(610) 824-6954
palmertonhistorical@ptd.net
 

    

Palmerton Area Historical Society welcome image

Welcome to the Palmerton Area Historical Society

OUR MISSION
The mission of the Palmerton Area Historical Society is to create awareness, appreciation, pride, and respect for the people, architecture, culture, and heritage of the Palmerton Area by collecting and preserving relevant materials and making them accessible for research and for the education of the general public through exhibits, publications, and programs.

Officers and Board of Directors

President
Lynn Shupp

Vice President
Bert Holczman

Secretary
Susan Steigerwalt

Treasurer
Duane Costenbader

Carol Curcio
Patricia Kern
Roy Christman
Stephen Goidich
Barry Scherer
Garry Mack
John Aulenbach
Richard Horinko
Vinita Horinko

Photo of Palmerton Area Historical Society officers and board members.

Front row from left are Susan Steigerwalt, Vinita Horinko, Richard Horinko, and Roy Christman. Middle row from left are Patricia Kern, Lynn Shupp, Garry Mack, and Stephen Goidich. Back row from left are Duane Costenbader, Barry Scherer, John Aulenbach, Bert Holczman, and Carol Curcio.

Committee Chairpeople

Kibler School
Roy Christman

Little White Church
Lynn Shupp

LWC Building and Grounds
Barry Scherer

Membership
Chrissy Rehatchek

PAHS Steering Committee
Lynn Shupp

Program Coordinators
Vinita Horinko
Marianne Smelas

“The Scribe” Editorial Staff
Carol Curcio
Patricia Kern

Our Organization

The Palmerton Area Historical Society is a 501(c)3 non-profit organization and operates under the direction of a Board of Directors that establishes objectives for the various committees and staff of dedicated volunteers. The Board is elected by the general membership of the Society and may serve four-year terms without limits on the number of consecutive terms of service. This Board then elects the President and the Vice-president and appoints the Secretary and the Treasurer.   The President and Vice-president are elected to serve two-year terms, but their reelections are limited to a maximum of four consecutive years. The Secretary and the Treasurer serve at the pleasure of the Board with full voting privileges and no term limits. The Board of Directors has general charge of the financial and other affairs of the Society.

Our History

In 1990, the Lehigh Gap Historical and Preservation Society and Museum, Inc. (LGHS) was formed under the leadership of Mr. Larry Yeakel. The Society chose its name and established its mission to include the area immediately south of the Blue Mountain because many of these smaller communities did not have historical societies of their own.

Mr. Yeakel was not only the founder of LGHS but also its President for many years. Officers who served with Mr. Yeakel included Mr. Dennis Smith as Vice President, Ms. Kathy Long as Secretary, and Mr. John Parsons as Treasurer. Members of the first Board of Directors included Mr. Gary Curran, Mr. Kermit Geary Jr., and Mr. William Pitts. Early meetings were held in the New Jersey Central Railroad Station until the building was sold. The meeting place then moved to the Knight’s Gallery on the second floor of the Palmerton Area Library.

Over time, as the communities south of Blue Mountain formed their own societies, LGHS reconsidered its objectives. Therefore, in 2005, LGHS decided to serve only the Palmerton Area School District which consists of Palmerton, Bowmanstown, Towamensing and Lower Towamensing Townships. As a result, the Society changed its name from the Lehigh Gap Historical and Preservation Society and Museum, Inc. to the Palmerton Area Historical Society (PAHS).

Volunteer

WRITE TO: 
PAHS Historical Society / Volunteer
P.O. Box 267
Palmerton, PA 18071-0267

OR CALL:
1-610-824-6954