"Who am I?" might be one of life's biggest questions. Some people believe that getting to know themselves requires discovering their roots because knowing their history and culture helps them construct their individual identities. It can also enable them to build a sense of pride.
One of the early advocates for a Mennonite historical society in Lancaster County was pastor and farmer Ira D. Landis. The first meeting of the Lancaster Mennonite Historical Society was held in May 1958. Eleven years later, the society purchased the Hans Herr House. Built in 1719 by Christian and Anna Herr, the Herr House is not only the oldest surviving house in Lancaster County, but it is also known as the oldest original Mennonite meeting house in the Western Hemisphere. Restoration and archaeological excavation on the house began in 1971, and the site was officially opened to the public in 1974.
Since the 1990s, the Lancaster Mennonite Historical Society has hosted an annual Maize and Snitz Festival at the Herr House & Museum. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, staff at the museum were able to take a year and a half to redefine the 2021 Maize and Snitz Market Fair. The idea for the upcoming event is to offer attendees a more complete understanding of what Colonial life would have been like for the Herr family.
"This is part of the Herr family's story, but this is also part of the story that related to hundreds if not thousands of people when they came to America," explained Jason Stetler, digital and communications storyteller for the Lancaster Mennonite Historical Society.
The Maize and Snitz Market Fair will take place on Saturday, Oct. 2, on the historic grounds of the 1719 Herr House & Museum, 1849 Hans Herr Drive, Willow Street. Attendees will have the chance to immerse themselves in the cultures of early European and indigenous people of Lancaster County. For the first time, the rain-or-shine event will feature artisans who specialize in 18th-century trades. Professional tradespeople will demonstrate embroidery, tape weaving, baking, hearth cooking, Native American foods, and fingerweaving. People can shop for handcrafted items such as redware pottery, hand-dyed wool yarn, hand-turned wooden implements, wrought iron, bobbin lace, and paper goods.
At the market fair, Drew Shuptar-Rayvis will speak about the relationships between early European immigrants and indigenous peoples, and Mark A. Turdo will discuss the history of cider and his experiments in re-creating 18th-century recipes.
"The story of the Herrs and the other families who came over with them is totally relevant to early American history and what historians refer to as the Atlantic world and global economy that existed in the 18th century," said Tiffany Fisk, 1719 Herr House & Museum administrator. "This is important for everyone, not just one set of people."
The 1719 Herr House & Museum is open Fridays and Saturdays from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Field trips can be scheduled on Thursdays by contacting Fisk at 717-464-4438 or museum@lmhs.org. For more information, visit http://www.lmhs.org.
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