Last Modified: September 29, 2026
“We Have History Let’s Keep It Alive”
Harpers Ferry Area Heritage’s (HFAHS) purpose is to preserve, educate and share Harpers Ferry history, culture and lore. Our greatest focus this year has been to continue the capital campaign for the Harpers Ferry Museum to be built in the Martelle Heritage Park. We have also had several events which told stories of Harpers Ferry’s past such as our “Pop Up” Exhibit on the Viet Nam War celebrating the 50th Anniversary of the war, display at the Allamakee County Fair, participation in Effigy Mounds National Monument’s celebration of National Historic Preservation Week, and our float in the Harper’s Ferry Memorial Day Parade-telling about the “quilts of valor”. We have shared historical information at each of our meetings such as “Bootlegging” in the area, Sandy Point Cemetery history, Girls Basketball and the records made, family scrapbooks, Luster family history, and the photo history of the building of Lock and Dam # 9 in 1936-1937. We were fortunate to receive a donation of 500 pictures, and a digital copy, of building Lock & Dam # 9 in 1936-1937. These were given to us by Dan Klein who got them from his grandfather, Robert Klein who was the chief engineer of the Lock & Dam project.
Harpers Ferry Area Heritage Society will participate with other organizations in Harpers Ferry next year in celebrating America’s 250 as well as Harpers Ferry’s 125 anniversary of the city’s incorporation. Planning meetings have begun.
Oil Springs School
The Oil Springs School got a new coat of white paint on the exterior during the month of June thanks to a great group of volunteers. The paint was a grant from the Keep America Beautiful foundation. Volunteers also put a couple coats of paint on the entrance floor.
The Oil Springs School was opened on several occasions for special events such as four “Music in the Park” events, Memorial Day and 4th of July weekend. We have had over ???? visitors from “” states who were very interested in the school and the history of rural education of the past.
Harpers Ferry Museum
“Building for the Future to Preserve Out Past!”
Our approach to the capital campaign for the Harpers Ferry Museum this year was to continue to inform people about the urgent need for the museum and the importance it has on attracting tourists and seasonal visitors to the area which helps support our businesses and provide economic strength. Collecting historic artifacts, family histories and other information to tell the story of Harpers Ferry area is “time” sensitive and important during the next few years. We were able to do an “oral” interview with Sister Kay Cota in Dubuque and also meet with Sister Lou Cota both of whom grew up in Harpers Ferry. Their families were some of the first to arrive in Harpers Ferry in the 1800’s. Sister Theresa (Suzanne) Gallagher facilitated the visit.
Because we have no storage space and many items were being donated we decided to rent a storage container to store artifacts, information and office equipment until the museum could be built. The storage container has been very helpful as donations were made available and we needed to respond and receive them. We placed it on the east side of the museum foundation behind the Oil Springs School.
Fund raising events included a bake sale during the Memorial Day Weekend, sale of t-shirts, sweatshirts and other logo wear and donations at our various events. We had a very successful “Tour of Homes” with Dale & Laura Reicks, Whitney’s Point of View B & B along with Andrew Wrobles’s art studio, Martelle family home as well as the Oil Springs School where over 85 people attended. We are also conducting a historic Springfield Armory 1943 Mi Garand WW II Gun Raffle which will sell 100 tickets for $100. each. Over 300 letters were sent out requesting donations for the museum. Several businesses were contacted. We are using the Harpers Ferry Area Heritage Society Facebook as well as the Harpers Ferry page to promote the capital campaign and share historic stories about families from this area. We have a great response to this information.
Several members of the board have attended Silos & Smokestacks educational Zoom coffee events and the annual training session. This not only provides educational information but networking opportunities as well.
The Harpers Ferry Area Heritage Society has received several significant donations from families who have given as a group including the Weymiller family in memory of James Weymiller, Luster family in honor of John & Luella Luster’s 100th year anniversary of their marriage and the Charles Leo Martelle, Sr. family. We have submitted two grants that were unsuccessful but most grantees want to fund exhibits, educational opportunities and other fixtures after the building is complete.
Election of HFAHS Board Members and Officers took place at the Annual meeting in October and are as follows: Marita Clark, James “Jim” Olson and Jane Hasek with terms expiring in 2028. Officers: President – Jane Hasek, Vice President-Jane Regan, Treasurer-Thomas “Tom” Clark and Secretary-Betty Steege. To round out an active year for HFAHS we will host a soup supper after we have watched the Christmas Train come through Harpers Ferry on its way south from Lansing to Marquette, Iowa.
Building the Harpers Ferry Museum will be the focus of our activities this coming year. We will need to raise $200,000. To complete Phase II of the capital campaign. For special giving we will promote giving of $125. to celebrate Harpers Ferry’s 125th birthday and $250. to celebrate America’s 250. We will also apply for grants and approach businesses to participate in this phase as well. This has been a very successful year. All of this would not be possible without the countless hours of our faithful volunteers. Thank You.
Report submitted by Jane Hasek, EdD, President HFAHS