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Sayre Historical Society Establishes Museum
SAYRE PA - Sayre Historical Society is establishing a local history museum
in the former Lehigh Valley Passenger Station here with help from a variety
of sources. The goal is to restore the building to the showplace it was over
100 years ago, restoring it as a cornerstone of the community offering a meaningful
view of local history.
Endless Mountains Heritage Region has been an
active partner in helping Sayre Historical Society reach those goals. A recently
awarded $13,000 grant from EMHR will be used to inventory artifacts, develop
exhibit themes design signage and develop a room floor plan. The exhibit project
is expected to be completed in 2006.
Once completed the Sayre Historical Society Museum
with its extensive collection of Lehigh Valley Railroad artifacts, documents,
photos and other archives is expected to be a major visitor destination in Bradford
County.
The museum has been open weekends offering temporary
exhibits. A major interior construction project is expected to begin shortly
including installation of a Heating Ventilating Air Conditioning system. Upon
completion of that project the Historical Society will work on installing permanent
exhibits.
Last year the Historical Society completed an
extensive exterior preservation/renovation project totaling approximately $475
thousand dollars. Endless Mountains Heritage Region awarded a $75,000 grant
toward that effort.
Other funding sources for the overall project
included the Alan Pierce Foundation; Department of Community and Economic Development
funds obtained through Senator Roger Madigan; and a Pennsylvania Historic and
Museum Commission technical assistance grant which allowed an expert in museum
exhibit design to visit the museum and provide recommendation for exhibits design
and layout.
New exhibits are expected to be in place sometime
in 2006. When they are completed the museum will be re-opened on an expanded
schedule, according to Ken Bracken, Sayre Historical Society spokesperson.
Exhibits will chronicle the growth of Sayre from when it was merely a railroad
junction in a farming area called "The Pine Plains," to the present.
Exhibits will feature people and industries that contributed to the town's growth.
"EMHR support to the Sayre Historical Society
has been outstanding. I have always had prompt and complete answers to any inquiry
directed to any of the staff. BobVeleker (EMHR Executive Director) was especially
helpful to me in my early days of grant writing. I started with a zero knowledge
base in this arena and Bob was a tremendous resource to get me off the ground.
I attended a couple of EMHR's grant-writing seminars that were also very beneficial,"
Bracken said.
EMHR maintains an office at 1 Washington Street,
Towanda. Board members are drawn from member counties (Bradford, Sullivan, Susquehanna
and Wyoming). EMHR is strongly invested in regional community goals and maintaining
a high quality of life in the Endless Mountains Region.
Activities are focused on promoting historic preservation
and development, tourism, recreation, economic development, cultural development,
agriculture, community planning and implementation. Individuals, businesses,
non-profit organizations and industries can support this important regional
effort through memberships.
Endless Mountains Heritage Region can be reached via email at emhr@epix.net
or at 570-265-1528.
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Victorian Architecture Preserved in Eagles Mere
EAGLES MERE PA - Although the huge resort hotels of previous centuries are
merely memories, Eagles Mere's downtown area, village green and Victorian lakeside
cottages retain the feel of the gaslight era.
Endless Mountains Heritage Region is helping ensure
it retains that historic feel, State Heritage Park recently awarded Eagles Mere
Historic Village Inc. a $20,000.00 grant toward renovating and rehabilitating
the Village Store building. The building is the keystone and the commercial
center of town's Historic District, which has been on the National Register
since 1996.
"Historically, much of Eagles Mere Borough
is officially registered a "historic district". Eagles Mere is widely
known as the "town that time forgot" as its cottages and way of life
are much as they were a century ago. Photographs of beach activity today are
hard to distinguish from photo's 100 years ago except for people's attire,"
said Philip McDermott of the Eagles Mere Borough Museum Commission. "Preserving
the ambiance and cultural attraction to the area is vital."
Eagles Mere Historic Village Inc. was formed in 2003 to acquire and revitalize
a major portion of 'downtown' Eagles Mere, once a thriving Victorian resort
with large hotels. Some of Eagles Mere's lake cottages have remained in the
same families since they were built in the late 1800's.
Visitors are fascinated with the history and heritage
of the location. Year round and seasonal residents joined together to preserve
that legacy for future generations.
"The Museum Board is equally represented
by seasonal and resident populations as is Historic Village Inc. As the Museum
is an entity of the Borough, the Borough Council is involved and is positioned
with all local residents. With a population of 168 residents there are many
cross relationships on many of the Boards of Directors and Council members!
Needless to say the museum and Village Inc. effort has involved the total population
and drawn them together," explained McDermott.
Eagles Mere Borough Museum Commission, Eagles
Mere Borough and Eagles Mere Historic Village Inc. are partnering in the renovation
project that will eventually house museum exhibits in a fireproof and humidity-controlled
space. There will be room for offices and an area for independent public historical
research and genealogical exploration. The Village Store building's presentation
of several small storefronts along Eagles Mere Avenue will be retained. The
museum will be housed in the rear of the building.
George Lewis, an Englishman who built a glass-making
factory there to utilize local sand, established eagles Mere in 1803. By 1886
the area was being promoted as a summer escape to wealthy Philadelphia families.
By 1892 a narrow gauge railroad served the mountaintop community. In 1896 the
Chautauqua cultural/religious movement established a summer colony at Eagles
Mere. Sunday Vespers at the Lake continue a Chautauqua tradition.
