Area historical societies release Civil War coloring book
When the "three little historical societies" on the eastern side of York County -- Kreutz Creek Valley Preservation Society, Historic Wrightsville, Inc., and Lower Windsor Area Historical Society -- were brainstorming ways to celebrate the 150th anniversary of the Civil War, they came up with a kid-friendly option: A coloring book.
"Each group contacted local artists and talked them into doing local scenes that depicted local events from their area," said Hollis Bedell, secretary for the Lower Windsor Area Historical Society.
The coloring book's 19 images focus on several historical events: Confederates raiding Alexander Blessing's general store in Hallam for supplies, the burning of the bridge in Columbia, and transporting goods along the Susquehanna Tidewater Canal because railroads were all tied up with military purposes, Bedell said.
Artists of all ages contributed their skills:
- Mariah Hertz, a recent grad of Eastern York High School now studying graphic design at York College
- Gleason Crumling, of Hallam, on the board of directors for the Kreutz Creek Valley Preservation Society
- Robert Hammer, of Wrightsville, a Millersville grad whose ancestors lived in the area during the Civil War
- Bonnie Leair, who grew up among a family of artists
- Robert Oughton, of Hellam Township, who runs Weavings, Ink, art gallery and is a member of the Kreutz Creek Valley Preservation Society
- Jodi Piland, a native of Wrightsville
- Melissa Wirls of Lower Windsor Township
- Jacob Zook, a junior at Eastern York High School
The book is "aimed at both kids and history lovers," Bedell said. "The coloring pictures are kind of for kids or young people, but there’s good history captions under each one."
The coloring books are $5 each and available by calling 717-755-3777, 717-252-2210, or 717-246-8735.