Our volunteers make important contributions to preserving and sharing the history of Hanna’s Town and Westmoreland County. Several of our volunteers have recently been featured on the blog for Westmoreland Heritage, which promotes historic sites and cultural organizations in Westmoreland County.

Three of our volunteers were actively involved with reconstructing the Lefevre House at Historic Hanna’s Town: Jim Clayton (Vice Chairman of the WHS board of directors), Dan Balzarini (a member of Proctor’s Militia), and Tom Klingensmith (a member of Proctor’s Militia and WHS board member). Read more about their work on the Lefevre House here.

Another longtime volunteer is Martin Keck, who has the important task of cataloguing and organizing our collections and archives. He helps  improve information in our cataloguing system through research and also locate objects to be used in exhibits. If you visit the Education Center, you are sure to see Martin around! Read more about his work here.

Our volunteers also help preserve our outdoor “collection,” including our gardens. Karen and Matt Banks are newer volunteers, but their contributions are already making a big difference. Karen has cared for plants in our 18th century kitchen garden and shared their important historical uses with children on school field trips. Two summers ago, she also educated visitors about the importance of native plants at the Pollinator Palooza event coordinated with the Westmoreland Pollinator Partners. Now, both Karen and Matt are leading a new garden project with the Master Gardeners of Westmoreland County. Read more about this upcoming project here.