In the 1950s Alvinia Krause, a famed artist and
drama teacher, founded the Eagles Mere Playhouse. Some of the young actors who
performed there went on to become Hollywood stars.
Once completed the renovated Village Store building
is expected to become an anchor destination for tourists, providing an economic
boost locally and regionally. Sullivan County is sparsely populated and considered
entirely rural. Much of the county's economic health hinges on tourism and recreation.
Eagles Mere attracts visitors from across the nation and abroad. Special efforts
like this project strengthen community bonds and enhance visitor experiences.
"The influx of summer residents and tourists,
estimated above 3,000, account for significant business activity throughout
the county. Culturally, people come from a wide area to partake in the vigorous
arts, theater, and educational programs as well as outdoor recreational activities,"
said McDermott.
The initial museum project spawned an innovative
partnership including Eagles Mere Museum, Sullivan County Historical Society
in Laporte and the county school system to utilize the Internet for digitalized
historical records and resources. The current project is an ambitious step up
for a tiny Borough group formed in 1987, which settled its fledgling museum
in a former Baptist Church. The museum's popularity prompted many to donate
significant collections and memorabilia. The group is now responsible for thousands
of artifacts, pictures and papers. Visitorship to the museum doubled over the
past few years. The board of directors responded by expanding hours and hiring
a summer intern.
"In addition to the traditional reasons for
a museum, the Eagles Mere Museum has a number of special programs to attract
people from within and without the village to entertain and educate. A "Walking
Tour" of the area features the history and cottages of the area. Groups
from Williamsport, Towanda, and all over the region come to take this educational
and entertaining tour. The Museum, in conjunction with other museums historical
groups, presents several special programs throughout the summer. Hundreds of
people take advantage of these programs," said McDermott.
The group appreciates EMHR's interest and backing, but perhaps even more important
has been EMHR's involvement level and practical assistance.
"EMHR has been a tremendous help to this
project. EMHR staff and (Executive Director) Bob Veleker in particular have
been invaluable to the project, and me personally through his guidance and suggestions.
Bob is very knowledgeable and experienced and with his background with the Towanda
Museum. He has given valuable suggestions both within and outside his purview.
Bob and staff have always responded immediately to questions and problems. I
just can't say enough good about EMHR and Bob Veleker. I have considerable business
experience behind me and Bob is one of the best I've run across," said
McDermott.
EMHR maintains an office at 1 Washington Street,
Towanda. Board members are drawn from member counties, representing heritage
organizations, local government, tourism, agriculture, business and industry,
and other groups. Endless Mountains Heritage Region is strongly invested in
regional community goals and maintaining a high quality of life in the Endless
Mountains Region.
Activities are focused on promoting historic preservation
and development, tourism, recreation, economic development, cultural development,
agriculture, community planning and implementation. Individuals, businesses,
non-profit organizations and industries can support this important regional
effort through memberships.
Endless Mountains Heritage Region can be reached via email at emhr@epix.net;
or at 570-265-1528.
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Wyalusing Group Renovates Historic Building
WYALUSING PA - Saving a historic building in the Susquehanna River Trail Corridor
is the goal of a $15,000.00 grant Endless Mountains Heritage Region (EMHR) awarded
to Wyalusing Community Corporation. The award requires a dollar for dollar match.
"The Heritage Region has been instrumental
in supporting this project from its inception. From their grant writing workshops
to some of the actual funding of renovations they have been a partner in the
project. Bob Veleker (EMHR Executive Director) has been helpful with historic
recommendations and advice on piecing out the project," said Wendy Gaustad,
Coordinator of Greater Wyalusing Chamber of Commerce and liaison between the
Chamber and the Community Corporation.
Most of the building was constructed in the 1850s
but portions were added through the 1920s. The building served as a commercial
garage until left vacant and neglected. Today it is a community hub in Wyalusing's
downtown historic district.
"The Community Building now stands at the
center of our effort to promote the history of our area. We use it as a visitor
center, a meeting center and a place for community events. We house Bradford
County's only Art Gallery and have published an Art Book of the paintings of
William Keeler. We think The Wyalusing Community Corporation and The Community
Building can be a catalyst for many more good things in Historic Wyalusing,"
said Gaustad.
The building sat vacant and neglected for several
years before being rescued by the Corporation. The group believes restoring
it will help attract visitors interested in the town's famed Victorian Gingerbread
architecture, a key element of the historic district.
The group used a previous EMHR grant of $17,000
toward restoring the building's façade to its original pre-1910 appearance
and making urgently needed repairs. The latest funding went toward interior
renovations and providing space for community events and gatherings.
Displays in the gallery highlight local and regional
history and culture ranging from fine art to quilts and photography. A weekly
farmer's market operated next to the building throughout the summer. The building
serves as an anchor site for preservation of Wyalusing Creek that flows along
the property's rear border.
Community and business support for this project
is strong. Wyalusing Borough and Wyalusing Industrial Development Corporation
are solidly behind the effort. Northern Tier Regional Planning and Development
Commission, local banks and other large businesses made substantial donations,
but many contributions came from local residents and small business owners.
"Our project turned out to be just what Wyalusing
needed. Local people rallied behind our efforts. We think the fact that we have
raised over $60,000 in local funds is incredible in a town with a population
less than 600 people. The most amazing to me was the large number of donations
we received from members of the community from all walks of life," said
Gaustad.
