The Creation of the Kutztown Area Historical Society

Written by Thomas Sanelli, third society president (1978-1979)

In preparing for the Bicentennial celebration in 1976, one of the activities undertaken by the Kutztown Bicentennial Committee (KBC) was to establish a permanent local historical society. In April of 1974 the Executive Committee of the KBC established an Historical Events subcommittee, chaired by Dr. David Hottenstein. From April to November the work of the committee was largely carried on by Dr. Hottenstein who investigated early buildings, hotels and the early history of the area preliminary to publishing a pamphlet of approximately sixty pages.

After Carl Lobb, a member of the Kutztown Bicentennial Executive Committee, became the Executive Committee's liaison with the Historical Events subcommittee, Thomas Sanelli, Chairman of the History Department at Kutztown State College, was invited to co-chair the Historical Events subcommittee with Dr. Hottenstein. In November 1974 the two chairmen conducted the first meeting of the subcommittee where it was decided to enlarge the subcommittee, prepare a pamphlet relating to the early history of Kutztown, establish a permanent local historical society and a speakers bureau.

In December the Executive Committee of the KBC approved Carl Lobb's request to establish a permanent historical society and the possibility of obtaining a room at the college (then Kutztown State College) to store records and artifacts. In January the subcommittee was successful in obtaining such a room. The following month the subcommittee established the Kutztown Area Historical Society and Dr. Hottenstein and Mr. Sanelli presented the constitution to the Kutztown Bicentennial Executive Committee in March.

The Kutztown Area Historical Society held its first public meeting in the Multipurpose room of the Kutztown Elementary School in March, 1975. Dr. Hottenstein was elected President; Erna Snyder, Vice President; Robert Pawling, Second Vice President, Harold Rothermel, Treasurer; and Thomas Sanelli, Secretary. While the Society had become a separate, independent organization, it maintained a close relationship with the KBC and continued to receive its vocal and financial support. In fact it was a contribution of the KBC which enabled the Kutztown Area Historical Society to become incorporated on April 29, 1976.