Spring Issue (April 2010)
Published by the Mt Zion Historical Society
James Burke,President
Bob Nay, Newsletter Editor
Mt Zion Historical Society Webpage Link




Dear Mt Zion Historical Society (MZHS) Friends:



As you will see the MZHS has continued to be busy even during this interesting winter weather period. And hopefully you can feel our passion and dedication for the Bennett's Valley and its history. I want to thank all our supporters and board members for their continued efforts in making our Society so especially unique.

We are busily planning for our Annual Memorial Week-end Dedication for Saturday May 29th at the Mt Zion Historical Park near Weedville. Last year's dedication was a true celebration. We plan to continue to honor our pioneering citizens and especially our Bennett's Valley veterans again this year. We hope you can attend to experience this special Memorial week-end celebration. More information will be coming soon.

For our Society, historical and genealogy information (family history and relationships) are vitally connected and mutually supportive of each other. With this in mind, we have developed a strong and unique relationship between the MZHS and the Elk County genealogy website-- PaGenWeb. You may be interested in seeing what information is available. We recommend visiting the PAGenWeb for Elk County for what we believe is the most comprehensive genealogy information on line.

MZHS has joined the Heinz History Center Affiliates Program (HCAP) which includes more than 125 regional historical societies and organizations dedicated to preserving local history. HCAP members include history, genealogy, and library organizations located primarily within the counties of Western Pennsylvania . Membership in the program brings the extensive expertise and resources of the History Center to these organizations, assisting with museum and archiving work and enabling them to reach their goals.

If you have any questions or ideas please never hesitate to contact us through James Burke, MZHS President,or Bob Nay, Newsletter Editor.




New

Find us on Facebook

MZHS is now on Facebook


We are continuing to expand our internet services. The MZHS has recently added our own page to Facebook. We are very pleased with the response we have had, and especially the information that is being shared on this page. Several pictures have been posted on this page which will be of interest to many of you. All this further highlights the interest in the Bennett's Valley and the many ways to communicate with all of us.

You can easily connect to this Facebook page just by clicking

MZHS Page on Facebook

 This way you can at least view our page on Facebook. However if you want more interactive capabilities with this page you must also sign up for Facebook for our own personal page. This is easy also. Hope you enjoy and take advantage of this new experience.




Report on Veterans' Walkway Pavers



The Mt. Zion Historical Society (MZHS) recently ordered thirty-three Veteran's Pavers to be installed in the MZHS Vet Walkway Veteran's Walkway at the Mt. Zion Historical Park. Once these pavers are installed there will be a total of 339 Veteran's Pavers in the walkway.

The number of pavers installed to date far exceeds the MZHS goals when this project was first initiated several years ago. The support of local citizens and friends of the Society is to be commended for their effort in honoring their veterans.

The MZHS, working with the American Legion, maintains a list of deceased veterans and those veterans for whom pavers have been installed in the walkway. Click here to view The MZHS Veterans Listing. If you have any information to add or update this list please email James Burke.

Applications for purchasing Veteran's Granite Pavers may be accessed on the web-site. The cost for each paver is $50.00. The application with payment can be mailed to Susan McClintick, McClintick Road, Weedville, Penna. 15868.




Update to Veterans List- Veteran Photos Project



We have enhanced our veterans list with their photos when available. In the list if the name is in a color and is underlined , just click on the name to view the photo. Click here to view The MZHS Veterans Listing

If you have photos to share of any veterans on this list please email a copy to James Burke or Bob Nay. Thank you for your continued contributions to sharing more information to those interested in preserving the history of the Bennett's Valley and in this case especially honoring our veterans.




Joshua G Smith Awarded Eagle Badge of Rank




Joshua George Smith was award the Eagle Badge of Rank at an Eagle Scout Court of honor held at the Weedville Wesleyan Church Saturday, January 30th. Joshua is the son of Greg and Valerie Smith of Spring Run. Joshua is a Joshua Smith member of Boy Scout Troop #94 of Kersey Scout mastered by Rob Schreiber.

Josh began his trail to the Eagle in 2000, beginning in Tiger Scouts. Through the years, he advanced thru Cub Scouts, and earned the Arrow of Light in 2005, the highest award in Cub Scouting. He then moved into Boy Scouts, earning the Tenderfoot rank in July, 2005. He reached the Second Class rank in 2006, First Class in 2007. In 2008 he moved through the ranks of Star and Life. Also in 2008, he was inducted into the Order of the Arrow, Boy Scouts Honor Society. On Sept. 30, 2009 he achieved Boy Scouts highest rank - EAGLE SCOUT.

