By Jessica Kenley

ULYSSES, PA — Spring has officially arrived in Potter County, and with it comes one of the region’s most anticipated seasonal traditions: the annual Spring Show at the Pennsylvania Lumber Museum.

Visitors who made their way to the museum grounds over the weekend found no shortage of activity. From the hum of a working sawmill to the scent of homemade soup simmering over a century-old stove, the event offered a hands-on glimpse into the region’s rich lumbering heritage.

“We have a lot going on today,” said Jennifer Haines, the Museum Educator, who was greeting customers happily at the desk. “Our historic sawmill is operating, we’ve got horses doing log skidding, a blacksmith demonstration, our birch still, and even a large model train display that took decades to build.”

The sawmill, a highlight for many, operates only on Saturdays due to volunteer availability, while other demonstrations continue throughout the weekend. Guests also gathered to watch skilled horses haul logs in a traditional skidding demonstration—an increasingly rare sight that drew steady crowds.

Inside the museum, visitors browsed antiques and spoke with vendors who have spent decades collecting and preserving pieces of the past. Larry Coole, who has been crafting and collecting for more than 20 years, shared his passion with attendees.

“This isn’t work—it’s fun. That’s why you do it,” he said, while posing for a picture with a back-scratcher fashioned from the foot of a turkey.

Nearby, Barbara and Neil Kemp displayed a wide range of antiques gathered over more than 30 years. The couple, both former teachers, noted that while the market has changed over time, their love for collecting has not.

“People don’t always value these things like they used to,” they said. “But there’s still interest, especially from those who appreciate history.”

Other vendors echoed that sentiment, including Tom Davis, who recently retired and continues to buy, sell, and trade vintage records.

“I’ve been doing this for 50 years,” Davis said. “If you buy right, you can make a little money—but mostly, I just love it.”

Margaret Schenck, who joked about counting her life timeline in husbands–”Well, I’ve been doing this ever since the first husband,” she laughed. “Now I’m on to the second.”

Next door, Tom Davis has vintage records that are from the 1960s. “I’ve been buying and selling and trading for 50 years,” said Davis, who just retired from his full-time job two weeks ago. 

For some, the event is as much about memories as it is about merchandise. Karen Hoskinson, selling items from her late husband’s collection, said the show provides a meaningful way to share his lifelong passion. She has things like books on the Ruffed Grouse that have the feather of an actual grouse taped on the inside, which is signed by the author.

“He loved collecting,” she said. “This is a way to keep that going.”

Beyond antiques and demonstrations, the Spring Show also featured traditional food preparation, offering visitors a literal taste of history. Volunteer camp cooks John and Jennifer Halter prepared wild leek and potato soup using a 126-year-old wood stove.

“We actually harvested the leeks right here on the property,” John Halter said. “This is the kind of food lumber camps would have made.”

The Halters, who have volunteered at the museum since 2018, also highlighted upcoming events, including a “Woodhick” meal in May and larger summer festivals featuring lumberjack competitions and historical demonstrations.

Throughout the day, families explored exhibits, sampled food, and learned about the lives of the men and women who helped build Pennsylvania’s lumber industry. From blacksmithing to fiber arts, the museum’s programming continues to expand, drawing in both longtime supporters and first-time visitors.

As a small, rural institution that is one of twenty-one historic sites and museums spread across Pennsylvania that are owned and administered by the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania through the Pennsylvania Historical and Museum Commission (PHMC). Taxpayer money and state government employees provide the lion’s share of operations support for the museum.

The Pennsylvania Lumber Museum exists in partnership with a private 501-c3 non profit “friends of the museum” organization, the Pennsylvania Lumber Museum Associates (PALMA) that use events like the Spring Show to fundraise for the museum and engage with the local community.

The museum would not exist without the time, money and efforts that the PHMC staff provide. On average, they see about 18,500 visitors per year, PHMCs annual operating budget for the site is about $300K, with an additional $120K from PALMA. 

For many attendees, that mission is already a success.

“This is such a great place,” said one visitor. “There’s something here for everyone—and it’s important people know about it.”

With warmer weather on the way and a full calendar of events ahead, the museum is poised for another busy season—one rooted firmly in the past, yet still growing with each passing year.