SUMMER HOURS

April 12 through Nov. 17, 2023

WED. -THURS - FRI.

10am -  4pm

All other days & evenings by appointment.

Call 814.227.6443


Unlocking the past ...

 We all think of history as something that happened someplace else.

Unlock the past to find the fascinating story of why

Clarion County is unique.

Discover the history right in your own back yard!


  • IC Catholic Daughters present $1,000. donation
    IC Catholic Daughters present $1,000. donation
  • Belle Boyd, Confederate Spy. Portrayed by Susan Thomas
    Belle Boyd, Confederate Spy. Portrayed by Susan Thomas
  • The Smith Family, Rimersburg.
    The Smith Family, Rimersburg.
  • GSWPA-Doll Tea at The Sutton-Ditz Museum 11-02-13
    GSWPA-Doll Tea at The Sutton-Ditz Museum 11-02-13
  • SSgt Laura Earline Besley, the only in-service Clarion County woman to lose her life in WWII
    SSgt Laura Earline Besley, the only in-service Clarion County woman to lose her life in WWII
  • GSWPA Doll Tea at The Sutton-Ditz Museum 11-23-13
    GSWPA Doll Tea at The Sutton-Ditz Museum 11-23-13
  • Strattan House in 1877 & 2013
    Strattan House in 1877 & 2013
  • Holiday Magic in Clarion, circa 1960's.
    Holiday Magic in Clarion, circa 1960's.
  • West Freedom School House, built 1843.
    West Freedom School House, built 1843.
  • PA 150 Civil War Road Show hosted by CCHS.
    PA 150 Civil War Road Show hosted by CCHS.
  • Little guests learning about Civil War history at the Civil War Road Show.
    Little guests learning about Civil War history at the Civil War Road Show.
  • CCHS Exeutive Director Mary Lea Lucas & Senator Mary Jo White at the CCHS VIP Reception, PA Civil War 150 VIP
    CCHS Exeutive Director Mary Lea Lucas & Senator Mary Jo White at the CCHS VIP Reception, PA Civil War 150 VIP
  • The "Little Soldier"...a guest at the Civil War Road Show hosted by CCHS.
    The "Little Soldier"...a guest at the Civil War Road Show hosted by CCHS.
  • Re-enactors drill, PA 150 Civil War Road Show hosted by CCHS.
    Re-enactors drill, PA 150 Civil War Road Show hosted by CCHS.
  • The Sutton-Ditz Museum at sunset.
    The Sutton-Ditz Museum at sunset.
  • Helen Furnace Ruins, 1930.
    Helen Furnace Ruins, 1930.
  • Students on tour with Berlie Etzel.
    Students on tour with Berlie Etzel.
  • Joe Cherico & his fruit wagon, New Bethlehem.
    Joe Cherico & his fruit wagon, New Bethlehem.
  • Victorian Wake at the Sutton-Ditz Museum
    Victorian Wake at the Sutton-Ditz Museum
  • Spanish American War Collection
    Spanish American War Collection
  • Brady's Bend Marker
    Brady's Bend Marker
  • LEF&C RR
    LEF&C RR
  • Catholic Daughter's Tea
    Catholic Daughter's Tea
  • Chief Joe Volpe in Clarion's first police car, a 1946 Olds 66.
    Chief Joe Volpe in Clarion's first police car, a 1946 Olds 66.
  • Cub Scouts on Tour>
    Cub Scouts on Tour>
  • Hotel Sligo, early 1900's.
    Hotel Sligo, early 1900's.
  • Helen Furnace
    Helen Furnace
  • McNutt Transfer.
    McNutt Transfer.
  • Christmas Open House at The Sutton-Ditz Museum.
    Christmas Open House at The Sutton-Ditz Museum.
  • Earliest known image of The Loomis, circa 1890s
    Earliest known image of The Loomis, circa 1890s
  • Teddy Bear Birthday Party at The Sutton-Ditz Museum.
    Teddy Bear Birthday Party at The Sutton-Ditz Museum.
  • Tom Zeller's Brass Band performing at the CCHS Christmas Open House in the Sutton-Ditz Museum.
    Tom Zeller's Brass Band performing at the CCHS Christmas Open House in the Sutton-Ditz Museum.
  • The newly opened DAR Women's History Room. March 2013
    The newly opened DAR Women's History Room. March 2013
  • On Redbank Creek, New Bethlehem. Circa 1920. When Redbank Creek was frozen over cars were driven on it from Mayport to New Bethlehem. It was easier to drive the creek because the roads were so bad.
    On Redbank Creek, New Bethlehem. Circa 1920. When Redbank Creek was frozen over cars were driven on it from Mayport to New Bethlehem. It was easier to drive the creek because the roads were so bad.
  • B & O #3116, west bound on the Foxburg Bridge. April, 1948
    B & O #3116, west bound on the Foxburg Bridge. April, 1948
  • Clarion Collegiate Institute, Rimersburg.
    Clarion Collegiate Institute, Rimersburg.

