July 2025
Upcoming Meetings
Native Americans
July 21, 2025
This meeting will focus on the Native Americans that lived in our area many, many years ago.
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This meeting will be held at the museum.
Presented by Darrel Ernst and Carl Burkett
Our monthly meetings are held on the 3rd Monday of the month at 7:00 p.m. (note time change) at the Sportsman's Club in Conneaut Lake. It is open to the public free of charge. Hall is handicapped-accessible and smoke-free. Refreshments will follow the program.
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Fairyland Forest
August 18, 2025
We will hear about the history of "Fairyland Forest" from Tim Thomas, grandson of Bernie and Jane Hohl, the managers of that special place which holds so many wonderful memories for many of us.
Boards from Conneaut Lake Park Boardwalk
Conneaut Lake Park gave the historical society some old boards from the board walk in 2009 and which were taken up in 2023.
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We cut them down to about a 12-inch size and engraved (lasered) them with CLP Boardwalk.
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We only have 100 boards and we are selling them for $20 each.
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They are available at the museum on Saturdays from 10 a.m.to 2 p.m.and Sundays from 2 to 5.
If you can't get to the museum and want to reserve one,please contact Jane Smith,project and promotions chairman,at grandmagjane@zoominternet and arrangements can be made to get one to you.
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They are a nice memory of the boardwalk and CLP.
Raffle Tickets
We will have a special raffle being held this summer and early fall.
Tim McKay has made a special pen out of leftover wood from the Blue Streak.
It is beautiful as well as unique.
It will be a nice memory for the winner to think of fun times on the popular ride each time the pen is used--- or just displayed.
Raffle tickets will be sold throughout the summer and the pen will be awarded on the final day of PumpkinFest.
Tickets are $2 each or three for $5.
They will be sold at the museum as well as at special events.
If you can't make those events, contact Jane Smith at grandmagjane@zoominternet.net and she will make arrangements for you to send money for tickets.
"Harper's Cottage" is available
"Harper's Cottage," a sequel to last year's "Summer Solstice" book by local author, Jeannette Curry, is now available.
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Summer Solstice is a fictional romance book about a woman who inherited a cottage from her father, who she never knew. It tells of her coming to Conneaut Lake and finding the cottage -- as well as learning of a half-brother. She stays in Conneaut Lake.
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"Harper's Cottage" continues that story and readers learn what happened to all the characters from Summer Solstice.
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Curry is the former Jeannette Morian, a 1968 graduate of Conneaut Lake High School and now lives in Meadville where she teaches the art of playing pickle ball.
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Cost is $20, plus tax.
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Again,contact Jane Smith if you can't get to the museum.
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It also can be ordered from the gift shop at www.conneautlakehistory.com
Upcoming Programs
August: The program will be about Fairyland Forest
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September: The old-time owners of Conneaut Lake Park and what Gore Range learned about them.
He will be limited to one-half hour -- he promises.
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October: "Oral Histories and Their Importance" is the topic. Representatives of the Crawford County Historical Society will present the program.
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November: Lt. Col. (Ret.) Gary Hough,who made a career of the Army,will talk about how a guy from a small town moved up in the military ranks and some of his experiences.
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December: Christmas dinner at the Iroquois Club.
Exhibits
Check out our new exhibits
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They include pictures of the 2024 Century Building program, a carved statue of an Army solder titled,The Perpetual Salute, made by Donald Valentine: a replica of the famous church at Normandy made by the late Louis Ittel, and a unique display about Ittel's success as a national rile shooting champion in the early 1900s -- and an antique "dryer' for waders won by fisherman.
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There's always something new to see, so visit us to enjoy our newest exhibits and learn a little about our history.
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Museum hours are 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.every Saturday; and 2 p.m.to 5 p.m.every Sunday.
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Special appointments can be made by calling Chuck Groger at 814-382-8722; or Julia Catalano,814-724-9841.
Mark Your Calendars
We are celebrating Liberty Fest--40 years after Liberty the Second was brought up from the bottom of Conneaut Lake.
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The fest is Aug.9 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the museum,150 N.Third St.,Conneaut Lake.
