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The public is invited to experience the discovery of oxygen at Rural Heritage Days’ Fri., Aug. 17 at 6:30 p.m., when Ron Blatchley portrays 18th-century chemist Joseph Priestley. Ronald Blatchley taught high school chemistry for 36 years, most of them at Mifflinburg High School. He and his wife, Fran, moved to this area in 1967 and soon afterward discovered the newly opened Joseph Priestley House in Northumberland. A friendship developed between Ron and the Priestley House caretaker, Tom Lehman. Ron visited the house often. In 1983, the folks at Priestley House wanted to celebrate the 250th anniversary of Priestley’s birth in a special way. Knowing that Ron taught chemistry, they asked him to present a program to demonstrate how Priestley made his discoveries. Ron still had an 18th-century costume that Fran had sewn for him for the celebration of ’76. Ron wore the outfit to do his first demonstration at Priestley House. The rest, as they say, is history. Ron has been portraying Joseph Priestley ever since, in demonstrations around Pennsylvania and in eight other states, and has been invited by the Priestley Society to Yorkshire, England on three occasions. One especially fond memory for Ron took place a few years ago at a gathering of fellow Lycoming College graduates. Ron struck up a conversation with Reverend Jim Gold, of Mifflinburg. Pastor Gold remarked, “Did you know that I am a great-great-great-great-great grandson of Joseph Priestley?” “Really!” replied Ron. “Did you know that I am Joseph Priestly!?” Pastor Gold hesitated a moment, then said “Ah, yes! I remember seeing your picture in the paper!” From that day, whenever these two friends meet, Pastor Gold, who is probably 10 years Ron’s senior, says, “Hello Grandpa!” and Ron replies, “Nice to see you, Sonny!” Ron feels richly rewarded as he enjoys seeing the “lights” of understanding “come on” for so many who have witnessed his reenactment of experiments that led to important discoveries more than 200 years ago. Come experience 18th-century scientific discovery at Rural Heritage Days’ Friday evening event, Aug. 17. Please bring your own lawn chairs. The program is free. Directions: from Rte. 15 in Lewisburg, take Rte. 192 west for 1.5 miles, turn north on Strawbridge Rd. and travel 1.5 miles to the site. Signs are posted. © Copyright 2012 by Mifflinburg Telegraph Weekly Newspaper Top of Page |
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