Past Events

Tuesday August 15th Meeting

Our guest speaker for the Tuesday, August 15th Meeting was Carrie Libengood, owner of Carrie's Bus Tours in New Stanton.

Carrie offers a variety of day, overnight & multi-night tours as well as custom tours. She also coordinates & accompanies all of her tours.

Her subject was the popular destination of "Horseshoe Curve" in Altoona & the historical significance of Horseshoe Curve.

Note: Regarding Future Speakers for Our Monthly Meetings, Chestnut Ridge Historical Society is always interested in hearing from a variety of speakers who have interesting subjects to talk about, such as historical subjects or events, specific subjects of interest, authors, witnesses to events, and personal adventures.

Our Summer Picnic was a very nice time!

Aleo Lake Picnic was on July 18, 2023!

This annual event was held at the beautiful and picturesque home of one of our members. Thank to our Member who very graciously opened her beautiful venue for us again this year. Her refurbished barn makes a perfect place to set out our covered dish feast, protected for the hot sun and any stray rain cloud. Every member of the Society is always invited to attend and it is a time for all to sit, talk, and eat; strengthening our friendships and our commitment to keep the local history of the Laurel Highlands safe for future generations. It’s a great time of relaxation and getting to know fellow members.

Everyone sampled the different flavored dishes and desserts. The entire grounds were manicured and in a wonderful presentation.

June 20, 2023

Our June 20, 2023 Monthly Meeting Speaker was???

Our May 16, 2023 Speaker was Thomas Soltis, retired Sociology Professor from Westmoreland Community College.

He is the author of “An Unwelcome Visit from the Spanish Lady: The 1918 Influenza Pandemic in Western Pennsylvania”.

In a recent article in the Tribune Review, Professor Soltis noted the similarities between both the 1918 and the most recent pandemic.

(Tribune Review Photos)

April 18, 2023 Monthly Meeting

Our April 18, 2023 Monthly Meeting Speaker was Barry Hauger who shared memories of his Grandfather, Clyde Hauger.

Local resident Clyde Hauger was a pilot for All American Aviation (later US Airways) during the 1940s and for Bruno Ferrari's Latrobe-Dill Construction until he was killed in a crash in 1957.

Note: Regarding Future Speakers for Our Monthly Meetings, Chestnut Ridge Historical Society is always interested in hearing from a variety of speakers who have interesting subjects to talk about, such as historical subjects or events, specific subjects of interest, authors, witnesses to events, and personal adventures.

March 21, 2023 CRHS Monthly Meeting

We enjoyed watching a video which was provided by CRHS Member Kathy Maestrol. The video was created by the Latrobe Area Historical Society and it was called "Home Front: Latrobe in WWII".

In addition, our agenda included the Nomination of all Officers and two Board of Director's positions.

At the April Monthly Meeting, additional Nominations may be offered.

Our Christmas Luncheon Buffet on December 17, 2022 was a great success!

Several attendees were winners of our Basket Raffle!

Christmas Luncheon Photos (click images to enlarge)

We had a nice Bus Trip on November 17, 2022, to see "Home for the Holidays" at the American Music Theater in Lancaster, PA!

It Included: Show Ticket, Meal, Transportation, and all Taxes and Gratuities)

We had a meal at "Bird in Hand Restaurant"

November 15, 2022 CRHS Monthly Meeting

Our Speakers for the November meeting were father and son David and Allen Scherb. Allen creates handmade, historically correct longrifles, photos of which can be seen at laurelridgeflintlocks.net.

Laurel Ridge Flintlocks, operated by Allen Scher, focuses on recreating historically correct American Longrifles from the time period of 1760 to 1825.

Note: Regarding Future Speakers for Our Monthly Meetings, Chestnut Ridge Historical Society is always interested in hearing from a variety of speakers who have interesting subjects to talk about, such as historical subjects or events, specific subjects of interest, authors, witnesses to events, and personal adventures.

