Apr 3, 2003 By April Straughters 4 min read

CALIFORNIA – Starting out as a small committee in the library, the California Historical Society has grown into a vibrant group of people dedicated to the preservation of their local history. The group, composed of 250 members from 29 states and about 15 volunteers, celebrates its 10th anniversary this year.

“To be in existence for 10 years as non-profit is a big step,” said Mary Beth Graf, president of the historical society. “That in itself, in a small town is a big step.”

Now the society has something else to be proud of. In celebration of its anniversary, the group has published a 128-page pictorial history of California, “Images of America: California, Pennsylvania.”

The book includes 233 pictures with detailed captions.

Patricia Cowen, who compiled the book, drew from the society’s extensive collection of old newspapers, documents and vintage photographs from the Harry Harris Photographic Collection to complete the publication.

According to Cowen, Harris was the town photographer, starting his business from a tent in 1900. Cowen said Harris’ daughter, Catherine Harris, donated the pictures, dated up to 1951, to the society.

Cowen, who has lived and worked in the California area all her life, said she picked the pictures for the book. Among them are photos of cars and buildings on Third and Wood streets in the 1930s and 1950s, as well as images of the old theater, bowling alley and pool hall in town.

“I picked the (pictures) I liked. I tried to tell the story, so I picked pictures that would best portray what I was trying to tell. People who lived here will look at these pictures and remember when they were young,” Cowen said.

For six months, Cowen worked on the book with her husband, Jerry, who scanned the photographs.

Both Patricia and Jerry are retired teachers from the Roscoe and California area, respectively, and both grew up in the California area, so they are familiar with its rich history.

They said education has always been very important to California, even during the time of its settlement in 1849.

In fact, Pat Cowen said the book’s chapter on education includes information on all of the elementary schools and old pictures of what is now California University, including a physical education class and a picture of the dirt roads that stretched through the college.

Graf said she thinks the university is what makes California unique.

“It’s very unique that the borough and the state university started at the same time. The history is so intertwined that you can’t talk about one without the other. When the men laid out the town they put away space for the California Academy,” Graf said.

Pat Cowen said the book also includes pictures and information on surrounding communities, such as Daisytown, Roscoe, Elco, Centerville and Malden.

According to Graf, the book is the first to be published about California in 50 years.

“Our goal is to preserve the history of the area. There’s no better way to do that than to publish area history. I hope in the future people will look to this work,” Graf said.

Graf said the book, which was published by Arcadia Publishing of New Hampshire, will be available at major bookstores by midsummer. She said the society also is taking orders for the book.

The California Historical Society operates inside the Gallagher House at 429 Wood St. The old house, built in 1900, is on the National Register of Historic Places, according to Graf.

Graf said publishing the book was the perfect way to celebrate the society’s 10 years. Proceeds from the sales will benefit the general operating fund that covers activities to preserve the history of the area and the significance of its settlers.

Orders for the book can be placed by calling 724-938-3250.