Gallagher Township to Celebrate Heritage Day May 18

LOCK HAVEN – As part of their 175th Anniversary Celebration, the Gallagher Township Board of Supervisors will host a Heritage Day from 11:00 am to 5:00 pm on Sunday, May 18, 2025, at the former Springer-Caldwell One Room School and the Gallagher Township Municipal Building located at 11837 Coudersport Pike, Lock Haven. The program is free and open to the public.

The program includes three presentations that will focus on the Springer-Caldwell One Room School.

Loretta Coltrane, who serves as chair of the Springer-Caldwell One Room School Committee, will talk about “One Room Rural Schools: One Room, One Teacher, and Eight Grades.” Among the topics Coltrane will discuss are what a typical school day was like, what subjects students learned, which months of the year school was in session, where teachers boarded during the school year and what their typical salary was.

Warren Gottshall, a lifelong Gallagher Township resident and former Caldwell School student, will share reminiscences and memorabilia about the school he attended, grades one through eight, from 1944 through 1952.

Local historian and genealogist Mary Copenhaver Hunter became intrigued by names written on the blackboard by Mabel T. Myers who taught at the school in 1903-1904. The names are still visible on a portion of the old blackboard that remains inside the school. Hunter researched the names and the family genealogies of several of the students and will share “History about Names on the Blackboard.”

“Irish Settlement: The Lovett Family,” will be presented by James “Jimmy” Lovette, a descendant of the original Irish settlers in Gallagher Township. He will share stories and display many artifacts about his ancestors, to include a framed newspaper article about the murder of William Lovett in December 1889.

Several long time citizens, Warren Gottshall, Earl Straley, and William “Bill” McCoy, will share “Gallagher Township Folktales, Fables, Legends, and Myths.”

Members of the Haneyville Volunteer Fire Company, which was founded in 1972, will be on hand to discuss the fire company and will have their UTV vehicle on display.

Food will be available for purchase during the event. The Haneyville Volunteer Fire Company will sell hot dogs, hamburgers, and water, with proceeds to benefit the fire company.

The Township will offer pulled pork, Hawaiian rolls, baked beans, coleslaw, and fresh lemonade with proceeds to benefit the 175th Anniversary Event Fund and Springer-Caldwell One Room School.

For more information about Gallagher Township 175th Anniversary Events access their website at gallaghertownshippa.org.

Gallagher Township 175th Anniversary Heritage Day Program
Sunday, May 18, 2025

11:00 am Welcome
William H. “Will” Mann, Chairman
Gallagher Township Board of Supervisors

Invocation

Pledge to Flag

11:15 -11:45 am “One Room Rural Schools: One Room, One Teacher & Eight Grades”
Loretta Coltrane, Chair, Springer/Caldwell School Committee

11:45– 12:15 pm Break – Look at exhibits & fire company vehicle, chat with friends, or enjoy food

12:15 – 1:00 pm “Remembrances of Attending Caldwell School”
Warren Gottshall, attended Caldwell School from 1944-1952, Grades 1-8

1:00 – 1:30 pm “History about Names on the Blackboard”
Mary Copenhaver Hunter, former resident, Springer /Caldwell School Committee

1:30 – 2:00 pm Break – Look at exhibits & fire company vehicle, chat with friends, or enjoy food

2:00 – 3:15 pm “Irish Settlement: The Lovett Family”
James “Jimmy” Lovette, descendant

3:15 – 3:30 Break – Look at exhibits & fire company vehicle, chat with friends, or enjoy food
3:30 – 4:30 pm “Gallagher Township Folktales, Fables, Legends and Myths”
Earl Straley, Warren Gottshall, William “Bill” McCoy

4:30 – 4:50pm Announcements – Will Mann Chairman
Gallagher Township Board of Supervisors

Closing Prayer

5:00 pm Adjourn