THE FANLIGHT Vol. 20, No. 1 Monroe County Historical Association January—February 2009 MCHA Officers President MCHA is part of Community Grant Russell D. Scott III The Monroe County Historical Association is pleased to announce its partnership Vice-President Vacant with Northampton Community College in securing the largest grant awarded in the most recent round of a highly selective national grant competition from the National Secretary Pam Finkbeiner Endowment for the Humanities (NEH). Treasurer Greg Christine The award of $800,000 from the NEH along with $1.6 million, which the College is committed to raise from other donors, will create an endowment to program public Board of Directors and college activities focusing on an annually selected theme from the humanities. Camille Breslauer Eugenia S. Eden Northampton Community College spear-headed the project and reached out to surrounding educational and Charles Eyer Charles Garris cultural organizations to strengthen the impact this grant would have on the community. In addition to the Monroe Dianne Kirkhuff County Historical Association, the Eastern Monroe Public Library, the Stroudsburg Area School District, the Connie McCool Historic Bethlehem Partnership, the Bethlehem Area Public Library and the Bethlehem Area School District will John Meixell work closely with NCC to generate interest in specific humanities themes and public programming. Patricia Sayler David Thomas George Warden The NEH grant will enable public school students, college students, and the community at large to explore several James Werkheiser different themes of the humanities. A nationally-recognized speaker, appropriate to the annual theme, will provide Executive Director the culminating event each year. Activities during the year will include credit and non-credit course offerings, Amy Leiser distance education coursework, a film festival, a ―one community, one book‖ series of activities, speakers, panel Newsletter Editor discussions, service-learning opportunities, museum displays, and collaborative teaching opportunities between Kathleen Boyle the college and the school districts. For smaller group discussions, like the book group and panel discussions pod- Museum Assistants Thomas Famularo casts will be posted to the college web site. For the larger panel discussions, and especially for the culminating Halle Smith major speaker event, there will be live broadcasts through the college’s Web site. The first two themes chosen are ―Abraham Lincoln: Transformative Vision‖ and ―The American Work Experience.‖ 2009 In addition to the grant money, Northampton Community College’s proposal was awarded a ―We the People‖ Directors Meetings designation, placing it among an elite group of projects associated with an NEH initiative aimed at strengthening The MCHA Board of Directors meets the fourth Tuesday of the teaching, study and understanding of American history and culture. the month at 7:00 p.m. at the Stroud Mansion. Bruce Cole, Chairman of the National Endowment for the Humanities, said: ―In order for our democracy to survive, January 27 American citizens need to know the ideas that have shaped and continue to influence our nation. By funding the February 22 - Annual Meeting nation’s highest-quality humanities projects, the Endowment offers the opportunity for our citizens to discuss the March 24 important role philosophy, art, literature, and history can play in our lives.‖ April 28 May 26 June 25 Dr. Arthur Scott, president of Northampton Community College added, ―This grant recognizes the strengths of our July – no meeting faculty in the humanities and will enable them to make a significant contribution to the quality of life in both the August 25 Lehigh Valley and in Monroe County.‖ September 22 October 27 The Monroe County Historical Association is excited to participate in the unique opportunity to serve as a November 24 Community Partner, and we are looking forward to promoting Monroe County’s history to the public. December – no meeting MCHA Sponsors Many thanks to our Sponsors. In Memoriam Please let them know you appreciate their support of the Monroe County The Monroe County Historical Association is sad to report Historical Association. the passing of three outstanding members and friends to our organization Small Business ($150.00) Bailey’s Steakhouse Many people in the community knew Numa Snyder. A direct Dunbar Enterprises, Inc. descendant of Daniel Brodhead, Numa was always interested Frailey Insurance Agency in his family’s history and their role in shaping Monroe Inn at Pocono Manor Joseph P. McDonald, Esq. P.C. County. Numa was a music enthusiast and would happily Lombardo and Lipe play his violin for our guests at our annual Christmas Schnaitman’s Flooring America Luncheon. He