The public is invited to a delightful evening of storytelling at the Wilder Museum of Warren County History with an open house remembering the life and engaging writings of Arch Bristow, a local 20th century author. "An Evening with Arch Bristow" will take place on Thursday, June 14, from 6 to 8 p.m. at the Wilder Museum.
Speakers and volunteers will be stationed throughout the museum discussing and narrating stories written by Bristow who was the famed author of Old Time Tales of Warren County. This is a collection of humorous and captivating tales published in 1932 comprised of stories and folktales told to Arch by early Warren County pioneers. He also wrote a compilation of poems and was the author of numerous newspaper columns and cartoon sketches as well as publisher of his own extremely popular magazine.
Arch Bristow grew up in several small Pennsylvania towns including Sharpsville and New Brighton. His father was a Presbyterian preacher who eventually moved the family to Garland. At 20 years old, Arch lived and worked in Johnstown writing for The Tribune. It was while visiting in Garland that he met and married Grizelle Andrews in 1909 although he commuted to his job until 1914. Arch finally gave up the Johnstown position and worked from Garland writing advertisements, a cartoon called "Zimmie" and eventually wrote a column for the Warren Evening Times. He enjoyed writing so much that he began writing and publishing the small magazine called The Hay Rake in his tiny office in Garland. The Hay Rake was filled with jokes, cartoons, poems and articles written by Bristow and published right from the office. He had a huge following for several years amounting to a circulation of 62,000 per month!
The public is invited to the Wilder Museum of Warren County History at 51 Erie Ave., Irvine, on June 14 to celebrate the life of this talented and beloved writer.
Free refreshments will be provided by GoldenLiving Center and Asera Care Hospice. For more information, call 723-1795.