A Place to Stand

Some people define history as “the study of change over time.” A historical site, it follows, is a location where such a change happened. A historical site is also a place to stand, a place from which we can look backwards at what has happened and then consider how we want to proceed into the future.

This process of “learning from our past” is a good answer given to the familiar question, “Why study history?” However, for many of us, while we study history to help us make good choices in the present, another answer to the question, “Why are you a historian?” is simply: “Because it is fun!”

As executive director of the Jacobsburg Historical Society, I manage the , which is located on the south side of , and on both sides of Henry Road.

I can be described as a historian, archivist and fundraiser who is committed to preserving the history of our region through education, collaboration and research.

I am also a follower in the footsteps of the Henrys, a family who moved to Nazareth in the late eighteenth century and whose descendants are still making a difference in the surrounding community. In plain speak, I take care of the objects and stories left to us by a family strongly dedicated to preserving the past for generations to come.

On a fun day, I get to play with the stuff! What do I mean by that? The best days are when I can show a book or a shawl or a longrifle to someone else and see the excitement in my eyes reflected in theirs.

My hopes with this blog are to pass that excitement to you. Using Boulton as a place to stand, we will use objects, documents, stories and legends to look at American history through the lens of the Henry family. Hopefully we can learn something about ourselves in the process and together plot a path forward on which we continue the Henry legacy of preserving the past in order to build a better future.