EC Historical Society Monthly Meeting Wrap-Up

The Ellwood City Area Historical Society started their 2022-2023 season with a dinner meeting at the Connoquennesing Country Club on Monday, September 12th.

President Everett Bleakney welcomed all in attendance, and reminded them of the Society’s mission to Collect, Protect, Preserve and make the History of the Ellwood City Area available to all. He then introduced Guy Prestia, a WWII veteran, and asked him to lead the group in the Pledge to the American Flag. Charles Brown then gave the invocation preceding the evening dinner.

Following the dinner, Everett introduced the officers, board members, committee members and others. First vice president Andy Kindle, who is presently working on the Ellwood City area church history and Charles Brown, the Society treasurer. He then acknowledged Lois Liebendorfer, secretary, who also serves on the accessioning committee with Jane Kocker, Cindy Morabito and Barbara Neff. Speaking of committees, he mentioned the annual scholarships the Society awards, and introduce the three previous school teachers that judge the scholarship essays. They are Mary May, Kaye Houk and Barbars Mastropietro. Everett pointed out that one of our scholarship winners was present, Gabriel Gretch, and is a faithful member. He introduced the building and property co-chair,Al Kocher and Charles Means, who maintain and manage the historical properties. He praised the social media Dana Baker and Alexis Estabrook and Blaanche Novak for maintaining the Facebook account and answering the many questions received about the history of the area.

Bob Morabito, second vice president, who handles the programs and publicity announced that the Ellwood City Rotary was formed Septsember, 1922, and has given 100 years of service to the Ellwood City area. He then introduced Doug Slade, Ellwood City Rotary president. Doug emphasized his reasons for becoming a Rotarian, and how the Rotary Club emphasized service before self. Doug then introduced David Barensfeld who told how he became a member of the Rotary. It began with a meeting he attended in Belgium, an International Rotary Club. Jean Barsotti then presented a slide show of the Rotary programs, both local and international. The topics were vast, and many are ongoing ventures. How the Club strives to eliminate polio, maintain a foreign student exchange to helping local projects in the community.

Carroll Monks won the fifty fifty raffle, donating the winnings to the History Society, who in turn donated the entire monetary package to the Ellwood City Rotary.

The meeting then adjourned with the notice that the next Historical Society meeting will be held 7:00 pm, Monday, October 10 at the History Center. A 1967 Ellwood City Diamond Jubilee news reel will be the evening’s program