Out & About: Westmoreland Historical Society presents annual preservation awards

At its 22nd annual Arthur St. Clair Historical Preservation Awards Dinner, the Westmoreland Historical Society recognized two groups that have been key to its mission of developing, managing and sharing the area’s abundant historical resources.

Honorees at the event held Wednesday evening at Rizzo’s Banquet Hall in Crabtree were the Elizabeth Hanna Guild and the Baltzer Meyer Historical Society.

Ironically, the guild no longer exists, but it was instrumental in initial efforts to develop Historic Hanna’s Town, site of the original Westmoreland County seat and now home to the historical society. Founded in 1972 by a group of local women, the guild began its efforts by building the fort, tavern and jail now located at the Hempfield site.

The guild was named for the wife of Robert Hanna, who settled at Hannastown around 1770 and was a judge in the first Pennsylvania court west of the Allegheny Mountains that was located there. The group disbanded in 2002.

“I guess they thought Hanna’s Town was in good hands,” said WHS Executive Director Lisa Hays, who noted that many former members continue to volunteer at the site.

The Baltzer Meyer group is an offshoot of WHS founded in 1993, said President Tom Harrold. It owns own two buildings of historic value in Hempfield, the one-room, red-brick Harrold Schoolhouse, built in 1881, and the Old Zion Lutheran church, built in 1884.

The society also holds an extensive collection of local family histories, especially those with German lineage.

Former WHS board member P. Louis DeRose welcomed guests and presided over a flag salute, while board member Monsignor William Rathgeb offered a blessing.

Hays and WHS board Chairman Michael Cary presented the awards. Harrold accepted on behalf of the Baltzer Meyer group and Lillian Shea, its last president, accepted on behalf of the guild.

A light touch was added to the evening with a silent auction, door prizes and a Westmoreland County historical trivia game.

One question asked which early county resident was court-martialed (and exonerated) three times between 1776 and 1814. Surprisingly, the answer was the award’s namesake himself — Major General St. Clair faced his first military trial for abandoning Fort Ticonderoga during a 1777 Revolutionary War battle.

Mary Ellen Miller chaired the awards dinner committee. Members included Linda Assard, Helen Auman, Jim Clayton, Barbara Flock, Ed and Carol Gross, Tom Klingensmith, Bruce Shirey and Claudia Wolfe.

Seen: Terry Graft and Linda Brown, Phyllis Bertok and Richard Lopretto, Dr. George and Linda Austin, Marilyn McSparrin, Becky Plischke, Julie Donovan, Joan DeRose, Phil and Gladys Light, Sylvia Shearer, Joyce DelPaine, Dick and Carol Sheats, Priscilla Richardson, Clinton Piper, Bob and Arlene Kendra, Tom and Christen Mizikar, Dirk Matson, Geralyn DeFelice, Sharon Cerve, Ed Meadows, Joanna Moyar, Louise Henry, Stacy Greenaway and Lara Bromyard.