“People in the past didn’t live in black and white; it is hard for some folks to believe but there really was color in the world then and people lived these vibrant lives,” said Lu Vandermark, executive director of the McKean County Historical Society’s Old Jail Museum.

“I think it is important for people to realize that human nature doesn’t change, and people in the past were still people just like us,” she added.

The members of the historical society are dedicated to maintaining and protecting the cultural artifacts that help tell the tales of the area’s past. The museum’s collection is maintained and curated by Vandermark. While she is the executive director, she prefers a different title.

“‘That is just the title they gave me at a board meeting but it really translates to ‘master-of-all-trades,’” Vandermark laughed.

Vandermark once worked as a geologist, a job that she truly loved. However, she and her family decided to move to Smethport after her children were born.

“We finally figured out that family was more important than money and we wanted to raise our children in this area,” Vandermark said.

Back in 2000, Vandermark was a stay-at-home mom who was looking for a way to entertain herself and get out of the house for a few hours a week. The late Eileen McKean, longtime historical society president, happened to live next door to Vandermark’s mother.

“Eileen talked me into coming in for six hours a week,” Vandermark recalled.

“That six hours a week has expanded a lot over the years — there are some weeks you could add a zero to that number.”

Vandermark was further enticed to help at the museum when she realized that many of the young people around her didn’t understand or appreciate our area’s rich culture.

“I overheard them saying how this area was kind of podunk and that there wasn’t much going on here,” Vandermark said. “I got involved because I believe that there are a lot of good things here and I wanted them to know those stories of our shared history.”

Vandermark is quick to point out that McKean County is the birthplace of many industries and technological innovations. Not only did McKean County have a foothold in the creation of the oil and gas industry, but also the glass and lumber industries.

“Everyone knows about the first well being in Titusville but they didn’t really get the infrastructure to get the wells up and running until they got to McKean County,” Vandermark said.

She appreciates how her job at the museum has ensured that she is a lifetime learner.

“One that I just learned about recently is that McKean County is also the birthplace of the first trucking company. Trucks had been invented then but nobody had thought to use them in that particular way before.”

There were also many inventions that were first created in McKean County, such as the dresser coupling created by Solomon Dresser.

The museum attracts visitors from all over the world, including the former U.S. Ambassador to Japan, who donated a kimono to the collection.

“It was gifted to him when he was an ambassador but they aren’t allowed to accept gifts over a certain monetary amount so he arranged for it to come here,” Vandermark said.

People also turn to the museum staff with their genealogy questions. Vandermark recalled a woman who lived in Washington state. She had never met her father, but knew that he lived in Smethport in the 1940s and was involved in the town band.

With the help of Jack Perotti, Vandermark was able to track down a picture of the band, scan the face of the young man who had been identified as the woman’s father, and send the woman a picture.

“She called me crying and said that she had never seen a picture of her dad but when she saw that picture she knew it was him because it looked just like her son,” Vandermark said.

Those moments are the ones that help reenergize Vandermark’s dedication to the cause.

“That was a really special moment, and one that I will never forget. They remind me why this is important — I wish other people could see more of what we do,” she said.

The Old Jail Museum can only keep its doors open if people continue to donate. The organization is regularly strapped for cash, and frequently starts its year out in the red.

“I would love to see this place not be so financially strained. There is so much potential here and it would be nice to breathe easy for once,” Vandermark said.

“We have the ability to draw in tourists from all over the world who will support other small businesses around here as long as we can get the word out,” she added.

Another issue is that Vandermark herself is one of the youngest people at the museum.

“I would love to see the younger people getting involved. A lot of our volunteers are of the older generation who can’t do as much anymore,” she said.

Those with an interest in history can find a variety of ways that they can get involved, Vandermark explained.

“We need all types of people here, and there are a million different ways that someone can use their talent.”

Throughout the year, the museum offers programs to the public on a variety of topics, and for the last seven years, they have hosted Arts on the Island — an art show held at Hamlin Lake featuring local artists.

This year, they hosted a program about the solar eclipse. They will hold more programs throughout the summer and fall, including one held by Bart Barton, who will lecture on how Americans went to the moon.

“This year is the anniversary; it will be 55 years since we landed on the moon so we wanted to do something special to celebrate that,” Vandermark said.

In July, they will invite local artisans to come help restore the Leonard Johnson Christmas decorations. They are still looking for volunteers to help with this.

In August, the historical society will once again have a building at the fairgrounds where they feature an exhibit. This year, visitors will learn all about the history of the lumber industry in McKean County.

For several years, the historical society has been working to restore a fire tower with funds provided from a grant from the Lumber Heritage Region.

“When it is done it will be handicapped accessible and people can come explore it. Inside they will learn all about the fire towers and how they were instrumental in keeping our forests from burning down,” Vandermark said. “You will also learn about how we got it down off the hill, saved the tower and restored it.”