Are you interested in tracing your family history? If you’re not sure where to begin your search, one of the easiest methods is to get a copy of an obituary of an older relative. Obituaries are very useful in providing genealogical information. They typically provide birth and death dates, birth and death places, names of parents, siblings, spouse, children, names of employers, churches attended, clubs and organizations they belonged to, and burial information. From this information you can begin to trace your family’s roots.

If your family has been in Montgomery for a few decades, be sure to take advantage of all of the resources that are available for free. The items that are held by the Montgomery Area Public Library and the Montgomery Area Historical Society are truly wonderful.

If you haven’t been to the library recently, the local history room is now on the second floor, and the collection of old yearbooks, filing cabinets, local history books, and photograph albums are amazing. If your family has been in Montgomery for a long time, you can open the filing cabinet and find folders dedicated to the history of some different Montgomery families. Other resources to help you find links with your family’s history and experience are to look at the records of churches your relatives attended, or resources on the places they were employed. If you have an approximate idea of dates of your family’s big events, such as birthdays, weddings, and deaths, you can see what may have been written about them in the Montgomery Mirror, which is available to be seen on microfiche. Some of the old newspapers have lists of school awards and attendance, war coverage, and social events such as club meetings and parties. The coverage is so extensive that you can begin to construct the life of someone who lived a hundred years ago with incredible detail.

Below the library is the Adam Room, where the Montgomery Area Historical Society is housed. They open their doors to public every second Saturday of the month and have many rotating displays on town history. In addition, they have themed displays in the windows year-round. You can get an idea of what life was like in the factories where they worked, what they did for entertainment, and parades and celebrations they participated in.

If you haven’t experienced the joys of discovering your family’s roots in depth, give it a try! You may be surprised at the results an hour or two can bring.

THOT “There is no medicine like hope, no incentive so great, and no tonic so powerful as the expectation of something better tomorrow.” Orison Swett Marden

The Montgomery Lions Club is actively recruiting new members. Please call Roger McRae at (570) 971-2825 for information.

Happy birthday to Gary Yocum, who will be celebrating his 80th birthday on August 3rd. Many happy returns, Gary!

If you see Tony Harman on August 3rd, be sure to wish him a happy birthday. Have a great day, Tony!

Birthday wishes are sent to Danielle Heasley, who be celebrating on August 4th. Enjoy your day!

Montgomery Events

Wed. Aug. 2 The final meeting of the Montgomery Area Public Library Summer Reading Program will be held at 2 pm. The theme will be “Make a Better Community” and will be presented by local author Dana Evans.

Sun. Aug. 6 There will be an all-you-can-eat breakfast from 8-11 a.m. at the Oak Grove Community Center in Elimsport. French toast, pancakes, eggs, bacon, sausage gravy, biscuits, fried potatoes, toast, fruit, and beverages will be served.

Tue. Aug. 8 The Montgomery Borough Council will meet at 6:30 p.m. in the Borough Building.

Sat. Aug. 12 The Montgomery Area High School Cheerleaders will have a car wash at Tractor Supply in Muncy from 8:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. The fundraiser will go towards purchasing new uniforms.

Sat. Aug. 12 The Montgomery Area Historical Society will open the Adam Room from 10 to 1. The event is free and open to the public.

Mon. Aug. 14 The Clinton Township Supervisors will meet at 6:30 p.m. in the Municipal Building.

Thurs. Aug. 17 The Montgomery Volunteer Fire Department will be hosting a “125 Years of Service Celebration” from 6pm-11pm. The event will include tours of the fire house, rescue demonstrations, and food. T-shirts and history booklets will be available for sale.

Sat. Aug. 19 There will be a parade held by the Montgomery Volunteer Fire Company at 2 p.m. The event is part of the department’s 125 Years of Service Celebration.