EMHR maintains an office at 1 Washington Street, Towanda. Board members are
drawn from member counties, representing heritage organizations, local government,
tourism, agriculture, business and industry, and other groups. Endless Mountains
Heritage Region is strongly invested in regional community goals and maintaining
a high quality of life in the Endless Mountains Region.
Activities are focused on promoting historic preservation
and development, tourism, recreation, economic development, cultural development,
agriculture, community planning and implementation. Individuals, businesses,
non-profit organizations and industries can support this important regional
effort through memberships.
Endless Mountains Heritage Region can be reached via email at emhr@epix.net;
or at 570-265-1528
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Endless Mountains Heritage Region Helps Save Noxen Railroad
Depot
NOXEN PA - Saving a historic railroad depot some considered beyond restoration
became an obsession for many residents of this tiny, rural community. They were
recently awarded a $20,000.00 grant from the Endless Mountains Heritage Region
(EMHR) toward achieving their dream.
This is the third grant awarded by EMHR for this
project, and the results to date are amazing. Six years ago the building was
in such disrepair many considered it a total loss. The depot closed in 1963
and subsequently suffered grave damage from 30 plus years of neglect and vacancy.
By 1999 when the North Branch Land and Trust (NBLT) stepped in to help portions
of the roof and walls had already collapsed.
Linda Thoma, Executive Director of NBLT explained,
"We considered it a jewel that was rotting. The most recent EMHR grant
for the depot will help us continue renovating the interior. The funds will
enable us to do insulation and purchase wood to begin the floors and walls.
We are very appreciative of the continued support by EMHR for our depot project."
EMHR initially awarded NBLT $18,000.00 toward a study to determine if it was
even possible to restore the structure. Results showed that while there were
many serious issues to be addressed it could actually be accomplished. A local
survey indicated nearly unanimous community support for saving the structure.
The All Aboard Committee formed in 2000 to focus
on the project. It consists of NBLT members, railroad enthusiasts, Noxen community
members and professionals. They envisioned transforming the crumbling eyesore
into a community meeting hall with exhibition space to highlight the area's
industries of the era, lumber, ice cutting, tanning and railroad. They started
by installing a temporary roof with donated materials to minimize further damage
to the structure in 2001. EMHR awarded a second grant of $85,000.00 toward initial
repairs and renovations.
When completed the Depot will be used to interpret
the community's history, contributions and place in the region. In 1891 the
Noxen tannery opened, relying on readily available Hemlock bark. It became one
of the largest industrial employers in the region, attracting the Lehigh Valley
Railroad to build the depot in 1893.
Some elements of the original structure including passenger waiting room benches
were salvaged. The restored depot, located on state route 3002, will serve a
steady stream of hunters, fishermen, mountain bikers, cross-country skiers,
and hikers currently using the former railroad right-of-way to access activities
in the surrounding mountains.
"Endless Mountains Heritage Region has been
invaluable, with funding of course, but also with its resources, input and knowledge,"
Thoma said.
Endless Mountains Heritage Region maintains an
office at 1 Washington Street, Towanda. Board members are drawn from member
counties, representing heritage organizations, local government, tourism, agriculture,
business and industry, and other groups. Endless Mountains Heritage Region is
strongly invested in regional community goals and maintaining a high quality
of life in the Endless Mountains Region.
Activities are focused on promoting historic preservation
and development, tourism, recreation, economic development, cultural development,
agriculture, community planning and implementation. Individuals, businesses,
non-profit organizations and industries can support this important regional
effort through memberships.
Endless Mountains Heritage Region can be reached via email at emhr@epix.net;
or at 570-265-1528.
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Salt Springs State Park Wins EMHR Grant to Develop Birding
Guide
MONTROSE - Friends of Salt Springs State Park in Franklin Township, Susquehanna
County, recently captured a $6,000.00 grant from Endless Mountains Heritage
Region (EMHR) to develop a birding guide.
The guide will include an 11 x 17 color brochure
and a 20-page booklet. Together the materials will highlight natural areas and
diverse habitats across the county excellent for wildlife watching. Some are
in State Gamelands, parks and preserves, others are along the Susquehanna River
corridor. Habitats include large grassland areas, lakes and wetlands that allow
roadside observation.
Due to its location at the northeastern tip of
Pennsylvania and its elevation, Susquehanna County boasts a microcosm climate
and vegetation more like that of New England than other counties in the Commonwealth.
The combination tends to extend spring bird migration and encourages species
that normally nest farther north to stay, increasing the variety of species
a birder might encounter.
Location maps will direct visitors to four county
preserves: Woodbourne, Forest and High Point Preserves and Salt Springs State
Park, providing information on the groups that manage these resources. Each
of these areas has well marked trails visitors can explore on their own and
all offer free public programs and activities throughout the year.
The booklet will offer tips on the basics of bird
watching, identification and some bird watcher's 'etiquette.' It will detail
local references and websites where more information can be found, and will
feature a listing called "Birds of Susquehanna County."
The group plans to print 10,000 copies of the
birding brochure to distribute for free and up to 2,500 of the booklets to offer
for sale throughout the Endless Mountains Heritage Region. Future printings
will be subsidized through booklet sales.
Salt Springs Park is located about six miles north of Montrose, one mile off
Route 29. The park encompasses 405 acres belonging to the Commonwealth and 300
additional acres purchased by Friends of Salt Spring with grant support from
DCNR.