Quality of life...

       sense of place, pride of place are all connected to history.

  • Clarion County Courthouse: On The National Register
    Clarion County Courthouse: On The National Register
  • Lady of Justice atop the Courthouse
    Lady of Justice atop the Courthouse
  • Sutton-Ditz Museum: On The National Register
    Sutton-Ditz Museum: On The National Register
  • Buchanan Furnace, Callensburg: On The National Register
    Buchanan Furnace, Callensburg: On The National Register
  • Indian Cabins, Cook Forest: On The National Register
    Indian Cabins, Cook Forest: On The National Register
  • Foxburg Country Club: On The National Register
    Foxburg Country Club: On The National Register
  • Foxburg Golf Course: On The National Register
    Foxburg Golf Course: On The National Register
  • Old Clarion County Jail: On The National Register
    Old Clarion County Jail: On The National Register
Clarion County Courthouse: On The National Register
Clarion County Courthouse: On The National Register

Explore . . .

The Sutton-Ditz Museum

  • Marquis Markle's Pilot License signed by Orville Wright.
    Marquis Markle's Pilot License signed by Orville Wright.
  • Velocipede circa 1880s
    Velocipede circa 1880s
  • Col. Richmand's Spanish American War Uniform donated by Dr. David Humphrey
    Col. Richmand's Spanish American War Uniform donated by Dr. David Humphrey
  • General Store Exhibit
    General Store Exhibit
  • Museum in Mourning: Victorian Wake
    Museum in Mourning: Victorian Wake
  • Viet Nam Collection Donated by Scott Bell
    Viet Nam Collection Donated by Scott Bell
  • Harry Nulph playing funeral hymns.
    Harry Nulph playing funeral hymns.
  • Mary Lea & Austin Lucas, Victorian Wake
    Mary Lea & Austin Lucas, Victorian Wake
  • Victorian Wake: The Widow Sutton and sisters
    Victorian Wake: The Widow Sutton and sisters
  • Jim Anderson, Mary Lea Lucas & Harry Nulph
    Jim Anderson, Mary Lea Lucas & Harry Nulph
  • Civil War Road Show
    Civil War Road Show
  • Tea Time!
    Tea Time!

The Sutton-Ditz Museum

&

The Ralph J. and Virginia A. Fulton Library

18 Grant Street

Clarion PA

   Listed on The National Register in 2004

 Built 1850 - Renovated 1908      

Military Room ~ Industry Exhibits ~ General Store

DAR Women's History Room

On "The Park Square"  ~  18 Grant Street   ~  Clarion PA  16214


 

Research...

 The CCHS

has moved 

The Ralph J. & Virginia A. Fulton Library

 to

The Sutton-Ditz Museum

at


18 Grant Street    

Clarion PA  16214

814.226.4450

CCHS gratefully thanks Lynne Fulton Deal & Frederick Deal for funding the new library sign.

NOTE:

   Our volunteers are available and happy

              to assist you when you visit our 

                       library and museum.


At this time we do not offer research services

              via phone, email or postal mail.

 

Researchers  from California to Australia and places in-between visit our
 library & archives  to do genealogy research.
  • Mr. & Mrs. Peter Morant from Perth, Australia
    Mr. & Mrs. Peter Morant from Perth, Australia
  • Mr. & Mrs. Chuck Schroeder from El Cajon CA
    Mr. & Mrs. Chuck Schroeder from El Cajon CA
Mr. & Mrs. Peter Morant from Perth, Australia
Mr. & Mrs. Peter Morant from Perth, Australia

 Experience...

   

 The Clarion County Historical Society

Both buildings face  "The Park Square" in the heart of Clarion, PA

 For the first time in history, grueling trench warfare became a defining characteristic of war. A US artilleryman uses some downtime in a trench in France to write home to his family on March 7, 1918


November 11, 2018


100th Anniversary


The Ending of WWI

 November 11, 2018, marks 100th Anniversary of end of World War I—

the “war to end all wars.”

In 1918, on “the 11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th month,” in a forest near the French city of Compiègne, French, British, and German leaders met and signed an armistice that officially ended a horrific conflict that claimed the lives of more than 16 million people over four years.

~Remembering  WWI Veterans of Clarion County~

from The Davis History of Clarion County Supplement

Pennsylvania's Historic Courthouses

on PCNTV

Featuring

The Clarion County Courthouse

Click through slideshow to see preservation progress!

