October 04

PLEASE take time to read through the Newsletter & respond to the Questionnaire

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

The Lilly-Washington Historical Society

CHRONICLE

of

OUR HOME AND HERITAGE

Volume II – Issue II October - 2004

Greetings Members of the Lilly-Washington Historical Society (L-WHS):

This letter is to provide all members of the L-WHS with a status report on the Society.

Our energies for the last seven months have been directed toward eight projects:

l. Update Our Membership Roster: 100+ MEMBERS HAVE NOT RENEWED FOR 2004 – We are enclosing a card to facilitate your renewal. WE NEED YOUR HELP. Certainly your dues are needed for our projects. Of equal importance, is our

need to maintain a high membership count to aid us in our qualification for grants.

We also hope that membership would be of value to you; as you help in the celebration of your hometown’s history and receive a 2005 L-WHS Calendar for $1.00.

IF A RENEWAL CARD HAS BEEN ENCLOSED WITH YOUR NEWSLETTER PLEASE RETURN IT WITH YOUR CALENDAR ORDER. If you receive a renewal card, and you already have renewed, please return the card and direct us to correct our records. If you no longer wish to be a member, please inform us and we will not bother you again.

We are enclosing Membership Cards for Heritage, Life, Life Sponsor, Life Patron, Life Benefactor Members and for all other Members who have renewed for 2004 . If you do not receive a Membership Card (or if the card lists you for the wrong membership) please advise us and we will make the appropriate corrections.

2. Upgrade Our Website: This is a work in progress and we welcome all comments, corrections and suggestions Check out the site frequently: l-whs.com

e-mail us at: lilly@l-whs.com

3. Develop Our Headquarters on the Second Floor of the Lilly Borough Building:

We have refurbished the display area - thanks to the work of prisoners from the Cresson Facility - and the generous contributions of the Councils of Lilly Borough and Washington Township, and we have established a well equipped functioning office - thanks to the generous contribution of Alfred Tranquillo,

We are working on the Exhibition Section: Rubber treads have been installed on the steps to the second floor and four display cases have been secured.

The Athletic Section of the Exhibit Hall has been funded by a $l,000 memorial donation for Helen Lenhart Mack by her husband Gerald Mack. A large display case has been built to house the 18+ Lilly-Hi trophies that have been refurbished. Several dozen Athletic Team Photos have been framed and will be displayed in the case and on the adjacent wall. A "Letter" sweater has been donated by "Cheech" Albarano. We welcome donations of all local athletic photos, programs, uniforms, equipment etc.

The Mining Section of the Exhibit Hall has been funded by a $l,000 donation from the GBU. Harold Cassidy has donated six old Miner’s lamps to kick-off the exhibit. Edna Boist has also donated a miner’s lamp We are looking for other local - displayable mining related equipment, clothing, and particularly photos. Can you help?

The Railroad Section will be built around a coal-heating stove from an old PRR Caboose donated by Ron Yingling. We are looking for a $1,000 endowment for the Railroad Section. We need RR photos and small displayable RR memorabilia.

Other Sections of the Exhibit Hall to be set up include – LOCAL: School Systems– Churches – Civic, Fraternal, and Service Organizations – Military – Businesses and

Professions. We are looking for a $1,000 endowment for each Section to secure showcases, acquire and refurbish artifacts, mount the exhibits and present the displays. Any organizations or individuals (or memorials) interested in endowing a section can contact us at 814 – 886 – 7272. E-MAIL: lilly@l-whs.com

We need Photos (which can be copied and returned), advertising items from local businesses, organizations, and churches - pamphlets, programs, memorabilia, and all other displayable items illustrating the history of our community. If you can help us locate any displayable material, please call 814- 886 – 7282. E-Mail:lilly@l-whs.com

