|
Society seeks local sports memorabilia for exhibit |
|
|
|
Front Page -
Front Page Story
|
|
Written by Larry McGuire
|
|
Wednesday, 16 September 2009 |
Members of the Punxsutawney Area Historical & Genealogical Society's sports memorabilia committee displaying some Punxsy area sports treasures are (from left): Marty Armstrong, chairperson Nancy Pifer, Jeanne Curtis, Dyrk Couser and S. Thomas Curry. Missing from the photo: Betty Lou Depp, Pat Mayes, Joyce Thames, Betty Highlands and Helen Jordan. (Photo by Larry McGuire)
PUNXSUTAWNEY — The Punxsutawney Area Historical & Genealogical Society plans to honor persons from the region who have been involved in sports.
With the Punxsy Sports Hall of Fame banquet scheduled for Saturday, Society members felt it would be a good time to seek community members who may have sports memorabilia that could be loaned for a planned display in the coming year.
"We want people to search their memory banks and closets for sports memorabilia they, or family members would have to add to our sports-themed display," Society President Marty Armstrong said. "Our point is that we want something that is historical: You're the only team that did this, the only team that ever did that.
"You raced in the first Soap Box Derby, something of that nature," she said. "It doesn't have to be a team sport. It can be an individual sport, such as track."
Committee member Dyrk Couser said at one time, there were only five sports at Punxsutawney High School.
"Baseball was not an actual high school sport, and everyone who played baseball did so through the Legion," he said. "Football, basketball, volleyball and track were the only sports sponsored through the school district."
Armstrong said there have been many sports for boys and girls that have been added throughout the years, such as girls' softball.
"My daughter Ann, who graduated in 1992, was a member of the girls' first softball team, and I have her red jacket from that historic year in Punxsy sports," she said.
The Society also seeks memorabilia from Punxsy area people who have gone on to play sports in their adult lives, such as Sarge Mizerock and Devin Mesoraco, who have both gone on to play Major League Baseball, and Lloyd Jordan, who went on to pursue a coaching career.
Committee member and Society Director Jeanne Curtis said the group is not just seeking memorabilia from Hall of Fame members; it can be from anyone.
Armstrong said if anyone in the area — not just Punxsutawney — has some items they might like to donate, they should first call the Society as soon as possible, at 938-2555, and leave a message.
Armstrong said the Society plans to display some of the sports items during the Christmas season and Groundhog Day celebration.
Besides Armstrong, Curtis and Couser, other committee members include chairperson Nancy Pifer, S. Thomas Curry, Betty Lou Depp, Pat Mayes, Joyce Thames, Betty Highlands and Helen Jordan.
Some of the items in the Society's possession include a softball commemorating the 2005 Punxsy Senior League Softball East Region Championship; the Punxsutawney Archery Club Championship Cup; and a silver 1895 football championship cup, just to name a few.
|
|
Last Updated ( Thursday, 17 September 2009 )
|
