The Palmerton Area Historical Society operates under the direction of a Board of Directors that establish objectives for the various committees and staff of dedicated volunteers.    The seven-member Board is elected by the general membership of the Society and may serve four-year terms without limits on the number of their consecutive terms of service. This seven-member Board then elects the President and the Vice-president and appoints the Secretary and the Treasurer.   The President and Vice-president are elected to serve two-year terms, however, their reelections are limited to a maximum of four consecutive years.   The Secretary and the Treasurer serve at the pleasure of the Board with full voting privileges and no term limits.   The Board of Directors has general charge of the financial and other affairs of the Society.

                                  ELECTED:                                                                                                                               APPOINTED:
                                President:  Jane Borbe                                                                                             Secretary:   Betsy Burnhauser
                        Vice-president:      William Smelas                                                                                 Treasurer:  Nancy Herzog
                                                                                                       Board Member: John Aulenbach
                                                                                                       Board Member: Jim Burnhauser 
                                                                                                       Board Member: Bert Holczman
                                                                                                       Board Member: Bill Smelas
                                                                                                       Board Member: Helen Steinmetz
                                    COMMITTEE CHAIRS:                                                                                                             STAFF:
                        Acquisitions & Publications: George Ashman                                                 Business Manager:  Peter Kern
        Building & Grounds: Jim Burnhauser & John Stefanek                                Kibler School Representative:  Roy Christman
                                    Little White Church: Jane Borbe                                                    Newsletter Editor-in-Chief:   Garry Mack
                             Publications: George Ashman                                                                           Programs:   Betsy Burnhauser
                                    Membership: Jane Borbe                                                                    PAHS Archives:   Betsy Burnhauser

  In 1990, the Lehigh Gap Historical and Preservation Society and Museum, Inc. (LGHS) was formed under the leadership of Mr. Larry Yeakel. The society chose its name and established its mission to include the area immediately south of the Blue Mountain because many of these smaller communities did not have historical societies of their own.

Mr. Yeakel was not only the founder of LGHS but also its President for many years. Officers who served with Mr. Yeakel included Mr. Dennis Smith as Vice President, Ms. Kathy Long as Secretary, and Mr. John Parsons as Treasurer. Members of the first Board of Directors included Mr. Gary Curran, Mr. Kermit Geary Jr., and Mr. William Pitts.     Early meetings were held in the New Jersey Central Railroad Station until the building was sold. The meeting place then moved to the Knight's Gallery on the second floor of the Palmerton Area Library.

Over time, as these communities formed their own societies, LGHS was forced to reconsider its objectives. Therefore, in 2005, LGHS decided to serve only the Palmerton Area School District which consists of Palmerton, Bowmanstown, Towamensing and Lower Towamensing Townships. As a result, the society changed its name from the Lehigh Gap Historical and Preservation Society and Museum, Inc. to the Palmerton Area Historical Society (PAHS).

                                                                          TO VOLUNTEER FOR THE HISTORICAL SOCIETY
WRITE TO:
~~~~~ PAHS Historical Society / Volunteer
~~~~~ P.O. Box 267
~~~~~ Palmerton, PA 18071-0267

OR CALL:
~~~~~ & Leave a Message at: 1-610-824-6954

SEND MESSAGE:
~~~~~ Please write "To Volunteer for the Historical Society" in the Subject Line

COPYRIGHT INFORMATION ~ Images contained in this  website are the property of the Palmerton Area Historical Society but may be used with appropriate attribution to their source.

  Website Maintained by Cindy Gasper.   Email:   cindyg8@ptd.net