Volume 3 Issue 2_rev4 - Weirton Area Museum and Cultural Center

Transcription

Volume 3 Issue 2_rev4 - Weirton Area Museum and Cultural Center
FEBRUARY
P.O. Box 517, Weirton, WV 26062
Volume 3, Issue 2
WV History Day Celebrated at State Capitol
February 28, 2011
Upcoming Events:
April 2, 2011
Festival of Nations
Millsop Community
Center
Museum Officers:
Elected 7-7-2010
FEBRUARY
President/Exec. Director
Dennis R. Jones
1st Vice President
Pamela Makricosta
2nd Vice President
Despina Melonas
Treasurer
Paul B. Zuros
Secretary
Kim Salter
Museum
3393 Main Street
Weirton, WV 26062
Museum Hours:
Monday thru Friday
9:00 am thru 4:00 pm
FEBRUARY
(other times available)
Editor: Dennis Jones
[email protected]
Museum Phone:
(304) 479-7266 (cell phone)
Website:
www.weirtonmuseum.com
The WAMCC Display table at the Capitol building, Pictured Left to Right: Museum members Lea Shirer, Despina Melonas, Dennis Jones,
Argiro Latousakis, Andrea Anderson, Victor Greco, Pamela Makricosta, and Paul B. Zuros. Once arriving at the Capitol building at 8:00 am,
members set up the WAMCC display table at their assigned spot outside the Senate chamber. Andrea Anderson designed the display,
which was composed of photos pertaining to the movie, Super 8, which was filmed late last summer in Weirton, describing WAMCC’s role in
helping with the preliminary design and set dressing. Also, flyers about WAMCC’s upcoming 2011 Festival of Nations were distributed.
15th Annual WV History Day
February 24, 2011, is now in the
records as the 15th Annual WV
History Day at the WV State
Capitol during the legislative
sessions. This was the 4th consecutive year in which WAMCC
participated in the event, as nine
WAMCC members traveled to
Charleston to be involved WAMCC’s largest group to attend so far. Also, this was the
second consecutive year that
WAMCC has had a History
Hero Nominee recognized.
Dennis Jones was recognized in
2010 and Mike Nogay was recognized this year (2011).
Photo by Dennis Jones
Having a nice chat in the “Great Hall” outside the state theater and museum at the Culture
Center are left to right: Argiro Latousakis, Despina Melonas, and Mike Nogay, Despina
was the Chair Person for WAMCC’s 2011 WV History Hero Selection Committee.
Visiting at the WV State Capitol Complex on History Day
In the “Great Hall” just outside the state theater and museum, Pictured Left to Right: Michael Nogay, Esq., Tim Roberts (WAMCC Member), Lea Shirer (WAMCC Board Member), Andrea Anderson (WAMCC Board Member), Dennis Jones (WAMCC President/Exec. Director), Pamela Makricosta (WAMCC 1st Vice President), Paul B. Zuros (WAMCC
Treasurer), Delegate Ronnie Jones, Donna Gialluco, Victor Greco (WAMCC Board Member), Argiro Latousakis (WAMCC Member), and Despina Melonas (WAMCC 2nd Vice
President).
Photo by Dennis Jones
Also visiting WAMCC’s display table was Bryan Richards, who is a student at WVU
interning at the WV History & Archives in Charleston. Pictured Left to Right: Andrea
Anderson, Bryan Richards, Victor Greco, and Lea Shirer. Bryan is a former student of
Weir High School and attended Andrea Anderson’s Astronomy Class.
Photo by Dennis Jones
Secretary of State, Natalie Tennant stopped by WAMCC’s display table to visit with
WAMCC members under the dome of the WV State Capitol building.
See us on Comcast Cable
HLN channel 33 in March
Page 2
Volume 3, Issue 2
FESTIVAL OF NATIONS
April 2, 2011
While in Charleston, WAMCC members passed out flyers and invited
everyone, including Senators, Delegates and Governor to attend the
Festival of Nations in Weirton.
