Cheerful faces were scattered throughout the Bradford County Historical Society Monday as the organization hosted its annual St. Patrick's Day Gala with a helpful serving of Celtic music and food, frosty bottles of beer and smiling faces at the yearly social event in Towanda.
Corned beef and potato soup were the mainstays of the night's menu, which were prepared by a group of historical society board members.
Historical society President Henry G. Farley said the gala is a nod to those of Irish decent in Bradford County, many of whom had ancestors that immigrated to the United States between the 1830s and 1900s and went on to become permanent residents.
"We're all Americans, but we have a heritage," Farley explained.
"The Irish were the largest group to ever immigrate to Bradford County, and that has stuck around," Farley said, "so we thought this was a good way to showcase the Irish."
For the last 179 years, Farley said his family has been friends with his next door neighbors, who also immigrated to Bradford County from Ireland in the 1800s.
"We're still friends and (events like the gala) help to keep that alive for everyone," he said.
Farley estimated the crowd at Monday's gathering to be about 120 people and expressed gratitude and appreciation for the community support of the historical society. Just moments later, Lori Smith won a scratch off lottery ticket raffle and gave it back to the historical society as a donation, cementing Farley's point.
"It's the right thing to do," Smith said, "I know the historical society can use it."
She said she attends the event each year.
Historical society board member Trudy Bull said the dedication and support of her fellow board members allows events like the gala to take place.
She said without the board, the museum would not exist in the fashion it does today.
"We're really gifted to have all of these people who help out," Bull said.
The historical society's museum will open in May and operate through September.
Tim Zyla can be reached at (570) 265-1634; email: tzyla@thedailyreview.com; or Twitter, @TimZyla.