CLEARFIELD – The Clearfield County Historical Society met Sept. 18 to discuss plans for the annual Apple Cider Festival, which is scheduled for Sunday, Oct., 14, from 1 p.m. – 4 p.m., at the historic Bloody Knox Cabin in Kellytown.
Board members were urged to be on hand to participate in the planned activities and to supervise the displays. The festival is open free to the general public. Nineteenth century crafts and workmanship samples will be presented.
A lecture on the historical significance of the site is scheduled for 1:30 p.m., and an egg toss contest will be held at 2 p.m. Free pumpkins will be given to children under the age of 12.
The board also reviewed plans for its annual dinner, scheduled for Thursday, Oct. 25 at 6 p.m., at the St. Timothy’s Church Hall in Curwensville. Rebecca Inlow, of Osceola Mills and author of The Rowland Theatre: From Ashes to Beauty will be the featured speaker.
Inlow has written an impressive history of the premier theater of Philipsburg. Her book calls attention to Charles Rowland, originally of Houtzdale, who was a prime mover and financer of the theater in 1917.
Rowland’s role in the founding and then serving as a corporate office of the Alley Popper Railroad, that once offered passenger and coal hauling service to the Moshannon Valley is also an integral part of the book.
The book’s narrative traces the demise of the physical condition of the theater in the 1970’s to its magnificent restoration by community volunteers. Presently, the theater is operated by a volunteer board and is listed on the National Register of Historic Places.
In other business, the board accepted the recommendations from its nominating committee to add Sharon Aaron of Curwensville and Paula Miller of Clearfield as members of the society’s board of directors.
The board also made plans for a photo opportunity, in conjunction with the Clearfield County Commissioners, to dedicate the new commemorative sign to be placed at the old Clearfield County Home Cemetery. A volunteer group has recently cleared the cemetery grounds in order to honor its historical presence in the county.