A VALLEY TREASURE

Buggy Museum requires volunteer time and lots of funding

Story by Jerri Brouse

For many years, Mifflinburg has been known as “The Buggy Town.” That’s because, per capita, there were more buggy makers in this little town than in any town in America.

In an incredible act of generosity, the Heiss family gifted the home, workshop and showroom or repository to the association.

Recognizing the importance of the site, the group immediately began the work to officially organize The Mifflinburg Buggy Museum Association, Inc. and the process to receive a designation as a not-for-profit organization.

Why is this particular buggy business so important?

Board Of Directors

Peter Gardner, president

Then, in 1978, Dr. Charles McCool Snyder, a retired history professor, organized a meeting of community friends, hoping to generate ideas about how to celebrate Mifflinburg’s history of buggy making. Norman Heiss, the son of William Heiss, who had been a buggy maker in the late-19th/-early 20th centuries, was at that meeting and he offered to give folks a look inside the buildings that were once owned and operated by his father.

Michele Ocker-Holman

Eva Linke, vice president

Terry Watts, treasurer

Michael Bender

Dr. David Holman

Joannah Purnell McGregor, a long-time volunteer and tour guide at the museum, remembers when her mother, Marie Purnell Musser told her, “On that Sunday afternoon, the group got its first glimpse of the Heiss Coach Works.”

“Behind the closed doors of the factory, lay 40 years of buggy-making history: tools, horseshoes, tires, dashes, seats, paints, account books and catalogs. There were finished vehicles in ruins and vehicles barely begun,” according to the Buggy Museum’s website. It was as if William Heiss had closed the doors after a day of work intending to return the next morning.

Buggies can be found on display at museums around the country, but the Mifflinburg Buggy Museum is one of only 12 industrial craft museums in the United States that sits on an original site.

Joel Ingrund

Len Manbeck

Darren Rhyme

In 1979, the historic importance of the three building complex was confirmed when it was placed on the National Register of Historic Places.

“Preserving the past for the future is really important,” said Eva Linke, vice president of the association. “We may not realize it at a young age, but when we get older we begin to appreciate the importance of history.”

What no one had been able to predict 45 years ago was the staggering number of hours and dollars it would take to restore, maintain and operate the site.

Mifflinburg is not a large community and it is sometimes hard to secure the volunteers needed for an event or a fundraiser. Friends from neighboring communities who are interested in history and many who have a family relationship with Mifflinburg have been of enormous help as volunteers for many events, fundraisers and staffing the museum.

Fundraising in a small community is difficult at any time, but when it has to be repeated over and over, it becomes increasingly difficult. It takes an incredible number of hours of preparation and people to produce successful fundraisers.

The association needs to raise roughly $18,000 each year to pay for utilities, insurance and security. Maintenance is handled as it arises.

The current mortgage has a remaining balance of $65,000. The board of directors is currently developing a plan to pay-off the mortgage and to work aggressively to add to the endowment that will eventually fund the operational expenses of the organization.

Whenever difficulties are encountered, Linke reminds herself that losing the museum would be a tragedy, so finding a way to move forward is necessary.

In 2021, the organization was the recipient of a grant and several gifts of expertise that enabled them to refocus and renew their efforts to plan for the reduction of the debt and providing for the continuing excellence of the association.

Software to develop an archive for the museum was made possible by a grant from the First Community Partnership Foundation, Williamsport. The grant also paid for computers, scanners, a projector, a printer and the necessary accessories.

Emma Berkheiser, of Mifflinburg, who is an experienced volunteer, has volunteered to input the information into the program, Past Perfect Museum, to develop the archive.

In the future, the archive will be available to any one who would like to access it.

Five Bucknell students, who were enrolled in a Markets, Innovation and Design Class, did the work to develop a new website for the organization. Their outstanding work is evident when you search for mifflinburgbuggymuseum.org.

Every current volunteer is treasured, but that doesn’t negate the need to add more — many more, in fact.

Linke said she thinks a lot of times, people don’t like to step up to help because they’re afraid they’ll become over-burdened.

She wanted to assure potential helpers, “You can pick and choose the events or jobs you’d like,” she said. “Whether you have two hours a month to volunteer or 20 hours a month, we would appreciate your help, she said.”

The bad news? Help isn't just needed for the next few months, it will require years of work to provide for the sustainability of the Mifflinburg Buggy Museum Association, Inc.

Several events that have continued to generate funding for the Museum are sell-out walking tours: “Ghost Tours,” “Scandals and Scoundrels,” and — new this year — “The

Good, the Bad and the Ugly.” These events were created by Dr. Mary Sullivan and are informative and fun!

June 10, 2023, will celebrate the second year of the return of Mifflinburg Buggy Day. Of course there will be buggy rides, but the street fair will also offer oldfashioned children’s games, demonstrations, stands selling crafts and vintage items and, of course, great food. An added event this year will be provided by "Cordier Auctions Appraisal Clinic." Three antiques will be assessed by an appraiser for $10.

This summer, a group of students who are well-known by the association will arrive with Lance Miller. They are members of the HOBY Group. This organization was founded by Hugh O’Brien Youth Leadership Organization. Some will help with Buggy Day, while others will help with maintenance tasks among other things.

Earlier this year, two events raised funds for the museum. The annual Gala in February, which was held at The Rusty Rail Brewing Company, raised $6,200.

A Cabin Fever Bingo, scheduled for later in April (after the date of this magazine’s publication) will also benefit the association.

A garden tour is scheduled for June 18, a German Fall Festival is being planned and participation at the Christkindl Market is a “given."

Successfully sustaining a treasure — like The Mifflinburg Buggy Museum Association, Inc. and important sites throughout the Valley — requires ongoing funding and lots of volunteers. If you have the time to help The Buggy Museum, or an organization in your community, please consider volunteering time and, if you have treasure to share, a gift (no gift too small) would be appreciated.