`Stories needed to tell peoples’ history`

By Hal Johnson
Herald Writer

A mill worker or a farmer probably thinks a day on the job is not terribly historic. But in 100 years, those every day tasks could be historic. They will have shown what working life was like in Mercer County.

“Those nothing stories show a change in history,” said William Philson, Mercer County Historical Society executive director.

Until the end of this year, Philson is asking anybody in Mercer County to submit stories, memories, things their parents or grandparents told them, and photos for possible inclusion in the Twentieth Century Pictorial History of Mercer County, Pennsylvania.

The local history book will contain documented histories of places and events but it also will be partially anecdotal, Philson said. Philson hopes to have the book out by November 2000. Philson said he hopes to avoid a problem with the 1899 and 1909 histories of Mercer County. Those histories included biographies of people, who paid to be included in the history book. They reflected the wealthy, but not the common people, he said.

“Yes, we want to include the rich and the leaders, but the makers had just as much to do with the county as the rich,” Philson said.

“One of our goals is to make history come alive and to do that, we need personal stories and remembrances. Even little stories that you think are insignificant may add a new dimension to a chapter or to future research,” he said.

Not all the stories or every word in them will be included in the new history book. Plans are to keep the book under 500 pages. But all the information submitted will be available for future researches in the records at the Mercer County Historical Society headquarters in Mercer, the executive director said.

The history book is one of many projects tied to the celebration of Mercer County’s bicentennial next year. The Mercer County Bicentennial Commission already has collected histories of churches, townships, and organizations for the book, Philson said.

Besides information, the project also needs volunteers to write the book. The information will be arranged under such topics as transportation, the wars during the 20th century, and ghosts and legends, to mention a few possibilities.

The Bicentennial Commission asks that contributors cite the sources of the stories and information they submit, even if it is a personal conversation with a grandparent. The commission prefers not to have to return stories or photographs. If necessary, it will return them, Philson said.

Contributors can submit information for the history book until Dec. 30, but stories and photos can be accepted as part of the historical society’s records until the publication date in November 2000.

The commission hopes advance sales of the new history book will pay for its publication, Philson said. It also plans to donate copies to local public libraries and schools.

Stories and photos may be submitted to the Mercer County Bicentennial Project in care of the Mercer County Historical Society, 119 S. Pitt St., Mercer. Information on the project is available by writing to that address, by calling 662-3490 or by e-mail mchs@pathway.net Information on the Mercer County Bicentennial History Project also is on the Mercer County Historical Society’s Web site at www.pathway.net/mchs/

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Updated August 21, 1999
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