The Historical Society of the Cocalico Valley (HSCV) will offer a presentation, "Rocky Springs Park," on Wednesday, April 22, at 7 p.m. at Holy Trinity Lutheran Church, 167 E. Main St., Ephrata.

Cory Van Brookhoven, president of the Lititz Historical Foundation and a third-generation Lititz historian, will speak of his fascination with Rocky Springs Park. Van Brookhoven is an author of more than 150 articles and four books pertaining to Lancaster County history.

The program is free and open to the public. The parking lot and entrance are accessible via the alley behind the church.

In addition, HSCV has announced that the Theodore R. Sprecher Museum is again open after its winter break. The museum will be open every Saturday from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. through December. Admission is free.

With the reopening, the historical society has introduced a new feature exhibit, "The Many Faces of Freedom," which focuses on the Revolutionary War and how it affected the lives of everyday citizens in the Cocalico Valley. On display are many items indicative of the war effort, including typical gear that would have been used by a member of the militia, an original pay receipt, copies of fines paid by non-Associators who chose not to fight, and the uniform of a sharpshooter.

The exhibit also shares detailed information on the military hospitals at Reamstown and Ephrata; a complete list of men in the Cocalico Valley who served; detailed information on the Anabaptist community, which opposed the war on religious grounds; and reproductions of clothing that area residents would have been wearing at the time of the Revolution. Also highlighted throughout the museum's permanent displays are artifacts from the 18th century that were locally used or produced.

Finally, a diorama of the Ephrata area, circa 1776, will be shared between the HSCV and the Ephrata Cloister. When it is on-site at the HSCV, guests will be directed to the education room of the library to view this scale model of a 4-by-2-mile area with the Cloister settlement in the center.

The exhibit opened to the public in March, but an official grand opening will take place on Saturday, April 18, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Berks County native and Revolutionary War re-enactor Sam Leamer will be in attendance. Leamer has been interpreting history for over 20 years, and he has shared his knowledge at dozens of historical sites, including the Ephrata Cloister and Cornwall Iron Furnace.

For more information about HSCV's activities, visit http://www.cocalicovalleyhs.org or call 717-733-1616.