The park is managed and operated by Friends of Salt Springs Inc., a non-profit
group cited in 2001 as Volunteer Group of the Year by the Bureau of State Parks,
Department of Conservation and Natural Resources (DCNR).
Formerly known as the Wheaton Farm, Salt Springs
has been a popular picnic place for area groups and families for over 100 years.
Three waterfalls in a spectacular gorge and a virgin stand of hemlock on both
sides of Fall Brook stream are the park's most popular destinations.
During the past four years the Friends of Salt
Springs State Park have constructed campsites and a pavilion and installed composting
toilets in the park. Previous grants awarded through EMHR by DCNR were used
for trail development, installing a reliable water source in the camping area
and restoring the historic Wheaton House built circa 1840 which serves as a
park office and environmental education center. Future plans may encompass a
geologic study of the gorge, methane well, salt spring and environment.
EMHR is strongly invested in regional community
goals such as producing this birding guide. The organization maintains an office
at 1 Washington Street, Towanda. Board members are drawn from member counties,
representing heritage organizations, local government, tourism, agriculture,
business and industry, and other groups. EMHR is strongly invested in regional
community goals and maintaining a high quality of life in the Endless Mountains
Region.
Activities are focused on promoting historic preservation
and development, tourism, recreation, economic development, cultural development,
agriculture, community planning and implementation. Individuals, businesses,
non-profit organizations and industries can support this important regional
effort through memberships.
Endless Mountains Heritage Region can be reached
via email at emhr@epix.net; or at 570-265-1528, or on the web at http://www.endlessmountainsheritage.org.
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Valley Heritage Festival Awarded Grant
ATHENS PA - A $2000.00 grant from Endless Mountains Heritage Region will allow
the already successful Valley Heritage Festival to expand this year. The event
is held on the first Saturday in conjunction with "Arts in the Square"
from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., August 6. Admission is free.
A variety of activities are sponsored by community
organizations throughout Sayre and Athens during the festival. A shuttle bus
provided by Endless Mountains Transportation Authority provides transportation
from one event to another.
"This was a wonderful opportunity to add
an event, we're calling it The Greater Valley Road Rally," said Val Jacoski,
contact person for the event. "This grant provided the seed money to get
it organized. I want to express appreciation to the Endless Mountains Heritage
Region for believing in our event."
The rally will be limited to 50 vehicles, and
they must be pre-registered. Forms to pre-register will be available this summer
at Dandy Mini-Markets throughout the region, Jacoski said, indicating that Williams
Oil Company, owner of the convenience store chain is an event sponsor.
"This is a heritage rally, open to classic,
vintage and antique roadsters," Jacoski explained. "Participants will
be given maps with heritage trivia and facts to spotlight the beautiful Endless
Mountains as they travel." The event is not a race against the clock, but
a true road rally, with checkpoints.
Grant funds will also support event insurance,
public relations, and returning popular components of the Valley Heritage Festival
such as trolley and horse and buggy rides. This August marks the third year
for the festival, and Jacoski noted community support is growing every year.
In the business districts the event features crafters
and artisans, food, demonstrations by heritage crafters, interpretive exhibits,
strolling musicians and historical markers detailing the history of selected
buildings. There is a hands-on living history area for children. Spalding Memorial
Library and Tioga Point Museum feature an ice cream social and the annual Stephen
Foster Festival during the Heritage Festival.
Activities in past years included 'Hay Days' where
visitors can view hay being cut by horse powered equipment, a Victorian tea
and fashion show, special performances, and a historic narrated canoe trip.
Plans to expand the scope of the festival in the
future include a historic church tour, reenactments of prominent citizens, an
interpretive exhibit of the community's involvement with the Underground Railroad,
the rich transportation history of the region from canal to railroad and aspects
of early history, including Native American culture and regional contributions.
Endless Mountains Heritage Region maintains an
office at 1 Washington Street, Towanda. Board members are drawn from member
counties, representing heritage organizations, local government, tourism, agriculture,
business and industry, and other groups. Endless Mountains Heritage Region is
strongly invested in regional community goals and maintaining a high quality
of life in the Endless Mountains Region. Activities are focused on promoting
historic preservation and development, tourism, recreation, economic development,
cultural development, agriculture, community planning and implementation. Individuals,
businesses, non-profit organizations and industries can support this important
regional effort through memberships.
Endless Mountains Heritage Region can be reached
via email at emhr@epix.net; or at 570-265-1528. More information is available
about the Valley Heritage Festival, directions, area history, schedules and
tours on the web at: www.valleyheritagefestival.com.
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EMHR Offers Annual Grant Development Workshop
TOWANDA PA - Endless Mountains Heritage Region (EMHR)
will offer its Annual Grant Development Workshop July 15 from 9:30 a.m. to 4
p.m. in the Nathaniel Room at Shadowbrook Inn and Resort, Rt. 6 East, Tunkhannock.Presentations
will begin at 10 a.m.
The workshop fee is $25 per-person. Lunch will
be provided. Participants will receive blank applications, instructions, and
points of contact for each of the grant programs presented. Contact the EMHR
office at 570-265-1528 to register by July 1.
This workshop increases awareness about existing
grant programs available to organizations, agencies and municipalities. Participants
will learn how to select appropriate funding streams and coordinate them to
accomplish various phases of a project. Bob Veleker, Executive Director of the
Endless Mountains Heritage Region will provide detailed information about EMHR's
granting process through the Heritage Park Program.
