Celebrate ‘Pinkster' Saturday

Milford — On Saturday, May 30, the Pike County Historical Society will hold the second annual Pinkster celebration on the grounds of the Columns Museum, on Broad Street, in Milford. Pinkster is a spring festival originated by the Dutch as a religious holiday. Pinksteren,” meaning Pentecost, was celebrated since the early 17th century by Dutch settlers. By the mid 19th century, however, Pinkster evolved into a primarily African-American Holiday celebrated by slaves and free blacks, and liberally seasoned with African culture and traditions. Milford and Pike County have an interesting history when it comes to the celebration of Pinkster. “The red letter day of the year was Pinkster.” This is written in Charles F. Rockwell’s “Recollections of Men, Customs and Events in Milford Pennsylvania and Vicinity” (1889) in the chapters recalling the adventures of a negro named “Old Adam” who resided above Sawkill Creek near the Glen. To celebrate at Adam’s place one particular year, Rockwell writes: “The stove was taken out and all the furniture removed except a wooden bottom chair in each of two corners of the room on which stood the two old negroes Harry and Frank, one to call off and the other to play the violin.” This celebration included square dancing similar to the Virginia Reel and ended in what was called a “Patting Juber” where folks clapped their hands and kept time with their feet while young boys threw off some of their best steps to a roar of applause, both inside and out of the house. Mr. Rockwell describes this as “as happy as a scene as I have ever looked upon.” The Society plans to live up to the jubilation of Pinkster. The Society will offer tye-dying, (bring your own T-shirt or purchase one from us!) a baked goods and plant sale, and games. The fun starts at 1 p.m. on Museum grounds. For more information on programming offered at the Pike County Historical Society’s Museum, visit it online at www.pikecountyhistoricalsociety.org.