Seven of the Large Composite High School Senior Class Photos have been donated to the L-WHS. We thank the (donors) who will be acknowledged below the Composite Photos. We have 1934 (Kate Leap) – 1940 & 1941(Rita McCool) – 1943(Betty Cramer) – 1945 (Mary Jean Segada) – 1949(Dorothy Mae Conrad) – 1959 (Sylvia Davies.) We ask all members to check out their attics and consider donating any of the composites they may have stored away, so that everyone can enjoy an important part of local history.We will arrange and pay for shipping or will pick up-Call 814- 886-7282

We need three or four members to form a Museum Committee to collect local historical artifacts, document them and display them. Members should have an interest in local history, a willingness to undertake the thankless task of tracking down the artifacts, the challenging job of correctly documenting them, and the ability to artfully set up the displays. The other duties of the Board of Directors do not leave enough time to devote to the very important responsibilities of the Museum Committee. YOUR SOCIETY NEEDS YOUR HELP!! VOLUNTEERS SHOULD CALL 814 – 886 – 7282.

4. Memorialize Historical Lilly: We have installed the first two major monuments

in a proposed series of eight. Check out the stories and photos at: l-whs.com

The small park on the site of the old Liberty Theatre at the base of the bridge on Main Street as been designated Railroaders’ Memorial Park and a Monument has been erected to memorialize the 29 Emigrant Italian Railroad Laborers who were killed in a fire in 1903. The monument was funded by contributions ($4,000+) from the Italian Community of South Western Pennsylvania and eight major sponsors.

A small park on the corner of Main and Cleveland Streets on the site of the old Ben Franklin Store (on land donated by The First National Bank of Lilly) is the site for a bas-relief monument depicting THE NOBILITY OF LABOR. The monument was funded by a kick-off grant of $3,500 from Pennsylvania Rural Arts.

We have raised an additional $2,300 from a poker tournament and are seeking additional grants to finish funding these two monuments and the landscaping of the parks.

The eight major monuments will cost from $5,000 to $8,000 each and we plan to finance them through grants and major benefactors (including major membership sponsorship) rather than appeals to our general membership. We would, of course, appreciate any leads to governmental, corporate or individual grants or other funding sources. Call 814-886-7282 or email us at: lilly@l-whs.com

There will be a series of several dozen Memorial Plaques – such as the old stone arch bridge (circa early 1830’s) on Portage Street near the old "Polish Church"- Fletcher George’s Opera House – a series on the coal mines of the community – etc. We will be seeking membership sponsorship on these memorial plaques.

The other six Major Memorials will be:

" The Nobility of Woman" – we have received a grant of $2,361, from Pa. Rural Arts for "Women" and we should receive a grant of $5,000 through the office of Representative Gary Haluska to apply toward the Memorial Projects.

"Community Volunteer" – "Plane #4 – Portage Allegheny Railroad" –"KKK Riot" "Coal Minor" – "Fifty-Fifth Pennsylvania Infantry"(recruited by Col. White of Lilly)

Any person (as individual – or in memory)- or- family – or - organization – or group - interested in being THE Sponsor ($5,000 to $8,000) ( for any of the last five above listed Major Memorial Monuments?? Call 814 – 886 – 7282- e-mail:lilly@l-whs.com

5. 2005 L-WHS CALENDAR – will be ready for delivery by late October. Note enclosed Order Form. Current members may purchase one calendar for $1.00.

L-WHS has designated 2005 as the Year of the Veteran – the 60^th Anniversary of the end of WWII and the 140^th Anniversary of the Civil War. The Calendar Cover will feature the photos of the local military men killed in WWII. The May photo will feature Esther McCabe- National War Mother of WWII – and her eleven veteran sons. The November photo will feature The VFW Honor Guard of 1947.

Other photos include: The 1930 Lilly Sokol’s Baseball Team, The 1932 Lilly PNA

Baseball Team, The pre WWII Soison’s - Maytags – Softball Team, The 1907 Lilly Cornet Band, Early 1900 Main and Washington Streets Intersection – featuring the old wooden school, 1917 Opening of New Brick High School, old Park Hotel, old Metzger’s Hotel, and M & G Moreland’s Hat Shoppee. ORDER YOURS EARLY!

