Area Clans (Irish or not) to Gather at the Irish Breakfast Buffet at Historic Joanna Furnace

MORGANTOWN, PA    The Hay Creek Valley Historical Association is a-wear’n the green!! So pick up an Irish Brogue . . . bring your clan and your appetite to a fabulous ‘Irish Breakfast buffet’ on Saturday, March 16 from 7:00 a.m. to noon. That morning Joanna Furnace, figuratively, turns green with the best Gaelic atmosphere and eating imaginable. And if the food isn’t enough to draw people to the furnace, the entire buffet will be enhanced by traditional Irish music performed by Hay Creek’s own Lady of Song, Phyllis Hummel.

Many of the early Joanna Furnace workers were Irish

This homage to Ireland will feature a hearty, traditional Irish buffet of Pancakes, French toast, County Sausage, Homemade Corned Beef Hash, Bacon, Scrapple, Creamed Chipped Beef, Scrambled Eggs, Country Style Potatoes, Baked Oatmeal, Fruit, Coffee, Juice and more.  The cost for the Buffet: Adults $9.50 Children (5-11) $4.50 Children under 5 FREE.  Most of the Irish, and some Scottish songs to be heard would have been familiar to the Scotch-Irish workers at Joanna Furnace and their families in the local community.  Reservations are not required to attend.

Mark Zerr, Executive Director of the Hay Creek Valley Clan and the historic site, says “We start the new year off with our February Valentine’s event which brings an end to the winter doldrums.   This is now followed by our upcoming March 16^th  Irish Buffet.  It’s our way of bringing out the green in anticipation of spring for the families in our area communities. We want them to come out and see what’s new at Joanna Furnace. This event always previews of all the exciting events, programs and projects everyone can look forward to for the rest of the year.“

Learn about upcoming Hay Creek Valley Historical Association & Historic Joanna Furnace Volunteer Opportunities

March is the month when the Hay Creek Valley Historical Association opens up its doors and welcomes new volunteers to step forward and learn about being a tour guide at Joanna Furnace or taking a hands-on craft class on an early American trade.  This year’s course offerings includes:  March 12^th – Learn to be a Joanna Furnace Tour Guide, March 16^th – 19^th Century Metal Casting, March 16^th – Candle Making, March 19^th – “Letters of a Daughter’s Devotion Preserved for Centuries”, March 26^th – 19^th Century Iron Production at Joanna Furnace, March 30^th – Early American Cooking —  Colonial Chocolate, April 6^th – School of Soldier, April 27^th – Natural Dying.  For more information or to register for any of these classes please email info@haycreek.org.

The Hay Creek Valley Historical Association is a 501(c)(3) non-profit charitable organization dedicated to the preservation and education of America’s iron heritage. Net proceeds from this event support the restoration and educational projects of The Hay Creek Valley Historical Association and Joanna Furnace, a historically significant 18^th and 19^th-century charcoal-fueled iron furnace.  Anyone wishing to find more information about the 2019 events or educational programs at Joanna Furnace can visit the Hay Creek Valley Historical Association website at www.haycreek.org  or call 610-286-0388.  The Joanna Furnace site is located three miles north of Morgantown, along Route 10.  For entrance turn at Furnace Road.