Debbie Saylor, curator for the Blue Rock Heritage Center, believes that she and Blue Rock president Charlie Douts bring together the expertise needed to preserve Washington Boro area history. "My specialty is Native American (cultures), but Charlie knows local history, so it's a good partnership," she said.

The Heritage Center, located at 2251 River Road, Washington Boro, is open for special occasions, including Sundays, Aug. 22, Sept. 19, and Oct. 17, from 1 to 4 p.m. Admission is free, but donations are appreciated. More information about upcoming activities may be found at http://www.bluerockheritage.org.

According to Douts, the organization was founded after the location was purchased by the Lancaster Area Sewer Authority in 2002. "A group felt we had lost so much history," said Douts, who added that the borough was the smallest in Lancaster County prior to becoming part of Manor Township in 1971. The group recognized the unique Native American history of the area and brought in Saylor from Baltimore to bring new life to the historical displays at the center.

Saylor, who is curator of the Indian Steps Museum in Airville and vice president of the Lower Susquehanna Archaeology Society Chapter 28, said she saw a real potential gem in the Blue Rock Heritage Center. "Washington Boro is very rich in archaeological history," she noted. The current exhibit at Blue Rock Heritage Center, "Footprints Through Time," takes visitors from the Paleo-Indian Period to the present.

"When you walk in, you understand the timeline, which is Paleo-Indian the first 16,000 years," she said, explaining that the earliest culture in the area is traced to nomadic people, followed by Shenk's Ferry people. Among the artifacts on display are stone tools, spear tips, and pottery. Saylor has also created an exhibit of mysterious petroglyphs, which are shaped like animals. "We don't know the meanings of these," she said.

In addition, the collection includes butcher blocks, duck decoys, and information about ice harvesting, a crucial business prior to refrigeration.

The organization is associated with the Circle Legacy Center, a Native American heritage group with an emphasis on the arts, crafts, and culture of indigenous people, and with Raven Ridge Wildlife Center, which holds regular classes on animals such as bats, owls, and vultures.

Saylor noted that part of her job is to identify and catalog area archaeological finds. "Once an item leaves the area, its cultural value is lost," she explained. "That's why the heritage center exists: so we can show people ... what a wonderful heritage this whole place has."