was a true gentleman and always had a smile Smuggler’s Cove on his face. Strunk-Albert Engineering Thomas Funeral Home Mary Hall passed away December 19, 2008. Mary was a well-known faculty member at Stroudsburg High School, where she taught home economics from 1950 until retiring in Corporate ($250.00) 1980. She was a member of the MCHA Board of Directors and a charter member of the A. C. Henning Enterprises, Inc. Pocono Mountain Chapter of the Embroiderer's Guild. MCHA is currently working to BioSpectra Inc. organize a special exhibit of Mary’s embroidery at the Stroud Mansion. ESSA Bank and Trust Great Wolf Resorts Karen Larson, 99, of Cherry Valley was an antiques collector who always supported the Huffman’s Electric Monroe County Historical Association. Often, Karen would loan pieces from her Keystone Nazareth Bank & Trust personal collection to be displayed at the Stroud Mansion for special exhibits. Karen Newman, Williams, Mishkin, Corveleyn, continued to remember the Monroe County Historical Association in her will, leaving Wolfe and Fareri $10,000 to our organization to further our important mission. Penn Security Bank and Trust Pocono Produce Company All three of these individuals believed in the importance of preserving, protecting and Pocono Record promoting Monroe County’s history. Each has made an tremendous impact on the sanofi pasteur community and will be greatly missed. Shawnee Inn and Golf Resort Skytop Lodge Municipal ($250.00) Borough of East Stroudsburg Local authors release new book Borough of Mount Pocono Borough of Stroudsburg Hamilton Township Frank and Marie Summa and Patrice Middle Smithfield Township Summa Blair have just released their Pocono Township Smithfield Township newest book, Then & Now: The Strouds- Stroud Township burgs in the Poconos. This new photo Educational ($250.00) book features vintage photographs of East Stroudsburg University of PA Stroudsburg and East Stroudsburg Pleasant Valley School District Pocono Mountain School District landmarks printed side-by-side with Stroudsburg Area School District photographs of the locations as they Frank and Marie Summa signed Contributor ($500.00 and more) look today, shot from the same copies of their book at the Driebe Freight Station. Northampton Community College perspective. This book is a fascinating PPL Electric Utilities - $1000.00 Rotary Club of the Stroudsburgs look at how these towns have – or haven’t – changed over the years. Then & Now: The Stroudsburgs in the Poconos is $21.99 The Monroe County Historical Association receives generous and is available in our gift shop and online. Remember, MCHA support from members receive a 10% discount. Pennsylvania Historical & Museum Commission The mission of the Monroe County and the Monroe County Historical Association is to promote, protect and Commissioners. preserve the rich history of Monroe County. January - February 2009 2 Volunteers in 2008 The following volunteers deserve a round of applause and our appreciation for their dedication and support of the Monroe County Historical Association. This group of generous people donated over 3,431 hours to share our history with members, Welcome New Members! friends and visitors in our many projects, events and fundraisers. Thank you! Since November 1, 2008 Russ Albert Barbara & Frank Herting Pocono Produce Inc. Individual/Family/Senior Charles & Susan Armitage Cortney Hoffa Pocono Mnts. Quilters’ Guild Arthur E. Arnold II Mr. & Mrs. George Huffsmith Lynn & Richard Primrose Roseann Dillman Commissioner Donna Asure Judi Jabara Maria Purington Dorothy Baldwin Jacob Stroud Corporation Bill & Elsa Ramsden Corporate Eleanor Bender Elizabeth Karch Anne Robertson Ruth & Alex Bensinger Barbara Keiser Linda Rogers ESSA Bank and Trust Dieter & Hannelore Boehmer Kristy Kemp Bonnie Rudeski Kathleen Boyle Peter & Carol Kern Patricia J. Sayler Mary Boyle Gene & Ginny Kerrick Elaine Schiovone Barbara Braithwaite Dianne Kirkhuff Doug Schoonover Pat Buck Beverly Kleinle The Scott Family Benefits of Membership Camille & Tom Breslauer Vertie Knapp Craig Scott Helen G. Brown Sue Kopczynski Esther Scott Pride in preserving Judith Brown Frank & Susan Kovarick Russell D. Scott III the history of Monroe County Rebecca & Jason Bucci Karen Larsen Pat Scully John & Carole Burrus Annette LeBar Jennifer Selby Free Admission to all MCHA Rachel Frick Cardelle Ken & Jean Lee Nancy Seger The Cardelle Family John Leiser Laura Seifert sites Denise Cebular Sandy & Bill Leiser Michael Seifert 10% discount in our Gift Shop Greg Christine John & Mary Lenz Ann Selwood Nora Cilurso Letitia Lladoc Frank & Barbara Sgambelluri The Fanlight, our newsletter, Ed Cramer Sue Lloyd Karlyn Shedlowski Diane Crow Marie Lohman Paul Shemansky issued 6 times a year Carole DeMarco