Henry Tusar, left, of Forest City, joined his granddaughter Lauren Tusar, in pulling the rope to ring the church bell in the Forest City Historical Society Museum. (Photo by Tom Fontana)
BY TOM FONTANA
Correspondent
“The only way we will be able to save our future is to preserve our past.” Pope John II.
The bell in the former Forest City United Methodist Church just wouldn’t stop ringing Sunday afternoon, May 25.
As visitors entered the church, they were invited to make a good-will offering of one dollar to pull the rope that rang the resounding bell high in the church tower, thus heard throughout town. The dollars will benefit the Forest City Historical Society, which held an Open House for its new museum in the old church.
Earlier this year, the Susquehanna Methodist Conference donated the historic church to the Society, so work began immediately to give the church a new purpose and renew the society’s commitment to “preserve our past.” Forest City Borough will celebrate its 150th anniversary this August.
A dinner and dedication of the new museum was held Saturday night, and the public was invited to tour the historic collections at the Open House on Sunday.
Just about everyone who entered the church wanted a chance to pull the rope and ring the bell, and those who did received a little silver bell souvenir attached to a small historic photo of the church located at the corner of Main St. and Dundaff St.
Henry Tusar of Forest City and his granddaughter, Lauren Tusar, who was visiting from Media, Pa., pulled on the rope together, sending a loud ‘ding-dong’ across the valley.
Members of the Forest City Historical Society include, left to right: front – Mary McElhinney, Joyce Spenard, Tammy O’Reilly, vice president Peggy Brager; back row – president John Kameen, David Opeka, curator Bob Wirts, and museum building superintendent Frank Brager. (Photo by Tom Fontana)
The Forest City Historical Society is planning many events in the new museum, including an upcoming wedding for a young local couple.
On Friday, May 30, 6 p.m., the public is invited to attend a presentation at the museum called “Little Girl Lost,” recounting a local event represented by a prominent display in the museum.
Union Dale author Tammy Mal will talk about her recent book, “Little Girl Lost: The True Story of the Vandling Murder,” about the brutal, tragic killing of a young girl, Mae Barrett, by a local 13-year-old boy, who is said to be the youngest person ever convicted of murder in the Commonwealth. Mae’s sister, Nan Barrett, will attend the presentation, and donate material to add to the museum display about her sister.
The Forest City Historical Society Museum also features displays about local churches and schools, service in the Civil War and foreign wars by area men and women, and the mining, logging, and railroad industries.
Although no regular hours have been set for tours of the museum, Society vice president Peg Brager says special events and programs will hopefully keep the public visiting the museum and the Society’s collections that “preserve our past.”
Be the first to comment on "Forest City rings the bell for local history"