P.O. Box 517, Weirton, WV 26062

Volume 7 Issue 3

Also in this issue:

Museum Officers:

March 31, 2015

President/Exec. Director

Dennis R. Jones

Vice President

Pamela Makricosta

Treasurer

Paul B. Zuros

Secretary

Kim Salter

Museum Location:

3149 Main Street

Weirton, WV 26062

Newsletter Composer: Dennis R. Jones

dennis143@comcast.net

Museum Phone:

(304) 479-7266 (cell phone)

Museum Hours:

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The Festival of Nations Reflects Our Cultural Diversity

Website:

www.weirtonmuseum.com

Email Address:

Above: Dr. Juginder Luthra and his 6 grandchildren sing a favorite cheerful song of India, which starts out as “Mera Joota Hai Japani ...” translated to American as “My Shoe is Made in Japan ...” Dr. Dolly Luthra, his wife, served as Master of Ceremonies for the 14 ethnic groups represented on stage at the Weirton Millsop Community Center March 21st. The names of their grandchildren are Amartya, Jaya, Amaya, Ilan, Arjan, and Shyam.

Weirton Transit Corporation’s 25th Anniversary Celebration

A Message from the President The month of March brought us a cheerful time at our 7th

Annual Festival of Nations. It was a time when representatives

of our rich ethnic diversity got together and proudly displayed

their native homeland traditions here in the great melting pot

of Weirton, West Virginia. We thank Drs. Juginder and Dolly

Luthra for leading WAMCC’s Festival of Nations for the 7th

straight year, starting in 2009 on the 100th Anniversary of the

founding of Weirton.

In addition to the festival this month, the museum was also

invited to provide a display for the 25th Anniversary Celebra-

tion of the Weirton Transit Corporation. In this issue of the

newsletter, we highlight all of the above and some special

recognition to volunteers. Thank you all and best wishes for

the spring!

Every Day 10-2

You may call to set up an appointment

for other possible times.

Also Find Us on FACEBOOK

UPCOMING EVENTS Apr. 18 John Hancock Pen Club 6:00 pm Reception, Song & Po-etry reading from the book: Time’s Essence at the museum. Oct. 17 7th Annual Robert Haworth Art Exhibition + Art Auction 12-4 pm at the museum Several more events being planned. Check our website www.weirtonmuseum.com and LIKE us on facebook!

Page 2 Volume 7, Issue 3 Weirton Area Museum and Cultural Center Newsletter

Colorful Performances at the 7th Annual Festival of Nations

Above: It was the year 2013 when Sofia-Teresa DiBacco (left) made her debut at WAMCC’s Festival of Nations charming the crowd with songs she sings in Italian. It was last year when her sister Lucia (middle) made her debut accompanying Sofia-Teresa on stage. This year provided opportunity for their younger sister Valentina (right) to be there with them, much to the delight of the audience. The future is bright for this young group named Le Sorelle Di Bacco (The Di Bacco Sisters).

Above: Nila Boyd represented Scotland and marched through the crowd playing her bagpipes. Nila has performed at several of WAMCC’s Festival of Nations events. Other groups performing includ-ed the St. Joseph’s School Choir, Italian American Culture Club, Nandanik Dance Academy, and more.

Above: The Kyiv Ukrainian Dance Academy, a regular performer at WAMCC’s Festival of Nations, provided a pleasant variety of dances depicting the Ukrainian homeland traditions. We were very honored to have their high-stepping talent at the festival again this year.

Photo by DRJ: 3-21-2015

Page 3 Volume 7, Issue 3 Weirton Area Museum and Cultural Center Newsletter

Above: Joe Stankiewicz, representing the Phoenix Society of WV, is shown with the Weirton Heights City Building cornerstone which was donated by the society to the museum in February.

Above: Photo of the Weirton Heights city building taken in the 1940s, shows the cornerstone at bottom right. The building was constructed in 1938, when Weirton Heights became an incorporated city.

Photo by DRJ: 11-11-2010

Cornerstone Saved by Phoenix Society

Above: A large selection of good food was made available by the Phil-ippine-American Performing Arts of Greater Pittsburgh group (PAPAGP). This group also had a display table and was one of two Philippine groups that performed on stage at the festival. The other Philippine group that performed on stage was the Filipino American Association of Pittsburgh (FAAP).

Above: The Taj Mahal restaurant featured a good selection of delicious food from India. There was also a nice display table representing India with Namita, Rohini, and Rashmi Luthra and Dr. C Nandra. Other groups that had display tables included Poland (Yvonne Tuchal-ski), Italy (Victor & Cindi Greco Lamp, Dr. Ehle), Belli-Italia (Mary Wal-ters), German Dolls (Cindy Lucas), China (Eve Barnhart & Peggy Wang).

