Becoming history ...
As a high school student, Roy Wagner hated history.
While working a job pumping gas in Franklin Park, he would often hear the “old-timers” talk about the past, including the Harmony Line, a streetcar more formally known as the Pittsburgh, Harmony, Butler and New Castle Railway. His interest was piqued.
“That helped me realize the tangible things about history can be really interesting,” he said.
Wagner held a reserved appreciation for history until the mid-'90s, when his daughter brought a book home from school. The book was put together by the Cranberry Township Historical Society, and much like he did after hearing those gas station conversations, Wagner felt inspired.
“I ended up reading it cover to cover,” he said, adding that he joined the society soon after.
A few decades later, Wagner is the president of the society and doing his part to not only keep the area's history alive, but also inspire a younger generation to find a fascination with the past. That part, at times, can be easier said than done.
“It's a problem everybody is having,” he said. “We've been doing whatever we can.”
Judy Taylor and Ariel “Buzz” Kelly know the solution isn't easy.
In the years they've spent working with the Valencia Historical Society, they've seen the lack of new blood showing interest as their fellow group members have grown older.
Group leaders decided this month the society will disband at some point this year, which Kelly directly attributes to a lack of participation.
“We can't find officers,” he said. “It's too much work. We open the building up and nobody comes.”
Artifacts have been on display in the basement of the borough building for decades, a collection that has only grown over the years. Attractions include instruments, including a pump organ, and clothes worn by Valencia's baseball team. These and other items face an uncertain future.
“We're trying to figure out what to do with it,” Taylor said, adding some items may be given to historical societies in Mars and Butler. “If people are still around, they can come get it.”
The age factor is something Wagner has seen coming for at least a decade. During a countywide meeting of historical groups, members under the age of 50 were asked to stand.
“There was a handful of us at that time that stood up,” he said. “That's when it really hit home.”The area's growth has also been a factor in getting new members involved, as Taylor and Wagner both said those who relocate often don't have a reason to explore the past.“People move here and don't really have that connection,” Taylor said. “I grew up here, so it's really personal to me.”Creating that personal connection to potential younger members is undoubtedly a challenge, but can be done. Pat Collins, director of the Butler County Historical Society, said her group is always searching for new ways to involve students and young adults, and they remain open to the sharing of ideas.“You have to allow new people in the door and embrace their ideas and give it a shot,” she said.Those ideas include collaborating on programs with the Butler County Community College, and taking in volunteers and interns who are early in their exploration of history. She said that has led to 20-somethings joining the society's board.For Wagner, embracing the digital age has helped stir participation in the society's quarterly speaker series. They also offer a student discount program which reduces the fee for young members.“Sometimes that generates new people for you,” he said. “Young people attend those programs with their parents, but it's a tough climate.”The Cranberry group, in existence since 1989, is also working on a museum project that would feature a display dedicated to the Harmony Line, as well as models of what the township looked like a century ago.“Things like that make it more interesting for young people, though whether that turns them into membership remains to be seen,” he said.Though packing a room to hear a lecture or getting people through the doors to view a special artifact is always a focus for new membership, Wagner and Collins said they fear that as older members die, they are taking decades of knowledge and history with them.“We created a DVD ... 20 years ago, and most of the people on it aren't here anymore,” Wagner said, adding the information on that video is invaluable.Collins said older members are eager to share their knowledge before the opportunity has passed.“They put in their 25 or 30 years, and they're ready to be done with it,” she said. “That's where our history gets lost.”
