This article by David Taube originally appeared in the Beaver County Times.
AMBRIDGE – A state historical site that has undergone staff reductions received some help from more than a dozen volunteers Wednesday.
Old Economy Village in Ambridge, once the home of a religious group known as the Harmonists, was one of several sites visited by volunteers for the United Way of Beaver County’s 25th annual Day of Caring. A crew from different companies from across the county helped paint a blacksmith shop on the 6-acre site, where buildings, artifacts and other items give people a glimpse into the historic society, which settled there in 1824.
“For future generations, I’m glad to work on this project,” Heritage Valley Pediatrics secretary Debby Kroll said while painting the white building. “This is a piece of history that will eventually be gone.”
United Way Executive Director Mike Rubino said 117 people helped for the event at locations including libraries, mental health organizations and health care providers. At Old Economy, the blacksmith shop used to be a carriage house, but now it features a forge. Staff and volunteers are renovating the building to reshingle the roof and make two forges.
A large private donation is helping to pay for the approximately $35,000 project, site administrator Michael Knecht said, along with the Pittsburgh Area Artist-Blacksmiths Association, which is providing items and expertise for the shop.
On Wednesday, gardening volunteers worked nearby as Day of Caring volunteers chipped away paint and painted outside walls. Workers there represented companies ranging from medical providers such as Heritage Valley Sewickley to BASF Corp. and FirstEnergy Corp. Building maintenance foreman Elvin Irons said volunteers help most of the projects at the site. He said one retired salesman just finished two handmade shutters, and another group of volunteers will learn a special shingling technique for the blacksmith shop.
Funding for the Pennsylvania Historical and Museum Commission has increased in recent years to nearly $41.5 million, according to an annual report for 2014-15 made available in July. But overall staff levels have changed in recent years. A 2012 annual report stated total funding from the commonwealth represents only one-tenth of 1 percent. Layoffs and retirements reduced a curatorial division from 21 employees to 13 employees.
Staff hovered around 210 employees until the 2014-15 fiscal year, when the number was 174, according to state figures. Spokesman Howard Pollman said that latter number has stayed flat, where a primary budget source known as “general government operations” has 156 positions filled for the state commission and 22 vacant positions.
Kroll, of Beaver, said that by working with children, she knows how well they learn by sight. She said she’d hate to lose a piece of history that’s so close to home.
2016 volunteers
United Way of Beaver County’s annual Day of Caring volunteer event Wednesday had more than 100 people representing 15 employers.
BASF Corp.
Beaver County
Columbia Gas of Pennsylvania
Eaton Corp.
Fairfield Inn & Suites
FirstEnergy’s Bruce Mansfield plant
Heritage Valley Health System
Housing Authority of the County of Beaver
Martin Fence Services
Michael Baker International
Nova Chemicals
Office of Rep. Rob Matzie, D-16, Ambridge
PeopleReady
RSVP of Beaver County
United Way board members
