We are grateful for the continued generosity of Bob Maguire, who once again donated Severin Rosen's painting to the Rowley House Museum, maintained by Preservation Williamsport.
The works of Rosen, who lived and painted in Williamsport in the late 19th century, became popular after his death and eventually hung in the White House. The latest Roesen painting acquired by the Rowley House Museum, as reported in the Jan. 17 edition of the Williamsport Sun-Gazette, is a rare painting of flowers — rare because Roesen mostly painted still lifes of fruit.
Along with Julia Collins, the first African-American woman to publish a novel in the United States, Reverend John H. Hopkins Jr., who wrote A Christmas Carol “We Three Kings” Before serving as rector of Christ Episcopal Church in Williamsport and others, Rosen can inspire people today and our age to create timeless works of art.
Our region should not only be proud of its history, but also of the importance of sharing this history with future generations. The Rowley House Museum, the Thomas T. Taber Museum, the World of Little League Museum, the cemetery along the Freedom Trail, the murals that adorn Church Street Transportation, and historical markers throughout Lycoming County are important parts of that educational opportunity.
The kindness of Bob Maguire and the hard work of Preservation Williamsport are integral to keeping this history alive so that it can continue to inspire people, not only today but for generations to come.
