Welcome to The Perry Historians
Open Days in 2025
Please note that our hours of operation
have been reduced on Wednesdays to 9:00-2:00
due to lack of volunteers being able to man
the library when we are scheduled open.
During the Summer months of
June, July and August our times may be lengthened to 9:00 - at least 6:00 (or later).
Open Every Wednesday - 9:00am until 2:00pm.
With exceptions of Thanksgiving Eve,
the Wednesdays before & after Christmas
and all major holidays.
The Lenig-Focht Library will be open on the following Fridays and Saturdays as listed ... [with weather permitting]:
January: Sat., 18 - (9:00-5:00)
February: Sat., 15 - (9:00-5:00)
March: Sat., 15 - (9:00-5:00)
April: Sat., 12 - (9:00-5:00)
May: Sat., 10 - (9:00-5:00)
June: Fri., 27 - (9:00-5:00) & Sat., 28 - (9:00-5:00)
July: Sat., 19 - (9:00-5:00)
August: Sat., 16 - (9:00-5:00)
September: Sat., 13 - (9:00-5:00)
October: Sat., 25 - (9:00-5:00)
November: Sat., 15 - (9:00-5:00)
December: Sat., 6 - (9:00-5:00)
The Lenig-Focht Library (home of The Perry Historians)
is located on the right-hand side of Route 34 North, 2 miles from the square or New Bloomfield, or left-hand side Route 34 South, 4 miles from Newport.
Mailing address:
Physical street address is:
763 Dix Hill Rd., New Bloomfield, Pa 17068
Please note: This is NOT our mailing address.
Mail sent to this address will not
be received and will be returned to you!
Mailing address:
PO Box 73, Newport, Pa 17074-0073
Members: FREE
Non-Members: $8.00 per day
Non-Member Students: Under 18 years, FREE
LIBRARY USER FEE SCHEDULE:
Scheduled Library Days: Wednesday, Friday, Saturday and as listed.Members: FREE
Non-Members: $8.00 per day
Non-Member Students: Under 18 years, FREE
Over 18 years, $8.00
It is highly suggested that if you need to call the library,
Before making a long trip to our library, we suggest
that you call to ensure the library will be open!!!
In the event of inclement weather
Consult ABC27's SnowWatch or our Facebook page!
It is highly suggested that if you need to call the library,
that you only call on the days that we are open...
i.e. Wednesday's and the select Saturdays when we are open.
For other matters, please see the Contact List found
in the Membership information and application. (link is above)
If you wish to get a message to us, kindly email us at: staff@ThePerryHistorians.org
or call us at: 717-582-4896
Please call on a scheduled open day between the hours of 10:00am until 1:00pm
DO NOT attempt to leave a message on our answering machine,
as it does NOT RECORD.
Mahanoy Union Chapel
Pictured is the Mahanoy Union Chapel
in Miller Township, erected in 1890 by members of various congregations who lived in the area.
Regular services are held annually each fall.
In a state of disrepair for several decades, the building was brought back from the brink of destruction by several very concerned locals and descendants of several of the original founders.
This building needs to be preserved!
It represents not only a unique style of architecture rarely seen in Perry County, but is one of the most historic buildings in Miller Township. The stonework is nearly perfect and is an excellent example of
19th century stone masonry.
In the adjoining graveyard, rest dozens of the valley's former residents. Members of the Yocum, Burd, Baker, Evans and Metzger families just to name a few.
While descendants of these families have cared for the graveyard over the years, a fund needs to be established to ensure this practice continues into the future.
Please contact Steve Metzger to discuss this project and how you can help to
"Save The Chapel"
The Caroline Furnace
The Caroline Furnace in
Miller Township is the last standing cold-blast iron smelting furnace in Perry County.
It was SAVED! On July 22, 2011.
The Perry Historians acquired
the Caroline Furnace Property by purchasing it at Sheriff Sale.
Almost seven years to the day of purchase, restoration work was began. Phase one included the cleaning of plant life and debris from the gaps in the stones and filling with mortar
and grout.
A solid concrete cap was installed to prevent weather from entering and causing further deterioration.
Special Events in 2025
Saturday, March 1
FREE
Beginner Genealogical
Workshop
at the Lenig-Focht Library
9:00-5:00
Saturday, March 8
16th Annual
"On the Trail
of Perry County History"
Bus Tour
Saturday, April 5
FREE
Advanced Genealogical
Workshop
at the Lenig-Focht Library
9:00-5:00
Wednesday, May 7
Annual Membership Meeting
at the Lenig-Focht Library
5:00
Linda Martin Gilmore will be our guest speaker. Her subject is
History in Plain Sight...
Shermans Dale
A light meal will be served.
RSVP is requested.
Friday, June 27
& Saturday, June 28
Used & New Book Sale
at the Lenig Focht Library
10:00-2:00
The Lenig-Focht Library will
also be open both days
for research from 9:00-5:00.
October 10, 11 & 12
Apple Butter Boils
at
Blain Heritage Days
October 18 & 19
Apple Butter Boils
at
Little Buffalo Apple Festival
Saturday, December 6
Annual Holiday Bazaar
at the Lenig-Focht Library
10:00-2:00
Raffle Drawing
at 2:00 p.m.