Weirton Area Museum and Cultural Center Newsletter
Mike Nogay Recognized as 2011 WV History Hero
Photos by Dennis Jones
On stage in the Norman L. Fagan West Virginia State Theater are pictured left to right: Randall Reid-Smith (Commissioner WV Division of Culture & History), Senator Orphy
Klempa, 2011 History Hero Michael Nogay, Delegate Randy Swartzmiller, Delegate Ronnie Jones, Senator Jack Yost, Robert Conte (Chairman, WV Archives & History Commission), Charles Ledbetter (Vice-Chairman, WV Archives & History Commission), and Joe Geiger (Director WV Archives & History).
As Joe Geiger, Director of WV Culture and History, read the
names and contributions of 42 WV Historians, each one came
onto the stage to receive recognition as a 2011 WV History Hero.
The ceremonies took place the morning of February 24, 2011, at
the Norman L. Fagan WV State Theater at the Capitol Complex
in Charleston. Michael Edward Nogay was nominated by Weirton Area Museum & Cultural Center for his part in preserving the
history of Holliday’s Cove in the Revolutionary Period. Michael
Published his first book in 2008, titled “Holliday’s Cove Fort:
Virginia’s First Defense Along the Ohio River.” One thousand
copies were printed with proceeds donated to WAMCC. In 2009
he published “Every Home a Fort, Every Man a Warrier,” selling
2300 copies to date. This latest work of his received a sterling
review in the West Virginia History Journal of Regional Studies,
where the book is lauded as “refreshing” and “heavily researched.” We congratulate Mike, whose name and contributions are now included with the WV History Heroes 1997 thru
2011 posted on the WV History & Archives website at:
http://www.wvculture.org/history/histhero.html
Photo by Dennis Jones
Photo by Dennis Jones
Pictured above are Mike Nogay and his twin sister, Beth. Photo was taken in
the hall just outside of the Governor’s media room.
Page 3
Volume 3, Issue 2
Heading Home - After all the ceremonies, conversations, photo sessions, and meetings with
state officials, it was soon time to pack up and go home. Savoring the visit, Paul B. Zuros,
took the scenic route around the complex as he carted the display items back to the van.
Weirton Area Museum and Cultural Center Newsletter
Preserving Our History for Future Generations
Photo by Dennis Jones
Photo by Dennis Jones
Above Photo: Herman Capito at his home on Marland Heights - Feb. 23, 2011
Above Photo: Herman playing the French Horn his father, Louis Capito, purchased
for him in 1932 so he could become a member of the Follansbee High School Band.
Herman Capito Tells Life Story
Herman Capito was born in Weirton, WV in the year 1919. He
lived with his family on Division Street, located between 3rd and
4th Streets in North Weirton. His dad, Louis Capito, came over
with his brother from Italy in 1904 and lived in Steubenville, before the town of Weirton was created. His dad played baritone in
a band in New York, but had to return in order to make enough
money to earn a living. Louis later became a machinist at Weirton Steel Co. and worked producing shells during World War II.
Herman first attended St. Paul School in North Weirton, but
his family moved to a bungalow along Ferry Rd. (now called
Freedom Way) where he began attending Edgewood School.
He recalls riding his bike to see the new Fort Steuben Bridge
dedication in 1928 and the tragic airplane crash on the WV
shoreline that day. Herman’s interview with WAMCC includes many more memories and they have all been recorded
for future generations thanks to Herman and our interview
team: Pamela Makricosta, Dr. J. K. Luthra, and Dennis Jones.
Starting last year students of Leadership Weirton and local
colleges began volunteering work for the museum as part of
their course requirements. The Weirton Area Museum has
hundreds of thousands of Weirton Steel Bulletin negatives,
which were donated by Weirton ISG in 2004. These negatives have captured moments in Weirton's History from the
40's through the 80's and beyond. WAMCC also has the hand
-written indexes to these negatives, but we very much need to
have these transcribed into excel spreadsheet format. Once
we have them all in excel format we can quickly and easily
perform searches and locate pictures as requested and needed.
