Times House News
For your Times in Jim Thorpe
Judges will find more than beauty in Jim Thorpe
Victorian architecture and incredible vistas – Jim Thorpe has plenty of both to enjoy all year long.
This weekend, however, a wide variety of events are taking place that exemplify why the town nestled in the mountains and in the running for Most Beautiful Small Town in America is so special.
The weather forecast looks great for Saturday’s Lehigh Gorge Scenic Railway’s Pennsylvania Dutch excursion – a two-hour rail tour with birch beer, pretzels and ring bologna – as well as biking, hiking, rafting and exploring all the adventure and beauty Jim Thorpe has to offer.
The Old Jail and Museum will host the annual Ancient Order of Hibernians’ Day of the Rope Mass at 10:30 a.m. on Saturday, marking the 135th anniversary of the June 21, 1877 execution of Molly Maguires Alec Campbell, John “Yellow Jack” Donahue, Michael Doyle and Edward Kelly, who were hanged at the same time. Six other Molly Maguires were hanged that fateful day in Pottsville, while Thomas P. Fisher, James McDonnell and Charles Sharp were hanged in the Old Jail in 1878 and 1879.
Saturday may begin with a solemn morning but will turn saucy by night when the Peek A Boo Revue burlesque show takes the stage at the Mauch Chunk Opera House, Jim Thorpe’s gem of a concert hall. (You can catch the Paul Thorn Band there on Friday night.)
A finalist in the second annual Rand McNally and USA Today Best of the Road Rally, judges and national media will be in Jim Thorpe this weekend to see if our magical town is as wonderful as voters proclaimed it in May. Sedona, Arizona, Danville and Bardstown, Kentucky, Baker City, Oregon and Tybee Island, Georgia are also vying for the title of Most Beautful Small Town in America.
We thank the judges for their consideration and truly hope they fall in love with the town the way we have. But whether they crown Jim Thorpe, Pennsylvania with the title or not, we know what we’ve got here and are thrilled to share it with the rest of the world. We wouldn’t be the first Jim Thorpe to have a title or the first Jim Thorpe to lose a title. We’ll rest well here either way.
Are you ready for summer in Jim Thorpe?
The clip, clop of horse hooves down Race Street, the train whistle’s all-aboard toot and the Faculty Brass rendition of La Bamba floating through the air can mean only one thing – the summer season has officially begun in Jim Thorpe.
Flags were flown and planted all over the borough this weekend in remembrance of those who served our country and fought for our freedom. We remembered my late father-in-law, who at 16 years-old lied about his age to join the Navy just before the start of World War II. He was the same age as my son is today.
Memorial Day is also the much anticipated kick-off of Jim Thorpe’s summer season.
The Asa Packer Mansion is now open seven days a week and the Mauch Chunk Museum, operated by the Mauch Chunk Historical Society, is also open for the season. The Old Jail Museum with its legendary haunted hand print offers tours every day except Wednesday. If the spirit moves you, guided ghost walking tours through town are also available on Saturday nights.
In addition to all of Jim Thorpe’s outdoor adventures awaiting visitors in the Pocono Mountains, another treat is a tour of St. Mark’s Episcopal Church – right next door to us at the Times House Bed and Breakfast. Listed on the National Historic Register, the beautiful Gothic church with its stunning architecture and incredible Tiffany windows also offers connections to the Packer family – some a little spooky, too. Tours run Wednesday through Sunday.
Four-day weekends don’t have to be celebrated on holidays alone. Thursday night deck parties at the Molly Maguires Pub and Steakhouse (love the pickle chip appetizer) and selected Thursday nights up at Penn’s Peak are a great way to get summer weekends started. The Mauch Chunk Opera House also has some Thursday night concerts planned for this summer season.
The Jim Thorpe Chamber of Commerce will also kick off its Thursday Summer Date Night campaign next week, featuring extended store hours, Kyle and his Crystal View Carriage rides around town some Thursdays, as well as a host of soon-to-be-announced activities.
Jim Thorpe celebrates Jim Thorpe
Jim Thorpe – the town – celebrates Jim Thorpe – the man – this weekend for the 16th annual Jim Thorpe Birthday Celebration.
On Saturday, May 20 and Sunday, May 21, the town bearing the legendary Olympian’s name remembers both the history and the legacy of the man named “the world’s greatest athlete” by King Gustav V, 100 years ago in Stockholm, Sweden.
A Native American tribute opens the celebration at 10 a.m. Saturday morning at the Jim Thorpe Mausoleum, located at Joe Boyle Circle and Route 903.