6. 2006 – THE COMMUNITY BICENTENNIAL YEARLONG CELEBRATION

Please check the Updated Proposed 2006 Calendar on the back cover of the 2005 L-WHS Calendar. Begin making your plans to attend the special events scheduled throughout the year. The Committee is going all out to make it a year to remember – "ONE in TWO HUNDRED." For those members, who live at a distance who can attend only one event, schedule in the Labor Day Weekend of 2006; Saturday is Family Day - a return to the Field Days of the 50’s and 60’s – Grandparents, bring the grandkids and show them they can have fun without "plugging" something in –Sunday will feature a picnic reunion at "the Field" honoring all the Graduates of Lilly Hi from 1917 to 1966.

7. 600 RECIPES - LOCAL FAMILY FAVORITES COOKBOOK - just $10.00

The Bicentennial Committee - really LeAnn McConnell (ably assisted by her mum Bev. Mandachek) and Jennifer Sklodowski - has compiled an extraordinary cookbook. 600 recipes individually credited e.g. "Aunt Josephine’s Buttermilk Cookies submitted by her niece Joan Jones." Remember 600 recipes from your hometown – in a three ring waterproof hard cover for just $10.00 + ($3.00 shipping.) Cookbooks available by Thanksgiving – pickup at Gall’s Insurance Agency – Main Street – Lilly. Order early for mail delivery by Christmas. Hint – Hint- A GREAT CHRISTMAS GIFT.

Order Form Enclosed – NOTE: CHECKS FOR COOKBOOKS SHOULD BE MADE PAYABLE TO: L-WHS BICENTENNIAL FUND AND ADDRESSED TO L-WHS Bicentennial Fund - 503 Main Street – Lilly, Pa. 15938 (Cookbook orders

should be sent separate from Calendar orders.) QUESTIONS-call 814-886-2961

8. THE BICENTENNIAL HISTORY BOOK We would like to publish a 250 page hardcover History Book of Our Community 1806-2006 for Christmas, 2005. Much work has been done thanks to our wonderful volunteer committees but MUCH work remains to be done if we expect to get the book to press by the end of Summer 2005.

WE NEED THE HELP OF ALL OUR MEMBERS IF WE ARE TO MEET OUR DEADLINES WITH QUALITY WORK. There is a form enclosed with this newsletter that we ask each member to return (with your Calendar order) indicating in which areas you can be of help or you may e-mail us: lilly@l-whs.com

If you wish to send photos – postcards – scrapbooks – family letters/histories – event (parades, picnics, reunions, anniversaries, plays, concerts and other group) memorabilia, local calendars and advertising items, newspaper clippings, copies of "The Lilly Signal"- 1895-1920?, Lilly High School "Tattler" or "Flash." – or if you need time to complete your reminiscences – send them to L-WHS – 417 Cleveland Street – Lilly, Pa. 15938. If you wish, we will copy any material and return originals.

Just ask!! We will be happy to pay or reimburse any shipping costs. Just ask!! Peace

PLEASE

WE HAVE JUST THIS "ONE SHOT" AT PRODUCING A COMPREHENSIVE HISTORY OF THE FIRST TWO HUNDRED YEARS OF OUR COMMUNITY. WITHOUT THE HELP OF EACH MEMBER OF THE L-WHS, WE WILL FAIL.

PLEASE – take the time to read through each section of this questionnaire and indicate each area where you can be of help. ANY QUESTIONS CALL 814 – 886 - 7282

Return this completed questionnaire with your Calendar Order

ACADEMIC SECTION – We need photos of the WASHINGTON TOWNSHIP SCHOOLS: Behe – Riley – Strommer – Dutchtown – Level – Brown – Moshannon – Scalon Hill – the in-town "chicken-coops" – the old school that stood near Wheeler’s Garage on upper "Hunky Hill." – (WE ALSO NEED PHOTOS OF THE TOWN SCHOOLS, especially the old wooden school that stood until 1916, where the brick high school was built – and the even older wooden school that stood along Washington Street up toward Portage Street.)