The Lenig-Focht Library will
also be open for research
from 9:00-5:00.
The Perry Historians
Welcome to The Perry Historians!
The Perry Historians is located at the former Airy View School at the Dix Hill Road and Route 34 intersection between
New Bloomfield and Newport, Perry County, Pennsylvania. We have been incorporated since 1976 and are the premiere site for Perry County genealogical and family history information.
Genealogical History of Perry County
As life is the interaction between people, one with another and their surroundings, so history is the record of these interactions. In both life and historical study, PEOPLE are the basic ingredient. PEOPLE therefore, are the basis from which The Perry Historians approach the history of Perry County. We call this concept Genealogical History because it is the history of a certain area as revealed through a thorough study of the individuals and families of that area and their interactions. Through this approach history takes on a very important PERSONAL value for each individual because he/she is learning about the past through the involvements of his/her own ancestors. The serious genealogical historian will not be satisfied to merely learn the names and dates of birth, marriage, and death of his/her ancestors but will endeavor to construct an understanding of the personality and lifestyle of those ancestors.
Did he fight for American Independence in 1776 or remain a Loyalist? Were they active in the life of the church and community? What were their occupations? Did they live in a log, frame, stone or brick house? When we learn the answers to these questions the buildings, people, and locations in Perry County and the whole world take on a special importance and receive the respect due them and the genealogical historian gains a valuable awareness of the contributions of his/her ancestors to the advancement of civilization.
To the statement that “The past is dead” or “History is bunk” we strongly reply that the present and the future are determined by the decisions, actions, and mistakes of past generations. The past is the foundation of the present and future and a thorough understanding of the past is essential to know who and what we are and why we are situated in life as we are. Consider the sacrifices our own parents may have made so that we could have a college education and try visualize the trauma our immigrant ancestors endured on coming to a wilderness from the civilizations of Europe. They can be ascertained only through a thorough study of the past lives of individual families. For the enrichment of yourself and your descendants, learn something of your own roots. Do not be afraid of “skeletons in the closet”. Everyone is human and it adds color to the story.
The Perry Historians is an all volunteer organization concerned with the heritage of Perry County as revealed through the lives of individuals and families. We are actively preserving and organizing the source materials and representative artifacts relative to the Genealogical History of Perry County and adjacent areas. We have restored a brick country schoolhouse and erected a concrete vault to house and use our holdings. We have added a two-story addition as well as recently added, through gracious donations and grants, an environmentally controlled repository and are currently in the process of creating a display room and museum to hold and expand our accessions. In addition to our own collection, we hold the collection of the late Harry W. Lenig for whom the library is named, Ardella Ebersole, Louella Sweigert and others. Your participation through a membership will allow us to continue our many projects of procuring and preserving the records and artifacts of our heritage and providing safe and proper housing for them so they will be available to this and many future generations.
The Perry Historians is an all volunteer organization concerned with the heritage of Perry County as revealed through the lives of individuals and families. We are actively preserving and organizing the source materials and representative artifacts relative to the Genealogical History of Perry County and adjacent areas. We have restored a brick country schoolhouse and erected a concrete vault to house and use our holdings. We have added a two-story addition as well as recently added, through gracious donations and grants, an environmentally controlled repository and are currently in the process of creating a display room and museum to hold and expand our accessions. In addition to our own collection, we hold the collection of the late Harry W. Lenig for whom the library is named, Ardella Ebersole, Louella Sweigert and others. Your participation through a membership will allow us to continue our many projects of procuring and preserving the records and artifacts of our heritage and providing safe and proper housing for them so they will be available to this and many future generations.
Upcoming Activities
The Perry County 250th Committee has arranged a special commemoration event at the Jacob Stambaugh grave on the old Stambaugh farm on May 23, 2025 at 11:00am. The farm is located just outside of Elliottsburg, Perry Co., PA.
Representatives of the Washingtonburg Chapter SAR will be present and Dale Leppard, who is an officer in the SAR chapter and a direct descendant of Jacob Stambaugh will have the honor of also being there and wearing a copy of the uniform that Jacob would have worn as a member of the Light Infantry Company of the 2nd Pennsylvania Regiment in 1779 including the regimental flag, leather cap, and knapsack.
The physical address of the Stambaugh Farm is:
1797 Sherman’s Valley Rd
Elliottsburg PA. 17024
There will be yellow arrow signs on the farm in place to guide attendees from the road to the grave site.
Rain date for the event is Saturday, May 24.
Dale Leppard of the Washingtonburg Chapter of SAR and direct descendant of Jacob Stambaugh will provide us with a notice if they reschedule and we will try to make sure we post to all of you. Notice will also be posted on The Perry Historians' FaceBook page.
The Perry Historians' own Jerry A. Clouse had the opportunity to be a guest on WITF's radio - The Spark. The program was aired on 25-Feb-2025.
To listen to the broadcast, visit WITF - The Spark
https://www.witf.org/programs/the-spark/
Then scroll down to Latest Episodes and click on the one you would like to listen to.
