ANNUAL REPORT FOR 2009

WALLENPAUPACK HISTORICAL SOCIETY

Preserving Our Heritage

The renovation of the bathroom and kitchen at the Williams House was completed October ’09. It was a lengthy project but its completion provides WHS with a handicapped accessible bathroom and an updated kitchen.  The house was closed for visitation during the process, but through the efforts of the Collections Committee, the house is now ready to be opened for guests this summer.  A successful Christmas Open House was offered on December 6 and fifty to seventy-five guests were welcomed. No other work was done on the property in 2009, except for some minor roof repair.

WHS received a donation of property and financial support from PPL which involved the Purdytown Cemetery in Paupack Township.  WHS will accept responsibility for the maintenance and restoration of the cemetery.

The completion of the Beer’s Map was finalized in late 2009.  All requirements for the grant were met and a final report will be given.  The map is stored in the Palmyra Township Office safe.

No oral histories were completed in 2009.  Work on the scrapbook is on-going.

A storage place in the basement of the Paupack School has been made available and it is being used by the Collections Committee.

Historic Preservation Awards were given to William and Laura Coletta of Greentown for their restoration of what possibly is the oldest house in Palmyra Township and to Sheelah Kaye Stepkin, Torte Knox, of Hawley for her preservation of a building for a different commercial use.  These awards will be presented in 2010 due to a delay.

Telling Our Stories

No new publications were offered in 2009.  Our current publications remain on the market.  WHS conducted a sales opportunity at the PPL’s Earth Day and the Antique Show, as well as through the website.  The committee worked on the LaTournous’ Dorflinger Pattern Reference Book and a new project, Historic Homes of Palmyra Township.  These books are still being edited and should be available soon.

Programs for the year 2009 again focused on local history.  These included:

the History of the Teeter Family, Hawley, given by Richard Teeter;

Quilting, as it exists today, given by Barbara Briden and others in the Friends with a Heart quilting group;

an evening presentation of Historical Maps of the Wallenpaupack Area, in conjunction with the Palmyra Twp Supervisors;

a program given by Jon Tandy in honor of Veterans who served in the Cold War;

a program, “Murder and Mayhem”, given by Gloria McCulloch and Ann O’Hara of the Wayne County Historical Society’s Speakers’ Bureau.

A picnic in July and a holiday concert given by the High School Choir rounded out the year.

Monthly newsletters contained articles on juvenile furniture and a recent acquisition of a jumper chair; the history of the Silver Birches, Tafton: making pewter spoons and spoon molds; first raft on the Delaware River; early times in Hawley; why we eat turkey; noma bubble lights.

Displaying Our Past

A popular activity was introduced at the meetings in which members bring in a personal treasure in their possession.

Organizational

Each Director received a policy notebook so that everyone understands the procedures of the organization. 

The fiscal year was changed from October 1-Septemebr 30 to the calendar year format of Jan 1-Dec. 31^st.  This caused a one-time preparation of additional tax documents.  The Board reviewed the tax documents and the requirements within them.

The Board conducted several long-range planning sessions to review by-laws and new amendments to the by-laws.  Election procedures, membership categories, director emeritus status, committee procedures, and other topics were reviewed and modified.

A copy of the current by-laws can be obtained by contacting the secretary.

A “conflict of interest” policy was written and approved.

Less than a quarter of an acre of land from the Williams House plot was sold to a neighboring resident; this was done to try to resolve some of the neighbor’s problems with encroaching property lines.

Two directors resigned, Debi Stewart and Jean Hansen, during 2009.

Officers for 2009 were:  Audrey Graybill, President, Nancy Gumble, Vice President, Secretary, Jon Tandy, Treasurer, Joan Glazier.  Additional directors were Richard Briden, Teddy Cescot, Bill Dewar, Ann Wiedenman, Rolf Moeller, and Bruce Taylor, J. Anthony Waldron III.