From staff reports
After a long hiatus because of the coronavirus pandemic and closing directives, the Forest County Historical Society is back up and running.
The society has launched its public lecture series known as Tuesday Talks at the Museum. The series, which debuted last year, is focused on the society’s goal of making education its primary function to the community.
The Tuesday Talks will be held from 7 to 8 p.m. Tuesdays at the Forest County History Museum, 206 Elm Street, Tionesta. The museum will be open to the public from 1 to 8 p.m. on Tuesdays.
Tours of the museum and the grounds will also be offered on Tuesdays. The price for the tour and program is a $5 donation for adults, $3 for students 13 years or older and free to children under 12. Historical Society members will be admitted free of charge.
The first program in the series featured Jackie Kuhn on June 16. Kuhn, a historical society member and retired teacher, spoke on the passenger pigeon. She also discussed a children’s book which she wrote. It was illustrated by Carol McDonald and Cheryl Greenlee.
A passenger pigeon was named Pixson Pennesta by students from the East and West Forest elementary schools during a contest last year. The pigeon will be featured in a coloring book produced by the History Center and funded by the Forest County Conservation agency.
What’s on tap
The Tuesday Talks agenda includes:
– June 23 – Ron Heasley will speak about the history of Tionesta Beach.
– June 30 – Amanda Hetrick will play and sing songs of the suffragettes. She is the superintendent of Forest Area School District and sings as a hobby.
– July 7 – Eric Cepek, director of the county’s Veterans Affairs department, will speak on Forest County veterans.
– July 21 – Ashley Sweda, who runs the Full Circle Artisan Farm with his wife Nancy, will discuss Forest County permaculture and its historical perspective.
– July 28 – Burke Beach will give the program. He is a volunteer Civil War re-enactor and has appeared at Bull Run, Antietam, Fredericksburg and Bentonville as well as presented programs to West Forest sixth graders.
– Aug. 4 – Brian Hale, elementary teacher and Forest Press writer, will lead a tour down Elm Street in Tionesta. His program will include the identification of previous homeowners along that street.
– Aug. 11 – Nancy Sweda, retired art teacher with Forest Area School District, will talk about the Forest County Arts Council. She will discuss the council and show some members’ art works.
– Aug. 18 – Leonard Nickolas will give a history of gas stations and service stations in Marienville.
– Aug. 25 – Forest County extension agent Scott Weichert will present a talk about ticks and Lyme disease.