About FCAHS
On this page you will find our Society's History, Mission Statement, and By-Laws.
History of FCAHS
30 years ago, Paul Ferraro and John Kameen wanted to found a local Historical Society. Finally, their plan was incorporated in 2010. The Society was not able to find a location until the Methodist Church congregation decided to disband due to lack of attendees. We talked to members of the congregation and then contacted the Methodist Conference to urge them to donate it to the Society. They donated it at no cost. Local attorney, Dave Bianco did all the legal work pro bono.
It is now the depository of all available artifacts and documents from our past. Since then, all major repairs and improvements, costing more than $50,000, have been funded by donations from benefactors including a new outside wall, sidewalk, an elevator, new stairs, new bathroom, repairing 3 stained glass windows, building a new office, plumbing, and electrical work. At present we are trying to raise the funds for the last 3 stained glass windows.
The museum is a testament to the ethnic diversity of our area. At one time there were 9 churches in Forest City, most being devoted to a particular nationality. In 2018 we conducted four-day series in which we had speakers on the larger ethnic populations who came here in the early 1900’s --- Polish, Slovenian, Lithuanians, Italian, Slovak.
We have done many programs involving veterans including the Hometown hero banners which we hang on the walls in the museum. Paul, who is a Vietnam veteran, and two of our officers, Vice President Dave Homisak and Treasurer Bob Wirts, also veterans, conducted a program in 2017 honoring area Vietnam veterans in which we gathered the names of more than 400 area Vietnam vets and brought many of them together to give them the honor they were not given when they returned from that controversial war.
In 2019 we spearheaded the 100th anniversary of the local American Legion Post and honored them at the Museum after they donated their Post building to construct a new Wayne Memorial Hospital clinic.
In 2018 we had a summer-long celebration of Pennsylvania’s 250th anniversary of the Anthracite industry which was the largest gathering of any community in the state. It ended with a nighttime parade with almost 30 units themed to coal mining and anthracite.
In the future we want to go to the local school to interest elementary school students in learning about the history of Forest City and our area.
30 years ago, Paul Ferraro and John Kameen wanted to found a local Historical Society. Finally, their plan was incorporated in 2010. The Society was not able to find a location until the Methodist Church congregation decided to disband due to lack of attendees. We talked to members of the congregation and then contacted the Methodist Conference to urge them to donate it to the Society. They donated it at no cost. Local attorney, Dave Bianco did all the legal work pro bono.
It is now the depository of all available artifacts and documents from our past. Since then, all major repairs and improvements, costing more than $50,000, have been funded by donations from benefactors including a new outside wall, sidewalk, an elevator, new stairs, new bathroom, repairing 3 stained glass windows, building a new office, plumbing, and electrical work. At present we are trying to raise the funds for the last 3 stained glass windows.
The museum is a testament to the ethnic diversity of our area. At one time there were 9 churches in Forest City, most being devoted to a particular nationality. In 2018 we conducted four-day series in which we had speakers on the larger ethnic populations who came here in the early 1900’s --- Polish, Slovenian, Lithuanians, Italian, Slovak.
We have done many programs involving veterans including the Hometown hero banners which we hang on the walls in the museum. Paul, who is a Vietnam veteran, and two of our officers, Vice President Dave Homisak and Treasurer Bob Wirts, also veterans, conducted a program in 2017 honoring area Vietnam veterans in which we gathered the names of more than 400 area Vietnam vets and brought many of them together to give them the honor they were not given when they returned from that controversial war.
In 2019 we spearheaded the 100th anniversary of the local American Legion Post and honored them at the Museum after they donated their Post building to construct a new Wayne Memorial Hospital clinic.
In 2018 we had a summer-long celebration of Pennsylvania’s 250th anniversary of the Anthracite industry which was the largest gathering of any community in the state. It ended with a nighttime parade with almost 30 units themed to coal mining and anthracite.
In the future we want to go to the local school to interest elementary school students in learning about the history of Forest City and our area.
MISSION STATEMENT
Forest City Area Historical Society
The purpose of the society shall be to promote:
Research,
Preservation and
Education
relevant to the history and historical artifacts in the towns of:
Browndale (Wayne County)
Forest City (Susqehanna County)
Richmondale (Lackawanna County)
Vandling (Lackawanna County)
in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania.
Research,
Preservation and
Education
relevant to the history and historical artifacts in the towns of:
Browndale (Wayne County)
Forest City (Susqehanna County)
Richmondale (Lackawanna County)
Vandling (Lackawanna County)
in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania.