Upcoming Heart & Soul Project Events
We will be collecting stories at the following events. We’re looking for volunteers to help collect stories and man the tables at these events.
To Volunteer at any of these events email GreaterCarlisleProject@gmail.com
Upcoming Events for 2017
August 17 – Taking it to the Streets, Hamilton Elementary School, 5.30-7.30 (volunteers needed)
Join us at the United Way’s Taking it To the Streets.
August 31 – Shrub planting at Mt Tabor Cemetery & clean up of church, 1.00-4.00
In October 2016, 12 shrubs were donated to the Mount Holly Community and Heart & Soul to plant in the Mt Tabor Cemetery on the United Way’s Day of Caring. Our aim is to mark the boundaries of the cemetery to ensure the unmarked graves continued to be respected. In addition we will clean up trash around the church, and pull weeds and cut the grass. If you’d like to volunteer please email GreaterCarlisleProject@gmail.com.
Heritage Festival Weekend, September 1-9 (volunteers needed)
Following the success of our first Heritage Day on September 10, 2016, Heart & Soul is partnering with Cumberland County Historical Society and Cumberland Valley Visitors Bureau to bring the community our first annual Heritage Festival Weekend. Heart & Soul will focus on the Greater Carlisle region, and we will use these days to share and highlight areas of cultural significance provided by the community. Tours, walks, talks and activities will be included, with many of the events free of charge. For a full description of events visit Cumberland County Historical Society’s Heritage Festival website – http://heritagefest.historicalsociety.com/about/
Heritage Festival Events Schedule
Thursday, Aug. 31:
McLain Festival Reception
Two Mile House, 6.00-8.00
$50 or $70 for two
Tickets can be purchased HERE
Friday, Sept. 1:
Whiskey Tasting at Cumberland County Historical Society
5.30-8.00
$10
Tickets can be purchased HERE
Saturday, Sept. 2:
McLain Celtic Festival, Two Mile House, 9.00-5.00
Organized by Cumberland County Historical Society
Tickets can be purchased HERE
Friday, Sept. 1 & Sat., Sept. 2:
U.S Army and Education Center guided walking tour of the Heritage Trail
Both days tours will run at 10.30 & 2.00
Please email – usarmy.carlisle.awc.mbx.ahec-ves@mail.mil – to reserve a place.
Sunday, Sept. 3:
First Annual Whiskey Rebellion Festival, 10.00-4.00, Downtown Carlisle
Join us as we build to the 225th anniversary of the Whiskey Rebellion in Pennsylvania. Events include children’s crafts, 18th century historical demonstrations, and a reenactment of President George Washington’s entry to Carlisle. Visit http://heritagefest.historicalsociety.com/about/ for more information.
Monday, Sept. 4:
Walk and picnic at Mount Holly Marsh Preserve, 10.00
Space is limited, RSVP HERE
Wednesday, Sept. 6:
Bus trip to Mt Tabor Church and Cemetery
Space is limited, RSVP HERE
Saturday, Sept. 9:
Bike ride on Rails to Trails, Allen Road, 9.00
Space is limited, RSVP HERE
Bus tour to LEAF farm, 10.00-1.00
Space is limited, RSVP HERE
Join Prof. Steven Burg for a tour of Locust Grove Cemetery, Shippensburg, 1.00 (if raining venue will be moved indoors for a virtual tour)
Space is limited, RSVP HERE
Craighead House 80-85 Commemoration, Events throughout the day
For more information on events or to learn more about the house and the Craighead family visit the Craighouse website
For more information contact GreaterCarlisleProject@gmail.com or call 717-249-7610 x111
If you have a location, walk or activity that is important to you and you’d like to see it included in our Heritage Days please email GreaterCarlisleProject@gmail.com.
Please continue to check back as more dates and events will be added!
July 26 – Greater Carlisle Community Summit at New Life Community Church, Carlisle; Dinner served at 5.30 with event beginning at 6.00
Join us to discuss what we value in the community.
