Allegany Area Historical Association Continues On
By Sharon Turano
An organization committed to preserving area history is set to reopen its doors so the public can learn their past while guiding the future. The Allegany Area Historical Association was established in 1981, during the village’s Sesquicentennial, to collect materials and artifacts pertaining to Allegany’s history and development. It shares its findings with nearly 250 members, along with the general public.
“We feel it is important to preserve our collective history and memory as a community as well as the individual family histories of local community members,” said Susan Kalman, secretary/treasurer for the association.
She said family genealogies as well as directories, yearbooks, diaries and more have been collected, along with artifacts, clothing, maps, farming utensils and more. The items are shared with members at public meetings, through newsletters and class visits by the non-profit group of volunteers who collect them.
“By learning about our histories, we achieve a better understanding of where we came from and who we are, and, potentially, to help guide us as we move into the future,” said Ms. Kalman.
She said the association’s future includes re-opening after being closed due to the Covid-19 pandemic. She said hours the association will be open include from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturdays June 18 for Cattaraugus County Historical Paths Day, July 16, Aug. 6 for the alumni reunion, Sept. 17 and Oct. 15. The association’s Christmas cookie sale is being planned, along with its Christmas service. Annual displays and exhibits revolving around an aspect of Allegany’s history are also done by the association. This year, she said, the exhibit will celebrate the 50th anniversary of the flood of 1972, as well as the 80th anniversary of the flood of 1942.
“The Allegheny River is an important resource that runs through our community,” said Ms. Kalman. She said the two floods did a considerable amount of damage in the community, along with inspiring acts of heroism and community activism. The general public is invited to contribute memories, stories and photos of the floods for this year’s exhibit.
Artifacts and the meeting site are housed at the former United Methodist Church, 25 N. Second St., Allegany-a historical landmark built in 1855 by the Methodist Episcopal Congregation, one of the earliest religious societies in the village. The association now owns the building, preserving the church layout including the pews and pulpit. While it remains focused on history, the association is also gearing up for the future, with a new president.
“We are grateful to her for all she has done over the years, and for bringing the organization this far,” she said.
The president will take the association through a transition period, said Ms. Kalman, who said the pandemic resulted in a loss of some momentum and community involvement. In addition, she said, the previous president, Mary Frances Potter, recently retired after 25 years. They are: Charlene Sendlakowski, president; Ms. Kalman, secretary-treasurer; Eileen Shabala, corresponding secretary, and Trustees Alice Altenburg, Jim Hitchcock, Marilyn Frisina, Margaret Parker, Kathleen Premo and Tom Stetz.
That board has short and long-term goals the association wants to pursue. For instance, she said, the association’s members want to make the items they have collected more accessible to the public. She said there are many items housed in the basement that have not been inventoried or displayed. In addition, the library room that houses photos, journals and other paper memorabilia, is being reorganized so items are easier to find.
“We don’t want to become obsolete,” she said, adding many of the collections are not digitalized, outside of a local weekly newspaper, “The Allegany Citizen,” which was published from 1896-1976.
“While it is a long-term goal to get more of it digitized,” she said, for now association members just want to be able find items easier when asked for information.
Another goal, she said, is trying to encourage the interest of younger community members. “Our membership is growing older, and our volunteers are growing older, and we currently don’t have a lot of interest from the younger generations,” she said, adding the association is working on ways to get youth more involved. Those unable to visit, can reach the association through Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/AlleganyHeritageCenter or by emailing AlleganyHeritageCenter@gmail.com.
The Allegany Memories Page can be reached at www.facebook.com/groups/444517320079053 and the association’s website can also be visited at https://www.allegany.org/historical-society-association.html.
Despite the pandemic a new president at the helm, Ms. Kalman thinks addressing short and long-term goals will help reinvent an association that focuses on history so it can be sustainable in the future.