Speakers include Lynn Conrad Executive Director
of the Rail-Trail Council Community Forestry Program at Keystone College; Lorne
Possinger, DCNR Recreation and Parks Advisor will discuss DCNR's Community Conservation
Partnership Program (C2P2); Rick Biery of Northern Tier Regional Planning and
Development Commission will present on Transportation Enhancement Act (federal)
TEA-21 applications; Jennifer Swain, Executive Director of Northern Tier Cultural
Alliance will present information on arts-related projects. EMHR Executive Director
Bob Veleker will explain EMHR's role in the State Park Heritage Program which
includes grant opportunities. The speakers will provide insight into grant opportunities,
the application process and the matrix of funding used for their projects.
The Endless Mountains Heritage Region maintains
an office at 1 Washington Street, Towanda. Board members are drawn from Bradford,
Sullivan, Susquehanna and Wyoming Counties, representing heritage organizations,
local government, tourism, agriculture, business and industry, and other groups.
Individuals, businesses, non-profit organizations and industries can support
this important regional effort through memberships, making it possible for EMHR
to continue funding important regional events and projects.
Endless Mountains Heritage Region can be reached
via email at emhr@epix.net, or at 570-265-1528.
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Laporte Borough Receives Third EMHR Grant
LAPORTE PA - Laporte Borough, seat of Sullivan County,
was recently awarded an Endless Mountains Heritage Region grant of $15,000.00
to address concerns with windows and demolish and replace a 1950's cinderblock
addition to the historic Community Hall. The new addition will be approximately
twice the size of the deteriorating original. Half of the new 32' by 32' space
will house all the borough offices in one location, the other half of the space
is dedicated to a new kitchen. According to Project Coordinator Frank Kahn,
getting all the borough files in one place will be a vast improvement.
Kahn expects local volunteers to begin demolishing
the kitchen around Memorial Day. Reconstruction is slated for after Labor Day.
He has high praise for the support Endless Mountains Heritage Region has provided
his tiny rural borough throughout the several phases of this lengthy project.
"This is the third grant for this project
from the Heritage Region. There's no question, without the assistance of Endless
Mountains Heritage Region we wouldn't have been able to do this - they're a
big help!" Kahn said.
The first grant of $16,000.00 was awarded in 2001
for a feasibility study and planning. A preliminary study by J.R. Architects
Inc. of Dallas developed at that time placed highest priority on replacing the
roof to avoid compromising the foundation. In 2002 the borough was awarded a
second grant of $10,000.00 toward roof replacement, insulation and installing
a furnace making the building usable year round. Other improvements completed
in recent years including upgrading restroom facilities, repairing the foundation,
improving sidewalks and landscaping.
"The building is well over 100 years old.
Restoration is important so the community can have a place to meet. It will
also be used as a voting hall," Kahn said.
Voting currently takes place at the Highlands
Nursing Home and borough offices are scattered across three properties, Kahn
explained.
The building was built in 1873 as a Methodist
church and later deeded to Sullivan County by Secker Meylert. The county in
turn deeded it to Laporte Borough in 1977. It remained a focal point of life
for this tiny rural town, representing the history and heart of the community.
But until this project began it couldn't be used during the winter because its
only heating source was a woodstove.
Events held in the community hall epitomize rural
life past and present. Holiday celebrations include a community Halloween party
and an annual Memorial Day Celebration hosted by the Laporte Women's Club. This
annual event reunites year-round residents with the large summer community at
nearby Lake Mokoma and elderly residents who spend winters in the south. Several
hundred people typically attend. Birthday celebrations, family reunions, wedding
receptions, and fund raising events are also typical.
The Women's Club also hosts an annual public forum
on borough council matters and the status of various community projects in the
building. Laporte Tree Committee meetings and educational lectures are held
there. All these groups will appreciate being able to use the facility year-round.
Once renovations are complete, borough council
members expect the community hall to be used for all sorts of new programs,
from educational and social events to meetings, conferences and workshops.
Residents of the community and region have come to realize and appreciate the
building's historical value during the renovation process. It is located on
Muncy Street across from the restored Baldwin House, which is owned by the Sullivan
County Historical Society. It is also near the society headquarters, a museum
in the county's tiny former jail behind the county courthouse, already on the
National Historic Registry. Together the buildings flavor the little town with
the ambience of bygone years.
Endless Mountains Heritage Region maintains an
office at 1 Washington Street, Towanda. Board members are drawn from member
counties, representing heritage organizations, local government, tourism, agriculture,
business and industry, and other groups. Endless Mountains Heritage Region is
strongly invested in regional community goals and maintaining a high quality
of life in the Endless Mountains Region. Activities are focused on promoting
historic preservation and development, tourism, recreation, economic development,
cultural development, agriculture, community planning and implementation. Individuals,
businesses, non-profit organizations and industries can support this important
regional effort through memberships.
Endless Mountains Heritage Region can be reached via email at emhr@epix.net;
or at 570-265-1528.
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Native Americans Receive Grant to Develop Plans for Cultural
Center
WYALUSING PA - Eastern Delaware Nations, Inc. was recently awarded a $15,000
grant by Endless Mountains Heritage Region to develop architectural and engineering
plans for a cultural center and museum on their site in Wyalusing. Those funds
will be matched with $5,000.00 raised by the group. Additional funding is being
sought to complete this initial phase of the project. The
organization hopes to hire a consultant later this year to get the project underway.