  • AFTER
    AFTER
  • BEFORE
    BEFORE
  • After
    After
  • Back Double Colonnade Porch
    Back Double Colonnade Porch
  • Deteriorated Capital-Back Porch
    Deteriorated Capital-Back Porch
  • Back Porch
    Back Porch
  • Back Porch
    Back Porch

Centennial World War I Project:

The Clarion Weekly Report- September 6

The Clarion County Weekly Report is a project of the Clarion County Historical Society and the Clarion Free Library to commemorate the one hundredth anniversary of World War I and its impact on Clarion County, Pennsylvania.  This issue published   September 20, 2015   Design by Kristina Kiritchenko , layout and text by James T. Maccaferri.

 
 

 ~ Click below to see videos by CCHS member Hank Hufnagel! ~

Changing Clarion by Hank Hufnagel

http://youtu.be/gqxJMzpK038

 
 

~ Click  below to for a museum tour by CCHS member Hank Hufnagel! ~

 

~ The Historic Licking Church ~

News Flash!  Heartfelt thanks to life member Barbara Songer for funding the mowing & trimming at the Historic Licking Cemetery, to board member Terry Courson for all of his hard work in continuing to restore the Historic Licking Church, to Clarion Sherwin-Williams for donating the paint that made the NEW paint job possible,  and to  Clarion American Legion Post 66 for funding the flagpole.

To see more photos hover over "Sutton-Ditz Museum" on navigation bar above,  then click on "Historic Licking Church".

  • Historic Licking Church...Before
    Historic Licking Church...Before
  • In progress.
    In progress.
  • New paint. Thanks to Terry Courson & Clarion Sherwin-Williams!
    New paint. Thanks to Terry Courson & Clarion Sherwin-Williams!
  • Terry Courson restored the windows, and scraped & painted the church.
    Terry Courson restored the windows, and scraped & painted the church.
  • Window before
    Window before
  • Window after.
    Window after.
  • historic Licking Cemetery Mausoleum
    historic Licking Cemetery Mausoleum
  • Flag pole installed by volunteers.
    Flag pole installed by volunteers.
  • Clarion American Legion
    Clarion American Legion
  • Guest Todd Curll shows 1928 church photo.
    Guest Todd Curll shows 1928 church photo.
 
 

CCHS thanks Tim Rudolph from Tim's Shrubs & Hedges for donating

his time to trim the hedges at The Sutton-Ditz Museum!

  • Tim Rudolph
    Tim Rudolph
  • Overgrown hedges at The Sutton-Ditz Museum.
    Overgrown hedges at The Sutton-Ditz Museum.
  • Tim trimming the hedges.
    Tim trimming the hedges.
Tim Rudolph
Tim Rudolph

CCHS thanks Clarion Rotary for trimming shrubs & weeding at

The Sutton-Ditz Museum in time for 2013 Autumn Leaf!

  • Clarion Rotarians at The Sutton-Ditz Museum: Casey O'Toole & daughter Anna, Mary Lea Lucas, Scott Burns, Dan Parker, Jamie Lefever, Theresa Edder, Truman Mills, Mary Louise Logue, Gary Frank, Rick Tote
    Clarion Rotarians at The Sutton-Ditz Museum: Casey O'Toole & daughter Anna, Mary Lea Lucas, Scott Burns, Dan Parker, Jamie Lefever, Theresa Edder, Truman Mills, Mary Louise Logue, Gary Frank, Rick Tote
  • Gary Frank
    Gary Frank
  • Jamie Lefever, Casey O'Toole & Dan Parker
    Jamie Lefever, Casey O'Toole & Dan Parker
  • Rotary President Jamie Lefever & Secretary Dan Parker
    Rotary President Jamie Lefever & Secretary Dan Parker
  • Truman Mills
    Truman Mills
  • Anna O'Toole
    Anna O'Toole
  • Theresa Edder & Truman Mills
    Theresa Edder & Truman Mills
  • Scott Burns
    Scott Burns
  • Casey O'Toole
    Casey O'Toole
  • Rick Tote, Project Chair
    Rick Tote, Project Chair
  • Mary Louise Logue & Casey O'Toole
    Mary Louise Logue & Casey O'Toole
  • Anna & Casey O'Toole
    Anna & Casey O'Toole
Clarion Rotarians at The Sutton-Ditz Museum: Casey O'Toole & daughter Anna, Mary Lea Lucas, Scott Burns, Dan Parker, Jamie Lefever, Theresa Edder, Truman Mills, Mary Louise Logue, Gary Frank, Rick Tote
Clarion Rotarians at The Sutton-Ditz Museum: Casey O'Toole & daughter Anna, Mary Lea Lucas, Scott Burns, Dan Parker, Jamie Lefever, Theresa Edder, Truman Mills, Mary Louise Logue, Gary Frank, Rick Tote
 

 

CCHS is in partnership with

The Clarion Chapter DAR

to collaborate on important projects that celebrate the history and culture of Clarion County, PA.