I have photos of this (these schools):_________________________________________

We would also like "MEMORIES" (a one time incident or a lengthy narrative) of your school days – especially from the Township Schools. What happened? – When (approximate date)? Who were the teachers involved?

What was it like growing up "in – up – on" Barkertown – Viegletown - Stumptown-Dutchtown – Dogtown - Lower End - The City - The Level (e.g. Thad Godish’s great book) - Lilly Coal - The Country - Hunky Hill or Scanlon Hill???? HELP!!!!!

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

LIFESTYLE SECTION - We need photos, newspaper accounts, samples of the work of (and leads to) local authors, writers, poets, composers, musicians, fine artists and folk artists. Also photos of local (family?) bands and orchestras, drama groups, Marty’s (Stiney’s), the "slides," the "B.A.B.," Spruce Park, The Park Yard (by the railroad,) the playgrounds, Field Days and other War Memorial Events, parades, church reunions and carnivals, any group activity and individual sports. We would love to see anything that reflects life activities outside of work.

I have these photos, news accounts, samples of the work of (and leads to) artist, writers, etc. :

________________________________________________________________________

I would like to share MEMORIES of the LIFESTYLE ACTIVITIES listed above.

Please submit with this form a written account or (e-mail us at: lilly@l-whs.com) -

or give us a phone number _________________ and we will call and interview you.

BUSINESS and ORGANIZATION SECTION We need photos of local stores, garages, poolrooms, other area businesses – Albarano’s – Browns’s - Bierley’s – Greenie’s – Mattiello’s – Leap’s – Leahey’s – Shullman’s – Ben Franklin – Obester’s – Lilly Cut Rate – VFW – Old Sokols on Portage Street – Old Italian Club – New Italian Hall – Ollie Leap’s Garage – Misiura’s Garage –George’s Garage–ect.

I have photos of these businesses and organizations____________________________

• - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

LIFE STORIES We need The–Day–to-Day Life Story: of a coal miner (preferably a coal miner’s son who grew up to be a coal miner.) - a coal miner’s wife (preferably a coal miner’s daughter who grew up to marry coal miner) – a railroad worker – a steel mill worker – a RR shop worker – a farmer – a farmer’s wife (preferably a farmer’s son and daughter who grew up to work on a farm) –

We need Home (Folk) Remedies–e.g.- How did Grandma treat boils? Patent Medicines?

I would like to share MEMORIES of the life (or significant segment of the life of)

this type worker/wife listed above _______________________________________ _____________________________________________________________________

Please submit with this form a written account or (e-mail us at: lilly@l-whs.com) or

Give us a telephone number __________________and we will call and interview you.

WE NEED PHOTOS: of Mines and Miners-Steel Mills and Workers– RRs and Workers, Farms and Farmers, and all other local Laborers and Workers.

I have photos of these local workers and worksites __________________________

______________________________________________________________________

MEMORABILIA We need photos – postcards – scrapbooks – family letters/ /histories – event (parades, picnics, reunions, anniversaries, plays, concerts and other group) memorabilia, local calendars and advertising items, newspaper clippings, copies "The Lilly Signal"-1895-1920?, High School "Tattler"or "Flash."

I have these local memorabilia items ______________________________________

_______________________________________________________________________

If you wish, we will copy any material and return originals. Just ask!! We will be happy to pay or reimburse any shipping costs. Just ask!! Peace

ALL MATERIALS THAT YOU WISH TO SHARE may be sent with your Calendar Orders or sent directly to L-WHS – 417 Cleveland Street – Lilly Pa. 15938

OR E-MAIL US AT: lilly@l-whs.com QUESTIONS? CALL 814 – 886 - 7282

NAME____________________________________ E-MAIL____________________

ADDRESS _________________________________________ PHONE# ____________

ORDER FORM FOR LILLY-WASHINGTON BICENTENNIAL COOKBOOK

-The Bicentennial Cookbook will be available by Thanksgiving, 2004 –

- COOKBOOK ORDERS SHOULD BE SENT SEPARATELY FROM CALENDAR ORDERS -

_________________________________________________________________________ CITY STATE ZIP PHONE NUMBER

*Add $3.00 postage for Each COOKBOOK that is to be mailed.

