The John Bryerton Room dedicated at the Piper Aviation Museum in Lock Haven

RecordStaffAugust 26, 2022Last Updated: August 26, 2022

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Center left, Lana Bryerton, wife of the late John Bryerton, and her children Lisa and Justin, cut the ribbon to officially open the new John Bryerton Room at the Piper Aviation Museum. Also pictured, from left, are Museum second vice president Calvin Arter; first vice president Charlie Rosamilia; the Bryerton family; Museum board members Clyde Smith, Steve Gundy, and Jason Marr; board president Ron Dremel; Secretary Cathy Redmond; and Treasurer Josh Grimes. Photos courtesy Clinton County Visitors Bureau.

LOCK HAVEN, PA – Members of the Piper Aviation Museum board of directors Thursday dedicated a new room at the Museum to long-time volunteer, the late John Bryerton. A good crowd of Museum volunteers, local leaders and community members and members of the Bryerton family was on hand. Bryerton’s wife, Lana, and their children Lisa Lucas and Justin Bryerton, lead the Museum board of directors in cutting a ribbon to officially open the new room.

As part of his comments, Museum president Ron Dremel said John had envisioned adding a floor to what was then a two-story section of hangar. The new space – approximately 2,500 square feet, extends the footprint of the second floor Museum. Already The Bryerton Room houses an L-4 Grasshopper, the military version of Piper’s J-3 Cub, and a Vagabond, the first of Piper’s short-winged airplanes, with space for additional displays. An overhead garage door situated at the back of the new room serves as a mezzanine, allowing visitors a great view of a variety of airplanes on display below in the Museum’s first-floor hangar.

“We added the floor for this new room a couple of years ago, and then COVID hit,” said Dremel. “So we’re happy to complete the project – complete John’s dream – this year, in time to help us have enough space to house a couple more airplanes that have recently been donated to the Museum.”

The family of the late John Bryerton – wife Lana and children Lisa and Justin – stands at the entrance to the new John Bryerton Room at the Piper Museum, where there’s a framed photograph of John, along with a plaque in his memory.

Bryerton passed away in April at age 80, following a career of nearly 60 years in the aviation industry. He had worked for Piper Aircraft for 20 of those years and in 1980 formed his own engineering and consulting company, General Aviation Technical Services (GATS). John had given much of his time and talent to the Piper Aviation Museum, including serving as board president for 10 years. A framed photograph of John, along with a handsome plaque that reads, “For his commitment, contributions and vision,” hangs at the entrance to the new room.

In addition, to Dremel, the program included remarks from Michelle McCain on behalf of State Rep. Stephanie Borowicz; Clinton County Commissioner Angela Harding, a former Piper Museum board member; and Chamber/Tourism Director Julie Brennan with the Clinton County Economic Partnership.