How many years have you attended the Old Fiddlers’ Picnic at Hibernia Park?  Do you remember the picnics at Lenape Park as well – or similar get-togethers in other areas?  Do tunes such as well-known “Soldier’s Joy” or “Golden Slippers” set your feet a-tappin’?  How about “The Swallow in the Swamp” or the “Detroit Schottisch,” a couple of less well-known tunes from the early days of the picnic? 

{Old Fiddler}

Our memories don’t have to stretch back too far to recall Warren Mercer, a Picnic enthusiast and volunteer for many years. Even more recently we sadly note the passing of fiddlers such as Snooky McFalls and Bill Hunn. From the earliest days of the Picnic we know of Titus Berg of Phoenixville, who played fiddle, mouth organ and musical saw, Jack Ridgway, a West Chester blacksmith and fiddler, and the three Moynahans of Coatesville (Mike J. Moynahan, “Twin-Mike” R. Moynahan, and James M. Moynahan). We would love to talk to anyone who remembers these musicians or knows their families.   

We would like to honor these musicians with your help through reminiscences, photographs, or tapes. The Old Fiddlers’ Picnic Oral History Project will include taped interviews, historical research, and the gathering of photographs and memorabilia connected to the Picnic and will be published to celebrate the Picnic’s 75th Anniversary in the year 2003. All materials will eventually be housed in The Chester County Historical Society where they can be stored in appropriate climate-controlled conditions and so will be available to future researchers.

Working in cooperation with Chester County Parks and Recreation, currently the editorial team will involve Dr. Roslyn Blyn-LaDrew (University of Pennsylvania), James W. LaDrew (musician, local history researcher), and Pete LaBerge (square dance caller). Additional volunteers may be recruited; interested participants should have experience in fieldwork, journalism and/or history research or be willing to learn the methodology. 

Potential interviewees will include musicians, audience members including children or grandchildren of original participants and visitors from other states or countries, craftspeople, Park staff, journalists who have covered the Picnic, Christian Sanderson Museum volunteers, and members of the local community.  Inclusion of material in the final publication will be subject to the discretion of the editors and the Chester County Parks & Recreation Department.

If you remember the early days of the Picnic or have thoughts you would like to share on the Picnic today, please contact the Old Fiddlers’ Picnic Oral History Project by calling Dr. Roslyn Blyn-LaDrew at 610-942-8688 or email: roslynb-l@comcast.net.

Return to Top

Event Sponsors & Volunteers 

Hibernia County Park is located in Wagontown, 4 miles north of Coatesville, PA off the Route 82 Exit of the Route 30 Bypass. Directions may be obtained from the Hibernia County Park website or by contacting the Park Office at 610-383-3812.