Christmas Everywhere, All the Time!

Story and Photos by

Kiernan McNelis

Christmas in July! I went to the National Christmas Center and it was amazing! I learned so much that it’s going to be hard to explain it all in one article. My family and I met Jennifer McElhany who is the museum director and she showed us around the 14 galleries and additional exhibits on display. She gave us a lot of information on each one. Enjoy!

Here are some fun facts that I learned about the National Christmas Museum. The museum is 20,000 square feet and all indoors. It is open weekends in March and April and everyday from May 1 through New Year’s Day. It’s Christmas all-year-round! YEAH!! Santa visits from the day after Thanksgiving until Christmas Eve. Lucky for him that he has a workshop in the building. The Museum will soon celebrate its 10th anniversary because it opened its doors in November 1998. It has a gift shop and a café to enjoy as well.

One of the most impressive things in the Museum was the 45 life-size figures located throughout the displays and exhibits. They are called “life casts” because the artists who create them use live models and make molds or casts of their head and hands. It can take several months to complete a life-size figure, depending on the size and detail of the figure. The artists get every detail — wrinkles, veins, crooked noses — EVERYTHING to make sure it is authentic! Even the animated elves, bears and many other animals, including the reindeer, are also handmade.

The National Christmas Museum has every kind of Christmas exhibit from literally all over the world and from every time period. It’s a great place for a family outing because there is something for every member of the family to enjoy – even the grandparents. The kids will certainly enjoy “Toyland Train Mountain” and “Santa’s North Pole Workshop and Reindeer Barn.” Toyland Train Mountain has a tree above you filled with over 3,000 ornaments. Your parents will enjoy experiencing “The First Christmas” which takes you on the journey when Jesus was born. Your grandparents will have wonderful memories when they walk into “Christmas 1944 – The War Years,” the “Woolworth’s 5&10 Cent Store,” and the 1950’s “Night Before Christmas” exhibit. The “TudorTowne” animated storybook village is perfect for all family members. There is an exhibit for everyone throughout the museum. You’ll have to find yours!

One of my positively favorite exhibits was the 1950’s “Night Before Christmas.” It felt like I was actually in a 1950s home. The TV was on and it was black and white! Santa Claus was in the middle of the room about to read the note for him and drink the milk and eat the cookies before putting the presents in the stockings and under the tree. While this is happening, the kids get their first glimpse of Santa. To see Santa would be a lot of fun and very magical.

Santa’s workshop and reindeer barn and Toyland Train Mountain were my sister’s favorites, and, of course, some of mine too! In the barn, the reindeer move their heads as if they are real. I got to feel Santa’s beard, and it was so soft I almost got sleepy touching such fuzzy material. We got to sit in Santa’s big, special, cushiony chair with the high back and velvet seat. In Toyland, my sister and I got to stand by huge snowmen, look up at more than 3,000 ornaments and watch trains going through and around the lighted village. The entire village was alive with Christmas spirit. (I would write about my parent’s favorite exhibit, but they said it was too hard to choose one and loved them all.)

Did the magical Christmas spirit come to you? It certainly enchanted my family and me. There’s magic around every corner and bend in every room and hallway of this Museum.

Battles, Blood and BoredomA Day in the Life of a Civil War Soldier

Story and Photos by

Kiernan McNelis

I went back to 1863 where my family and I experienced the life of a Civil War soldier at Landis Valley Museum in Lancaster, Pa. They say that “the soldier’s life is 90 percent boredom and 10 percent fear.” I certainly would not ever have wanted to become a soldier back then – no matter what!

Meeting the soldiers, however, was a lot of fun! I spoke with Sergeant Bill Wilson and Private Rusty Dicks. I wanted to get their point of view on being a soldier in the Civil War. They said it was always noisy and they got bored quickly. The living conditions I saw weren’t anywhere near luxury. They said in the beginning the battles were exciting because they were something different. Now they don’t enjoy the battles because of seeing all the men who are fighting for what they believe in become wounded or killed. The battles no longer hold any interest or excitement. You couldn’t be very happy, I think, until you really thought about what a good thing you were doing fighting for the beliefs of your country.

My absolute favorite part of the experience at the Landis Valley Museum Civil War Re-enactment was meeting Richard T. Colburn, the Civil War reporter, who wrote for the New York World. It was a democratic newspaper that did not like President Lincoln and his plans. In fact, Colburn was one of three reporters captured by the South outside of Vicksburg and imprisoned. The newspaper business was a very competitive one, and Mr. Colburn told me that reporters were treated like spies because the officers and the other soldiers were afraid that their war plans would end up on the front page of the newspaper. This was the first war in which reporters were allowed on the battlefields. The reporters called themselves the “Bohemian Brigade.”

