Author: Robb Helfrick

In a regrettable scenario too common in American communities, a building or landmark of historic significance is lost forever due to development, economic hardship, or catastrophe. These losses diminish all sectors of society, from individual property owners, to business districts and neighborhoods, to county, state, and national preservation efforts. Fortunately, there are numerous programs and organizations devoted to minimizing these irreparable damages. The National Register of Historic Places (NRHP) is one such program, administered by the National Park Service. The NRHP began with the 1966 National Historic Preservation Act. This legislation was enacted to coordinate and support public and private…

For those of us privileged to know them, the January passing of two Waynesboro men was a tremendous loss. Jack Duffey, 90, died on January 6th, and Bill Helfrick, 93, passed away on January 13th. After fulfilling productive lives that mirrored each other in many ways, it seems almost fitting that Jack and Bill, who were next-door neighbors and friends for half a century, concluded their long journeys only a week apart. I was fortunate to know these special men. Jack Duffey was my coach, neighbor, and friend. Bill Helfrick was my role model, mentor, and loving father. After an…

Cold Spring Park still inspires vivid memories. For most of the 20th century, this charming Waynesboro park mirrored the evolution of how society traveled, gathered, and played. Unique traditions developed during 80 enjoyable years. These customs were inspired not only by a trolley company and a dedicated family of local ownership, but also by the social graces and joyful fads of revelers who flocked there year after year. On February 10th, Cold Spring’s fun and fellowship were remembered through a pleasant story-telling session at the Waynesboro Historical Society. Forty years after the park’s closure, the Oller House hosted event re-lived…

WAYNESBORO- The Waynesboro Area School District (WASD) honored its School Board Directors during an appreciation month in January. As part of a statewide celebration, the district hosted several events to show gratitude for the nine Board members who shape policy and help guide WASD toward a prosperous future. WASD Superintendent Dr. Rita Sterner-Hine commented on the January festivities and also spoke about how the school district’s leadership and faculty will partner with the School Board during 2024 and beyond to improve the education environment for area students. Superintendent Sterner-Hine said she and Assistant Superintendent Dr. Todd Dishong were fortunate to…

For its first 150 years, Fort Frederick was a sleepy military and civilian outpost along the scenic Potomac River. This historic stone fort was built by British colonists, commissioned by Maryland’s leadership in 1756. Perhaps because it was designed and built rock solid- creating a commanding first impression to any who dare challenge it- Fort Frederick saw scarce action in American wars during the next century. But in recent years, the fort transitioned into a treasured architectural, cultural, and recreational Maryland landmark. The fort’s original construction was overseen by Horatio Sharpe, Maryland’s colonial Governor. The design chosen conformed to a…

CHAMBERSBURG- The Chambersburg School District will host a Job Fair, Thursday Feb. 8, from 10 a.m. to noon and 5 to 7 p.m., at the District Administration Office. The school district, which teaches approximately 10,000 students, will conduct on-site interviews of qualified candidates for a variety of positions. These careers include Certified Special Education teachers, Teaching Assistants, Personal Care Assistants, Substitute Part-Time Nurses (LPNs), Social Workers, and Speech Language Pathologists. Full-time positions include a benefit package. The street address for the Job Fair is 435 Stanley Avenue, Chambersburg. Career applicants can also apply online: www.casdonline.org/apply. The Chambersburg School District is…

The Waynesboro Area School District is preparing to welcome the Class of 2037 with a Kindergarten Orientation on February 26, 2024 from 6:30 to 7:30 PM. Area children who reach the age of five before September 1, 2024 are eligible to attend kindergarten beginning in August this year. During this orientation meeting, which will take place at a child’s respective upcoming school, parents will have an opportunity to meet the principal, interact with kindergarten teachers, and learn more about the formal registration process which begins in March. Children will attend a school in their attendance zone. To find this location,…

During America’s Civil War, Union General William Tecumseh Sherman uttered a famous quote: “War is hell”. Sherman’s scorched-earth campaigns never touched the Cumberland Valley, but his observation about warfare’s cruelty certainly proved true for several local towns. They faced a harsh choice during the Civil War: pay a Confederate ransom, or their town would burn. Chambersburg, Pennsylvania and Frederick, Maryland managed those rebel extortion demands differently, and faced their consequences for decades afterward. During the Civil War’s first chapters, battles were fought in Confederate territory, sparing Union citizens from war’s savagery being acted out on their streets. Then, Robert E.…

GREENCASTLE- Through March 31, 2024, the Greencastle-Antrim School District and the Giant Company are combining their charitable forces to help ease food insecurity for local school children. This “Feeding School Kids” initiative aims to nourish students and also raise awareness of a persistent problem among low income families. The school district asks the community to participate in this worthy program at their local Giant grocery store, and also communicate its purpose to friends and family. Participation is simple. When shopping at Giant, accept the invitation to “round up” to the nearest dollar at the register. This amount will then be…

When the Chesapeake and Ohio Canal’s first-phase eastern section was completed in 1850, the ambitious transportation project was already obsolete. The 184.5 mile-long waterway, engineered and constructed along the Potomac River’s northern shore from Washington, DC, to Cumberland, Maryland, was partially inspired by an early canal advocate: George Washington. Washington’s “Potowmack Company” formed in 1785 to improve navigation on the river, and it built minor skirting canals around five different Potomac fall areas. At Great Falls, transportation upriver was virtually impossible due to rugged and rocky terrain. Reliable water flow on this river was also inconsistent. But a grand canal…