For his Eagle Scout service project, Josh assisted in the clean up and improvement of the Mt. Zion Historical Park. He enlisted the help of his troop for a spring clean up day at the park. He also helped place bricks in the Veteran's walkway at the park, and other park improvements. On May 23, 2009, the park had a dedication ceremony in which Josh once again enlisted his troop to help with set up of the chairs and also to participate in the ceremony itself.




MZHS Awards Historical Research Scholarship to Patrick Watkavich



Patrick WatkavichAt their monthly meeting on February 16th, the Mt. Zion Historical Society was pleased to award their 2009 Historical Research Scholarship to Patrick Watkavich. The Society thanks PNC BANK and 4S LOGGING for making this scholarship available.

Patrick chose to research and write his essay on Betty Hayes, M.D., who served as the Shawmut Mining Company physician here in Bennetts Valley in the mid 1940's. "Dr. Betty" , daughter of Valley physician Dr. Leo Hayes, returned to the Valley following her father's footsteps and death. She became very concerned about the condition of the miners, and soon led the fight against the mining company to improve unsafe and unsanitary living and housing conditions for the miners and their families.

The photo shows (L to R) Rita Fenice awarding the $500.00 scholarship to Patrick along with his parents Denise and Richard Watkavich. Patrick's interest in the early mining industry stems from his own grandfather John Watkavich who was a miner in Bennett's Valley. Patrick lives in Baumertown and is currently a freshman at the Dubois campus of Penn State University. He plans to use his scholarship money to purchase books and supplies for this term.

Please click Dr Betty Hayes to see Patrick's research paper, a 1945 Times magazine article , and a famous song written by Woody Guthrie about Dr Hayes- The Dying Doctor. This is a very meaningful and historical period in the Bennett's Valley regarding its miners conditions that were highlighted across the country. The history of Bennetts Valley is alive and well as long as our young citizens like Patrick give the time and effort to keep it so. Thank you Patrick for bringing us back to this important time for the Valley.

The Mt. Zion Historical Society will honor Dr. Betty Hayes with a memorial plaque at its Historical Park. The plaque will be dedicated at the Society's annual dedication and celebration on May 29, the Saturday before Memorial Day.




Our Historic Bennett's Valley Picture Series and Collections
Your Contributions are Very Much Needed



Benezette School 1942 Yearbook Pic As part of our mission and our continued growth the MZHS is interested in obtaining any photos of historic interest of the Bennett's Valley. We didn't realize that establishing our MZHS page of Facebook would provide another opportunity to not only share pictures via the Internet but also to obtain pictures as well. Thanks to the many contributors on Facebook we have had a good beginning. The one example here is a picture from the Benezette School Yearbook of 1941-1942. The MZHS was able to find resources to identify all the names for each picture. What a great way to work together - in this case Tim Cadden and the MZHS- to present a complete picture. Many thanks to Tim Cadden for sharing this picture and others. Click here on our Mt Zion Historical Society
page on Facebook to see other pictures. If you have pictures you would like to share you have at least three choices in so doing. The MZHS page on Facebook (click on above), or email to Rita Fencie at MZHS, or mail to Rita Fencie , Abby Road, Weedville, Pa. 15868.

Thanking you in advance for helping the MZHS become a better service for those interested in the Bennett's Valley and in preserving its history.




Upcoming Events in and near Bennett's Valley



Date Event Comments and Contacts
3rd Tuesday of every month Mt Zion Historical Society Monthly Meeting You are welcome to attend our board meetings the 3rd Tuesday of every month except December;
Contact Jim Burkefor further info.
Memorial Day Weekend, May 29, 2010 Mt Zion Historical Society Memorial Day Dedication The Annual Memorial Day Weekend Services at the Mt Zion Memorial Park
Contact Jim Burkefor further info.
Tuesday, April 19th , 1 pm Elk County Historical Society Museum Opening All New Exhibits (Museum open April 19 through December 5)
Friday, June 18th 5-8 pm Elk County Historical Society Annual Strawberry Festival Center Street between Elk and Vine. Live entertainment, games, balloons, raffles, 50/50s, and strawberry treats and goodies!
Saturday August 7, 2010 Annual Winslow Family Reunion Benezette School - More Info to Follow



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