The “Bohemian Brigade” got their information from the officers and soldiers, most of the time. Sometimes if reporters didn’t have information and they needed some, they “just made it up,” said Colburn. The one piece of equipment that was very important to the reporters was the telegraph. By submitting information over the telegraph, anxious family members and townspeople could read about the battles that happened two days before. They then would know if loved ones had passed away, were sick or injured. The reporting technology has changed drastically since the time of the Civil War. Whether 150 years ago or today, wars are certainly not pleasant and probably never will be.

One of the many other interesting demonstrations of the day was the way in which food rations were distributed to the soldiers. One sergeant would call the name of a soldier in a line in front of him. A different sergeant with food in groups of various sizes in front of him would point to a pile of food which consisted of uncooked meat, a raw onion, ground coffee and, occasionally, a potato or vegetable if they were lucky. The soldier who was called by the first sergeant gets the pile of food that the second sergeant points to. The second sergeant can’t see the first sergeant or the soldiers being called so there is no chance that the sergeants are playing favorites among the men. I doubt that‘s how you decide who eats what and how much in your family because my family doesn’t do that.

Have you ever heard of worms in a cracker? Well, it’s true! The soldiers sometimes had worms in their crackers! If that did happen, all the soldier would have to do is put the cracker in their coffee and then the worms float to the top. The soldier can skim them off with his spoon. It equals a soft cracker and good coffee. BLAH!! I would not enjoy that!

First aid is important during wars because so many soldiers are injured and need help quickly. If a person fighting for the North needed to be stitched up they used wire for the stitches which is very strong but not extremely clean compared to what the South uses for stitches. They used boiled horse hair which is a weaker material but cleaner.

During the day, we were also able to see a weapon firing demonstration. First of all, I didn’t enjoy the loud noises but it was a very educational experience. All the soldiers had to know of all of the commands and execute them perfectly and precisely. The regiment would engage in one big volley of shots to let the enemy know they were there. Three shots were fired every minute during Civil War battles. Once given the order to fire, the soldiers needed time to fire and reload. There were 20 seconds of time when the enemy could gain on them. To decrease this amount of time, the rear rank fired first and then the front rank fired so there was continuous fire at the enemy. It was tough, loud and quite smoky work!

Did you ever think about where a soldier goes when they can leave camp? Of course, they hit the tavern! Actually, soldiers are not supposed to get liquor but the tavern keepers served the soldiers so that they wouldn’t steal their supply which would be even worse than perhaps getting caught by a ranking officer.

This day was packed full of facts of the life of a Civil War soldier. It was all very real. I hope you learned as much as I did. This was a great experience for my family and me, and one that I will never forget!!!

Batter Up!!!

Story and Photos by

Kiernan McNelis

Batter, batter, batter, SWING! I went to a Lancaster Barnstormers baseball game at Clipper Magazine Stadium. From beginning to end, I got a full tour of the stadium. (I even met Coach Von Hayes. He is the team manager.)

photo courtesy of the Lancaster Barnstormers

This was my first baseball game and I learned a lot about what happens behind the scenes too!

Let me tell you a little bit about Clipper Magazine Stadium. It has everything from the fields, to the fancy skyboxes, to the press box with the amazing technology and electronics. The fields are huge and perfectly maintained. The groundskeeper is in charge of the field. He has to mow the lawn, put down the clay mixture on the infield, and the sand mixture on the outfield. The sand mixture helps the grass grow better. The groundskeeper also has to hose down the dirt so it will stay in place during the game. He has many other jobs beside these.

KidReporters in the Dugout

Then there are the skyboxes which are located on the highest level of the building. Luckily it’s air-conditioned. Some are bigger than the others. The four skyboxes -- Wheatland, Buchanan, Conestoga, and Susquehanna – are named after area historical figures or places. They can be used all year round for meetings, parties, gatherings, etc. The skyboxes are leased so people can do whatever they want with them, including decorating them.

Next on the tour was the press box. Only press and staff can go in. However, in this case, they made an exception and the KidReporters were allowed to watch the game from this location with the local sports reporters. (I got to talk to the press while I was there.) There are Internet and phone connections in the room. There are a couple booths in the press box where people are doing special jobs during the game like controlling the scoreboards and the screens to show who is up to bat. One room is for the music they play. The last one is for the official scorekeeper who decides how to score each play whether it is a hit, a foul ball or strike out. He will always sit in that booth and watch each pitch.