October 18, 2022 CRHS Monthly Meeting

Our Speaker was Theresa Gay Rohall, the Executive Director of the Ligonier Valley Historical Society.

Laughlintown's Compass Inn was built in 1799 and she told us why it's still a great place to visit.

Note: Regarding Future Speakers for Our Monthly Meetings, Chestnut Ridge Historical Society is always interested in hearing from a variety of speakers who have interesting subjects to talk about, such as historical subjects or events, specific subjects of interest, authors, witnesses to events, and personal adventures.

September 20, 2022 CRHS Meeting

We viewed a one-hour film titled "Invasion on Chestnut Ridge".

Over the years many mysterious events have occurred along the length of Chestnut Ridge in western Pennsylvania, and this film told us about the investigations that have followed.

Note: Regarding Future Speakers for Our Monthly Meetings, Chestnut Ridge Historical Society is always interested in hearing from a variety of speakers who have interesting subjects to talk about, such as historical subjects or events, specific subjects of interest, authors, witnesses to events, and personal adventures.

August 16, 2022 Meeting

Our Speaker was Kristin Miller who did a Powerpoint Presentation of the history and projects of the Southern Allegheny Museum of Art.

SAMA has five locations, (click here for more info) including one in nearby Ligonier, where you can view an art exhibition or attend an educational event.

Note: Regarding Future Speakers for Our Monthly Meetings, Chestnut Ridge Historical Society is always interested in hearing from a variety of speakers who have interesting subjects to talk about, such as historical subjects or events, specific subjects of interest, authors, witnesses to events, and personal adventures.

Our Summer Picnic was a great success!

Here's a note from CRHS Member, Tom Beck:

Aleo Lake Picnic was on July 19, 2022!

It’s all over for another year. The Chestnut Ridge Historical Society Annual Picnic is lodged in the annals of time. As usual, this annual event was held at the beautiful and picturesque home of one of our members. I didn’t ask permission, so I won’t share her name, but thank you very much for graciously opening your home for us again this year.

Her refurbished barn makes a perfect place to set out our covered dish feast, protected for the hot sun and any stray raincloud. Every member of the Society is always invited to attend and it is a time for all to sit, talk, and eat; strengthening our friendships and our commitment to keep the local history of the Laurel Highlands safe for future generations. It’s a great time of relaxation and getting to know fellow members.

The vast array of foodstuffs made it impossible to sample the different flavored dishes, but I made a grand attempt and my blood sugar was up a bit the next morning even though I made a valiant attempt to avoid the richest desserts.

The weather was wonderfully sunny, but two giant fans kept up cool and I’m sure if there were any flies, they were blown into the next town. Sadly this year, there was only one swan on the lake, but the entire grounds were manicured and in a wonderful presentation.

Bus Trip In Ohio was Great!

Our Overnight Bus Trip in Ohio was a Fun Event for All!

Here's our Group Photo!

(Click on photo to enlarge!)

It was on August 1st and 2nd, 2022

At the Amish Country Theater

We saw "Sail On: The Beach Boys Tribute"

Link

June 21, 2022 Meeting

Our Speaker was Bruce Shirey who did a photo presentation of "the story of moving the Lefeure Log House" from Jeannette, PA to Historic Hanna's Town in 2020.

Hanna's Town is an unincorporated community and important historical and archaeological site located in Hempfield Township, Westmoreland County, Pennsylvania.

May 17, 2022

Our May 17, 2022 meeting of the Chestnut Ridge Historical Society was fortunate to have

Dale Dix and Jan Hostler Stewart, along with one of our CRHS Founders, Tom Dix, join us

to show a slideshow of their recent "Adventures in the Netherlands and in Belgium"!

The highlights included trips to WWII Cemeteries, and to WWII Museums where Dale's father, Tom Dix

was lauded and saluted by the many people who they interacted with throughout the trip!

This was a colorful presentation in addition to being very moving, since Tom Dix, as a Veteran of WWII,

was honored wherever they went during this "Adventure in the Netherlands and Belgium"!

