Help Save the Conrad Weiser Homestead

The Pennsylvania Historic & Museum Commission is considering closing the exhibits and educational programs within the Conrad Weiser Homestead.
Here are some newspaper links about it:
http://www.readingeagle.com/article.aspx?id=130420
http://www.readingeagle.com/article.aspx?id=131672

State might close Conrad Weiser Homestead
Public meetings planned about Berks historic site
By Rebecca VanderMeulen
Reading Eagle
The Conrad Weiser Homestead near Womelsdorf is among six historic sites in jeopardy of being closed by the Pennsylvania Historical and Museum Commission. The commission recently studied income, attendance and other factors at its 22 sites, but the report wasn't expected to lead to any closures, spokesman Kirk R. Wilson said. That changed when Gov. Ed Rendell called for $8.8 million to be cut from the commission's funding in the 2009-10 state budget. "We had reached a point where the cost of operating the sites wasn't keeping up with the budget that was allotted to the commission," Wilson said. One of Berks County's most notable historical figures, Conrad Weiser was an Indian interpreter and treaty maker. He negotiated every major treaty between Colonial settlers in Pennsylvania and the Iroquois Nations from 1731 to 1758. The 26-acre homestead off Route 422 in Heidelberg Township includes buildings from the period, the Weiser grave site and a park. David Sonnen, president of the Friends of the Conrad Weiser Homestead, said the group pays for free special events. According to the state study, 14,017 people visited the homestead during the 2007-08 fiscal year. Of those, only 655 visitors paid, bringing in $1,722 in revenue.

Wilson said it cost more than $170,000 to operate the homestead last year. It's unclear whether the sites will be closed. The commission plans to hold public meetings at each site. No dates have been set. Wilson said other options include reducing staff and hours or maintaining the homestead without opening it to visitors. State Rep. Jim Cox, a Spring Township Republican whose district includes the homestead, said commission officials have reassured him that the state doesn't want to close the homestead, but perhaps would like to see the Friends take on a larger role. Sonnen said that wouldn't be easy."We have a very limited number of volunteers right now, and most of them are still working," he said. "We have our own jobs. "The state-run Daniel Boone Homestead in Exeter Township is not among the sites in jeopardy of closing. In fact, construction of a new building at the visitor center is anticipated.

Here are some links about the homestead:
http://www.conradweiserhomestead.org/
http://www.phmc.state.pa.us/ppet/weiserhome/page1.asp

Conrad Weiser was an 18th century German immigrant who served as an Indian interpreter and who helped coordinate Pennsylvania's Indian policy. He played a major role in the history of colonial Pennsylvania.
His historical contributions to Pennsylvania simply cannot be overlooked. Weiser was predominantly responsible for negotiating every major treaty between the colonial settlers in Pennsylvania and the Iroquois Nations from 1731 until 1758. In addition to serving as one of the most knowledgeable and successful liaisons between the Indian and the colonist, Weiser was chiefly responsible for both the settlement of the town of Reading and the establishment of Berks County. Finally, in 1755, Weiser organized a local militia to quell Indian uprisings during the American phase of the Seven Years War, and was appointed Colonel of the First Battalion of the Pennsylvania Regiment a year later. Exempting some Berks County locals and various individuals with genealogical ties to this man, few are conscious about the relevance, let alone the existence, of Conrad Weiser.


There is a public meeting set for 6/4/09 from 6pm till 8pm at St Daniel's Church in Robesonia.
There are many ideas on how to keep the Homestead open and they will be brought up at the 6/4/09 meeting.
Please come out and show your support for Conrad Weiser, his homestead and our history.


History can teach us many things.
By closing down and taking away an important part of the history of our country, we won't be able to learn from the mistakes and successes of our past.