IN RECOGNITION OF THE 100TH ANNIVERSARY OF WAVERLY TOWSHIP AND THE WAVERLY COMMUNITY HOUSE; Congressional Record Vol. 165, No. 125
(Extensions of Remarks - July 24, 2019)
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[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E971-E972]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
IN RECOGNITION OF THE 100TH ANNIVERSARY OF WAVERLY TOWSHIP AND THE
WAVERLY COMMUNITY HOUSE
______
HON. MATT CARTWRIGHT
of pennsylvania
in the house of representatives
Wednesday, July 24, 2019
Mr. CARTWRIGHT. Madam Speaker, I rise today to commemorate the 100th
anniversary of Waverly Township, Pennsylvania and the Waverly Community
House. The first cornerstone for the Waverly Community House, the hub
of community activity and affectionately known as `the Comm,' was laid
in 1919.
Waverly found its humble beginning as a few settlers homesteading in
a small area of a forest, but as more businesses and settlements began
to populate the area, local resident and philanthropist Margaretta
Belin and her children saw the need for a space for their community to
gather. The idea was a tribute to her beloved husband Henry Belin Jr.
who passed away in 1917. As the director of the Scranton Lace Company,
Henry was steadfastly dedicated to emphasizing the importance of
recreation to his staff. The Belins incorporated the memory of their
dear father into the mission statement and purpose of the Waverly
Community House as a place for residents to gather, learn, and play
together. In 1919, under the direction of architect George M.D. Lewis,
the Comm was built, and in 1920 the building and the portion of the
land were deeded to Abington Township.
In the century that followed, the Comm faithfully embodied the spirit
of the Belin family's mission to promote civic engagement and
recreational activities for the Abingtons and beyond. The original
building included a bowling alley, a gathering area, a post office, a
library, and the first kindergarten in Lackawanna County. The Comm
offered activities such as an annual fair, classes, tennis tournaments,
and movie. During World War II, the Comm was pivotal in support the war
effort on the home front by organizing volunteer efforts, sending
regular newsletters to soldiers stationed abroad, holding defense
meetings, and collecting book donations.
As the Comm flourished, the Belin children dedicated two additional
wings to the building in honor of their mother to accommodate its
growing community events. The rooms are still in use today and house
spaces for camps, education, arts programs, and a welcome center which
features Destination Freedom, a Walking Tour of the Underground
Railroad in
[[Page E972]]
Waverly. The Comm continues to be the center of community life in
Waverly. Special events like the annual Antiques Show and Sale, the
Artisans' Marketplace, the House and Garden Show, Summer Music
Concerts, and seasonal children's parties.
It is an honor to recognize Waverly Township and the Waverly
Community House on their centennial. The Comm has been the heartbeat of
community life in the Abingtons since 1919, and I wish them another
hundred years of growth and prosperity in the tradition of service to
others, recreation, and civic engagement.
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