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Day of Caring.
at Centre Furnace Mansion and Boogersburg School
Thursday, October 6, 2011
Click here to see more photos on our Facebook page from the 2011 Day of Caring
2011 marks the 18th year that the Centre County Historical Society has had the great fortune to host volunteers from the area during the Centre County United Way Day of Caring. Everyone’s good nature and hard work astonishes us each year.
Volunteer efforts go far to help the Historical Society fulfill its mission to make the Centre Furnace Mansion and Boogersburg School available to the public. The enhanced beauty of the buildings and grounds of both historic properties is due in large part to the generosity of individuals and organizations who donate their time and materials on the Day of Caring, and service days throughout the year.
This year, cool temperatures and sunny skies welcomed over 140 volunteers to the Mansion and School from several area businesses and organizations as they checked in and got their assignments. Registration was staffed by CCHS Board Members Jill Aller, Steve and Carol Gentry and Mary Osborn.
Centre County United Way Day of Caring Ambassadors Colonel Gerald F. Russell - Chair, USMC Ret. and Sue Paterno – Honorary Chair, and Executive Director Tammy Gentzel visited Centre Furnace Mansion first thing in the morning on their tour of United Way Day of Caring projects throughout Centre County.
Painting work at the Centre Furnace Mansion was underway as people began to arrive. David Horner & Associates, Inc. of State College, in its third year of contribution on Day of Caring at Centre Furnace Mansion led painting efforts with and paint was provided by Sherwin Williams. David and crew, Steve Everett, Wade Gardner and Bill Owens, bring an appreciation of the historic nature of this work and an attention to detail. The brackets, eaves and soffits at the porch entrance of the Mansion’s ell were prepared and details meticulously painted with the help of a mechanical lift donated for the day by United Rentals. The back kitchen garden porch, door and trim were beautifully painted with the help of volunteers from Kissinger, Bigatel & Brower.
The trees and grounds at the Mansion and School require much work to keep them safe and looking their best. Penn State’s Office of Physical Plant’s Landscape and Arborist Team Drew Beben, Matt Bennett, Kris Edson, and Corby Fetterhof, who have been monitoring the health of the Historic Sycamore and several other trees at the Centre Furnace Mansion for the nearly two decades. Mulch and tools were provided by Landscape Crew Todd Dobson, Nathan Haupt, Wayne Motts, and Jim Simpson. Todd and Jim also installed some of CCHS new interpretive signs. Special thanks to Jeff Dice, PSU Supervisor of Grounds Maintenance for coordinating these efforts. Henry Gong was on hand to take photos of the day.
CFM Garden Coordinator, Katie Frieden and CFM Gardeners Beverly Lipski, Susan Bowser, Pam Calkins (photography), Marshall and Jim Garrett, Lou Mayer, Jo Merrell, Ruth Merritt, Vicki Spadaccio, Pam Steranka, Suzann and Vin Tedesco and Jan Villastrigo, largely members of the Penn State Master Gardeners of Centre County Cooperative Extension, led volunteers in a great effort in the in the CFM gardens.
Gardening volunteers came from Boyer and Ritter, CPA’s, Enterprise Rent-A-Car, Kissinger Bigatel & Brower, Lady Lions, Minitab, Morgan Academic Support Center, Penn State Naval ROTC, Penn State SRVP Research & Graduate School, Penn Centre Logistics, PSU’s Center for Dirt and Gravel Road Studies and individual volunteers from Centre County United Way.
Work in the CFM gardens was extensive and included spreading dozens of yards of mulch, planting historic bulbs, planting and clipping back perennial plants for the winter in all gardens, cleaning out and organizing the tool shed, and outdoor furniture was sanded and oiled. Clean up was also done on the trail area near the furnace stack that was completed during the 2010 Day of Caring.
At Boogersburg School, Sharon Childs hosted volunteers from Penn State College of Health and Human Development where a great amount of grounds work was done as well as cleaning inside the school. The new trail that was installed as part of an Eagle Scout project this summer got a fresh coat of mulch, many areas were reseeded in grass, picnic tables were sealed and the stone walk was enhanced making the area more accessible. Much needed tree work was accomplished by Penn State Arborists Corby Fetterholf and Kris Edson who are also credited with fixing the School’s bell!
By lunchtime, we readily welcomed sub sandwiches donated in part by Subway. We also enjoyed a wonderful assortment of delicious homemade goodies and snacks made available throughout the day donated by Susan Bowser, Susan Toby Evans, Froggy 101, Katie Frieden, Marshall Garrett, Giant, Judy Heberling, Chris Igo, Beverly Lipski, Magic 99, Jo Merrell, Jackie Melander, Ruth Merritt, Ann Moellenbrock, Megan Orient, Mary Osborn, Beth Ricker, Vickie Spadaccio, Lee Stout, Jan Villastrigo, Weis Market. Dinnerware for lunch was donated by The Village at Penn State and arranged for by CCHS’s Cliff Bastuscheck. Water was donated by CRDN Restoration.
CCHS extends our sincerest thanks to participating businesses, organizations and individuals who donated materials and labor and took time from busy schedules to join us on the Day of Caring to make this incredible gift possible. Many take a vacation day to come out into the community to help where needed. We sincerely hope you will bring your family and friends to see your efforts!
Support from businesses and organizations came from:
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Boyer and Ritter, CPA’s |
Many thanks to all of you!
Mary Sorensen
Executive Director
Centre County Historical Society