Eastern Delaware Nations is a group of Native American descendents who seek
to gather the scattered people of the Delaware Tribes, restore traditional culture
through researching history, heritage and cultural contributions, and promote
cultural awareness through education.
Members are people of Native American descent
from all walks of life, from blue-collar workers to professionals. Ages span
the generations including elders, children, adults and young adults. Each portion
of the membership has different interests, skills and responsibilities, but
share a common goal. Their planned cultural center/museum and living history
areas will attract recreational visitors and scholars into the Endless Mountains
Region.
Eastern Delaware Nations used a previous EMHR
grant of $15,000.00 and $5,000.00 matching funds to develop a master plan to
guide organizational growth, development and activities over the next decade.
It was during the planning process that replacement of the aging building currently
used as a council house/museum emerged as the group's top propriety.
It took less than three years of fundraising for
the group to finalize purchasing their 16-acre site, which straddles Route 6
two miles north of Wyalusing. The property includes the well-known scenic overlook
Wyalusing Rocks. A PennDot parking area provides a place for tourists to stop
and enjoy the spectacular view at Wyalusing Rocks, but few visitors are aware
of the Native history of this well-known tourist attraction. Interpretation
of this story and others throughout the region is a high priority for the group.
"Wyalusing," loosely translated means
"where the old man sits," according to Eastern Delaware Nations Chief
Mike Medicine Shield Taffe. He indicated the "old man" was probably
a medicine man watching over villages spread out far below in the rich Susquehanna
River Valley, once the breadbasket of the Iroquois and Lenape.
During the settlement and colonial periods the
people known as the Delaware were driven ever westward by settler encroachment
and governmental control. But some chose not to fight or to leave, instead blending
in by taking on Irish, English, Dutch and Scottish surnames so they could own
land, send their children to public schools, vote, and hold public office.
Some of their descendants are still here. Eastern
Delaware Nations was formed around a few families of Native American descent.
Today it has a membership of about 400 families. Eastern Delaware Nations was
incorporated in 1984 and achieved their 501c3 status in 1993.
The group started an annual Pow-wow in partnership
with Sullivan County Kiwanis 17 years ago. This year's event, one of the largest
in the region, will be held June 17 through 19 at the Sullivan County Fairgrounds
on Rt. 154 in Forksville.
Eastern Delaware Nations cares for a growing number of art objects and artifacts,
including projects previously exhibited at the United Nations, Lycoming County
Historical Society and other venues. The proposed building will provide a way
for the public to enjoy these and other exhibits on a regular basis.
The organization is active with regional scouting
groups, colleges and other organizations, presenting educational and cultural
information. For Chief Taffe this is one of the most important aspects of his
organization, one that ties closely with Endless Mountains Heritage Region's
goals.
"Too many cultures in our region have blended
together. As Northeastern Pennsylvania became a melting pot it was hard for
people to hang onto their cultural identity. If you take away cultural identity,
you have an empty shell walking around," Taffe said. "The mission
of the Endless Mountains Heritage Region is to preserve our rural heritage and
that has proven to have a great impact on our region, and for Eastern Delaware
Nations."
Taffe recalls numerous activities throughout the
region from his childhood that helped forge community and cultural identity.
"Grange Halls enhanced and supported the agricultural way of life. There
were dances every weekend when I was a kid, at grange halls, or hosted by different
churches. Dances sponsored by Russian and Slovakian Churches offered ethnic
foods, people in ethnic dress. We've lost that to a large degree. Endless Mountains
Heritage Region can help bring that back and help us celebrate who we are,"
he said.
Taffe feels Endless Mountains Heritage Region
is making important strides toward researching, preserving and presenting the
region's history and ethnic background. He is anxious to see the story of contributions,
history and heritage of Native Americans in the region preserved and shared
through Eastern Delaware Nations' growing partnership with Endless Mountains
Heritage Region.
EMHR is strongly invested in regional community
goals and maintaining a high quality of life in the Endless Mountains Region
through promoting historic preservation and development, tourism, recreation,
economic development, cultural development, agriculture, community planning
and implementation. The heritage park includes Bradford, Sullivan, Wyoming and
Susquehanna Counties.
EMHR, currently in its fourth membership campaign,
has been instrumental in funding large and small projects throughout the Endless
Mountains Region since 1998. Individuals, businesses, non-profit organizations
and industries can support this important regional effort through memberships.
Membership applications and more information are
available by contacting Endless Mountains Heritage Region via email at emhr@epix.net;
on the web at www.endlessmountainsheritage.org or calling 570-265-1528.
More information about Eastern Delaware Nations is available on the web at:
www.easterndelawarenations.com or by writing Eastern Delaware Nations c/o Ulla
Nass, RD1, Box 1143, Forksville PA 18616.
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Endless Mountains Heritage Region Helps Preserve
Railroad Heritage
TOWANDA PA - Railroads were once the major transportation system across the
Endless Mountains Region. Many residents recall in detail traveling by train
just a few decades ago. As train service dwindled most of the region's railroad
stations and freight depots closed. Over the last 30 or 40 years some became
restaurants, warehouses or other businesses. Others stood vacant, falling into
disrepair.
With help from Endless Mountains Heritage Region
(EMHR) and other organizations some of these blighted buildings are coming back
to life. Other aspects of railroading heritage are being preserved as well.
One of the groups working to preserve the region's railroading legacy is the
North Branch Land and Trust (NBLT ).
