Forks Historical Society Celebrates 10-year Anniversary

You see it the moment you walk into the lobby of the Forks Township municipal building.

It's the Merchant's Wagon, built locally by Blacksmith Cyrus Graver in the late 1800s. His blacksmith shop was located at the intersection of Kesslersville Road and Sullivan Trail and the wagon's restoration was completed at Double E Carriage in Lancaster County.

Forks Township officials say it's one of the crowning achievements of the Forks Township Historical Society.

The Forks Township Historical Society recently celebrated its 10th anniversary as a fixture for keeping the township's history alive.

"They say that where you go in the future is based on where you came from," said Carl Miller, president of the Forks Township Historical Society.

Miller formed the society after working the polls on Election Day over a decade ago. He gathered some friends he grew up with.

And as they say, the rest is history.

"A lot of us have lived through the history," Miller said. "But people who move in have no idea about it."

So the society, which has about 30 members, got to work.

It helped out the Board of Supervisors in planning Forks Township's 250th anniversary in 2004, published a remembrance book of historic pictures a few years later that sold 500 copies, and began holding monthly meetings. (The meetings are the fourth Monday of each month at Faith Lutheran Church on Sullivan Trail.)

Miller said the society is preparing the Spring House on Bushkill Drive for an open house on June 23.

"I believe the society has made outstanding and invaluable contributions to Forks," Township Supervisor Bob Egolf said.

He listed the merchant's wagon, the gallery of historical photographs in the Forks Township Community Center and the preservation of the little log cabin that is now part of the Forks park system and open to visitors during Forks Community Days in September.

For a full account of the township's history, visit the Forks Township website at www.forkstownship.org/history.html.

"On the occasion of the Forks Township Historical Society's 10th anniversary, I would like to express my deepest gratitude and appreciation for all the work this organization does for our township," Township Supervisor David Billings said.

"The Historical Society's dedication to the preservation of our community’s history and culture is unsurpassed," Billings said. "Your tireless efforts to educate our youth, maintain township historical structures and educate our fellow citizens are critical in maintaining our township’s history for future generations."