History Going On Sale in December 

            Anyone who has lived in Upper Bucks or Montgomery County for over 10 years can tell you the scenery is changing. The big, open vistas, dotted with occasional barns and stone farmhouses are fading away.   Some will shrug and say, “That’s progress.” While others will fight the influx of Levittown type development, -attempting to preserve what remains by opting into ‘Open-Space’ programs.   Ultimately, time will tell who will prevail but there is a lesson in this for historians.

            Our responsibility is to document as much as to preserve our past before it slips away.  Ever so often, we stumble upon someone who is doing it for us, unknowingly.  One such person is lifelong Quakertown resident, Calvin Ruth.   Ruth has spent 45 years teaching art in the Perkiomen and Quakertown school districts.  In his spare time, he pursued his passion, landscape painting; capturing the homes and vistas he passed every day or saw from his classroom window.

            For over 60 years, even after retiring, Calvin has recorded what he’s seen, again and again in the rural landscapes of Pennsylvania farmlands. Many buildings which he’s become fascinated with, he went back to repeatedly in his lifetime, painting them in spring, summer, fall and winter, from different angles and years apart.   The careful observer can see the additions, or in some cases, subtractions, made from year to year.  All of this constitutes the recording of history.  Calvin thankfully has had a lifelong fascination with the architecture of the area.  He’s painted literally thousands of homes in his lifetime with the quiet fervor of a true artist.  When asked which shows he’s participated in, Calvin, who received his Master’s degree in Fine Art from the Tyler-Elkin’s School of Art and the Philadelphia School of Art, will tell you he doesn’t have time for that kind of thing.  His passion is not defined or developed by public opinion, rather, pure creative mania that drives all truly great artists.       

            When, as Haycock Historical Society events director, Chris Handschin realized so many of his paintings were scenes painted in Haycock, and of buildings that no longer exist, she began to get really excited, yet fearful.  “These paintings represent our past!”  “They are how the landscape looked 25 to 50 years ago.”  On a personal mission to find old pictures of the village of Tohickon before Lake Nockamixon was built in 1973, she knows firsthand how precious these paintings are.  “They capture what was, therefore are extremely historically significant.” Handschin said.  “So few people thought to take pictures of the buildings or of the landscape.  Calvin has always been a pragmatic and organized man. His work will usually have notes describing were, when, who, - a historian’s gem.”  If these paintings leave the area or are bought at auction the images may be lost forever.  The best that could be hoped for is to have people in the area buy up his work, then record where the works have gone.

            With considerable negotiating, she’s managed to arrange for such a sale.  “I am positive these works will be extremely valuable collector’s pieces in years to come” Handschin states.  This year Haycock Historical Society will offer over 60 watercolors created by Calvin Ruth as well as a few oil paintings at the annual Kringle Christmas Shoppe, operating from the Bucks County Latvian Baptist Church hall in Applebachsville this year on December 7’th, 8’th & 9’th.

            For those who are not familiar with Kringle Christmas Shoppe, it is the premier Art event for the five year old society, featuring over 30 juried local artists, photographers, sculptors, musicians and authors.  Shoppers can purchase unique gifts, hear continuous great live holiday music and sample from a wide array of holiday treats, including Latvian specialties.  Admittance is free -All purchases are cash or check transactions, -no credit cards accepted.

Haycock Historical Society will offer its own limited edition 2008 Commemorative plate,

Featuring the Latvian church for sale, created by Sgraffito pottery artist, Denise Wilz as well as its 2008 Calendar, A Year in Our One-Room Schools, created by member/photographer Heather Radick.  

Kringle Christmas Shoppe will be held at 1142 Apple Road, Quakertown on Friday, 12/7 from 1:00pm until 8:00pm, Saturday, 12/8 from 10:00am until 4:30pm & Sunday, 12/9 from 12:30pm until 4:30pm.  For more information or directions, follow the links for Kringle on society’s website: www.haycockhistoricalsociety.org