First
Meeting was held on February 20th Meeting:
There were 15 interested people who were able to attend the first organizational
meeting held on February 20th, 2007. Ken read a short section of Harry
Shriver's book "From Gettysburg to Washington - I lived with Heroes".
This book gives a very clear idea of what life was like in the the Littlestown
area in the early 1900's and follows United States History up through
1980's. Everyone heard what has transpired in the work to form the society
since the Littlestown History Night on January 14th 2007. Those present
voted to make " Littlestown Area Historical Society" the official
name of the organization. They broke into different groups and worked
on developing a Constitution, Membership
Criteria, a slate of officers, a
Mission Statement, and vision Statement,
which will be voted on at the next meeting to be held on March 20th at
Barts Centenary United Methodist Church. Lavern Louey is looking into
getting some of the paperwork that we need in order to be a non-profit
organization. Everyone signed a historical
organizational document. The program for the next meeting will be
given by Bill Stevens, who is the new owner of the Byers-Hess
house and is restoring this house into a fine dining establishment
for the Littlestown area. Paul Staub, Bill's Son-in-law has helped Bill
as they researched this historic house. They will be sharing what they
are doing and what they know about the Byers-Hess House. The December
meeting will most likely be held at the Byers-Hess House.
Those who were present on the 20th
were Ken Thomas, Laverne Louey, Alvin and Joyce Unger,
Betty and Bruce Jakum, Michael R. Stoops, Don and Shirley
Lindsey, Kenneth Bucher, Dwight Sheesley, William Stevens,
Paul Staub and Roger and Barbara Steele. *
Note - There were a good number of other interested persons
who sent messages that they were unable to make this
first meeting.
February 23,
2007
Mike Stoops (Our treasurer elect) - "I spoke with Mr. Clayton Wilcox
today and he has offered to donate his legal services to help us to incorporate
LAHS!" Mike is also
working on setting up an Financial Account for the society.
Betty Jakum has been
in contact with the Hunterstown Historical Society
and they have sent us information about the procedures
that we should follow in order to establish our society. Inclosed
you will find a copy of this information. It
looks like we are on the correct path. They just
started their Historical society a year ago.
On March 6,
a number of us met with Attorney Clayton Wilcox to
discuss where we are and what we have to do to become
incorporated. He offered several suggestions and is
looking over our constitution and bylaws in order to
offer suggestion on making them incorporate compatible.
On March 8th
Ken met with Wayne Motts the director of the Adams
County Historical Society. This meeting was set up
through Jim Witt, who is working on a project at the
Adams County Historical Society. Wayne shared much
information and made suggestions on what to consider
in the establishment of a our society. He answered
many questions and suggested ways in which our two
historical groups can benefit each other. He was very
supportive of the establishment of our society. Thank
you, Wayne.
Second Meeting on March 20th Meeting:
The meeting began by thanking the
following people. Attorney Clayton Wilcox was thanked
for his legal work in helping us become Incorporated.
The Littlestown Rotary was thanked for their donation
of $500 to the Littlestown Historical Society to help
with start up cost. Shirley Lindsey was thanked for transcribing
tapes of Bob Spangler's interview. Barry Warehime was
thanked for giving us the following DVD's - Littlestown
Movie in 41 - 1960 fireman’s 75th anniversary parade
- Littlestown 1990 - and - Weikert’s Bakery tour.
The Adams County Historical Society and Wayne Motts were
thanked for providing suggestions and support for our
Societies establishment. Betty Jakumb was thanked for
setting up the news releases. Mike Stoops was thanked
for setting up our account and working on 501 information.
Kristen Milton was thanked for being present as a reporter
for the Hanover Evening Sun.
The program for the evening was presentation
by by Bill Stevens and Paul Staub on the Byers-Hess House.
Bill is the new owner of the Byers-Hess house and is
restoring this house into Washington's Restaurant a fine
dining establishment for the Littlestown area high lighting
the murals in the entrance hall of this historic house.
Paul, Bill's Son-in-law has helped Bill as they researched
this historic house. The December meeting will most likely
be held at the Byers-Hess House.
Business conducted at this meeting,
included, the election of officers and Board of Directors,
Establishing the membership criteria and dues, and approving
the Mission and Vision Statements of the Society. Memberships
were accepted, with 15 members paying their required
dues.
Thrid Meeting April
17th Meeting
On April 17th the meeting
began with a short business meeting. The By-Laws were
approved by the membership and the Nominations Committee
was established. The Nominations committee members elected
are Joyce Unger, Betty Jakum and Bill Stevens.
