Wednesday May 28, 2014
12:00 (Noon)-5:00 PM: Tailgating in the parking lot of the newly refurbished Pittsburgh Airport Sheraton. Greet old friends, bring tools to sell, or start your search for that “special tool”!
1:00-7:00 PM: Meeting Registration in hotel lobby
4:00 PM: EAIA Board Meeting
Thursday May 29, 2014
7:00-8:30 AM: Registration
7:00-8:30 AM: Buffet Breakfast
8:00 AM: Morning announcements
8:30-9:00 AM: Carpool from hotel to Old Economy Village. ( 9 miles from the hotel–plan on a 20minute drive). A map and driving directions will be provided in your registration packet.
9:00 AM-2:00 PM: Tours and Programs at Old Economy Village (Box Lunch in the Feast Hall)
- We’ll break into groups to hear talks about unique aspects of Old Economy:
- — ‘Furniture of the Community’: Old Economy staff member Bob Clendennon will discuss the unique furniture made by the community. The Museum owns many of the commune’s original tools, and a cabinet maker’s shop is on the tour
- — ‘Old Economy’s Silk Industry’: Emily Lapisardo, Old Economy staff member, will portray Gertrude Rapp, wife of community founder George Rapp, and discuss the Rappites fascinating and profitable silk industry.
2:00-5:00 PM: Tour McCarl Industrial and Agricultural Museum of Beaver County (30 minutes down the Ohio River to Darlington)
- The McCarl Industrial Museum is on the property of the Little Beaver Historical Society, which also owns an 1802 Academy that now houses displays and some 3000 Native American artifacts. We will tour this facility at our own pace.
5:00 PM Carpool back to the Pittsburgh Airport Sheraton Hotel
(Dinner On Your Own)
7:00-8:00 PM Ice Cream Social: Come chat with your friends! (First Time Attendees Reception at hotel. Come meet and greet first time Annual Meeting attendees and get to know fellow members.)
8:15 PM “Whatsits” Session at the Hotel — bring that tool you just can’t identify and we’ll collectively see if we can figure it out!
Friday May 30, 2014
7:00-8:30 AM: Buffet Breakfast at Hotel
8:00 AM: Morning Announcements
9:00 AM: Board buses for Fort Pitt. (Bus ride is 20minutes to downtown Pittsburgh and the Fort Pitt Museum located in Point State Park)
9:30 AM – 12:30 PM Tours and programs at Fort Pitt Museum and the Fort Pitt Blockhouse
(Box Lunch Provided)
During our visit to the Fort Pitt Museum, we’ll divide groups to:
- Hear presentations about the colonial frontier and Fort Pitt History
- — ‘Firearms of the Frontier’: Museum Director and early firearms expert Alan Guchess will discuss the flintlock weapons used by Native Americans and Europeans on the frontier
- — ‘In the Service of the King’: A costumed interpreter will explain the daily life of a soldier in the 60th Royal American Regiment, the primary unit garrisoned at Fort Pitt
In addition to the above presentations, you’ll be able to:
- Explore the Museum’s unique collection of Colonial artifacts
- Take a close look at rare muskets and rifles that would have been used at the fort
- Go into the Fort Pitt Blockhouse, maintained by the Daughters of the American Revolution. Built in 1764, the blockhouse is the last surviving remnant of Fort Pitt, the oldest structure remaining in Pittsburgh, and very possibly the oldest surviving structure in the Mississippi River drainage basin. fortpittblockhouse.com
- Wander Point State Park, enjoy the amazing views of Pittsburgh and visit the site of Fort Duquesne, the small French fort that proceeded Fort Pitt.
12:30-1:00pm : Bus ride across town to the Heinz History Center (It is difficult to get there by car, though some people may want to car pool, we do not encourage it)
1:00-4:30 PM: Explore the Heinz History Center at your own pace.
- This award-winning museum, housed in a former ice warehouse, focuses on the region’s rich iron, steel and glassmaking heritage, and has incredible displays on those industries.
- We’ll get a chance to examine the museum’s special visiting exhibit: “Treasures from the Steamboat Arabia.”
4:30 PM: Bus back to hotel
(Dinner on your own)
3:00 PM-6:30 PM Great Planes Trading Company antique tool auction preview at Pittsburgh Airport Sheraton
6:30 PM Great Planes Trading Company Antique Tool Auction
Saturday May 31, 2014
(Breakfast on our own)
9:00 AM-1:00PM Tool Sale, Trading Show — Theme for this year “Tools for the New Frontier: 1790 to 1840.”, Displays
(Lunch on your own)
1:15 PM-2:15PM Mark S. Johnson of the Daguerreian Society will present “November 2, 1839 A New Industry Arrives in America. The Story of the Daguerreotype”
5:30 PM-6:15PM Silent Auction and cash bar
6:30 PM Banquet and Annual Meeting + Speaker Dan Mattausch of the Rushlight Club will demonstrate historic lighting