A few years have been transcribed to Excel thus far with a
long way to go. WAMCC President/Exec. Director Dennis
Jones has scanned the hand-written listings for several years
and printed out copies so that they can easily be used to do
the conversion to Excel (without compromising the original
ledger entries). Dennis has also already transcribed a couple
of the years into Excel format. It is time-consuming work
and transcribing the list for just 1 year is a challenge, easily
consuming one or two days of work. Last year volunteers
Caitlyn McKenna, graduate of Marshall University, and Jason
Exner, of the Leadership Weirton Class of 2010, volunteered
their time to convert the 1952 and 1955 hand-written indexes
to Excel spreadsheet.
Page 4
Volume 3, Issue 2
Scanned by Dennis Jones
Volunteerism Welcome at WAMCC
Samples of WAMCC’s hand-written Weirton Steel Co. negative indexes now being transcribed by volunteers. Some years have well over 1000 entries.
Volunteers this year include Gabriella Harcharik of Fairmont State
College and the following 6 members of Leadership Weirton Class of
2011: Kellie Morrow, Susan Mains, Brandi Bowers, Linda Payne, Joi
Gorlock, and Steph McVicker. These people have taken on the challenging task of transcribing and thus preserving a year of Weirton’s
photographic history. Future Generations will owe them thanks !
Weirton Area Museum and Cultural Center Newsletter
Contributions to WAMCC
Photo by Dennis Jones
On Feb 23, the Hancock County Commissioners provided a grant to WAMCC for the
amount of $7674.34. The commissioners have provided a grant for each of the past
few years to help WAMCC pay everyday bills and expenses. WAMCC Treasurer
Paul B. Zuros is shown receiving the check from Commissioner Danny Greathouse.
Photo by Dennis Jones
On Feb. 2, the Phoenix Society of West Virginia became a Lifetime Member of WAMCC.
Representing the Phoenix Society is Joe Stankiewicz (left) who presented a check for
$150 to Weirton Area Museum & Cultural Center for the lifetime membership. Receiving
the check is Tony Bongiovanni, an employee of NCOA assigned to WAMCC.
Photo by Dennis Jones
Photo by Johnna Petteway
Helen Jackson-Gilleson, Esq., “ABSSA” Hall of Fame President and CEO is shown
in above photo donating the first 4 Hall of Fame yearbooks to WAMCC Treasurer
Paul B. Zuros (left) and WAMCC President / Executive Director Dennis Jones (right).
On Feb. 25, WAMCC received a copy of the first 4 yearbooks
for the “West Virginia All Black Schools Sports & Academic
Hall of Fame” which was founded September 19, 2006. The
purpose of the “ABSSA” Hall of Fame is to preserve the history of Black Education in West Virginia prior to “Brown vs.
Board of Education” in 1954 and also to honor role models
and leaders of the past. Hall of Fame inductee categories include “The Lifetime Achievement Award,” “The Greatest of
the Great Sports/Academic Award,” “The Icons Award,”
“The Legends Award,” and “The Vangard Legacy Honors
Award.” The Hall of fame is sponsored by Dunbar School Dr.
A. J. Major’s Historical Museum, Inc., a 501(d)3 non-profit
corporation. WAMCC is very grateful to Helen and the WV
ABSSA Hall of Fame for these yearbooks and they will be
made accessible to the public in the Black History display area
in WAMCC’s recently purchased building after renovations.
Page 5
Volume 3, Issue 2
On Feb. 26, Pete Melonas of Weirton donated 2 Railroad Magazines to the Weirton Area
Museum and Cultural Center. The magazines include articles, photographs, and models
of the railroads and railroad cars in Weirton. WAMCC President/Exec. Dir. Dennis Jones
visited Pete’s house to gain insights and ideas on how to include model railroads depicting historical scenes in Weirton and Holliday’s Cove, as part of the new museum now
undergoing renovations at 3149 Main Street. Pete Melonas and George Pandelios have
offered to give advice and help with the train displays at the new facility.
