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Donations for Bethel Park Historical Society project passes $1 million mark

By Harry Funk staff Writer hfunk@thealmanac.Net 4 min read
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Harry Funk/The Almanac

Layton Jones leads the Pledge of Allegiance, as he has at Bethel Park Historical Society open houses of the past.

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Tim Moury

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Artist Johno Prascak with his eight-canvas, 32-foot painting “Carnegie Steel – Homestead Works, 1926," as exhibited at the Schoolhouse Arts and History Center

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Harry Funk/The Almanac

Janet Furtney, who owns and operates Improvement Thru Movement Dance Studio at the Schoolhouse Arts and History Center, watches as Jim Jenkins assembles a holder for the plaque to be placed at her tree.

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Bill Haberthur

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Peter and Jeanie Edwards display his plaque to be placed next to a treet in his honor outside of the Schoolhouse Arts and History Center.

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Harry Funk/The Almanac

Richard Kraft has dedicated a tree in honor of his late wife, Patricia.

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Harry Funk/The Almanac

Maria DeSimone Prascak shows a print of her watercolor depicting the Schoolhouse Arts and History Center, joined by Allen Levine.

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Four generations of members of the Janosik family show the plaque for their tree.

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Britney Hollick, president of the Bethel Park Community Foundation Board of Trustees, presents a representation of a $10,000 grant to the Bethel Park Historical Society.

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State Rep. Natalie Mihalek, R-Peters Township, has worked toward securing grant money for the Schoolhouse Arts and History Center.

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Harry Funk/The Almanac

The Schoolhouse Arts and History Center shows some seasonal decorations.

Five years ago this month, the Bethel Park Historical Society embarked on raising money to renovate the building on South Park Road that originally was constructed as a high school in 1905.

“We set a goal of a million dollars,” Tim Moury, historical society president, said. “People looked at us – even we looked at each other – saying, what do you think the chances are? Can we do it?”

During an Oct. 3 open house at the building, he announced the historical society has received a $10,000 grant from the Bethel Park Community Foundation.

“Between donations, fundraising and in-kind services, our total dollar amount is one million, eight thousand dollars,” he said. “It’s really, truly amazing how well the community has come out in support of our project.”

Local residents certainly supported the open house, nearly filling the refurbished former upstairs classroom that was dedicated during the event as the Community Foundation Auditorium.

Historical society secretary Bill Haberthur provided an update of further improvements that have occurred in the past two years.

“We didn’t let a little pandemic stop our progress,” he said with a laugh.

For example, the original bell has been placed in a cupola atop the roof of what now is known as the Schoolhouse Arts and History Center. In fact, the ringing of the bell marked the start of the open house, just as it would a school day.

The historical society received a $170,000 grant for upgrading the heating, ventilation and air-conditioning system, and work is in the process of wrapping up, Haberthur said. The electrical system has been converted from fuses to circuit breakers, and more restroom facilities now are available for visitors.

All 11 exterior doors have been replaced, and within the next few weeks, the building will receive new gutters and downspouts.

“Not only did we do renovations, but we significantly added to our collection,” Haberthur said, as donations of items continue to increase the historical society’s presentation of local memorabilia related to education, the military, coal mining and other areas of interest.

The project being funded by the Community Foundation grant, “Raise the Flag,” involves relocating the former St. Valentine School’s flagpole, which was dedicated by the Veterans of Foreign Wars in 1961, to the arts and history center.

“It’s probably more cost-effective to buy a new one versus move the old one, but we’re here to preserve the history,” Moury said.

Another fundraising effort, coordinated by society members Jim and Lisa Jenkins, was the sale of trees to be planted along the Park Avenue side of the building.

“We did that to really return it to where it was when this building was originally built,” Moury said. “If you go back and look at the early pictures, it was a tree-lined street.”

During the open house, those who made the purchases were presented with engraved plaques to be placed in front of their designated trees.

Attending the event were South Side Slopes artists Johno Prascak and his wife, Maria DeSimone Prascak, longtime supporters of the historical society’s efforts.

Johno exhibited his 32-foot painting “Carnegie Steel – Homestead Works, 1926” and Maria her watercolor of the Schoolhouse Arts and History Center, with prints available for sale to benefit the society.

Also in attendance was state Rep. Natalie Mihalek, R-Peters Township, whose district includes part of the Bethel Park. Moury acknowledged her efforts in helping to secure grant money on behalf of the Schoolhouse Arts and History Center.

“It’s such an asset to the community. I can’t communicate that enough. And what small role that I can play in helping divert some of the state funds that are available,” Mihalek said, “I’m happy to do it. I think this is just a treasure for Bethel Park.”

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