Halloween at the Museum 2024

The Forest County Historical Society once again held Trick or Treat at the museum on October 31, 2023. Seven Board members or friends chose a character from Forest County History to portray as they passed out their treats. We served 85 children, most with parents coming through the museum as well.

This year characters portrayed were:

Frank Faulkner who was the first “tail twister” for the Tionesta Lions when they began in 1939. He was portrayed by Jim Knauff

Sallie Carlson born in Sweeden, then in 1900, at age 20 she worked as a servant for the Robinsons, the first owners of the house that became the History Museum. She was portrayed by Mary Alyce Knauff

Rachel Carson – Although not from Forest County, she had a profound effect on us. Rachel is considered perhaps the finest nature writer of the Twentieth Century, Rachel Carson is remembered more today as the woman who challenged the notion that humans could obtain mastery over nature by chemicals, bombs and space travel than for her studies of ocean life. Her sensational book Silent Spring (1962) warned of the dangers to all natural systems from the misuse of chemical pesticides such as DDT, and questioned the scope and direction of modern science, initiating the contemporary environmental movement. She is portrayed by Nancy Sweda.

Emily Daubenspeck– She lost both of her parents when she was very young. She was raised by an aunt. She was an accomplished seamstress. She taught High School up on the hill and Sunday School at the Methodist Church. She was portrayed by Jackie Kuhn

Becky Pilsbury portrayed a lumber camp cook whose job was the most important and the highest paying job. He had to feed all the wood hicks, who ate 8,000 calories a day. There were always three things on the fire at the lumber camp, a kettle of coffee, a pot of water for tea and a pot of beans.

Ray McKee – portrayed himself as one of our very active Board members and wanted to hand out candy.

Robert Guiton –was considered according to Beers History of Forest County the “Daniel Boone” of Forest County. He was an old trapper and hunter. They say he killed more deer and bear than any other white man. He averaged 50 a year. Guitonville is named after him. He is portrayed by Ashley Sweda

The Forest County Historical Society has a mission to preserve and present items of historical significance from Forest County. We have set education as a priority, and we try to educate as much as we can about Forest County and its people. If you would like to become a member of the Historical Society, please visit us at www.forestcountypahistory.org. We are closed now for the season except for special events but will reopen next Memorial Day weekend. See you then.