Top 10 for Thursday: Things you can find at the Christian Sanderson Museum
Check out all the photographs on the Delco Top 10 blog.
The Christian C. Sanderson Museum in Chadds Ford is proud to present ‘A Tribute to the Pocopson Valley Boys’ on Saturday, June 14, with musical performances at 2 p.m. and 3 p.m. Bring a lawn chair and enjoy an afternoon of musical fun and delicious summertime refreshments. The band will play some of the old tunes and other toe tapping favorites. Sing along or dance with the music. The museum will also be open for visitors to enjoy Chris’ wonderful collection of art, military memorabilia, presidential artifacts, local history and collectibles. Come see the fiddle that Chris Sanderson played in the Pocopson Valley Boys, as well as other instruments played by popular musicians in history. Bring friends and family to enjoy a terrific afternoon of Pocopson Valley Boys music! The concert is free; admission to the museum is $5 per person and free for members and children under 12.
I first learned about the Sanderson Museum from participating in the Delaware County Historical Society Ride for History last September. The idea was to follow a set map of different historical sites in Delaware County get you passport stamped, briefly view the locations and move on to the next. I spent two hours at this museum without regret, well maybe one, I would have liked to spend more time. There is so much to see. Guaranteed you will either speak out loud or say to yourself, ‘Wow, look at this!’
1. The entry room contained so many things, I already felt I had gotten my $5 worth. When I was there last year, this room contain a lot of civil war artifacts due to the 150th Anniversary. This year from May to July the featured exhibit is ‘Twelve Hours at Brandywine.’
2. While the docent was giving us a basic idea of what we could find in each room, I looked down into the glass case and saw the name Jennie Wade. She was the only civilian killed during the Battle of Gettysburg and Chris had obtained her purse from her sister, Georgia Wade McClellan, who was the owner of the house that Jennie was shot in.
3. The wonder of Chris through the Wyeth family connection and collection. A map illustration was made with data supplied by Chris Sanderson and drawn by Andrew Wyeth. The portrait of a dapper Christian Sanderson at age 55 was a gift when Chris and his mother returned to the Chadds Ford after being away for a time. Chris, the history teacher is pointing to Chester County on the map and its significance in history. The photograph of Andrew Wyeth working on the painting is also a collector’s item. It was painted in 1937 by a young Andrew Wyeth. Jamie Wyeth designed the invitation to Christian Sanderson’ 80th birthday party. Pictured is a young Jamie and Chris with the invitation.
4. Unusual things that can be found at the museum are a picture made of butterfly wings, and lava from Mt. Vesuvius. I am told there is sand from the building of the Panama Canal and melted snow from the South Pole.
5. How about an original book from the Benjamin Franklin private library collection? According to research, Chris paid $4 for it on June 18, 1947 at the Nannie T. Bache sale.
6. Chris passed away in 1966 and this is what one of the rooms looked like, his desk is under there! I know people like this, pure genius. They know where everything is located. Thank goodness Chris marked and dated everything. Enter … every museum needs a curator. Mr. Sanderson scrolled on a piece of paper in his will that Thomas R. Thompson an old friend could do whatever he wanted with all his stuff. Mr. Thompson became curator and is largely responsible for the organization of the Sanderson Museum as you see it today. There are 8 rooms full of artifacts.
7. The notes below the photograph of Chris holding the school bell state that this bell was: Used by me at the National Folk Festival in Nashville, Tennessee in 1959, 50 Years of Statehood Festival, Oklahoma 1957, Downingtown Centennial Parade 1959, Chads ford Days 1958-1959. The photograph was taken at The National Folk Festival, Covington, Kentucky 1963. This photo appeared on the front page of the Kentucky Post 5-21-63.
8. A newspaper clipping of the front page of a newspaper of Mrs H. C. Sanderson (Chris’s mother) baking pies on the old fireplace at Washington’s Headquarters in 1922. She and Chris lived there from 1906 – 1922. Mrs. Sanderson was also a fastidious record keeper, note below: Christie is not earning a penny so I have bought all groceries so far. This will be repaid. Later and addition was added with an arrow pointing to the above notation, Has been in full H.C.S.
9. Some of the presidential connections include the Teddy Roosevelt photograph purchased in Washington, D.C. the day Teddy became president. A piece of bandage put on Lincoln when he was shot. (Given by Dr. Rose) Piece of cloth from Lincoln coffin. Piece of material from chair used by Jefferson Davis at the Confederate capitol. The photograph of JFK taken in Dallas 9 blocks before the assassination, was purchased in Washington, D.C. June 17, 1965, the day astronauts White and McDevitt rode up Pennsylvania Avenue to the Capitol.
10. There is a wall of famous autographs including Jacqueline Kennedy, Sitting Bull (along with a photograph) written 3 weeks before he was killed, Wild Bill Cody and Buffalo Bill.
To date this was my favorite thing in the museum, it is Chris sitting atop Flagstaff Mt. looking over Jim Thorpe, Pa., with a young friend in Pennsylvania undoubtedly sharing his knowledge of history similarly as it is presented in the museum. Chris Sanderson knew the value of people and things.
They just don’t make ’em like that anymore.
He was a keeper.One more fascinating thing about this man and his collection, he never drove a car. He either hitched or caught a ride with a friend.
Mary Ann Fiebert is married and has two kids, and is also a member of our Community Media Lab. She is not a perfect person but is female so it’s as close as you can get. lol. Look for her Top 10 List every day on delcotimes.com.
