Shoaff's Mill Visit

During the annual meeting we had the opportunity to visit Shoaff's Mill at Little Buffalo State Park. Thanks to our guide from the PA State Parks.

Annual Meeting 2012

This year's meeting was held at Little Buffalo State Park in Newport, PA. It was a cold day, but we had a warm time in the meeting hall at the campsite.

Here is the picture of the attendees.

Here are some of the founders of the PAFFMA.

Among the issues discussed during the meeting were:

• PAFFMA annual business meeting.
• Status of prescribed fire in PA and developments at the PA Bureau of Forestry.
• Review of the 2011 workshop discussions. Where are we a year later/
• Thoughts from the 1895 Rothrock report.

 

After the banquet Paul Sebasovitch was presented with the George Wirt award.

What is it?

Here are two views of an artifact that the PAFFMA acquired for the Discovery Center. Can you guess what it is?

It is a seed storage jar that was in use at a forest seedling nursery, either Greenwood Furnace or Mont Alto. It holds thirteen gallons. Certainly a glass container would help protect seeds from the every-present rodents!

The PAFFMA board met at Greenwood Furnace State Park on Tuesday 9/18. According to the park historian there are many more forestry artifacts left over from the nursery operation at the site. More of them will be coming to the Discovery Center.

2011 Annual Meeting

This year's annual meeting was held at Caledonia State Park and the Discovery Center on Saturday, November 5. About 25 members gathered to look back on the first season of operation of the Discovery Center at Caledonia and plan for future developments.

Group Photo

In the afternoon the members met in small groups for a brainstorming session to develop plans and ideas for the PFFMA. They also toured the Discovery Center to evaluate the displays. The results of the brainstorming sessions and the evaluations will be compiled to aid in planning future activities. 

After a hard day's work the meeting adjourned to the Chambersburg Country Club for a banquet, awards ceremony and stories by "Pennsylvania Jack". Dustin Wirt (left) presents the George H. Wirt award to Joe Devilbiss (right) at the Pennsylvania Forest Fire Museum Association annual meeting on Nobember, 5, 2011. Past recipient of the service award, Steve Cummings, looks on. Dustin is the great great grandson of George Wirt, Pennsylvania's first professional forester and state fire warden. 

2011 Annual Meeting Pictures

These pictures from the 2011 annual meeting are courtesy of Brad Bates. click on the slide show for captions.

Pennsylvania Forestry Association Visit

On Saturday, September 17, fifty members of the PA. Forestry Association visited the Discovery Center during their annual meeting held at the nearby Penn State Mont Alto. For many it was their first visit since the Center opened. Enjoy these pictures from the afternoon.

Bill Parr presents a 125th anniversary memorial spade to the PFA with Smokey's help..

Joe Devilbiss and Mike Kusko with the firefighter mannequin.

 

Steve Cummings discusses firetowers. 

 

PFFMA President Jack Graham.

 

 

Visitors in the Center.

Fire towers saved Pennsylvania from 'wasteland' past | PoconoRecord.com

Fire towers saved Pennsylvania from 'wasteland' past | PoconoRecord.com

Check out this article on fire towers in Pennsylvania from the Pocono Record with extensive quotes from our own Steve Cummings.