Award Presented to WV ABBSA Hall of Fame
On January 15, 2011, a “Living the Dream Service Organization
Honor Roll” was presented to the West Virginia All Black Schools
& Sports Hall of Fame by the Martin Luther King, Jr. Holiday
Commission. The award was accepted by the Hall of Fame President and CEO, Helen Jackson-Gillison, Esq.
See us on Comcast Cable local HLN channel 33 in March
Weirton Area Museum and Cultural Center Newsletter
News about Our Fellow WAMCC Members
Photo by Jolene Zuros
Photo by Dennis Jones
The above photo is of Paul J. Zuros when he was employed at the Heinz History Center and
assigned to the Vatican Splendors Exhibit. Paul attends Duquesne University as a graduate
student and is now serving an internship at the Heinz History Center. Congratulations PJ !
Internships at WAMCC a Possibility
If plans fall into place, Paul J. Zuros, graduate student at Duquesne
University, may one day officially serve his internship at WAMCC.
After speaking with PJ and viewing the WAMCC website, there is
much interest by some of his professors in visiting our planned museum building and having possible internships such as grant writing,
community outreach, exhibit design, etc…. Dennis Jones inquired if
Duquesne officials could look into possibilities that would help
WAMCC become self-sustaining and become able to hire PJ as a fulltime Executive Director after he graduates. “This would be an ideal
long-term goal for the WAMCC and for its long-time member Paul J.
Zuros, who will need a paying job after graduation.” WAMCC’s staff
is currently made up of non-paid volunteers. WAMCC President Dennis Jones has been volunteering as full-time Executive Director of the
museum’s daily operations for the past few years to help see a permanent, attractive, self-sustaining museum become a reality in Weirton.
Photo by Dr. J. K. Luthra
Page 6
Happy Birthday Despina
At a recent Festival of Nations
Committee meeting, WAMCC
2nd Vice President Despina
Melonas was surprised with a
birthday cake by her daughter,
Argiro Latousakis. After a
round of “Happy Birthday to
You” by the committee members, Despina performed her
duty by cutting a piece of the
delicious angel food cake for
each of member. This moment in history was captured
by Festival Committee Chairman, Dr. J. K. Luthra on his
cell phone camera.
Volume 3, Issue 2
During WV History Day on Feb 24, members stopped by at the Governor’s
media room for a visit and photo opportunity. Governor Earl Ray Tomblin took
time out of his busy schedule to chat with each of us. Above photo shows
WAMCC Board Member Andrea Anderson conversing with Governor Tomblin.
Andrea is a teacher at Weir High School and was recently named West Virginia’s Earth Science Teacher of the Year by the National Association of Geoscience Teachers. Congratulations Andrea !
Photo by Dennis Jones
On Feb 10, little Pammy Makricosta went to the BIG Channel 7 News Studio for
an interview on Comcast Newsmakers. In a 5-minute interview with Stacey
Rich, Pam discussed the Weirton Area Museum & Cultural Center activities,
including the upcoming Festival of Nations on April 2. The interview will be
aired most days at 5 before and 25 after the hour beginning in March on Headline News (Comcast Cable channel 33 in Weirton Area). Great Job Pam !!!
Weirton Area Museum and Cultural Center Newsletter
Come to the 3rd Annual Festival of Nations
Saturday - April 2, 2011 - Millsop Community Center
11 am til 4 pm - Admission is FREE ! ! !
Scenes from Previous Years at the Festival
More Pictures and Info at our website: www.weirtonmuseum.com
Page 7
Volume 3, Issue 2
Weirton Area Museum and Cultural Center Newsletter
FEBRUARY NEWSLETTER
Each month as yours truly puts together the WAMCC
newsletter and posts it to our website, I feel that there is no
way the amount of work being put into our preservation
efforts can ever be surpassed. Each following month I am
proven wrong, as usual. There always seems to be more
effort and more support brought forward each passing day.