The Olympian Cross Country and Track team will then carry a lighted torch from the ceremony to Jim Thorpe High School, lighting a torch for the Carbon County Special Olympics and then travel through the town of Jim Thorpe to the Josiah White Park (train station) to light the Olympic torch.
The annual celebration always features Native American folklore, dancing and drumming. Here is a link to one of last year’s performances. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1VsbAF3dSqk
Goers will also enjoy free outdoor concerts, craft and food vendors, a clown for the children, and a Chinese Auction. The Mauch Chunk Opera House also has three concerts lined up for the weekend.
Edmund E. Shumpert sculpted this bronze statue of the Olympian, born on May 28, 1888. The dedication took place last year during the town of Jim Thorpe’s 15th annual Jim Thorpe Birthday Celebration.
Jim Thorpe’s grandson, Michael Koehler, who backs the town’s fight against his relatives to keep the legendary athlete interred here, spoke at the dedication.
In his remarks at the unveiling, Koehler said that while he understands the other side of the family’s views, he believes that there is no better place for Jim Thorpe to rest in peace, noting that his aunt (Grace Thorpe) had performed a Native American burial ritual there.
“My grandfather has returned to Mother Earth. He lies on sanctified ground. My half of the family doesn’t see any reason whatsoever to change any of that – to disinter his remains and to take him to some obscure plot in Shawnee, Oklahoma,” he said.
Jim Thorpe celebrates fourth annual Art Festival and Cinco de Mayo
This weekend art lovers will flock to the picturesque Victorian town for the Jim Thorpe Art Festival. Visitors will enjoy not only self-guided studio and gallery tours but will have the opportunity to learn more about the art of Victorian architecture, participate in photography workshops and take advantage of free stained glass and stone lithography demonstrations.
Visitors staying at the Times House and other Jim Thorpe area Bed and Breakfasts get free admission to see historian/storyteller Jack Gunnser’s costumed presentation of funny stories about the early days of Mauch Chunk and the artists such as Louis Comfort Tiffany that visited the booming town. (Saturday, 1 p.m. at the Harry Packer Mansion. Advance tickets are $5: $10 at the door and at the train station.)
There’s something for everyone celebrating the art of music. From 2 p.m. to 4 p.m. on Saturday, a free concert in the Josiah White Park down at the train station will entertain festival attendees and weekend tourists. Local favorite and talented guitarist Monte Lane will set just the right mood with his rendition of popular favorites at Doc Baker’s Gallery from 5 p.m. to 9 p.m. on Saturday and from 2 p.m. to 4 p.m. on Sunday, where the photography of MaryAnn Schwartz will be on display. Marianne Monteleone Designs will exhibit the work of JoAnn Morell, who will also perform jazz standards, original tunes, blues and folk music with her husband Ernie during the 7 p.m. galllery opening.
It’s Saturday night, however, at the Mauch Chunk Opera House that is the highlight of the weekend’s musical festivities with a special return performance of the Marko Marcinko Latin Jazz Quintet. You’ll want to start celebrating Cinco de Mayo as soon as you check out video from their last performance at our beloved Opera House.
Celebrate Earth Day Jim Thorpe-style
First celebrated on April 22, 1970, Earth Day was a national call to protect the environment. Some 42 years later, it’s celebrated all over the world.
There’s no doubt that Jim Thorpe, Pennsylvania – the gateway to the Pocono Mountains – is a magical place on this magnificent planet. Recently listed as one of CBS 3’s top one-tank trips, there’s no better place to enjoy Earth Day weekend than here!
Organizers have planned a great lineup of events, including games, recycled craft and drumming workshops, a Lehigh River clean-up and a reading of Dr. Seuss’ The Lorax at the Dimmick Library.
From 11 a.m. to noon on Saturday and Sunday, free Tai Chi demonstrations will take place in the Race Street Park across the street from us at the Times House Bed and Breakfast. According to the events calendar, Saturday’s class you will teach the six basic forms of Tai Chi. Sunday’s class will demonstrate the Push Hands technique. Teens between the ages of 13 and 15 must have an adult present to participate. Rain will move the class indoors, upstairs at the Mauch Chunk Opera House.
The Opera House will also play host to two concerts this weekend. On Friday, April 20, The Funk Ark; Mighty Mystic and Strings of Thunder will perform. On Saturday, April 21, Philly-based Splintered Sunlight will perform their popular Grateful Dead tribute.
For the complete Jim Thorpe Earth Day celebration event listing, visit http://jimthorpeearthday.com/
Sound Check Records, 23 Broadway, will also celebrate Record Store Day on Saturday, one of two days a year where independently owned record store patrons have access to special releases – CD and vinyl – and various promotional products. For more information, visit http://www.recordstoreday.com
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