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.

Welcome Hagerstown YMCA

Today the Forest Heritage Discovery Center welcomed 67 campers from the Hagerstown YMCA. They had a great time exploring the exhibits and learning about forest fire fighting and Smokey the Bear. Thanks for the visit!

Imagine carrying these all day...

Among the many items in the Discovery Center is the collection of Indian pumps. These can be really heavy to carry through the forest when full.

This is the oldest pump we have found. We are still researching how old it really is.

Discovery Center Grand Opening

In spite of the rain, over 100 people attended the grand opening of the Forest History and Discovery Center at Caledonia State Park today (5/14). Just when it was time for the opening ceremony, the skies opened up and we adjourned to the conference room of the park headquarters next door.

PFFMA President John Graham starts off the ceremony.

Rev. Deacon Michael J. Ripton gave the invocation.

 

Steve Cummings gives a few words on the importance of Boy Scouts in the protection and reforestation of Pennsylvania.

John Bitzer gave the keynote address.


John Norbeck, Director of the DCNR Bureau of Parks welcomed the Discovery Center to Caledonia State Park.


Randy White, the PA Chief Forest Fire Warden, stressed the importance of remembering the history of forest fire fighting.


Joe Rothrock III donated a copy of the Journal of the Wheeling Expedition, written by Dr. Joseph Rothrock, the father of forestry in Pennsylvania.



Cutting the Ribbon!


The wonderful refreshments were provided by Brad and Sharon Bates of The Caledonia House in Mont Alto.

Scenes of the day:

Thanks to everyone for participating!

Board meets at the State Museum

The board of the PA Forest Fire Museum Association met on Februrary 16 at the State Museum in Harrisburg. It was a great opportunity to visit the Wood on Glass Exhibit of glass photos of early logging in Pennsylvania. There were some great ideas of how mount exhibits.

The board discussed the grand opening date for the Discovery Center at Caledonia State Park. It will be in April. More news to follow.

(Museum photos by Peter Linehan.  Meeting photo by John Ritter )