Slate Belt Heritage Center

What's New?


Note: starting in December, we are holding our monthly lectures on the 2nd Sunday of the month at 2:00 pm.

On April 11th, 2010, we launched the fourth of our ethnic heritage books: From the Slate (O'r Llechen): The Welsh and the Folk Art of Pennsylvania's Slate Belt by author John Reinhart.

It is available for sale at the Heritage Center and Merchants Bank.

We will have a new addition to the Welsh Display from the National Welsh Society and the Welsh Association of Wales. It is a traveling exhibit that will open at the Heritage Center on July 17 to Aug 1. A ribbon cutting will take place on July 23 at 11:00 a.m. by the Slate Belt Welsh Society.

Anyone planning to attend the Wheat Weaving program on Thursday Sept. 9 , 7:00 p.m. at the Heritage Center should email lgbray@hotmail.com or phone 610-588-3745. We need to know so that we have enough wheat for everyone in attendance.




Monthly Lecture Series


Summer lectures are the 2nd Thursday of the month from April to November at 7:00 pm.

Winter lectures are the 2nd Sunday of the month at 2:00 pm.

Check the schedule often as lectures may change.

Upcoming lectures feature:

Aug.12th, Walter Emery
Tour Around Portland

*SPECIAL DATE*
Aug. 28th, Cheryl Statham
Class: Preserving Tomatoes by Canning

Sep. 9th, Cheryl Statham
Wheat Weaving

Anyone planning to attend the Wheat Weaving program on Thursday Sept. 9 , 7:00 p.m. at the Heritage Center should email lgbray@hotmail.com or phone 610-588-3745. We need to know so that we have enough wheat for everyone in attendance.

Oct. 14th, Jodi Pysher
Bangor Then and Now

Nov. 14th, Russ Stout
Lewis and Clark Expedition




Current Collections


Our collections are constantly changing. The next collections include:

Mar. 28th - Jul. 31th
Welsh Display

We will have a new addition to the Welsh Display from the National Welsh Society and the Welsh Association of Wales. It is a traveling exhibit that will open at the Heritage Center on July 17 to Aug 1. A ribbon cutting will take place on July 23 at 11:00 a.m. by the Slate Belt Welsh Society.

Aug. 9th - Nov. 20th
"That's Entertainment"
The Story of Music and Entertainment in the Slate Belt.


See Photo Gallery of Past Exhibits

Welcome


Old Town Hall The Slate Belt Heritage Center was built in 1907 and originally served as the town hall, council chambers, borough offices, and fire department for the town of Bangor, Pennsylvania. In 1998, a group of determined citizens decided to save the deteriorating building and use it to house local heritage.

In February 1999, the Bangor Town Council was approached regarding leasing this historic structure in order to restore it to its original state. Many volunteers enthusiastically began the arduous task of refurbishing the center from its hardwood floors to the tower housing the old town clock.

One of the highlights is a mural that covers the entire wall of the staircase painted by art students from Bangor High School depicting the history of Bangor from its beginning to the end of the 20th century.

In 2000, the Slate Belt Heritage Center opened its doors to the public in order to serve as a tribute to the early Slate Belt settlers and showcase their unique blend of ethnic cultures. The center contains two floors of self-guided exhibits.