Elk County Community Foundation Grant Helps Historical Society Safely Preserve History Of St Marys

The Historical Society of St. Marys and Benzinger Township was founded in 1960 to provide individuals with local history and knowledge about the origins and traditions of St. Marys and its surrounding communities. As the historical society accumulates more items that require both physical and electronic storage it is important to provide storage that will enhance the longevity of the items. The Doris E. Stackpole Donor Advised Fund held at the Elk County Community Foundation was pleased to award a $5,802 grant to help them meet their storage needs.

The grant will assist with increased needs for maintaining electronic records including computer upgrades, back-up drive, software, and installation of more computers for public use. To protect the historical value of physical items the historical society needed additional archival storage containers that will help maximize the space in the display areas and preserve the integrity of the items.

The St. Marys and Benzinger Township Historical Society provides the opportunity for anyone to dig deeper into events that structured and shaped our community. There are a variety of displays that are open to the public that show the rich culture here in our rural town. They also have an extensive file of St. Marys families with pictures and obituaries and can help with genealogical research of your local family.

The public is invited to visit on Tuesdays from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., on Thursdays from 1 to 4 p.m. and 6 to 8 p.m. or call the Historical Society at 814-834-6525 to set up a tour for individuals or groups.

The Elk County Community Foundation is a nonprofit organization that provides administrative and investment management services that make it easy for donors to accomplish their charitable wishes with their tax-deductible donations. Through our donors we provide grants that improve the quality of life in our communities.