Priestley House’s Grand Re-Opening

Posted by Carmen Drahl on October 30, 2009 in Chemistry in the News

Fans of chemistry and powdered wigs can now rejoice, for thanks to some dedicated volunteers, the Priestley House is open once again, and they’re celebrating in style (18th-century style, that is) on November 1st.

You’ll recall that last summer, a budget crisis in the state of Pennsylvania shuttered the historic house, which was the country residence of philosopher/scientist/oxygen co-discoverer Joseph Priestley. Members of the Friends of Joseph Priestley House Museum group inked an agreement with the state so that the house could open for visitors once more.

To celebrate (the house has actually been open since Oct. 3), the Friends group is running a grand re-opening ceremony on Sunday, November 1, at the Northumberland, PA residence. Expect period costumes, guided tours of the house, and most importantly, whiz-bang chemistry demonstrations courtesy of Ronald Blatchley, who’ll once again step into the role of Priestley himself. Watch some footage from a local PA news station that stopped by the house earlier this month.