The Olde Days of Rimersburg

To bring the history of the area back to the forefront of people's minds, in a form that allows the public to look through historical pictures for years to come. The Eccles-Lesher Memorial Library is selling historical cds. The cds will present old photographs of the Rimersburg area in the format of a slideshow. The cds will be sold at the Cookie Days Festival, August 13-15, 2004 for $10.00. You can view a small sampling of the pictures here. Any questions about this project, or to look through a photograph album filled with copies of these pictures, can be directed to the Eccles-Lesher Memorial Library.

How did the library get the glass negatives that are used in this project? The photos were taken by Sammy Fisher. He was born on February 28, 1875 and died on March 2, 1959 at the age of 84. He married Anna Jane McCoy. Sammy Fisher lived in a house next to the Community Building that was built by the Civilian Conservation Corp after the Depression. He ran a printing shop and photograpy shop out of his house. After his death, his daughter lived in the house, and before she moved away, she sold the house and gave the negatives to the Borough. They have been stored in the upstairs of the Community Building since 1959 or maybe longer. The house was torn down in 1990's. It was recently that the negatives were given to the library for archival purposes, and from there, the library, motivated by the late Don Hiwiller began this project.

Don Hiwiller Don was born on December 24, 1914 and died January 17, 2004. He was the son of Stephen and Martha Hiwiller. He graduated from Emlenton High School in 1932, then received a BS degree in 1936 at Clarion State College, and an MS in 1948 from University of Pittsburgh. He taught at Union High School from 1938 until 1943. Afterwards becoming acting principal until 1946 when, in 1948, he became the prinicipal until he retired in 1975. In 1943, he married Mary Hilliard. Beginning in 1975 he became very active within the library by serving as trustee and also treasurer. He had become the "local historian for Rimersburg," as he loved to do research on Rimersburg and compile information. He had the "HomeTown Movies of 1925, 1937, and 1939 placed on video cassette to preserve some local history. He also coauthored a book, " School Days 1920-1959" about the rural schools of Union School District. He compiled a database of 9500 names for the cemetery listings of Rimersburg. Other notables: Chosen as Citizen of Year in 1998 by Chamber of Commerce. Received the Silver and Gold Award for PA in technology for senior citizens in 2000.

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