History of the Penns Valley Area Historical Museum Association
History of the Penns Valley Area Historical Museum Association
1968 -- A group of Penns Valley residents founded the Aaronsburg Library and Historical Museum Association. They sought to preserve and promote the area's agricultural heritage and to commemorate the ideals portrayed in the Aaronsburg Story.
October 23, 1949 -- The Aaronsburg Story was an event that took place in Aaronsburg. It was attended by over 30,000 people and included a re-enactment of the founding of aaronsburg by Aaron Levy, an Orthodox Jew and prominent Northumberland County land promoter. Levy, who generously gave land for the building of two Protestant churches, including the Salem Lutheran Church, also gave a beautiful pewter communion set as a gift to the congregations. Levy's ecumenical spirit was celebrated in The Aaronsburg Story. This nationally recognized event was attended by locak, state and national dignitaries. Thousands witnessed historical reenactments and workshops promoting social justice. It was the first mass expression by the American middle class in favor of racial and religious tolerance.
1968 to 1985 -- The association, through volunteer efforts, raised funds to convert an abandoned church at 114 Plub St. in Aaronsburg into a library, museum and community center. Later the library joined the Centre County Library system.
by 1986 -- The two entities evolved into two separate organizations: the Aaronsburg Area Library Association and The Aaronsburg Historical Museum Association. In 1987 the AHMA purchased the sixteen-acre Aaronsburg Story site located adjacent to the Salem Lutheran Church.
1999 -- The community united once again to recognize the 50th Anniversary of The Aaronsburg Story.
1999 to 2003 -- An expanding collection and a desire to increase outreach to the public led the museum, over this five-year period, to study relocating the museum.
2003 -- The board of directors, after conducting a feasibility study and acting on the wishes of area residents, purchased the 184 year-old house at 244 W. Aaron Square from Douglas and Dee Vonada. The association initiated a $326,000 capital campaign to make improvements to the property. The campaign included opportunities for donors to name parts of the museum. Generously, Guy and Ruth Rudy of Centre Hall donated $100,000.00 for the privilege of naming the museum's main building. By agreement, the Rudy-Corman building will feature a permanent display of former Pennsylvania State Representative Ruth Rudy's papers. The collection details her 12 years as this area's elected representative.
Courtesy of the Penns Valley Area Historical Museum
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