Friday, August 19, 2016

Last Man’s Club Presents Records to Bradford County Historical Society

The final two members of the World War II Last Man’s Club in Towanda recently presented a collection of records and photographs to Bradford County Historical Society where they will be available for use in the research center.

Arthur Spengler and Robert McGovern contributed the collection, which covers the history of the club dating back to 1949. According to the records, both men have been members since 1978.

The first meeting of the club was held on August 14, 1949 by the American Legion, Post 42, of Towanda in the main hall of the East Towanda fairgrounds. Fifteen members were present. The first president of the club was Walter Treaster who suggested that meetings be held annually on the Sunday closest to V-J Day (August 14).

A total of 63 members joined the club in the first year after which the charter was closed and the group known as charter members. From time to time, the club opened the charter to new members. Many of the original members were well known in their community such as Henry Dunn, Fowler Tuton, Dean Meredith and others.

During the second meeting of the Last Man’s Club in 1950, a suggestion was made that a group photo should be taken each year. Among the collection received by the historical society are photos from several annual meetings.

The Bradford County Historical Society has a large collection of veteran related records from both its own collection and also county records. Stop in Wednesday through Friday, 10 am – 4 pm, or the first Saturday of each month, 10 am – 2 pm to visit the research center. For more information, call 570-265-2240 during regular hours or visit the historical society website at www.bradfordhistory.com.

The Bradford County Historical Society is funded in part by the United Way of Bradford County.

Wednesday, August 17, 2016

Friday Night at the Museum to host actor Robert Hughes as John Mitchell: An American Hero

The Bradford County Historical Society will host a play titled, John Mitchell: An American Hero, scheduled for this Friday, August 19, 2016 at 6 p.m. Doors open at 5:30 p.m. There is no admission charge for this event but donations are appreciated. To reserve a seat, participants are asked to register by calling 570-265-2240 or by email at info@bradfordhistory.com.

A two-act one-person play, this show celebrates John Mitchell, an important Pennsylvania figure who organized and was the President of the United Mine Workers Union from 1898 to 1908. During his tenure, he liberated the anthracite coal miners of northeastern Pennsylvania by raising their standard of living, removed children from the mines and placed them into the schools, and saved many lives of the miners by raising safety standards. He took an unorganized group of 30,000 workers and turned them into an organization of 300,000 workers.

He was a poor, uneducated miner who lost both parents by 5 years old, surviving three stepmothers, one of whom abused him.

John Mitchell will be portrayed by Robert Thomas Hughes, a veteran actor and recently a playwright, who began his career in 1960.

This program is part of the 2016 Friday Night at the Museum programming series that is held the third Friday of each month from May through October. Each event is held in the Great Room at the Bradford County Historical Society, located at 109 Pine Street, Towanda, PA. Refreshments are provided at each program and the museum is open a half-hour prior to the event.

Other programs scheduled for this season are: September 16 – Sayre – 100+ Years Ago; and October 21 – A Glimpse from the Past: John Philip Sousa and Towanda (musical program).

The Bradford County Historical Society is a recipient agency of the Bradford County United Way and the Pennsylvania Historical and Museum Commission. For more information about the society and its programming schedule, museum or research center, visit www.bradfordhistory.com or check out the society Facebook page at facebook.com/BradfordCountyHistoricalSociety.

Friday, August 5, 2016

Friday Night at the Museum to host actor Robert Hughes as John Mitchell: An American Hero

The Bradford County Historical Society will host a play titled, John Mitchell: An American Hero, scheduled for Friday, August 19, 2016 at 6 p.m. Doors open at 5:30 p.m. There is no admission charge for this event but donations are appreciated. To reserve a seat, participants are asked to register by calling 570-265-2240 or by email at info@bradfordhistory.com.

A two-act one-person play, this show celebrates John Mitchell, an important Pennsylvania figure who organized and was the President of the United Mine Workers Union from 1898 to 1908. During his tenure, he liberated the anthracite coal miners of northeastern Pennsylvania by raising their standard of living, removed children from the mines and placed them into the schools, and saved many lives of the miners by raising safety standards. He took an unorganized group of 30,000 workers and turned them into an organization of 300,000 workers.

He was a poor, uneducated miner who lost both parents by 5 years old, surviving three stepmothers, one of whom abused him.

John Mitchell will be portrayed by Robert Thomas Hughes, a veteran actor and recently a playwright, who began his career in 1960.

This program is part of the 2016 Friday Night at the Museum programming series that is held the third Friday of each month from May through October. Each event is held in the Great Room at the Bradford County Historical Society, located at 109 Pine Street, Towanda, PA. Refreshments are provided at each program and the museum is open a half-hour prior to the event.

Other programs scheduled for this season are: September 16 – Sayre – 100+ Years Ago; and October 21 – A Glimpse from the Past: John Philip Sousa and Towanda (musical program).

The Bradford County Historical Society is a recipient agency of the Bradford County United Way and the Pennsylvania Historical and Museum Commission. For more information about the society and its programming schedule, museum or research center, visit www.bradfordhistory.com or check out the society Facebook page at facebook.com/BradfordCountyHistoricalSociety.