Bus Trip to see "David" was a Nice Trip!

We are happy to report that our May 12th, 2022

Bus Trip to see "David" was a great success!

November, 2021

Our Speaker for November 16, 2021 was Dale Dix of Greensburg. Dale is a CRHS member and he has spoken on other occasions regarding his various travels to other countries over the past several years.

Dale's topic was that at our meeting, he did a live-interview with his 96 year old father, Thomas Dix, to create an Oral History of his father's life from the time that he entered the U.S. Navy at age 18, his history during World War II, and his many years of community service since! Tom has kept Community Service at the top of his priorities for his entire life. Our area owes a debt of gratitude for Tom Dix's accomplishments that have made our community richer in many many aspects.

Dale Dix Tom Dix

The 60 Surviving Members of the U.S.S. Minivet Minesweeper Crew U.S.S. Minivet

Note: Regarding Future Speakers for Our Monthly Meetings, Chestnut Ridge Historical Society is always interested in hearing from a variety of speakers who have interesting subjects to talk about, such as historical subjects or events, specific subjects of interest, authors, witnesses to events, and personal adventures.

October, 2021

Our Speaker for October 19, 2021 was Darren Sherry. Mr. Sherry recently retired from teaching in Punxsutawney School District, He was a former Board member of the Punxsutawney Historical Society. Now he is the business owner of "Digital Transfer Solutions" in Punxsutawney, PA.

Call Mr. Sherry at 814-952-2526 for Details on having your memories transferred to digital!

Note: Regarding Future Speakers for Our Monthly Meetings, Chestnut Ridge Historical Society is always interested in hearing from a variety of speakers who have interesting subjects to talk about, such as historical subjects or events, specific subjects of interest, authors, witnesses to events, and personal adventures.

September 30th Bus Trip to see "Queen Esther" was was a great success!

Our Bus Trip Plans are "on-hold" for the time-being. Watch our website for future plans.

Click here to see a preview of "Esther".

September 18th and 19th

Here is our Historical Display at the Stahlstown Flax Scutching Festival! It was a great time to visit with our community!

September, 2021

On September 21, 2021 our Speaker was Bob Stutzman, of the Ligonier Valley Rail Road Association! Mr. Stutzman penned a 2014 book about the Ligonier Valley Railroad and is a founder and former president of the Ligonier Valley Rail Road Association, which organizes a tour and operates a museum in the Ligonier Township village of Darlington, PA.

Bob Stutzman

June 15, 2021

Chestnut Ridge Historical Society welcomed Ed Kelemen as speaker for the meeting on Tuesday June 15, 2021. Mr. Kelemen is an author, playwright, and columnist who has been involved in over 300 paranormal investigations. One result is his five book series, the Haunted Pennsylvania Collection.

Ed Kelemen

May 18, 2021

Our speaker was Mr. Duaine Fuoss of Mount Pleasant, PA, who has found many Native American artifacts in Southwestern Pennsylvania!

At the age of 6, Duaine Fuoss found what was later determined to be a side-notched spear point used by Native Americans living in this area roughly 3,000 years ago. In the mid-1960s, a teen-aged Fuoss had conducted enough research to begin uncovering area sites where tribes, including the Iroquois, Shawnee and Monongahela, periodically dwelled and hunted. Called “Meadow Walker” by the Lakota Sioux, he has to date located more than 50 Native American sites from Kecksburg in Westmoreland County, to Broadford in Fayette County.

Chestnut Ridge Historical Society

A friendly resource of information encompassing parts of Westmoreland, Fayette, and Somerset Counties in Southwestern Pennsylvania

Past Speakers and Events

Our Summer Picnic was a very nice time!

Christmas Luncheon Photos (click images to enlarge)

Our Summer Picnic was a great success!

Bus Trip In Ohio was Great!

Bus Trip to see "David" was a Nice Trip!

Centenarian Honor Roll Project is completed!

Past Speakers and Events