Jesse Case will talk about the 25 year history of this popular museum in Eldred, Pennsylvania
By Kathryn Ross, Vice President, Thelma Rogers Genealogical and Historical Society
WELLSVILLE – The public is invited to attend a program about the Eldred World War II Museum with Executive Director Jesse Case at 6:30 p.m. Wednesday (May 3rd) at the David A. Howe Library.
Because in May our thoughts turn to the sacrifices our veterans have made, tributes to them and parades honoring them at the end of the month, the Thelma Rogers Genealogical and Historical Society chose to introduce the area to the Eldred, Pa. World War II Museum for this month’s free program.
Former county tourism director, current Town of Wellsville Councilman and the current director of the Museum, local man, Jesse Case, will be presenting the program, describing the beginning of the Museum, its current and future programs and the highlights of the Museum’s collection.
Over 25 years ago the Museum opened in Eldred, Pa., because the community had a direct impact on the outcome of World War II that few people knew about. It was the site of The National Munitions Company during World War II. In the facility, stretching over 1,800 acres, munitions were assembled for British 3-inch trench motors, two-inch smoke projectiles, incendiary bombs, bomb fuses and hand grenades. After America got into the war, nearly 95-percent of the 1,500 employees were women from the nearby communities. The women sent their bombs off to the fighting men with lipstick kisses.
Case will relate this history as well as describe the current and permanent exhibits and highlights of the Museum which includes a section dedicated to survivors of the holocaust.
Today the mission of the Eldred, Pa. World War II Museum is to preserve and interpret the history of World War II, commemorate the contribution veterans and those on the home front and help the current generation, understand the lessons of the past.
The Thelma Rogers Genealogical and Historical Society has opened its doors at the Nathaniel Dike Museum located 118 Dyke Street in Wellsville for the 2023 season. It is open on Wednesdays from 1 to 4 p.m. or by appointment on other days. It maintains not only a vast collection of local memorabilia, but also extensive genealogical materials. Call 585-610-5343 for more information or to arrange a visit.
