June 2026
Upcoming Meetings
June 15, 2026
50th Anniversary of the Strudel Factory
Debbie Taxacher will speak about the 50 Years of the Original Strudel Factory.
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.
July 20, 2026
Connie Otter
Dr. Patty Poloka, who once served as "Connie Otter" and who with her dance, partner, Jim Slowik, won a talent contact at Conneaut Lake Park will tell about her experiences at the park in the 1990s. After winning the contest, the pair performed three show a day and were added to the entertainment staff.
July 4th Celebration
The historical society is one of the co-sponsors for Conneaut Lake's July 4th observance of the 250 anniversary of the founding of America. Special activities are planned at Ice House Park starting at 11:30 and will include a military salute, sky divers, music and more.
The society will give away free hot dogs starting at noon until 300 are given. We also will have free birthday cake and punch at the museum at 150 N. Third St. until the cake and punch is all gone. The museum will be open from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.
It will serve as a site for the "scavenger hunt" and participants can get a card punch to qualify for a chance at a beautiful basked of donated items from area businesses. It will be filled with lots of great items, so check it out.
Watch for more announcements about the full schedule.
It will conclude with an array of fireworks!
Classic Car Cruise
Our annual Classic Car Cruise is set for Saturday, July 11.
Entry fee is $5 for each car. Prizes will be awarded for best of show and people's choice.
The museum will be open and hot dogs will be sold.
Admission to the event is free.
Registration opens at 8 a.m. and the car cruise at 9 a.m.
County Trunk History
The historical society will also participate in the Crawford County Historical Society as it hosts the "Trunk History." The society will appear July 11 at 1 p.m. in the grassy area next to Ralston's Hardware as the director Josh Sherretts will drive a 1921 Ford Model T with 10 objects in the trunk.
The 10 items of historical significance will be shown and explained.
Our society will have some of our artifacts as well.
The hour-long show is open to the public free of charge, as part of the 250th anniversary of America's observance.
Cuisine was Success
Our annual Conneaut Lake Cuisine was another great success with more than 200 guests plus 21 different food items! As usual, we sold out in about 24 hours and had a waiting list of more than 30 more!
Counting all the guests and the vendors and their helpers, it is the largest event we hold (in terms of numbers of people attending) of all our events and is a great community outreach.
Proceeds from this event are used to help fund our century building program.
The event would not be possible without the continued support of our local businesses.
Participating this year were: Silver Shores, Strudel Factory, Lake Diner, Rising River Brewing-Lakeside, Sheetz, Lake Golden Dawn, the G.O.A.T., Tavern 618, Pizza Joes, Casey's Ice Cream and Candies, Crawford County Dairy Princess, Sherry's Distributors, Saegertown Beverage and three new businesses in town - Beach Bits, Xu fei Chinese and Sundrip Smoothie Shop (the latter two located in the Strawberry Mall) and the Beach Bites at Firemen's Beach) and from the historical society: parsley potatoes, punch, coffee and cookies in memory of Judy Hughes and Nancy Manning , who started the Conneaut Lake Pumpkinfest., (cookies made by Jean Shanley). Our long-time participant, Livingston's Meats, didn't make it because of a scheduling mix-up.
Timberland Florist donated a door prize as well.
We sincerely appreciate all the time, food and support from these restaurants and food vendors!
Please support them to show them our appreciation!
Military Banners are Up
The new military banners are up on the streets of Conneaut Lake Borough.
The historical society has been working on this project for several years as a way to pay honor to our veterans.
Family members and supporters of individual veterans bought the colorful banners and the society has erected them in time for the upcoming Memorial Day. They will be in place until after Labor Day when they will be taken down and stored until next year.
The banners include the picture of the veteran in uniform and the military branch and years of service. The current banners will be hung for two years and then given to the ones who purchased them.
We have 60 this year, but hopefully will be adding more poles each year so we can accept more orders in the future.
We appreciate the support of borough council for giving up permission as well as the electric company to use the poles.The society will pay for the time spent by its employee Brian Leuthold in putting up the banners with the help from society members.
Thanks to all who purchased them and special thanks and appreciation to the veterans -- past and present -- for their service.
Without them we would not be celebrating our freedom!
Mark your calendars
We have a full schedule of activities planned for the summer:
So mark your calendar and plan to attend and./or better yet, sign up to help.
June 19: Golf Outing
July 11: Car show, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.
Aug. 1,Paddlefest, 7 a..m.to noon
Aug. 12: Tikki Bar, 4 to 9 p.m. at Conneaut Lake Park
Sept. 12: Century Program, 9 a.m.at museum
Sept: Picnic
Oct, 9, 10 and 11, Pumpkin Fest at Conneaut Lake Park
Nov.:Christmas trees at museum
Nov. 28: Small Business Saturday Sal, 10 a.m.to 2 p.m.
Dec.: Ice House Festival
Dec. 14: Christmas Party
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.
The military display has been changed to add a sculpture, "The Perpetual Soldier,"which is absolutely beautiful.
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.
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?
Some of the loving cups by J. P. Ittel are displayed along with other memorabilia showcasing his accomplishments.
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.
Please take a few minutes to stop by the museum and see all the exhibits.
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.
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.
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.
It is an easy way for the society to raise funds and all donations are tax deductible
Please mark your calendars and consider making a one-time donation.
Thank you in advance,
Upcoming Events
Below is a list of upcoming events for this summer.
Please post it where you can see it and join us for lots of fun and sharing our history!
EVENTS 2025
July 12, 2025 Car Show 10 am – 2 pm @ Museum
Aug. 2, 2025 Paddlefest 7 am – noon @ Fireman’s Beach
Aug. 9, 2025 Liberty Program (40 years) 10 am -2 pm @ Museum
Aug. 13, 2025 Tiki Bar 4 pm – 9 pm @ Conneaut Lake Park
Sept. 2025 Century Program 9am @ Museum
Sept. 2025 Picnic 6pm – 8 pm @ Msgr Toland Park
Oct. 10, 11, & 12, 2025 Pumpkinfest @ Conneaut Lake Park
Oct. 11, 2025 Pumpkinfest Parade 9 am @ In the Boro
Nov. 2025 Christmas Trees @ Museum
Nov. 29, 2025 Christmas Sale 10 am – 2 pm @ Museum
Dec. 2025 Ice House Fest. @ Boro and Museum
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.