Did you ever wonder how many people it takes to put together a game? About two hundred employees rotate what games they work during the baseball season. They believe that one of their most important jobs is to make sure the stadium is clean and the fan has a spectacular experience each time. In fact, employees wipe every single seat off before each game. Closer to game time everyone makes sure they know where to go and are in place before the first pitch is thrown.

Watching the game isn’t the only fun thing to do at Clipper Magazine Stadium. There are the bumper boats, the inflatables, and the merry-go-round. A kids’ park and a baseball game, too – talk about fun! Prepare to get wet on the bumper boats because not only is it like bumper cars on water, you can get squirted by a water gun and go under a waterfall. The obstacle course inflatable and the one you bounce on are attached to a slide and both are lots of fun. The merry-go-round isn’t just a regular one because it doesn’t have only horses to ride but it has other animals like a dragon, a monkey, a dog, a giraffe and a chicken.

Wait, there is one other thing that you can do only in the winter at Clipper Magazine Stadium. Can you guess what? You can ice skate in the outfield to music. That’s what I call fun in all seasons!

Sisters enjoying a Barnstormers Game

Why don’t you plan a visit with your family to this awesome stadium and see a game while having some fun at the kids’ park and on the bumper boats. Everyone has their own favorite part of the stadium, even Coach Von Hayes who loves the bumper boats “almost” as much as his team.

Jams, Jellies and Preserves
...Do You Know the Difference?

A Visit to Kitchen Kettle Village

Story and Photos by

Kiernan McNelis

I went to Kitchen Kettle Village in Intercourse, Pa., and relished a lot of fun. I saw the whole village including the jam and relish kitchen, bake shop, petting zoo and more. I also met Pat Burnley who is the founder of Kitchen Kettle Village.

KidReporter Kiernan with Ms. Burley,
founder of Kitchen Kettle Village

Do you know how Kitchen Kettle Village began? No! Well, then I will tell you. Pat and Bob Burnley began what today is Kitchen Kettle Village in their garage in 1954. They bought a lady’s business and some of the jam and jelly making equipment. They experimented with different flavor combinations and through hard work and steady sales the business grew. After awhile, they asked some of their friends with small businesses if they wanted to join together, and soon it grew into what is now a great attraction in Pennsylvania Dutch Country.

A great business like Kitchen Kettle Village takes a lot of work. There are 11 Amish women who work in the Kitchen, and they rotate shifts so that six women work per day. In addition, I would like to share some facts about Kitchen Kettle Village. As you know it is a family-owned business and 90 percent of the items sold there are made on site. There are no preservatives or artificial colors in the food products. The women who work at Kitchen Kettle make 5,000-6,000 jars of product, like apple cinnamon jelly, in one day since they usually make one specific product per day. The difference between a jam, jelly or preserve is that a jelly is based on a fruit’s juice, a jam has small pieces of the fruit in it, and a preserve has big chunks of fruit or the whole fruit in it.

Making Cookies is Hard Work!

Something they strongly believe in is the ingredients and only the highest quality products are used. They are always looking for ways to improve the recipes and develop new products. In fact, I met Kristine Grego who has that specific job. She gave us a tour of the kitchen and so that we could see how the products are made.

They have a production meeting every Monday to schedule which products get made on what day. They figure out what ingredients are in season and if they are offered at a good price. Also they consider what they didn’t make in a while. Then a production schedule is put together. That’s the insider’s view of Kitchen Kettle Village.

My favorite part of visiting Kitchen Kettle Village was the “Savor the Flavor Tasting Challenge” which is when I wore a blindfold over my eyes and had to guess what product I had just tasted. With over 80 products, this challenge is harder than you think. It was fun tasting the many items and having them placed on the different parts of my tongue, because each taste (sweet, salty, sour) has a different part of your tongue where it tastes the strongest.

Blindfolded for the Tasting Challenge

Just like there are many tastes so that something will appeal to everyone, Kitchen Kettle Village also has fun for everyone to enjoy. The kids will certainly love the fudge shop, ice cream, kettle corn and treats from the bake shop..

KidReporters Riding around Kitchen Kettle Village

The petting zoo, playground, pony rides and tractors to drive should definitely satisfy the younger kids. Older kids will enjoy the stores and getting a feel for Pennsylvania Dutch Country food and traditions. The jam and relish kitchen, with tasty samples, is wonderful for adults. And everyone will enjoy meeting “Yummie,” the gingerbread character mascot who greets visitors at the village, and going on a horse-drawn carriage ride through Amish country.

KidReporters with Yummie!

I learned many things about Pennsylvania Dutch Country traditions and the jam and jelly business, including the difference between a jam, jelly and preserve. There’s even more to learn and see at Kitchen Kettle Village. Visit for yourself and you will see!

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