Clearfield County Historical Society Holds Annual Dinner

CLEARFIELD- The  Clearfield County Historical Society held its 68^th Annual Dinner on Thursday, October 23 at the Copper Cork Event center with the Society’s Board of Directors, volunteers and guests attending. 

Julie Houston, 2^nd Vice President, presented the evening’s awards.

The  Historic Preservation Award, was presented to The Ritz Theater and Mike and  Meredith Reed, owners and operators. This award  recognizes those who dedicate their time, passion, and resources to preserving the county’s architectural and cultural heritage through restoration, rehabilitation, interpretation, and protection.

The Ritz Theater first opened its doors in April of 1928.  Mike and Meredith purchased the theater in November 2023 and  began a transformation including replacing all of the nearly 450+ theater seats, installing new carpeting and counters, updating restrooms and adding an ADA-accessible restroom, repainting the auditorium floors and most recently repainting the theatre’s iconic outdoor marquee. Their commitment to preserving the Ritz’s historic charm while updating it for modern use is a gift to the entire Clearfield County community and a shining example of what historic preservation looks like in action. 

The Heritage Award, which honors individuals making a lasting impact by preserving and sharing the rich history of our community, was presented to “Folklore & Facts: Grandmas Getting to the Bottom of It,” produced by AJ Flanagan and Jennifer Tubbs.

These two grandmothers have turned their love of local history and folklore into a dynamic weekly podcast that uncovers the truth behind legendary tales. What makes their podcast so special is their commitment to digging into the facts behind the stories, bridging myth and reality with thoughtful investigation. 

AJ and Jennifer are also  members of the Curwensville Historical Society,

playing an instrumental role in revitalizing the new Patton House Museum. The podcast is recorded weekly at the historic Irvin Manor in Curwensville.

“Folklore & Facts: Grandmas Getting to the Bottom of It” can be heard  on Spotify, Apple Music, and Amazon Music.

The Outstanding Service Award was presented to Board member Scott Kolesar. Scott has been a dedicated member of the Clearfield County Historical Society Board since 2006 and has mastered the old ways of pressing cider, broom-making and maple syrup, which he’s now refined into a science using his own homemade systems. Scott’s  syrup earned a blue ribbon at the Pennsylvania Farm Show in January.   Scott has recently taken his educational efforts to a wider audience by launching a presence on Facebook and Instagram, where he shares fascinating content on everything from syrup making and forest facts to travel and everyday life in Clearfield County. 

The program for the evening was “Sundays at the Kerr House Museum – A Look Back at the Season” and celebrated the eleven  Sunday afternoon presentations this past summer.   Presenters were Denny Shaffner (The Allegheny Front;) Sharon Aaron (Gearhart Knitting Machine;) Scott Kolesar (Broom making;) Tribe of Three; Becky Hummel (Click, Clack, Moo book;) Linda Pollick (Clearfield Dairy and The Ritz;) Roger Rorabaugh (The White Pine Story;) Fred Ralston & Julie Houston (Poetry Reading;) and Susan Williams (Antique car rides and “Back In The Day” cookbook.)

Society President Bob Eshelman conducted the business portion of the evening  which included board members Bob Eshelman,  Julie Houston, Becky Hummel and Paula Miller being  re-elected to three-year terms.  

The Clearfield County Historical Society will closed for the regular season on Oct. 26. 

The Holiday Book Sale will be held Saturday, December 6 at the Kerr House Museum from 1 – 4 p.m.  The Kerr House Museum will be decorated for Christmas and open for tours. A selection of books will be discounted and museum memberships will be available for  Christmas gifts.

Additional information can be found at www.clearfield-county-historical-society.net