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It will include talks by Brian Simpson and Bill Houghton, who found the boat and led the "bringing up" from bottom of the lake.
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A brief talk by Gary Worthington, who worked on the restoration,also will be presented.
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Music by Dave McMillin, who recorded a song about Liberty for the celebration when it was brought up in 1985,will be featured as well.
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Other events will include a scavenger hunt and other games, a wooden boat show,displays, sales of Liberty the Second t-shirts, ornaments,magnets and hats, and,of course,food will be available.
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And -- the guys plan to start the engines!
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Please join us and celebrate this milestone.
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Admission is free and it is designed to have something for all ages!
Ice House Festival
The museum will be open on Saturday, Dec. 7, starting at 10 a.m. in conjunction with the downtown Ice House Festival.
Stop by and warm up with hot chocolate and a cookie -- free of charge.
You can see the great display of Christmas trees and lights, see the other exhibits and buy something in our gift shop!
Spread the word.
The museum is open free of charge as well.
Save the date
Save the date of Dec. 16 for our annual Christmas dinner at the Iroquois Club.
It is open to all members and guests.
The menu will be announced shortly and reservations can be made.
Exhibits
The exhibit committee has made a few changes in the displays this year.
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The military display has been changed to add a sculpture, "The Perpetual Soldier,"which is absolutely beautiful.
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It was sculpted by Donald Valentine Jr. and is a life-size statue of a soldier in khaki uniform.
The exhibit area was expanded as we moved the clothing rack to make more room.
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Pictures of the Century Buildings honored lat year are displayed so everyone can see what they look like -- and consider nominating other 100-year (or older) buildings for consideration in 2025.
Did you know a man who used to live in Conneaut Lake was a National Rifle Shooting Champion in the early 1900s?
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Some of the loving cups by J. P. Ittel are displayed along with other memorabilia showcasing his accomplishments.
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Mr. Ittel also made a model of a famous church in Normandy where paratroopers landed on D-Day.It also has been donated to use and isdislayed near the church section -- reminding us how important churches area.
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Please take a few minutes to stop by the museum and see all the exhibits.
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And, check out the new cubby holes which has all our clothing arranged neatly for easy shopping.
Crawford Gives is Coming
The annual Crawford Gives program of the Crawford County Heritage Community Foundation is set for August 12 through Aug. 15.
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The program is simple. People may send donations designated for the historical society o the Foundation on those days via check or call with credit card or go to office with cash.
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Once the program is over, the foundation tabulates all the donations and then adds a percentage to the total (based on funds donated for this program by sponsors) and then sends us a check for the new total. It usually is about 3 percent and we get it within a few months.
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It is an easy way for the society to raise funds and all donations are tax deductible
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Please mark your calendars and consider making a one-time donation.
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Thank you in advance,
Upcoming Events
Below is a list of upcoming events for this summer.
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Please post it where you can see it and join us for lots of fun and sharing our history!
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EVENTS 2025​​
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July 12, 2025 Car Show 10 am – 2 pm @ Museum
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Aug. 2, 2025 Paddlefest 7 am – noon @ Fireman’s Beach
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Aug. 9, 2025 Liberty Program (40 years) 10 am -2 pm @ Museum
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Aug. 13, 2025 Tiki Bar 4 pm – 9 pm @ Conneaut Lake Park
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Sept. 2025 Century Program 9am @ Museum
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Sept. 2025 Picnic 6pm – 8 pm @ Msgr Toland Park
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Oct. 10, 11, & 12, 2025 Pumpkinfest @ Conneaut Lake Park
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Oct. 11, 2025 Pumpkinfest Parade 9 am @ In the Boro
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Nov. 2025 Christmas Trees @ Museum
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Nov. 29, 2025 Christmas Sale 10 am – 2 pm @ Museum
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Dec. 2025 Ice House Fest. @ Boro and Museum
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Dec. 15, 2025 Christmas Party @ Iroquois Club
Membership Dues
Dues for 2025 are now due and can be sent to CLAHS, P.O. Box 425,Conneaut Lake, Pa., 16316.
Annual dues are $12.
Lifetime dues are $150.
All members receive a 10 percent discount on any merchandise purchased.