Happy New Year Looking back on 2011

First of all I would like to thank everybody who has supported our organization.  The key people who make this work give passionately of their personal time and effort.  The work is thankless except for the personal gratification that  they get for giving  and sharing with you so selflessly what they have acquired over the years.

Why would someone want to get involved?  Well, perhaps you enjoy collecting historical memorabilia, or tracing back your ancestry or remembering those before you who work so hard in making this country, even as imperfect as it maybe, as great as it is today. Perhaps you would just like to reminisce  about a time when life was a little slower and simpler. Or even to recall a time when life was much harder but still brought a deeper joy into your life because of the people you were with. Maybe you enjoy being a part of community involvement, or embracing an opportunity to  hone a skill set. What ever motivates you in doing what you do, you do it simply to share with others what you have accomplished and enhance and better our community.

Let me further add that none of us do what we do professionally, receive monetary compensation or are without flaws or room for improvement. In some cases we may incur uncompensated expenses. Yet we continue to endeavor to improve constantly.  I recently handed out some cards to promote what we do at local gathering of friends and neighbors when one gentlemen rudely scoffed and smirked.  Criticism, Sir, is cheap, plentiful and amply abundant we have sufficient supplies of that.  What we need is your input, contribution, help and support.   In absence of that, your silence would be equally appreciated.
Just as on the buffet table, if we are not to your taste  move onto something else.

So what have we done?

There have been countless hours of gathering, year books, vintage newspapers, countless old photographs, research in libraries, old telephone directories, walking the streets of Nanticoke documenting and photographing old buildings or sites where key events in the city have at one time taken place. We have published a variety of books.  We have a postcards, calenders and much more. Which, the proceeds keep our lights on and doors open.


Having been with the Historical Society for little more that a year,  I can only speak  for what I have seen in my short time with them.  First of all let me offer greatly appreciated thanks to Mr. Nicholas Pucino who has contributed so much in the past.  Nick has posted stories and photos for the Historical Society for a number of years on his site NanticokePA.com.  Due to health reasons Nick has given up his site and domain name to enjoy a more reclusive life style.

Since then the Historical Society has put up their own site.  In the Fall of 2010 I ventured out to observe a cerminony commemorating the 100 years anniversary  of the Hanover Fire Company Engine #4 Nanticoke Fire Dept. There I met an old friend and veteran member of the company where I explained that I had retired from my job of 19 1/2 years and returned to college to study some courses in  web design.  His wife, our president Julianna asked me to do the site for them. 12 junior college credits does not not make me by any sense of the word a professional, but it has given me an opportunity to practice what I have learned and I have learned so much more from these people than you can imagine and much more than just from in the class room.

We are on Facebook were I will announce new articles on this blog and our Web Site. On this blog I try to keep a mix of current and new things in our community as one day it will be history.  And by some fluke of the imagination maybe historically note worthy one day. Sometimes looking for something new to post can be a challenge, so your contributions can be a big help.


 We have done 13 blog posts in 2011:

• Rich Rynkiweicz's Classic Cars
• The Kline Cannons
• The Flood of Sept. 8 2011
• 911 Ceremony at Luzerne County Community College
• The Fall Harvest Festival (postponed)
• The Fall Craft Fair Luzerne County Community College
• The Grove Theater - Honky Tonk Angels 
• Our Book signing Open House Oct. 29 2011
• The Halloween Hot Dog Block Party
• LCCC Tree Festival
• Flamenco Ballet at GNA
• Barnes & Noble Book signing Area Hub Plaza
• Memories of a Forgotten Island

Stories on our Web Site:

Millionaires in Nanticoke	2011 Festival of Trees
How We Started	Flamenco Ballet @ GNA
The Samantha Mill House

An American President	Automobiles in Nanticoke
Hanover fire Co. Engine 4: 100 Years	Nanticoke's 400 Club
Theatres In Nanticoke	Castle Cloths
Horror Hall	Television In Nanticoke
Help!	Our New Book

Thank you for Supporting the Nanticoke Historical Society and have a Happy & Healthy New Year!