PLUMSTED – Webelo Scout Robert Mayer, 10, handed over a dollar bill back in 1999 to then Township Mayor Ron Dancer as Carol Reed, the president of The New Egypt Historical Society looked on with a big smile.
This was at a Township Committee meeting in the days when the governing body still met on Main Street in a building that was once a bank. The building later became a welcome center and is now up for sale.
The New Egypt Historical Society located at 125 Evergreen Road hosts tours of their facility that was once known as the Singleton farm house. (Photo by Bob Vosseller)
The occasion, however, was special because that dollar covered the cost of leasing the Singleton Farm. Now 25 years later, the farmhouse continues to serve as the Society’s museum and where visitors and residents enjoy tours and special events.
Reed accepted a symbolic key after Mayer’s donation to the mayor during that Monday evening meeting. A photo of that presentation made the front page of that week’s edition of The New Egypt Press, a century old weekly newspaper that served the community. That issue was framed and remains a living memory on the wall of the first floor of the museum.
A look back to the past is displayed at the museum. While some of it still looks familiar, Main Street has seen changes over the course of decades. (Photo by Bob Vosseller)
Flash forward decades later, Reed and many current members of the society assemble on a Sunday afternoon to celebrate the community’s history as well as to observe the Society’s own past accomplishments as an organization.
Members, public officials and guests came together to observe the 25th anniversary of the Society’s historic museum located at 125 Evergreen Road with hot dogs, lemonade, iced tea and ice cream along with the music of Fred Lehotay and the Ragtimers based in neighboring Jackson.
Reed noted that afternoon, “I’ve been involved since 1977. Pat Gale and me and my husband are charter members and are the only ones left from ‘77. Before we had this building we had members donating space to us in their houses. When we got the building everything came out of the houses that were donated.”
She noted that the museum has a new room, “the doll room. We just got a doll collection from Blanche (Fischer) Hallock who was a member who passed away a few years ago. Her family donated her doll collection. They own Hallock’s U-Pick Farm and we have the doll collection in there and a beautiful aerial picture of Hallock’s Farm.” Hallock died at the age of 94 on June 25, 2022.
Members of the New Egypt Historical Society greet attendees at their anniversary celebration. (Photo by Bob Vosseller)
“We are really proud of that room downstairs.” Reed added. She joked, “some of the ladies call it creepy but they aren’t into dolls.”
The museum has also been utilized for a fundraiser involving paranormal organizations seeking out ghost activity in the museum. They have even been featured in the magazine Ghosted published by a member of their organization who is involved in ghost hunting.
There is a whole lot of history present at the museum ranging from a room that serves as a tribute to Stanley Dancer, who was Mayor/Asssemblyman Ron Dancer’s father.
The front page of a 1999 edition of The New Egypt Press features Webelo Scout Robert Mayer, 10, handing over a dollar bill to then-Mayor Ron Dancer as Carol Reed, the president of The New Egypt Historical Society looks on. (Photo by Bob Vosseller)
Stanley Dancer (July 25, 1927 – September 8, 2005) was an American harness racing driver and trainer. He was the only horseman to drive and train three Triple Crowns in horse racing.
There is also a piece of the Hindenburg in the museum and various paintings, photographs and newspapers of the past.
One of the photos features Myrtle Moore from 1947. She was a life time member of the Society and bequeathed to the organization her many scrap books of local history and personalities. She also willed the Society a generous sum of money toward the acquisition of a museum.
The old Archertown Schoolhouse in Plumsted is recalled through this old photograph that is featured within the New Egypt Historical Society Museum on Evergreen Road. (Photo by Bob Vosseller)
Moore was also a collaborator with Dorothy Mount in the publishing of “A Story of New Egypt and Plumsted Township.”
In recent months the Society has coordinated a Car Show, several historical programs and tours of their museum. Margaret Neuman serves as the Society’s current president. The Society can be reached by calling 609-758-7237.
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