The Millersville Area Historical Society (MAHS) invites the public to attend a presentation on "The School of Early Lancaster Long Gun Makers" when it meets at 9 a.m. on Saturday, April 8, in Millersville's Municipal Center, 100 Municipal Drive. Doors will open at 8:30 a.m. and lock at 9:15 a.m.

The presenter will be Lancaster native and resident John Long, an active member and recent program chairperson of the Lancaster Muzzleloaders and a longtime public school industrial arts teacher.

Long's talk will center around the evolution of the early gunmakers in Lancaster and how their skills were passed on through indentured apprenticeships and family members - all of which began in the middle 1700s and lasted to about 1825. Handouts will be available, and some examples of tools and guns of the period will be displayed, the latter of which will not be loaded or capable, in their conditions, of being fired. A question-and-answer session will end the presentation.

In addition to teaching in Lancaster's schools for about 34 years, Long taught students of all ages from other districts during evenings and some summers; was president of the Union Fire Company No. 1, Lancaster, for three and a half terms; and served as a volunteer with the Lancaster Recreation Association. He earned his initial teaching degree as well as his master's degree at Millersville University.

Admission is free, but donations will be appreciated. For more details, contact Phil Gerber at 717-872-8837 before noon or at pge8507@aol.com.