Yard Sales Kick Off 150th Anniversary Celebration in Manorville

by David Croyle

“Today is the beginning of a pretty festive summer for us in Manorville.”

That is how Linda Cornman described how almost a dozen yard sales that were being held in Manorville Saturday kicked off a year-long celebration of the town’s 150th Anniversary.

“Every year, Manorville has a Community-Wide Yard Sale. This is the 6th Annual. We have a lot of families participate. It’s something we do for the residents of the town so they can get goods out there and make some money. But we can also showcase our town because you can park your car and walk within a few blocks and get six or eight garage sales. We have had good participation over the years so we continue to do it.”

For local resident Heidi Fichthorn, the sales are just a reason to bond with other neighbors.

“The highlight is all the neighbors getting out to see each other, because we all work. We are all busy. It is the one day of the year that the neighbors get out and go to each other’s houses and gather at the church and have food together.”

Residents went house to house talking and taking a peek at tables of trinkets looking for a reason to be in a new home. Tina Sanford from Manor Township came over to look over the items and buy Saturday night’s supper for the family.

“I spent down here in Manorville close to $57. Most of it went to the church around the corner. I bought bunch of toys for my grandson, clothes, lots and lots of cookies and baked goods. Right now we have hot dogs and sweet sausages from the church for dinner.”

Diane Petras now lives on Manor Drive in Manor Township, but has fond memories of living in Manorville.

“I come here because it’s a wonderful community that I lived in for 17 years. I find some treasures here and there but basically I come back to enjoy the company and hang out for a little bit. I come through a lot because I like the river and all the friends I left.”

Manorville originally was part of the William Penn Manor of Kittanning until the mid-1800s. This year, Cornman said, will be the 150th anniversary of the town.

“Manorville was founded in 1866. We have an anniversary committee that are working on things. We are planning several things. Today is the kick off of the celebration with the yard sales. On August 13, we are going to have bands and food booths down where it used to be the old school building (604 Water Street). September 10, we are having a roast beef dinner at the fire hall where the council will be there and Tim Kutch is going to come and do his illusion and magic show for the people that buy tickets.”

Cornman said the town’s 400 residents didn’t want the year to go by without commemorating the 150th anniversary.

“I was involved with the previous ones - the 125th, 130th, 135th - but we haven’t done anything since 2000 so this is our first attempt at another celebration over a 15-year span. So we are looking forward to it.”

Her husband, Daniel has been a councilman for the past 36-1/2 years.

“The committee fundraised and we bought every homeowner a blue reflective sign. It was my husband’s idea. Being on council, they really didn’t have the funds to do it, but the committee fundraised. One of the projects is that we are giving every property owner in Manorville a 911 reflective sign so that delivery trucks, the Visiting Nurses, ambulance, police, and emergency responders can find them. If you live on the front street, it is easy to find you, but if you live on a side street, it’s very difficult,” Cornman said.

Manorville’s population has stayed relatively the same, peaking in 1950 to 662 residents during the industrial boom in Ford City. The average age of a Manorville resident is 48 years old with an annual salary of approximately $55,000.

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