Travel can be expensive and, with the Alle-Kiski Valley’s rich history, area residents have plenty of options this summer to enjoy “staycations.”
The Alle-Kiski Historical Society/Heritage Museum in Tarentum aims to make that easier and lay out the options this weekend at a free event.
“Our history can’t be forgotten,” said Steve Kubicko, the society and museum’s secretary, on Tuesday while setting up tables for participants at the museum. “I want people to come here and learn all about it in one place. Many of our groups attending are going to network. We’re looking to use social media better and we just want to improve membership.”
The free Staycation Fair will run from 10 a.m to 2 p.m. Saturday at the Alle-Kiski Valley Heritage Museum, 224 E. 7th Ave. in Tarentum.
Kubicko said the current revitalization efforts throughout the Alle-Kiski Valley motivated him to create a free public event that would promote all of the region’s historical attributes.
“I think the folks at Alle-Kiski Heritage Museum have created a great opportunity for people to learn about the dozens of local historical societies, historical sites, museums and other nonprofits by attending the event,” said Larry Boehm, president of the Leechburg Area Museum and Historical Society. “They’ve also created an environment for us nonprofits to get to know one another and find ways to coordinate events together and support each other in the future.”
Each nonprofit will have a table offering information on their organization and local attractions, events and happenings for 2024 that lend themselves to a staycation activity.
Joyce Hanz | TribLive
Larry Boehm, president of the Leechburg Area Museum and Historical Society, talks about some of the relics one can see in the Military Room there.
Participating nonprofits include:
Burtner House, Rachel Carson Homestead, Natrona Comes Together, Leechburg Historical Society, Tarentum Recreation Board, Victorian Vandergrift Museum, local author George Guido, BIG (Brackenridge Improvement Group).
Vandergrift Public Library, Alle-Kiski Valley Historical Society and Heritage Museum, People’s Library of New Kensington and Lower Burrell, Verona Historical Society, Tour Ed Mine, Tri City Historical Society and Apollo Historical Society.
Prospect Cemetery (Ghost Tour), Community Library of Alle-Kiski Valley, Alle-Kiski Valley Sports Hall of Fame, Oakmont Historical Society and Old Bones Antiques and Salvage.
Prizes will be awarded and attendees can meet Cathy the 10-month old puppy of Warrior Canine Connection, a Maryland-based nonprofit dedicated to teaching service members who have Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder the skill of training service dogs to be partnered with veterans.
Cathy lives in West Deer with Katarina Coates, the head service dog trainer and Pittsburgh area program manager.
“I met the folks running this and they were so sweet and welcoming. It’s a great networking opportunity and who doesn’t like being in a cool historic museum?” Coates said.
The event is drop-in style and all are invited.
“Come anytime and for as long as you like,” Kubicko said.
Tawnya Panizzi | TribLive
Fran Jones of Fawn portrays Mrs. Alexander “Daddy” Walker, the wife of a preacher, Tarentum High teacher and local librarian. The portrayal was part of a past Prospect Cemetery ghost tour in Brackenridge.
Cindy Homburg, president of Prospect Cemetery Association, already is prepping for the annual fall ghost tour.
“During covid, I couldn’t have a ghost tour, so I made a book of scripts from previous ghost tours,” Homburg said. “I just completed a 44-page second book of ghost stories “Prospect Cemetery Ghost Scripts Vol. II” and it’s going to be on sale for $15.”
Based on a true story, Homburg wrote about two police officers, Harry Meyer and William Lucas, who were murdered in Harrison’s Natrona neighborhood in 1917. They are buried there and it tells the story of how a man came to the police station and pleaded for help with his son, and the son shot and killed the two policeman.
“It’s telling stories about people who are buried in Prospect Cemetery and their contributions to the area,” Homburg said.
One former Tarentum resident featured on the ghost tour is named Belle Reed, who was found dead in her Tarentum apartment in 1925. Her spirit reportedly haunts Prospect Cemetery.
“When she died, she didn’t have anyone. She was a spinster,” Homburg said. “Some Tarentum residents have reported seeing a woman in white circling her tombstone.”
Homburg said this new event will offer a smorgasbord of historical resources.
“It’s a great event because it’s going to bring the whole Valley together and show people where they can go and what they can do, for not much money,” Homburg said. “We once had a canal that ran through Tarentum and British author Charles Dickens rode on boat through Tarentum in 1842. The area is chock full of history.”
Brian C. Rittmeyer | TribLive
Chuck Counts of Buffalo Township takes a picture of his wife, Sue, with President Abraham Lincoln, portrayed by Rick Miller of Cranberry Township, during the Burtner House Strawberry Festival last year.
Joyce Hanz is a native of Charleston, S.C. and is a features reporter covering the Pittsburgh region. She majored in media arts and graduated from the University of South Carolina. She can be reached at [email protected]
