History is alive and well at the stately white house at 300 N.McKean Street, Kittanning. It is known to many as the McCain house and if walls could talk, the house itself could teach a lesson or two. Originally a private residence,then used as a multi-purpose building when owned by the Armstrong School District, this property is now home to the Armstrong County Historical Museum and Genealogical Society. The museum is located in the house, while the carriage house a the back of the property near North Grant Avenue is occupied by the Mildred Lankerd-Thomas Genealogical Library.

Significant work has been done by an all-volunteer group over the past few years to renovate the main house as well as reorganize and restore the wealth of items that tell the history of the county in both buildings.

Whether a former school memory, an interest in history or the curiosity of finding your roots is the motivator, a visit to the McCain House property is well worth the trip.

On a trip to 300 N.McKean St., GPS failure is not to blame if the destination seems incorrect.The view of the house is partially obscured from Mc Kean Street by a parking lot and surrounding chain link fence, which were installed by ASD and still occupy the corner of McKean and Vine Streets.

Free parking is accessible from North Grant Avenue. A sidewalk to the front of the house connects to the from Vine Street side.

A tour of the museum can be had by appointment or by visiting during regular open hours which are noon to 4p.m. Thursdays and 1 to 4 p.m. the first Sunday of each month. The genealogical library is open weekly, Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday, noon to 4 p.m. The genealogy club also meets 2-4 p.m.on the first Sunday of each month. There is no charge for admission to the museum, although donations are accepted. Membership to the society ($25 individual and $30 family) allows for free assistance with genealogical research, which is usually assessed a nominal fee.

Although most of the house is arranged as if it were visited during a typical day in the life of its early tenants, there are rooms devoted to specific themes outside of domestic living.

An extensive collection of artifacts from all branches of the armed services is on display in the military room. Conflicts from the Civil War to the current day are represented through the stories of local participants and the uniforms and personal affects of these service men and women.

The Native American room, long a popular theme, now has a new look, which incorporates more natural artifacts into its display, including petroglyphs that border the room’s walls.

The third completed themed room, known as Olive’s room, is an eye-catching arrangement that showcases clothing, accessories and other handcrafted items such as quilts and linens.

The master bedroom awaits completion of its renovation, but promises to offer a closer look at the private lives of those who have called McCain house home.

The house has been a work in progress since construction was initiated in 1842, when the property was owned by Robert Brown, an early Kittanning resident who had extensive land holdings in the area.

Since that time, the McCain House has been significantly enlarged, modified and modernized by those who followed, especially the ASD, who sold the home to the historical society. Three Hundred N. McKean St. once accomodated such diverse groups as kindergardeners and high school home-ec students.

According to Ron Crytzer, vice president of the society,”When the school district acquired the house, they remodeled the building sufficiently to meet their operational needs; however, this destroyed the authenticity of the building needed for federal historical landmark status.”

Since the society’s purchase, much effort has been taken to restore the house to its older, if not original state. One such project, funded by the Kit-han-nee Questors, was to remove security wire-glass and replace it with leaded glass, transforming the home’s entryway to its former, grander state.

In addition to changes made for historic accuracy, extensive work has been necessary to repair structural problems. Crytzer has been the go-to-guy for most of the remedies, providing much of the manpower to physically correct these problems and seeking the funds to do so.

Crytzer helped to obtain funding from the Dunmire Historic Preservation foundation, through the Armstrong Community Foundation, to solve a chronic moisture problem which was created by 17 chimney pipes that had deteriorated from over 150-plus years of exposure to the elements.Once the pipes were plugged, the interior was finally able to dry, allowing for permanent repair and improvement.

More funding from the Kit-han-nee Questors and others, such as the Richard and Barbara Snyder Foundation, have allowed for updates in the electrical system, including new light fixtures, as well as a new furnace.

“Without such monies,the society would be hard pressed to continue upkeep and maintenance of the facilities, for the benefit of the community at large,” Crytzer said.

Crytzer takes a historical approach to the challenges he faces.

“In earlier days, when we had a farming society,families had extra time, such as in the winter, to devote to other causes.” He then adds, “Today’s dispersement of the family with husbands and wives both working year-round to meet the needs of the family has adversely impacted their availability to get involved.”

Crytzer also voices concern about the impact of “the aging process” on the pool of volunteer help, but shows no signs of slowing down. An Armstrong County native, Crytzer says, “Although I am not currently an Armstrong County resident, my roots are here. I have a strong interest in the historic value of the McCain House. I went to school here. I learned how to shoot a 22 on the third floor’s rifle range.”

Anne Pepling’s roots are in Philadelphia, but as with Crytzer the preservation of history is what drew this 16-year Kittanning Borough resident to volunteer at the museum, serve on the board of directors and recently to accept the volunteer position as museum curator.

A comprehensive assessment of the wealth of artifacts found in the house and updates to the system of cataloging them were part of Pepling’s first order of business. With proper preservation established, Pepling envisions dynamic exhibits that can vary, offering a wider range of themes for the community. “I hope to stimulate the public’s awareness of their roots,”Pepling says.

She encourages the community to use the museum and library. Pepling hopes to foster an environment that is youth-friendly.

“I’m excited that we have our first high school intern, Lauren Henry,” Pepling says. “I’d like to encourage groups such as the Boy and Girl Scouts to come here, not only to learn but also to help fullfill activity requirements.”

Pepling invites the community to stop in and see such new exhibits as early medicine in Armstrong County and a recently donated collection of ladies’ hats. She also invites input from visitors in her search for identification of family photos donated to the society with no names.

This commmitted curator sums up her attraction to this place of local history: “It’s also the satisfaction of talking with other people who have an interest in history.

Everyone has a story -and the stories never end. Everytime I come here, I learn something new.”

Researching family trees

If the search for your roots takes you anywhere near Armstrong County, then the Mildred Lankerd-Thomas Genealogical Library is where you may strike gold. Located in the carriage house on the McCain House property, the specialized library offers a wealth of information concerning everything Armstrong.

The collection contains 1,500 family histories and a plethora of other resources useful in the following of family trees. In addition to bound copies of such references as early county deed indexes, there is a information that can be viewed on one of the six microfilm viewing devices available for public use, two of which can also print copies of your findings.

An all-volunteer group, led by librarian Mary Alice Weckerley, is available to help patrons navigate the system. A donation of $4.50 a day is suggested if direct, personal assistance is needed. Requests for research assistance can also be made in other ways.

“People can call in to reach us or submit their questions via the internet,” Weckerley says. If consultation is done in either of these manners, the library asks for $10 an hour for individual assistance.

Since no one punches a time clock, the money from patrons is used to help defray operating expenses of the library.

Weckerley advises people to prepare to stay awhile, especially if they are new to the process.

“Many people think that they can find all the answers in an hour, but it takes a lot of time,” this seasoned genealogist says. “I came here one day in the 1990s and haven’t left yet!”

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