Photo by DRJ Photo Courtesy Eloise Evans

Delicious Food at the 7th Annual Festival of Nations

Above: WAMCC Board Member and Festival Committee member Joe Stankiewicz is shown making his way to the back stage area with some well deserved food from one of the 8 food vendors at the festival. The large audience filled the Millsop Community Center throughout the day. Food vendors included Mr. Olive Baptist Church, All Saints Greek Orthodox Church, Taj Mahal Restaurant, Antonio Meucci Lodge #2506, Nana’s Little Sweets, Philippine-American food, Carter Bar-B-Que, and Bill Pendergrast Barbequed food.

Page 4 Volume 7, Issue 3 Weirton Area Museum and Cultural Center Newsletter

Above: A portion of the crowd making their way through the many display tables and food booths at the 7th Annual Festival of Nations. Walking at the bottom left are members of the Olgebay Institute of Youth Folk Dancers.

Delicious Food at the 7th Annual Festival of Nations

Above: The Mount Olive Baptist Church offered a good blend of Afri-can American / USA food, and it is always a good time visiting their food booth at the festival.

Above: The Philoptochos Society of the All Saints Greek Orthodox Church (bottom-right) offered a good variety of Greek pastries, includ-ing delicious baklava. Olivia Carter and Barb Canterbury are busy working at the Carter Bar-B-Que table in the upper left of picture.

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Above: The Olglebay Institute Folk Dancers representing many nations of Europe on stage including Poland, Hungary, Germany, Norway, Swit-zerland, Russia, Bolivia, and Sweden. Other performers included the Yanlai Dance Academy, Sheena Chopra, Victoria Gerst, and Tadashi Kato.

Above: The Weirton Area Museum & Cultural Center’s table was kept fairly busy. Museum member Lea Shirer (standing in center) kept track of the many book & calendar sales. Seated at the table is Lea’s grand-daughter, Victoria Gerst, who sang the National Anthem and several other Patriotic songs on stage during the festival. The complete Festival of Nations program book can be found on line at : www. weirtonmuseum.com

Above: Three museum board members were singled out for the volun-teer time they have given toward the museum. Museum President Den-nis Jones presented awards left to right 1) Paul B. Zuros (for his 8 years of preparing the monthly treasury reports and paying the many bills) 2) Ed Giacchino for working at the museum all winter repairing dry wall and painting the upstairs, and 3) Drs. Juginder and Dolly Luthra for organiz-ing and running the Festival of Nations for the past 7 years.

Photo by DRJ: 2-12-2015

More Scenes at the 7th Annual Festival of Nations

Museum Volunteers Recognized at the Festival

Page 6 Volume 7, Issue 3 Weirton Area Museum and Cultural Center Newsletter

Weirton Transit Corp. Holds 25th Anniversary Celebration

Above: A large group of people came and filled the Weirton Room at the Millsop Community Center for the 25th Anniversary Celebration of the Weirton Transit Corporation.

Above: Leading off the program was the children of the Weirton Christian Center (led by Olivia Carter) singing “The Wheels on the Bus Go Round & Round . . .” Handling the microphones for the chil-dren were Barb Zimnox (WTC Administrative Assistant) and Kevin Beynon (WTC Transit Manager).

Above: Edwin Bowman (left) was Weirton’s mayor when the Weirton Transit Corp. was formed in 1989. He and current mayor, George Kon-dik (center) were present at the 25th Anniversary Celebration.

Weirton Transit Corp. - 25 Years Old On June 1, 1989, Weirton Mayor Edwin Bowman declared

“Today is what I consider to be a historic day - introducing

the first (non-private) public transportation system in the

history of Weirton.” It was a long period of 11 years since

the P&W Bus Company, a private company run by Star-

vaggi Enterprises, ceased operations in 1978. Bowman

cited the new system as “vital to the progress of economic

development in the community” and he mentioned the

importance of the buses to the senior citizens. On March 26, 2015, Mr. Bowman spoke again at the Weir-

ton Transit Corporation’s 25th Anniversary Celebration.

He thanked BHJ (Brooke-Hancock-Jefferson Planning

Commission) for their involvement with the system. Wal-

ter Angelini, Weirton Transit Corp’s first Board President

was also present to speak at the celebration. He spoke of

the importance of the Bus to the community and how it

was a given way of life to get to your destination back in

the days when the P&W Bus Company was in operation.

P&W Bus Co. Display by Weirton Area Museum Museum President Dennis Jones was invited to put up a

display of the old P&W Bus Company in Weirton for the

anniversary of WTC. Jo Ann Morrison is shown (at left)

looking at the display featuring several P&W bus fare to-

kens, driver badges, service awards, large bus decal, and

photos. P&W Bus Co. operated here from 1931 to 1978.

Dennis also put up ten large 24 x 36 P&W Bus photos,

which will be on display all summer at the Weirton Room.