After the business meeting,
retired Littlestown Police Chief Roger Gouker present
a program on the history of the Littlestown Police Department.
There were about 30 people present. After his presentation,
Roger presented the Society with a book that contains
the Ordinances and History of the Borough from 1864 until
1965.
May 15th Meeting:
The program for the
May meeting was a slide show by Laverne Louey on many
of the buildings of Littlestown form the early years
and how some of these look today. There were about
24 people present for this program. At the end of the
program Don Snyder presented to the Society a 125th
aniversity metal coaster. Thank you Don. There were
a number of people present who are planning to join
the society and several told of items that they paln
to donate to the society.
June 19th Meeting:
The
June 19th meeting was a coordinated effort between
Barts Centenary United Methodist Church and The Littlestown
Area Historical Society. The program was a reshowing
of the Littlestown History PowerPoint CD that the church
has produced. The CD has been updated with more facts
and designed so that viewers do not have to read so
much of the information. This part of the program took
place in the sancutary of the church. After the show
there were tables in the social hall with items that
people brought along to show and tell about, items
connected with the Littlestown Area History.
July 17th Meeting:
The July meeting was
held at Mud College (Pleasant Grove) School.
Ellie Bennet gave everyone a tour of the school and
explained its history and the transition of ownership
from the time that it was owned by Mount Joy Township
until it is once again owned by the township as a historic
site. There were about thirty (30) people present for
the experience.
August
21st Meeting:
The
August Program was on the Edge
Hill Academy of Littlestown - Ken Sell
was the presenter. There were about 45 in
attendance. Willis and Virginia Myers were
present. They are the Present owners of this
building. Dr. Sell used a PowerPoint show
as he told about the school and the some
of the students wha attended this school.
Many people who were present knew many of
the people who attented the Edge Hill Institute,
but did not realize that these people had
attended the edge Hill Institute.
September
18th Meeting:
The September meeting was on the history of the Littlestown Foundry.
Mr. L. Robert Synder gave the presentation which included video and showed
the many changes that have taken place since the foundry was estaablished
in 1916. There were about 45 people present for the program.
October 16th:
October 16th meeting was an overview of Church history in the Littlestown
area with a more detailed history of the Methodist Church in Littlestown.Ken
Thomas prepared and presented this program. There were about 30 in
attendance.
November 20th:
November 20th meeting was on the life of Herb sell There were about 40
or so in attendance. Herb talked and played the piano for about two
hours. It was an evening of education, humor and entertaiment.
December 18th:
The December 18th meeting was held at the Byers-Hess House. There were
about 60 who attended as well as members of the Hess Family. The
group was broken into three groups and one group at a time was taken
on a tour of the house by Paul Staub, Son-law of Bill Stevens the
owner. He explained what they are doing and how the house will be
the Washington Restaurant. The other two groups waited in the large
front rooms of the house where they were treated to refreshments
furnished by Bill Stevens, his wife and his daughter.
January 15th:
The January 15th meeting was held at Methodist Hall. There were 40 people
present. The latest Version of the Littlestown PowerPoint on CD was
shown. An election was also held adding Marilyn Zanger to the 2008
class and adding Scott Zanger to the 2009 class. Once again there
seems to be much excitement about the society. Clifton Bittle is
interested in presenting a program on The Bittle family history.
Larry Althoff is interested in presenting a program on the Littlestown
Railroad and also possibly one on the Littlestown Trolley. We also
received foru new members at this meeting.
February 19th:(2008)
The February 19th meeting was held in the Methodist Church. There were
about 80 people present. We were presented the Littlestown quilt created
to celebrate our countries bicentennial in 1976 by the Grant Stavely
family. Ivan Lufriu presented the his program on the history of the
Shriver family and the comlex at Union Mills (The Shriver Homestead).
We weceived two new members to bring our total to 101.
March 18th:(2008)
The March 19th meeting was held in the Methodist Hall. There were about 35 people
present. Mr.
Jack Larkin was the keynote speaker. He talked about the need to preserve
our history. Mr. Larkin is the chief historian at Sturbridge
Village in Sturbridge, Massachusetts. Mr. Larkin is also an affiliate
professor of history at Clark University in
Worcester. He has been commissioned to write a number of books about the
history of our nation.
______________________________________ April 15th:
(2008)
The April 15th meeting was held in the Methodist
Hall. There were about 62 people present. Mr.
Bruce Jakum was the keynote speaker on the subject
of Kentucky rifle makers of the Littlestown Area, with
an emphasis on the Sell family. Mr. Jakum had a sample
of a rifle, powder horns and a bullet tool form the
Kentucky rifle era.
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