Historic Poole Forge (HPF) will hold its annual Thanksgiving online holiday auction from Friday, Nov. 27, at 1 a.m. to Sunday, Nov. 29, at 8 p.m., presenting a great opportunity to get ahead on Christmas shopping with unique and handcrafted gifts.

"It's not your typical Black Friday shopping," said Dawn Rise Ekdahl, Poole Forge executive director. "It's a way to shop from home and support local business."

The auction started during COVID-19 and has become a yearly tradition for HPF. As usual, the prized items in the auction will be a handmade community quilt and a chainsaw-crafted wooden bear.

The quilt is made annually, being passed around to individuals who live near the site. The bear, crafted by Dane Fox, was constructed during Poole Forge Day. It stands around 3 feet tall.

"We decide on a pattern, and then it goes out into the community," Ekdahl explained. "Some get mailed away as far as into New York and other Mennonite communities. Each woman makes one or several squares for the quilt, and then I have someone locally that puts it all together."

Other items and experiences include a therapeutic massage from Churchtown Therapeutic, a leather bag from Urban Southern, pony rides from Chateau Ponies, and a spinning and weaving lesson. For the more adventurous types, the auction will also feature a hot air balloon flight with Air Ventures, an archery lesson and a portrait photography session.

All of the items in the auction have been donated by local businesses and members of the community.

"They make for really nice Christmas gifts," Ekdahl said. "Especially the hot air balloon. It's a great gift for someone that might be thinking about it but hasn't jumped to make the decision yet."

Bidding takes place at https://new.biddingowl.com/historicpooleforge. More information about the auction will be available at that link, as well. Most items in the auction must be picked up at Poole Forge, 1940 Main St. (Route 23), Narvon. Fox will personally deliver the bear within a 40-mile radius, and the quilt may be shipped, provided the buyer covers the cost of doing so. The gift certificates can also be mailed.

All proceeds from the auction will benefit the preservation and maintenance of Historic Poole Forge's historic buildings, covered bridge, gardens, park grounds and natural areas, as well as its educational programs and community events that are offered throughout the year.

Over the last few months, two new historic markers have been placed around the covered bridge, which was built in 1859 by Levi Fink after local citizens petitioned to have a bridge across the Conestoga Creek.

The first marker commemorates the history of the bridge, while the second recognizes the bridge's listing on the National Register of Historic Places in 1980. The markers were made possible through a grant from the William G. Pomeroy Foundation. The Theodore Burr Covered Bridge Society also provided guidance and assistance throughout the process.

"They want exact GPS locations; the exact wording has to be really exact," Ekdahl explained. "All of the information has to be verifiable. We needed documents, historical documents to back up every fact that is stated on those."

Historic Poole Forge is located on Route 23, 7 miles east of New Holland and 3 miles east of the Shady Maple Complex. For more information, visit http://www.historicpooleforge.org or http://www.facebook.com/pooleforge. Those with questions may email hpf1940@gmail.com.