The monthly meeting of the Mahanoy Area Historical Society was held Monday, August 27, 2007 in the meeting rooms of the Mahanoy Area Downtown Center. Attending were Charlotte Maurey, Joan Goodman, Lois Griffith, Rose Flamini, Joseph Flamini, Frank Senglar, Patricia Brown, William Brown, Bob Fallan, Kathy Wufsus, Mark Zucker, John Sabol, Frank and Joanne Pangonis.

President Frank Senglar opened the meeting with the Pledge of Allegiance, followed by a prayer by Kathy Wufsus.

Frank Senglar and Joan Goodman then presented a historical plaque to Frank and Joanne Pangonis, owners of Heiser’s Hardware, which has been in continuous operation for 153 years at 31 East Centre Street. The store was originally opened by Edward F. Smith, one of the town pioneers and a petitioner of the borough charter.

MINUTES

Minutes of the July meeting were accepted as printed on a motion by Kathy Wufsus, seconded by Charlotte Maurey.

TREASURER’S REPORT

In the absence of Treasurer Elizabeth Coombe, there was no treasurer’s report.

CORRESPONDENCE

Secretary Pat Brown said a letter had been sent to Joan Harris thanking her for the school project completed by her daughter, Laura, on her great uncle Jerome Szematowicz, Mahanoy City’s first serviceman killed in World War II.

Brown said an invitation had been received to attend the August 16 Schuylkill County Historical Meeting, but the invitation arrived after the meeting. She said she will contact Jennifer Bowen-Frantz and ask her to contact her via e-mail prior to the next meeting so members will know when it will be held. Brown also showed two different sized 2008 calendars to see if the society was interested in purchasing any calendars for the coming year. A decision will be made at a later date.

Community Preservation

Joan Goodman said she had submitted the required information to Harrisburg for closing out the $5,000 grant the society received through the office of Rep. Neal P. Goodman for a number of plaques that were or will be presented to various locations in the Mahanoy Area. She said some plaques were given out in 2005 and 2006 and the rest either were already presented or will be given in the near future. She said the next plaque will be given to the First Methodist Church on East Mahanoy Avenue.

Goodman said if future grant funds are received and someone wants a plaque for their building, they will be required to submit the necessary information. She said securing the history of the buildings was the most difficult part of the entire program.

Book Committee

It was noted that there were only 22 historical books remaining. Pat Brown was instructed to purchase more of the Mahanoy Area history books from Arcadia Publishing. It was agreed to continue the past policy of giving a history book and a year’s membership for a $25 donation.

Membership Committee

Membership Committee Chairman Marjorie Fletcher said she had been contacting members delinquent in their dues via e-mail asking that they reconsider their membership in the society. She said she hopes to receive some replies in the coming weeks. The 2005 members who have not paid their dues have been eliminated from membership. As of August there are 325 members with 132 of them not paid for 2007.

Special Committee

In anticipation of the Christmas program, Rose Flamini said she and Kathy Wufsus met with Leonard Ludinsky and Dr. Homer Boysen, members of the First Methodist Church, where the program will be held. Kathy Wufsus said everyone is welcome to attend the church service, but will have to purchase tickets for the social that will follow. Flamini said the program will be held in November or December.

UNFINISHED BUSINESS

As instructed at the last meeting, Bob Fallan said he checked prices for a television with DVD and VSH player and found the best deal at Sears, where it could be purchased for $248 with another 10 per cent discount. A motion to purchase the TV set was made by Kathy Wufsus, seconded by Swing Flamini and unanimously approved.

Frank Senglar said a committee consisting of Bob Fallan, Swing Flamini, Frank Selgrath, Pat Brown and himself were reviewing the by-laws. He said several meetings had been held and some small revisions made. The next committee meeting will be held at 1 p.m. Thursday, September 6. The final reading of the revised by-laws will be done at the September meeting.

NEW BUSINESS

Senglar said the society had received an offer of the cash register that had been in the Huebner Store in the 300 block of East Pine Street. He said the building had been sold and if the society wanted the cash register, it would have to be removed this week. The group agreed to accept the cash register and Senglar said he would make the arrangements to have it transported to the historic room.

John Sabol was introduced as a new member and said he would be willing to help the society in any way he could. A Mahanoy City resident, Sabol spent time in Hollywood where he appeared in many films, and is the author of several books. He will be the guest speaker at the October meeting, speaking on Ghost Encounters in the Mahanoy Area.

Mark Zucker of Shenandoah, who developed the society’s website, lauded the society for holding such an informative meeting. He asked for ideas to put on the website and among those offered were where the historical book was being sold, that dues were now payable for 2008 and other items. He said the minutes of monthly meetings were already on the site and there was a photo album capable of having pictures put on it. He asked that any suggestions or information be sent to him via e-mail at mark@mahanoyhistory.com or mark@462DF.com

ADJOURN

The meeting adjourned at 8:10 on a motion by Swing Flamini, seconded by Rose Flamini. The next meeting will be held Monday, September 24, 2007.