MERCER, Pa. – Two historical societies in Mercer and Lawrence counties each have been awarded a $9,500 state grant to help preserve local history and keep it accessible to residents and visitors.
The Pennsylvania Historical and Museum Commission approved the funding Thursday through its Cultural and Historical Support Grant Program.
“From a one-room schoolhouse to the keepsakes our neighbors entrusted to its care, the [Mercer County Historical Society] helps tell Mercer County’s story,” state Rep. Parke Wentling, R-7th, said in announcing the grant. “This grant will help ensure the next generation can get to know the people who came before them.”
Wentling serves on the Pennsylvania Historical and Museum Commission.
The Mercer County Historical Society was founded in 1946 and incorporated in 1947. It maintains a museum complex that includes the Dr. James Magoffin House, a historic chapel and print shop and the Anderson Building, which houses museum exhibits, a research library and a secure collections vault.
Its preservation efforts extend across Mercer County, with properties that include a historic log cabin, a rural life museum and a one-room schoolhouse.
The historical society offers free admission year-round. An employee oversees tours, catalogs artifacts and manages museum displays, while volunteers help staff the museums and support its preservation mission. Member donations provide much of the historical society’s support, with grants helping to cover remaining expenses.
“We have such a rich history here in Mercer County and a long list of historical sites that tell its story,” said state Sen. Michele Brooks, R-50th. “This funding is an investment in preserving that history so our younger generations will learn why it is so important to appreciate our heritage and pass their stories along to the generations to come.”
The Lawrence County Historical Society will use the funding to help offset operating expenses, including utilities, needed to maintain proper temperature and humidity levels for its extensive collection of historical records and artifacts. The funding also will help provide a comfortable working environment for volunteers.
The historical society collects, preserves and displays artifacts related to the county’s heritage. It maintains a 1905 historical home and museum, an office building and extensive collections of books; family histories; cemetery records; and business, school and church histories. It also hosts historical and community events throughout the year.
“The Lawrence County Historical Society plays an important role in preserving the stories, records and artifacts that tell the history of our communities,” said state Rep. Marla Brown R-9th. “This funding will help the society continue that work and ensure these valuable pieces of our past remain available for residents and future generations.”