Dinner provided by Hope Station
June 10 – FUNDRAISER at the Summer Comedy Film Series’ showing of The Princess Bride
Join us for a FREE showing of The Princess Bride in the parking lot of Create-A-Palooza (11 E. High Street, Carlisle, PA). All proceeds from the bake will go towards Greater Carlisle Heart & Soul.
We need bakers for this event. If you can donate a sweet treat please contact Lindsay at GreaterCarlisleProject@gmail.com.
June 3 – Foundry Day, Boiling Springs
Once again Heart & Soul will be attending Foundry Day. We will be setup outside the Appalachian Trail Conservancy near Children’s Lake. We will have children’s activities and information on our upcoming events.
June 2 – Carlisle First Friday Block Party; 5.00-8.00, Parking Lot of Cumberland County Historical Society
On June 2, CCHS and Heart & Soul will hold its annual Block Party, in conjunction with Downtown Carlisle Association’s First Fridays. Through Greater Carlisle Heart & Soul Project we learned our community values family activities and the history of our region, so this year we’re celebrating what you love with a Living History Block Party.
Come out for food, games, and activities. Meet a Revolutionary artificer, enlist in the French and Indian War, play 18th century children’s games, learn hands-on about WWI, and hear songs of the old railroad from storyteller Matthew Dodd.
June 1 – June 30 – Exhibit in Bosler Library
Bosler Library in Carlisle is hosting a Heart & Soul exhibit during the month of June. Stop in and see the wonderful stories Greater Carlisle has shared with the project, and learn more about what how Heart & Soul is using these stories to create change in the community.
May 18 – Bus Tour to Mt Tabor AME Zion Church and Cemetery, Mount Holly Springs, 10.30-1.00
Join Heart & Soul Project Director, Dr Lindsay Varner, for a tour and history of Mt Tabor Church and Cemetery. Hear about how the church’s story came to life and the wonderful work being undertaken by the Greater Carlisle community.
Cost for the event is $10 and includes a bus ride to the Church from the Two Mile House. Following the talk we will go to the historic Holly Inn for lunch (not included in charge). To book please contact Lynda Mann at 717-249-7610 or email GreaterCarlisleProject@gmail.com.
May 6 – Amani Festival
The Amani Festival returned to Downtown Carlisle in 2017! Heart & Soul will have a table set up to collect and share stories from the community. Visit our table and tell us what action you would like taken in Greater Carlisle.
February 25 – Black History Festival, New Life Community Church, Carlisle, PA
Once again Heart & Soul will be participating in the annual Black History Festival. Between now and February 25 Heart & Soul volunteers, Cumberland County Historical Society Staff and students from Dickinson College will be researching and preparing an exhibit on the history of African American churches in Cumberland County for the Festival. Heart & Soul will also be set up to capture community stories and share what we have learned from the community so far.
October 14 – United Way Day of Caring
In early Spring Heart & Soul conducted an interview with the Gumby family in Mount Holly Springs. They brought to our attention the personal and wider historical significance of an AME Zion church in the town, and told us they would like to see the memory and history of the church preserved for future generations. Heart & Soul brought the church and cemetery to the attention of community members who are now rallying to help project this significant piece of Mount Holly history. On October 14, the United Way’s Day of Caring with help us with work that needs done around the church, and Heart & Soul will be available on the day to answer questions and collect your story. Please check back at our Collected Stories page to learn more about what we collected on the day.
October 13 – Greater Carlisle Project Fall Reception and Heart & Soul Project Story Exhibition, 5.30-7.30
Greater Carlisle Project will hold its fall Reception at the Cumberland County Historical Society on October 13 from 5:30 to 7:30 pm. Greater Carlisle’s Heart & Soul Project will also present many of the stories collected throughout the year, and we will discuss the possibilities for next year and how to take action based on what you told us was important in the community. To RSVP to the event please email GreaterCarlisleProject@gmail.com
September 10 – Heritage Day, 9.00-5.00
We got to teach that history. We got to let folks know where you really come from and why it’s so important. –Volunteer at Neighbors Helping Neighbors Clean up, April 16, 2016
For one day we will highlight what the community told us through their stories. Locations across the Greater Carlisle Area will be open to the public for one day. Stories collected throughout the year will be highlighted to show what’s important to our community and how we can protect the future. There will be organized talks and tours on history and preservation, as well as self-guided walking and cycling tours. Come out and learn what our community values and discuss ways we can protect what’s important to us.