Until NBLT stepped in 1999 Noxen Depot was literally
falling apart. Constructed in 1893 and closed in 1963, the building was in such
disrepair some might have considered it a total loss.
But locally the All Aboard Committee formed in
2000 with a vision of preserving this key piece of local and regional heritage.
Their ambitious plan was to restore the building making it once again a focal
point of community life. Once an eyesore, now it stirs civic pride.
"We considered it a jewel that was rotting,"
said Linda Thoma, executive director of NBLT.
The group began searching for funds to make their
dream of restoring the building a reality. In 2000 they were awarded $18,000
by EMHR for a Feasibility Study centered on restoration. EMHR later awarded
$85,000 toward restoration.
By then portions of the roof and walls had collapsed, but with tremendous community
support the Noxen Depot is being saved. Hard work is transforming an eyesore
into a community meeting hall with exhibition space highlighting the area's
lumber and railroad era.
The foundation, chimney, roof and framing all
needed extensive repair. The building also required plumbing, wiring, heating
and a well. Some elements of the structure, such as passenger waiting room benches,
could be salvaged. The feasibility study included a community survey that showed
almost unanimous support for saving the structure.
The All Aboard Committee and community volunteers
installed a temporary roof with donated materials to minimize further damage
to the structure in 2001. This heritage site will soon house exhibits interpreting
local history for residents and visitors. Local residents have donated artifacts
from signs to photos earmarked for exhibit once the building project is complete.
"Endless Mountains Heritage Region has been invaluable, with funding of
course, but also with its resources, input and knowledge," Thoma said.
Another jewel of the railroad era being saved
in part with EMHR funding and community partnership is the historic Lehigh Valley
Railroad Passenger Station in Sayre. In this case Sayre Borough joined with
Sayre Community Corporation and Sayre Historical Society to purchase the historic
downtown site. EMHR awarded $85,000 toward renovations.
Lehigh Valley Railroad Passenger Station operated
from 1881 to 1976 when the Lehigh Valley RR disbanded. Subsequently the structure
was used by a variety of businesses between periods of vacancy. After 1998 it
sat vacant and deteriorating.
The original interior featured wainscot and plaster walls and high ceilings.
It was extensively remodeled to suit the needs of later occupants. This project
addresses renovations including repairs to the exterior of the building, installing
HVAC system, redoing doors and some of the windows. An elevator will provide
access to the second floor.
Once completed the building will house the Historical
Society, featuring a local Railroad Museum. The building will become a community
hub with space for community offices, meeting and conference rooms, visitor
information, a passenger station for Endless Mountains Transportation Authority
and Guthrie Health Care shuttle buses.
In Wyoming County railroad heritage takes a different
route. Tunkhannock Borough and the Riverside Park Commission teamed up to save
a Lehigh Valley RR caboose, which is undergoing restoration in Riverside Park
next to the Susquehanna River. Residents have watched the neglected railcar
transform into a wonderful reflection of railroading. Here visitors can climb
up and peek in the door of the old railway car, glimpsing a slice of the past.
Metalwork was repaired, sandblasted and painted.
New windows were installed, and the interior with its narrow bed and tiny galley
were restored. Still to be completed is lettering on the outside, installation
of an interior deck resembling a passenger platform next to the caboose and
displays of Lehigh Valley RR memorabilia inside.
Since its formation in 1998 EMHR has funded over
60 projects throughout the Endless Mountains Region. Approximately 40 projects
are currently underway. The money funneled into the four-county region through
EMHR grants to non-profits and municipalities improved services, recreational
opportunities and helps preserve the quality of life in the Endless Mountains
Region.
Memberships are available for individuals, families,
business and industry, municipalities and non-profit organizations. EMHR members
receive a quarterly newsletter centered on regional activities and projects,
invitations to special workshops, seminars and events, and may vote at the annual
meeting held each September.
EMHR is a 501c3 non-profit organization and also
welcomes donations. For more information contact Endless Mountains Heritage
Region at 570-265-1528, email emhr@epix.net, or explore EMHR on the web: www.endlessmountainsheritage.org.
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EMHR Preserves Historic Buildings Throughout Endless Mountains
Region
TOWANDA - Numerous historic buildings are blossoming with new life and changing
the face of communities across Bradford, Sullivan, Susquehanna and Wyoming Counties
thanks to funding from Endless Mountains Heritage Region, Inc. (EMHR) a State
Heritage Park.
EMHR was organized around an agricultural heritage
theme representative of the four rural counties it serves in 1998. Since then
it has pumped almost four million dollars of grant funds and leveraged money
into the regional economy.
"EMHR helps revitalize communities by drawing
tax dollars back into the region through historic preservation or renovation
and other types of projects. Our organization connects local organizations and
municipalities with funding at the state level to help them actualize their
vision and missions," said Mollie Eliot, EMHR vice president.
In Sullivan County the Laporte Community Hall
began service in 1873 as a Methodist Church. Later it was deeded to the borough
for community activities. A few years ago problems from foundation to roof threatened
its long-term use. EMHR funding for renovations will assure the structure remains
a focal point of life in the County Seat.
Saving a three-room school and an old Grange building
may not sound like an earthshaking project, but residents of LeRoy on scenic
Route 414 in Bradford County believe it's essential to revitalizing their community.
LeRoy Consolidated School remained a community hub even after it closed as an
educational center. But 25 years of hosting community events took a toll on
the building.
