Community gathers to preserve Greene history
FRANKLIN TWP. – On Saturday, March 28, the Greene County Historical Society held their fifth annual dinner dance fundraiser, which was held to celebrate the 90th anniversary of the historical society.
The event was held at the National Guard Readiness Center, which is located behind the Waynesburg Airport.
The very first year the historical society held their fundraiser, the idea came from Wayne Hart; Hart and his wife continued to help and organize with the event up until this year.
According to Candace Tustin, vice president of the Greene County Historical Society board of directors, this is one of the nicer events that the historical society holds.
The food is catered, there is swing and ballroom dancing, and the men are dressed in suits and ties and the women in dresses.
“It’s just so beautiful,” Tustin said. “I’m personally infatuated with the 1940s.”
Also at the occasion was a band called Beaver BopCats. The band is a classic 18-piece big band featuring full sections of saxophone, trombone, trumpet and rhythm.
According to their biography, the band typically plays a diverse book that covers songs from the 1930s to present day, including charts by well-known artists such as Stan Kenton, Glenn Miller, Count Basie and many others.
The historical society has brought this same band in for every dinner dance they have held.
The proceeds that the band makes all get donated to a scholarship fund back in their hometown.
The fundraising event started at 6 p.m. with a commencement.
It then proceeded to a formal welcoming by Master of Ceremonies Doug Wilson and a dinner invocation by Rev. Donald Wilson.
Greene County Historical Society Board President Mark Fischer made a public address following the dinner invocation, and the dinner was at 6:30 p.m. At 8 p.m. there were introductions and acknowledgements, which included the Beaver BopCats, Three Little Birds Catering Company, All Seasons Mat and Linen Service, event sponsors, a Chinese auction and door prizes.
The rest of the night consisted of the announcement of the winners for the Chinese auction, door prizes and 50/50 raffle.
The board members of the historical society are Fischer, Tustin, Secretary Patrick Fitch, and Treasurer Cheryl Clark, as well as George Blystone, Steve Blystone, Audrey Duke, Joseph Kinney, Linda Rush, Marshall Simmons, Carol Teegarden and Joyce Winters.
Waynesburg University, as well as Brian Tennant, Commissioner Chuck Morris, Community Bank, Cory Grandel, EQT, First Federal Savings & Loan, Green County Tourist, Promotion Agency, Kim and Jeff Grimes, Lou Dayich, McCracken Pharmacy, State Representative Pam Snyder and Toothman Dental were sponsors for the dinner dance.
Along with the sponsors, there were roughly 60 donors who donated toward the historical society.