A Wet and Wild Start to 2015

Mercury Photo by John Strickler

A spirited crowd of more than 100 people splashed into the Schuylkill River at Pottstown's Riverfront Park Thursday to celebrate New Year's Day 2015.

So it happened again.

For the seventh year in a row, a crowd of crazies put their gumption and community spirit on display by running half naked into the nearly freezing waters of the Schuylkill River to celebrate New Year's Day.

I've covered quite a few of these and I have to say, it never gets old.

Here is a video I put together from the day's events:




Click here to see John Strickler's most excellent photo gallery of the event.

And here are the less impressive photos and other video I Tweeted out while covering it.

Happy New Year everybody

All Right, Enough Fun and Games. Back to Work!

All right you lazy slugs.

Christmas is over and, where this Medieval times, you would only have nine more days of partying.

But since we don't live in Medieval times, the fun ends tomorrow.

Have your pork, have your sauerkraut and, if you're a woman, get back to your sewing....at least that would be the case in Medieval times...

Let's let the folks at Pottsgrove Manor pick it up from here before I get myself in trouble.

From medieval times, the day after the Feast of the Epiphany was known to many Europeans as “Distaff Day.”

The distaff, a tool used in spinning, was a symbol of female industry, and Distaff Day was traditionally when women resumed their work after the Twelve Days of Christmas.

On Saturday, Jan. 10, from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m.,, historic Pottsgrove Manor will host “Distaff Day,” showing the art of spinning fibers into thread.

During this program, visitors will see demonstrations of traditional spinning techniques and learn

When Twelfth Night was over, women went back to the 'Distaffs.'

about the natural fibers that were used to make yarn and thread for textiles. 

This event will also give guests a chance to enjoy a guided tour of the manor house for the holidays, in the final “Twelfth Night Tours” of the season.

There is a suggested donation of $2 per person for this program. 

The museum shop will also be open throughout the event and will be having a special one-day-only sale – 10 percent off everything in the store!

The seasonal “Twelfth Night Tours” are running now through Sunday, Jan. 11 during regular museum hours: Tuesday to Saturday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. and Sunday from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. 

Tours are given on the hour. The last tour of the day begins at 3 p.m. 

The site is closed Mondays and major holidays. Groups of ten or more should pre-register by calling 610-326-4014.

Pottsgrove Manor is located at 100 West King Street near the intersection of King Street and Route 100, just off Route 422, in Pottstown. 

Pottsgrove Manor is operated by Montgomery County under the direction of the Parks, Trails, and Historic Sites Division of the Assets and Infrastructure Department. 

For more information, call 610-326-4014, or visit the website at www.montcopa.org/pottsgrovemanor. 

Like Pottsgrove Manor on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/pottsgrovemanor.