"We want to restore and update the building,
make it an attractive place for people to enjoy for years to come," Matt
Carl, project coordinator said. The Open Hand Grange built in 1876 that sits
next to the school is destined to become a museum.
Wyalusing Community Corporation, another Bradford
County group, saved an early commercial garage building from years of vacancy
and neglect. Now it proudly houses the Greater Wyalusing Chamber of Commerce
and Blue Heron Art Gallery.
Bradford County Historical Society transformed
the former County Jail in Towanda, once a 16,000 square foot derelict building,
into a state-of-the-art museum and genealogy research center. The building is
a contributing property in Towanda's historic district and is listed on the
National Historic Register.
The Gregory Mitchell House built in 1822 as a
stagecoach stop is another Bradford County landmark being renovated with EMHR
help. The building is part of the Bradford County Heritage Museum complex in
Alparon Park, on Route 414 in Troy.
"The Endless Mountains Heritage Region will
really benefit the region in the long run," Joe Hare, Bradford County Heritage
Museum president said. He feels EMHR is an invaluable part of developing tourism
throughout the region.
The Lehigh Valley Railroad Passenger Station in
Sayre, Bradford County was also granted a new lease on life through EMHR. It
sat vacant and deteriorating when Sayre Historical Society and the Borough decided
to restore as a Railroad Museum.
Like their sister Deitrich Theater in Tunkhannock,
Keystone Theater in Towanda and Sayre Theater in Sayre were refurbished in part
with EMHR funds.
EMHR also contributed to recent extensive renovations
to Towanda's Borough Hall. Built in 1934, it was modeled after Independence
Hall in Philadelphia.
"This is not just about dollars awarded primarily
for heritage tourism projects with attendant economic development implications,
but perhaps more importantly it is about building community capacity,"
explained EMHR Executive Director Bob Veleker.
In Susquehanna County Seat, Montrose, EMHR funding
is bringing to life stories of the Abolitionist Movement and the Underground
Railroad through restoration of the Silver Lake Bank building built in 1816.
By 1840 the building belonged to Abolitionist Francis Blake Chandler. Today
it houses the Center for Anti Slavery Study (C.A.S.S.) dedicated to preserving,
interpreting and presenting Susquehanna County's rich history of abolition activities.
EMHR grants and guidance are especially valuable for C.A.S.S, according to Sherman
Wooden, president of the organization.
Friends of Salt Springs Park near Montrose recently
restored an original fireplace with baking oven and cooking hearth in the Wheaton
House with EMHR funding. The building, which serves as the park's Visitor and
Environmental Education Center, now regularly fills with enticing aromas and
tastes of nineteenth century cooking.
Tunkhannock, seat of Wyoming County, also enjoys
the results of EMHR historic preservation efforts. Residents and visitors flock
to the Art Deco Style Dietrich Theater, refurbished from a state of ruin to
featuring first run movies and live performances.
"Town is exciting again," said Hildy
Morgan, executive director of the Wyoming County Cultural Center, responsible
for the theater project. She maintains the theater is "The most beautiful
building in town."
Members of Wyoming County Historical Society across
town might disagree. Their headquarters is the majestic former Sand Hill School,
constructed over 150 years ago, it recently benefited from EMHR support.
Noxen Depot located in Wyoming County in rural
Noxen was in such disrepair it might have been considered by less determined
citizens as a total loss. Now owned by North Branch Land and Trust, hard work
is transforming it from an eyesore to a community hall with exhibits highlighting
the lumber and railroad era.
"Endless Mountains Heritage Region has been
invaluable, with funding of course, but also with its resources, input and knowledge,"
Linda Thoma, executive director of NBLT said.
EMHR strives to maintain and enhance the unique
rural character and culture of the Endless Mountains by promoting historic preservation
and development, tourism, recreation, economic development, cultural development,
agriculture, community planning and implementation.
EMHR is one of 12 designated State Heritage Parks.
Membership in EMHR is open to non-profit organizations, businesses, industry,
organizations and individuals throughout the region. The organization maintains
an office at 1 Washington Street, Towanda and can be explored on the web at
www.endlessmountainsheritage.org. For more information contact EMHR at emhr@epix.net;
or 570-265-1528.
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EMHR Membership Campaign Underway
TOWANDA - Residents of the Endless Mountains Region have an opportunity now
to support the Endless Mountains Heritage Region (EMHR), a State Heritage Park
encompassing Bradford, Sullivan, Wyoming and Susquehanna Counties, by becoming
members. Since its formation in 1998 EMHR has funded over 60 projects throughout
the Endless Mountains Region. Approximately 40
projects are currently underway. The money funneled into the four-county region
through EMHR grants to non-profits and municipalities improved services, recreational
opportunities and helps preserve the quality of life in the Endless Mountains
Region. Membership funds allow EMHR to continue promoting and supporting activities
and projects within the four member counties. A strong regional membership base
is necessary for EMHR to grow, prosper, and expand its services. Memberships
are available for individuals, families, business and industry, municipalities
and non-profit organizations. EMHR members receive a quarterly newsletter centered
on regional activities and projects, invitations to special workshops, seminars
and events, and may vote at the annual meeting held each September. EMHR is
a 501c3 non-profit organization and also welcomes donations.
For more information contact Endless Mountains
Heritage Region at 570-265-1528, email emhr@epix.net, or explore EMHR on the
web: www.endlessmountainsheritage.org.
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© 2005 Endless Mountains Heritage Region
Endless
Mountains Heritage Region