The Annual Meeting of the Bradford County Historical Society will be held at 2:00 p.m. on Sunday October 30, 2016 at the museum located in the Historic old Bradford County Jail, 109 Pine Street in Towanda. The Historical Society, one of the oldest in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania was founded in 1870. The Annual meeting is an opportunity for the membership and guests of the society to hear the progress of the society over the past year.
The Clement F. Heverly award for Outstanding Service and the Leo E. Wilt Historian of the Year award will be presented. These awards were established by the society in 1992. The Clement F. Heverly Outstanding Service Award was named for a man who did much to record the past history of the County. It is to be for organizations excelling in the preservation of the history of Bradford County. The Leo E. Wilt Historian of the Year award is to be given to an individual who has shown diligence and leadership in recording, preserving or disseminating of County History. Leo E. Wilt was a pillar in the Bradford County Historical Society. He and his wife Mary kept the society going for many years when it was located in the old fire proof behind the Bradford County Courthouse.
The program for this year’s meeting will be musical and will be presented by the Wyalusing Swing Choir. When planning the annual meeting the 50th anniversary of the Camptown Races was occurring and the thought was that the society should recognize Bradford County Composers. The Wyalusing Swing Choir was contacted and agreed to perform. Some of the composers whose music will be presented are: P.P. Bliss, the Towners, Stephen Foster and Pat Ballard.
The Wyalusing Swing Choir is currently comprised of nine members: Carol Madill, alto and Wyalusing Valley High School music teacher and choral director; Tonya Boatman, alto and Elk Lake School District music teacher and choral director; Wendy Farley, soprano of Herrickville; Pam Obert soprano from Monroeton; Marnie Wilson of Wyalusing; Wes Skillings, tenor, recently semi-retired editor of the Wyalusing Rocket-Courier newspaper; Jason Boatman, bass, and he is married to Tonya; Scott Snyder, tenor and new member Joe Martin, bass of Wyalusing. Sound personnel for the group is Mary Skillings, a retired teacher at the Wyalusing Elementary School.
The group performs a wide variety of music that includes swing, Christian, blues, country, classic rock ‘n roll, and contemporary 4-5 arrangements.
This is an opportunity for Bradford County residents to spend a relaxing afternoon listening to the program put together by the Wyalusing Swing Choir. It is also an opportunity to learn more about your County Historical Society.
Please call the museum at (570) 265-2240 to reserve a seat for this historic presentation. Light refreshments will follow the program.