 By capitalizing on the resources of each, the partnership will allow The CCHS  &

The CCDAR to reach new and expanding audiences.

 Like us on facebook!

Facebook

Tour the Sutton-Ditz Museum, research genealogy and Clarion County history at the Fulton Library & Archives, book a Victorian Tea at the Sutton-Ditz Museum or take a craft class.  There's always something to do at The Clarion County Historical Society!

 Discover Clarion County PA History!

  Callensburg PA History, Clarion PA History,  East Brady PA History, Emlenton PA History, Foxburg PA History,  Fryburg PA History, Hawthorn PA History, Knox PA History,

 Leeper PA History, Lucinda PA History, Marble PA History, New Bethlehem PA History,  Rimersburg PA History, Scotch Hill PA History, Shippenville PA History,  Sligo PA History, 

St. Petersburg PA History, Strattanville PA  History

~ CCHS MISSION STATEMENT ~  


Our goal is to ensure that our heritage will be preserved for future generations, and that everyone who comes through our doors feels welcomed, challenged, delighted, inspired and moved.


The purpose of The Clarion County Historical Society is the discovery, collection and preservation of materials pertaining to the history and culture of Clarion County, Pennsylvania, and to encourage the study and appreciation of that history by conducting events, exhibitions, and observances which will share the story of the individual character and distinction that makes Clarion County unique.

 

The Sutton-Ditz House Museum was established for the exhibit of items relating to and significant in the history of Clarion County, Pennsylvania, and its residents.

 

The Ralph J. & Virginia A. Fulton Library was established to assist researchers interested in family history and the history and culture of Clarion County, Pennsylvania.

 



CCHS is a 501(c)3 tax-exempt  non-profit educational institution.
~ The official registration and financial information of The Clarion County Historical Society
may be obtained from the Pennsylvania Department of State by calling toll-free,
within Pennsylvania, 1-800-732-0999. 
Registration does not imply endorsement.

 Donations are tax deductible as allowed by law. 

All content © Clarion County Historical Society 2013.
Duplication without permission is expressly prohibited.
Designed and administered by Mary Lea Lucas using WEBS

The

Sutton-Ditz Museum

and

The

The Ralph J. & Virginia A. Fulton Library

18 Grant Street

Clarion PA

 Our volunteers

  are available and happy to assist you

 when you visit our library and museum.


Sorry, at this time we do not offer research  services via phone, email or postal mail.


Watch
  Our Town Clarion  on wpsu/pbs

Join CCHS & help preserve our history!

The History of Veterans Day

On the 11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th month in 1918, World War I ended. This day became known as "Armistice Day." In 1921, an unknown World War I American soldier was buried in Arlington National Cemetery. Similarly, unknown soldiers had been buried in England at Westminster Abbey and at France at the Arc de Triomphe. All of these memorials took place on November 11th to commemorate the end of the "war to end all wars." In 1926, Congress resolved to officially call November 11th Armistice Day.

Then in 1938, the day was named a national holiday. Soon afterwards war broke out in Europe and World War II began.


Armistice Day

Becomes Veterans Day


 Soon after the end of World War II, a veteran of that war named Raymond Weeks organized "National Veterans Day" with a parade and festivities to honor all veterans. He chose to hold this on Armistice Day. Thus began annual observances of a day to honor all veterans not just the end of World War I. In 1954, Congress officially passed and President Dwight Eisenhower signed a bill proclaiming November 11 as Veteran's Day.


 In 1968, Congress changed the national commemoration of Veterans Day to the fourth Monday in October. However, the significance of November 11 was such that the changed date never really got established. In 1978, Congress returned the observance of Veterans Day to its traditional date. Due to his part in the creation of this national holiday, Raymond Weeks received the Presidential Citizens Medal from President Ronald Reagan in November 1982.


CCHS Opens "Thriftique Booth"

at 

Dan Smith's 

Main Street Emporium


622 Main St, Clarion, PA 

CCHS thanks Mary Hahn for donating the HP laptop computer, software & 2 yr. warranty package!

CCHS Director & Staff

Mary Lea Lucas

Executive Director & Curator

Shelly Ion

Administrative Assistant

Membership Registrar


Adam Stephens

Museum & Library

Assistant


Harry Nulph

Board Chairman 

Library & Research Assistant


Rudy Jannazzo

Board Vice Chairman 

Library Assistant


Madelon Callen

Volunteer Coordinator


Carol Kiser

Museum Assistant


Darlene Flick

Library Assistant


Melanie Parker

Accessions & Archives Assistant


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17 S 5th Ave clarion pa 16214
 
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