Community Corner

Cheap Trips: Art School, Pottsgrove Manor, Notable Cemetery

Three local attractions you can visit on one tank of gas.

Want to get out of town and go for a trip, but looking to save money?

Try one of these three trips you can enjoy on just one tank of gas: West Laurel Hill Cemetery in Bala Cynwyd, Pottsgrove Manor in Pottstown and Baum School of Art in Allentown.

1. West Laurel Hill Cemetery

Address: 215 Belmont Avenue, Bala Cynwyd
How far from Palmer-Forks Patch? About 68 miles or about one hour and 21 minutes

Admission:

Find out what's happening in Palmer-Forkswith free, real-time updates from Patch.

  • Free
  • Free parking is also available

Hours:

  • Office:

Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
Saturday, 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.
Sunday, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.

Find out what's happening in Palmer-Forkswith free, real-time updates from Patch.

  • Gates:

7 a.m. 6 p.m. (May 1 through October 31)
7 a.m. to 5 p.m. (November 1 through April 30)

  • Chapel of Peace:

Monday through Saturday, 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Holidays and Sundays, 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Summary: Though a cemetery could be considered an unorthodox location for fun community events, West Laurel Hill Cemetery has made itself a legitimate destination for regional travelers through its impressive roster of local notables buried there.

The cemetery hosts monthly Boneyard Bookworms reading clubs and organizes an annual Beer Barons to Homebrewers event, where visitors taste varieties of home brews at the mausoleum of an early 20th century brewer.

The cemetery was incorporated in 1869 and includes an arboretum and a sculpture garden. The newly opened Cynwyd Heritage Trail sends hikers and bikers right past the property. A segment of the cemetery's website lets visitors browse for notable burials.

Links:

 

2. Open Hearth Cooking Demonstration at Pottsgrove Manor

Address: 100 W. King Street, Pottstown
How Far From Palmer-Forks Patch? About 44 miles or about one hour and six minutes

Hours:

  • Exhibition closes Jan. 29.
  • Tuesday through Saturday, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
  • Saturday and Sunday, 1 to 4 p.m.

Admission:

  • Donations accepted
  • Groups of 10 or more should pre-register by calling (610) 326-4014

Summary: This open-hearth cooking demonstration will feature Pottsgrove Manor’s historic cooks preparing authentic 18th century recipes for sweets and treats made with a variety of libations.

The program wraps up the exhibit “Spirituous Liquors and Healthful Distillations: Alcohol in Colonial America" on Jan. 29.

Pottsgrove Manor was built in 1752 for John Potts, ironmaster and founder of Pottstown. The mansion has been restored to give visitors a glimpse into the lifestyle of the Potts family and the colonial American time period.

Links:

 

3. Baum School of Art

Address: 510 W. Linden Street, Allentown
How Far From Palmer-Forks Patch? About 17 miles or about 25 minutes

Hours:

  • Monday through Thursday, 9 a.m. to 9 p.m.
  • Friday and Saturday, 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.
  • Closed Sunday

Admission:

  • Free

Summary: Celebrating its 85th year, the Baum School of Art in Allentown features two galleries that are free and open to the public. The East Central Pennsylvania Scholastic Art Awards Show runs Jan. 15 through Feb. 5.

About 6,000 visitors each year enjoy the work of students as well as local and regional artists. The highlight of any visit to the Baum School is the 12-foot replica of "Leonardo's Horse," a sculpture commissioned in 1482 of Leonardo da Vinci by the Duke of Milan. The imposing equine statue stands in Allentown's Community Art Park next to the Baum School.

Link:


Get more local news delivered straight to your inbox. Sign up for free Patch newsletters and alerts.

We’ve removed the ability to reply as we work to make improvements. Learn more here

More from Palmer-Forks