___ BICENTENNIAL COOKBOOK @ $10.00 each _______

____ Total Number of Cookbooks to be mailed @ $ 3.00 each _______

Please make check or money-order payable to

L-WHS BICENTENNIAL FUND for total ______

Send Orders to: L-WHS Bicentennial Fund –503 Main St.- Lilly, Pa. 15938

(NOTE: ORDER COOKBOOKS SEPARATELY FROM CALENDARS)

( -ADDITIONAL COOKBOOK ORDER FORMS ON OTHER SIDE OF SHEET -)

_____I would like to order ONE Lilly Washington Bicentennial Cookbook

Check one: ____Mail* ___Local Delivery** ___Pickup**

I would like to order (#) ____ Lilly Washington Bicentennial Cookbooks

Check one: ___ Mail* ___ Local Delivery** ___Pickup**

NAME STREET ADDRESS

_________________________________________________________________________ CITY STATE ZIP PHONE NUMBER

_________________________________________________________________________ CITY STATE ZIP PHONE NUMBER

_________________________________________________________________________ CITY STATE ZIP PHONE NUMBER

_________________________________________________________________________ CITY STATE ZIP PHONE NUMBER

_____ I WOULD LIKE TO ORDER ONE "MEMBER’S" CALENDAR FOR $I.OO

(HOUSEHOLD MEMBERSHIPS ARE CONSIDERED AS A SINGLE MEMBER)

Check one: ____Mail* ___Local Delivery** ___Pick-Up**

______________________________________________________________________

LWHS MEMBER’S NAME STREET ADDRESS

______________________________________________________________________

CITY STATE ZIP

__________________________________________

I WOULD LIKE TO ORDER ____ ADDITIONAL CALENDAR(S) AT $4.00 EACH..

_____ CALENDAR(S) ARE TO BE SENT TO:

#

______________________________________________________________________

NAME STREET ADDRESS

CITY STATE ZIP

I would prefer: ____Mail* ____Local Delivery** ___Pick-Up**

Send Orders to: L-WHS – c/o First National Bank of Lilly – Lilly, Pa. 15938

I WOULD LIKE TO ORDER ____ ADDITIONAL CALENDAR(S) AT $4.00 EACH..

_____ CALENDAR(S) ARE TO BE SENT TO:

#

______________________________________________________________________

NAME STREET ADDRESS

CITY STATE ZIP

I would prefer: ____Mail* ____Local Delivery** ___Pick-Up**

I WOULD LIKE TO ORDER ____ ADDITIONAL CALENDAR(S) AT $4.00 EACH.

_____ CALENDAR(S) ARE TO BE SENT TO:

#

______________________________________________________________________

NAME STREET ADDRESS

CITY STATE ZIP

I would prefer: ____Mail* ____Local Delivery** ___Pick-Up**

________________________________________________________________________

The COVER of the LWHS 2004 Calendar is an adaptation of a painting by Scott Steberger. A 16" x 20" (matted size) print of this painting "Lilly Train Station" is being sold for the benefit of the Lilly-Washington Historical Society.

Matted Print ($42.40*) Framed Print (106.00*) -*tax included – may be picked up at Gall’s Insurance Agency- 506 Main Street-Lilly, Pa.

_____________________________________

Those wishing TO ORDER A PRINT THAT IS TO BE SHIPPED should complete the following form. (You will be billed for the cost of the print and the related shipping cost to the designated address.)

I WOULD LIKE TO ORDER ____MATTED PRINT ____ FRAMED PRINT

TO BE SHIPPED TO:

________________________________________________________________________

NAME STREET ADDRESS

________________________________________________________________________

CITY STATE ZIP

- USE AN ADDITIONAL SHEET TO ORDER ADDITIONAL PRINTS-