Tours on the day will be a mixture of self-guided and organized tours/talks. If you would like to attend an organized you must sign up in advance and on the day bring along a signed liability waiver. Links for both of these are below:
Schedule for the Day:
10.00 – Organized hike of the Mount Holly Marsh Preserve:
Come out and learn about the history and natural beauty of the Preserve.
The guide will discuss the history of the site from a recreational park to the preserve it is today.
This event is limited to 15 people.
GPS: Holly Gap marsh Preserve, Mount Holly Springs, PA 17065
1.00 – Organized walk of Allen Road stretch of the Cumberland Valley Rails to Trails:
Come out and learn about the newest section of the Cumberland Valley Rails to Trails in Greater Carlisle. Learn about the history of the railroad and what the future holds for the rail trail.
Total number of participates is 15.
Address to Trail Head: Cooper Circle, Carlisle, Pa 17013. Coming from Carlisle, follow West High Street until it becomes Route 11, Ritner Highway. Stay on Route 11 for 2.8 miles and at the light turn Right onto Allen Road. Follow Allen Road 0.7 miles and Cooper Circle will be on your Left. Park on the grass all the way to the trail head near the picnic tables.
3.00 – Preservation and history talk, African American Episcopal Methodist Zion Church, Mount Holly Springs:
Come out and learn about the importance of preserving the heritage of Greater Carlisle. We’ll discuss the history and importance of the AME Zion church in Mount Holly
Limited to 14 people.
There is no access to the church by car. You must sign up and take the bus at the Cumberland County Historical Society to the site.
Address to get the bus: 21 North Pitt Street, Carlisle, PA 17013
Self guided:
Cycle or driving Underground Railroad and Civil War tour of Greater Carlisle:
This tour begins at Lincoln Cemetery (Memorial Park) in Carlisle and ends in Boiling Springs. It takes you to just a few of the major sites in Greater Carlisle connected to the Underground Railroad and Civil War. You will learn about the African American cemetery in Carlisle and Mount Holly Springs, visit the graves of Civil War soldiers at the Mount Holly Cemetery and follow the path of freedom seekers in Boiling Springs. Brochures for this tour can be picked up at the History on High Shop on High Street and at the Cumberland County Historical Society in Carlisle.
Cumberland Valley Rails to Trails bike ride:
Beginning in Newville you have the option to partially walk the trail or take the full ride from Newville to Shippensburg and back. The rail line that once ran on this rail played an integral role in the economy of 19th century central Pennsylvania. Be sure to stop along the route to read about the rail line’s history.
Mount Holly Marsh Preserve:
Brochures for the Marsh Preserve can be found at the Cumberland County Visitor Center’s stop at History on High.
Underground Railroad tour of Boiling Springs:
There is a specific Underground Railroad tour of Boiling Springs if you would like to learn more about the history of Boiling Springs. The brochures for this tour can be found at the Cumberland County Visitor Center’s stop at History on High.
Heritage Day Organization
Help us organize the September 10 Heritage Day. We are looking for people to research identified locations, design brochures and help organize volunteers on the day.
Other Opportunities
We need people to index and transcribe stories collected throughout this year. Indexing can be done from home, and it gives you an amazing opportunity to hear from your fellow community members about what they love or fear losing in the community.
Suggest an Event or Interview
If you have an event, group or individual you think we should interview let us know! We are visiting places throughout the community and if you or someone you know would like to give your story let us know! We’re currently looking for individuals to tell us their story on camera. Contact Blair Williams at blwilliams@historicalsociety.com or Lindsay at GreaterCarlisleProject@gmail.com to set up an interview.
Contact Us with your Suggestions or Comments
Lindsay
Project Director
Greater Carlisle Project, Heart & Soul
717-249-7610
GreaterCarlisleProject@gmail.com