CLEARFIELD – The board of directors of the Clearfield County Historical Society conducted their monthly meeting this week at the historic Kerr House Museum.
During the report of communications and public relations, it was resolved to thank the Clearfield Borough police for their diligence in patrolling the area around the museum and for keeping a watchful eye on museum buildings.
It was also noted that the society had received a stipend from the Wal-Mart Foundation for volunteer work done by Wal-Mart employees, Forrest Kerlin Jr. and Cheryl Luzier. A letter of thanks was sent to both Kerlin and Luzier.
President Denny Shaffner reported that the society received a grant from the Pennsylvania Historical and Museum Commission to help with the expense of running the society’s facilities and programs.
Several letters from past visitors were read thanking the society for the excellent help they received when they visited the museum to do research. It was reported that a representative from the society’s board attended the 50-year celebration of the Elk County Historical Society in Ridgway last month.
The society’s current membership stands at 747. Any person wanting to become a new member should visit the society’s Web site at ClearfieldCountyHistoricalSociety.net and click on the membership tab to discover how to become a member and begin receiving the society’s bi-yearly “Bulletin,” which is full of interesting information about Clearfield County and the activities of the society.
A report was given on the progress of the ongoing Capital Campaign to raise funds to support the new William B. Alexander V Research Center. Donations are actively being sought and persons wishing to contribute might also visit the society’s Web site for information about how that is possible.
Board member Cathy Larson noted that recently the society coordinated a visit by genealogists from Sweden who began putting Clearfield County naturalization records from the county courthouse into a digital format.
More work needs to be done with these records and the society thanks the Prothonotary Brian Spencer and his office staff for their cooperation in this project. Larson also reported on new tombstones and markers that were placed by the genealogy committee at the Ross Cemetery and a visit made to Livingston Cemetery.
The final draft of a book about Frenchville is being proofread and it will be available at the society bookstore for the Frenchville Picnic in July. Mary Kay Royer and Richard Hughes are co-authoring this book, and it will be a very informative read about the history of the “downriver” area and its settlers.
The board voted to print three more of Sam King’s sportsmen’s maps. These three maps are currently out-of-print and they are being requested from businesses in their respective areas. The titles of the new maps are: Ole Bull/Black Forest Kingdom, Freestone Fishing and Grand Canyon. Each map will sell for $5.
Updates were given on the topic of the society’s fall banquet. Plans are being made for a dramatic presentation about Civil War activities here in Clearfield County since this year is the anniversary year of the events at the Bloody Knox site. A reenactment is being planned at the Knox site as well and will occur the weekend of the actual event in December.
Finally, a report was given by Board member Gary Gilmore regarding the continued effort to reclaim the Clearfield County Home Cemetery. Local Boy Scout troops have helped in cut and burn brush from the site, which has been neglected for many years. The society hopes to finish this project and install a fence and sign identifying the site for future generations. Thanks were given to the Clearfield County Commissioners for their help and financial support of this project.