hundred years ago. The Tabernacle, the only
remaining original auditorium structure in Mt. Gretna, continues to be the
focal point for a variety of cultural and worship activities during the
summer months.
Everyone is welcome to
the Campmeeting, to participate in our activities and events, to worship,
and to enjoy the beautiful surroundings under many of the same pine trees
enjoyed by our summer visitors a hundred years ago!
Mt. Gretna Heights
Shortly after the turn
of the century, Abraham Kauffman purchased a tract of land to the east of
the Campmeeting Association. He quickly established a considerable
commercial-resort complex, including a general store (which included a
bakery and an ice cream parlor), a three-story hotel, an icehouse, and a
small mansion. Today the Kauffman mansion is the Mt. Gretna Inn bed and
breakfast. Additional lands to the east were purchased and developed into
residential cottages. Today, the former “Kauffman Heights” residential area
is known as “the Heights.”
Conewago Hill
In 1909 the majestic,
five-story, 125 room, Conewago Hotel was built on the western slope
overlooking Mt. Gretna’s Lake Conewago. The hotel was impressive - a
two-story kitchen, with an orchestra accompanied dining room; modern
conveniences such as running hot and cold water in each room, electric and
gas lights, and telephone service; chefs from New York; a grand open
staircase in the lobby; pool rooms, billiard tables, and bowling alleys in
the basement; and of course, a gorgeous view of the Lake from the spacious
verandah.
Unfortunately, the stock
market crash of October 1929, and the ensuing depression that lasted through
World War II, led to the closing of the Conewago Hotel. Today, the hotel
grounds are now the site of the lovely Conewago Hills residential homes, and
many of these homes enjoy that same gorgeous view of the Lake.
Timber Hills
North of the Mt. Gretna Conewago Lake is a tract of
land once used by the Pennsylvania National Guard for summer military
exercises, and for mobilization of Pennsylvania forces starting with the
Spanish American War in 1898. Today much of the grounds are the site for
residential homes, and the Timbers Dinner Theater and Restaurant sits on the
spot formerly occupied by the Commanding General of the 28th Division and
his staff.
Governing Bodies of Mt. Gretna
Chautauqua
Board of Managers
Peggy O’Neil -
President Earl Lenington
John Feather -1st V.P.
Fred Buch
Kathie Erdman-2nd V.P.
Linda Bell
Kathy Snavely-Secretary
Allan Feldman
Michael Bell –Treasurer
Jessica Kosoff
W.Barney Myer-Asst. Treasurer Nancy
Smoyer
Larry
Roush Carol Mayer
Jack
Anderson Keith
Kilgore-Solicitor
Nancy Besch-Chancellor
Mt. Gretna
Borough Council
Charles Allwein -
President Michael Bell
John Hambright - Vice
President Dale Grundon
Linda
Bell-Sec/Treasurer
Virginia Minnich
William Care - Director of Public
Works Keith Kilgore- Solicitor
Joseph Shay-
Mayor
Mt. Gretna
Authority
W.Barney Myer –Chairman
Fred Seltzer- Vice-
Chairman Drew Allwein
Charles Allwein- General
Manager Edward Kosoff
William Care- Director of Public
Works Keith Kilgore-Solicitor
Mt. Gretna Campmeeting Board of Managers
Jeff Hurst –
President Mike Allwein
George Resh- Vice-President
Bruce Gettle
Stephanie
Bost – Secretary Lynn Reisinger
Jim Dwyer – Treasurer
James Campbell
Mervin Lentz – Superintendent
Mary Blackburn
Mt. Gretna
Heights Board of Directors
Max Hunsicker – President Mary
Ann Steinhauer
Tom Harlan- V.P.
Rob Moran
Susan Wood– Secretary Kim
Miller
Lorraine Harlan– Treasurer Frank
Romonoski
Charlie Harris
Steve Kracke
Mt. Gretna 2008 Calendar of Events
Events Listed by Date
At the end of each event listing will be a pair of
codes for the location of the event, and the sponsoring
organization of the event. For example: “PH/MAG” would be an event
at the Playhouse, by Music at/from Gretna.
IMPORTANT: The "Events by Date" section of the Calendar contains only a
brief description of each event. For more detailed information
regarding a specific event, see the sponsoring organization's
information in the "Events by Organization" section of the Calendar
booklet.
Location Codes:
(two letters)
CG
Chautauqua Grounds
CP
Chautauqua Playground
FH
Mt. Gretna Fire Co. Hall or Parking Lot
HC
Heights Community Building
HP
Chautauqua Hall of Philosophy
LB
Mt. Gretna Community Library
MC
Methodist Church
PH
Playhouse
TB
Campmeeting Tabernacle
TC
Tennis Courts or Men's Club Grounds
Organization Codes:
(three letters)
ACN
Arts Council
BBF
Bible Festival
CHA
Chautauqua Association
CHP
Chautauqua Summer Programs
CIC
Cicada Festival
CMP
Campmeeting Association
DBC
Duplicate Bridge Club
GMC
Gretna Men’s Club
GTH
Gretna Theatre
HCA
Heights Community Association
HIS
Mt. Gretna Area Historical Society
LIB
Mt. Gretna Community Library
MAG
Music at Gretna
OAS
Outdoor Art Show
VFC
Volunteer Fire Company
WIN
Mt. Gretna Winterites
Saturday, May 24
8:00
am Book Sale. Lebanon County Humane Society “Pay what you want-
Take
what you want book sale.” LIB.
8:00
am Community Porch Sale. CMP/CHP.
4:00 pm Mt. Gretna Summer Premiere &
Art Auction.
Announcements of 2008 Summer Events, Reception. $15.
HP/ACN
Sunday, May 25
8:30
am Worship Service. MC
10:00 am
Worship Service. MC
Friday, May 30
9:00
am Mt. Gretna Bird Club. Contact: mtgretnabirdclub@hotmail.com.
3:00
pm Mt. Gretna Art Gallery Open. CG
Saturday, May 31
3:00
pm Mt. Gretna Art Gallery Open. CG
BACK TO TOP
Sunday, June 1
8:30
am Worship Service. MC
10:00 am Worship Service. MC
3:00
pm Mt. Gretna Art Gallery Open. CG
Monday, June 2
6:00 pm Broom Making. Karl Gettle. Fee: $20. Limited to 12.
Register by May 26. Call 964-1830. HP/CHP
Thursday, June 5
10:00 am Duplicate Bridge. Bring a partner and a sandwich. Cost
$3. FH/DBC
2:00 pm Play: The Man in
Black-A Tribute to Johnny Cash. $22.
PH/GTH
8:00 pm Play: The Man in
Black-A Tribute to Johnny Cash. $32.
PH/GTH
Friday, June 6
9:00
am Mt. Gretna Bird Club. Contact:mtgretnabirdclub@hotmail.com.
7:30 pm
Opening of the 117th Pennsylvania Chautauqua. Preserving the
Historic Character of Mt. Gretna Cottages. HP/CHP/HIS
8:00 pm Play: The Man in Black-A
Tribute to Johnny Cash. $32. PH/GTH
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