In addition to being a monthly historical recording of our
museum activities for each of the past 25 months, the
newsletter serves as a reminder that our preservation effort
continues and support for it is growing stronger. If you
don’t mind reading this lengthy verbiage (I prefer pictures),
it would be good to mention a few recent observances.
FESTIVAL OF NATIONS
Next on the calendar is “The 3rd Annual Festival of Nations,” our largest event of the year. If you have not done
so, please make plans to be there, and you can also show
your support by taking out an ad in the souvenir program
booklet. Festival Committee Chairman, Dr. Juginder
Luthra has been holding meetings in his spare time to help
organize this event, and April 2, 2011, will mark the Festival’s 3rd consecutive year held by WAMCC at the Weirton
Millsop Community Center. We are proud and thankful
for having Dr. Luthra organize this event to bring people
of all origins together in unity, and also to give recognition
to our museum. We thank Senator Bowman for arranging
a $5000 Community Participation Grant in 2010, specifically for the Festival of Nations. This will allow us to
charge the festival expenses toward this grant. See the flyer
in this newsletter or visit our website for more information:
www.weirtonmuseum.com
OUR NEW MUSEUM BUILDING
Since the purchase, Dec. 23, of the building at 3149 Main
WV HISTORY DAY
Street, it has been non-stop activity in getting it in shape to
I feel that WAMCC’s recent trip to Charleston for WV His- become our new museum. After a lengthy search, we now
tory Day was our most successful yet. Nine members of
have a good insurance policy for our new building and our
WAMCC (Andrea Anderson, Victor Greco, Argiro LaBoard of Directors. We have been interviewing architects
tousakis, Pam Makricosta, Despina Melonas, Tim Roberts, and will hire one this week (first week of March) to draw up
Lea Shirer, Paul B. Zuros, and yours truly) made the trip,
a set of conceptual plans and budget for renovation. We
our largest History Day group yet. This year we borrowed
have been planning the internal layout and guidelines for
an idea used by the Leadership Weirton class and rented a
the architect. We have put together a good Grant Writing
12-passenger van, which added to the excitement and fun.
Committee, which will use the architect’s plans as part of
On the morning of Feb. 24, we witnessed the recognition
the grant applications this spring. As a result of our Hisof 42 History Heroes from around the state of West Virtory Day visits in 2009 with Senator Edwin Bowman and
ginia. When our nominee, Mike Nogay, was called to the
Delegate Pat McGeehan, we just now have received
stage we all felt so proud as WV History & Archive Direc$18,000 in Community Participation Grant money ($10,000
tor Joe Geiger read Mike’s list of accomplishments preserv- thru Senator Bowman and $8000 thru Delegate McGeeing the early history of our local area. In the late morning
han). We also look forward to receiving an additional
and afternoon, most of our elected officials in the House
$8000 later this summer, which was awarded to WAMCC
and Senate were able to take time out and graciously welas a result from our visit with Delegate Pat McGeehan on
come us in their office for a meeting. They were very inter- History Day 2010. We hope for much more funding and
ested and supportive as plans for our new building were
support in the future as our community’s new museum is
shown and discussed. Each of them indicated they will try renovated. By working together, we will insure that this
to secure more funding to help us. In addition the Gover- project will be beautiful, attractive, professionally done, and
nor took time for a pleasant meeting with us in his media
will draw people from near and far to come and experience
room and chatted with each of us a good while. Also, the
the rich history of our area.
Secretary of State, Natalie Tennant, made a visit to our DisSincerely,
play Table and spoke with our members. It was a great day
indeed for meeting different people, visiting the other 70
history display tables, and experiencing the hospitality of
our State Capitol. Everyone was so friendly and the red
Dennis R. Jones, President / Executive Director WAMCC
carpet was rolled out, as it was each of the previous 3 years.
Page 8
Volume 3, Issue 2
Weirton Area Museum and Cultural Center Newsletter