For the second year in a row, the Schuylkill County Historical Society has been able to run an essay contest for high school students and give cash prizes.
"This is thanks to a New Philadelphia native who made donations to the society," David Derbes, society president, said Wednesday.
Called the annual "High Schools of Schuylkill County History Contest," it's a project spearheaded by New Philadelphia native Marty Hupka and his wife, Ann, now of Chadd's Ford, Delaware County.
Last year, the Hupkas gave $1,500 to the project and gave the same amount this year, Derbes said.
The top winners, judged by the historical society's board of directors, were:
- First place - "A Family of Service," an essay about the sacrifices the Allison family of Port Carbon made in the Civil War, by Brittany Buleza, 14, a freshman at Pottsville Area. The prize was $500.
In Port Carbon, there's a memorial to Agnes Allison, a Port Carbon mother who lost four of her five sons in the Civil War. The sons were John and Alexander, who died in 1863, and James and George, who died in 1864. The memorial, located next to borough hall, 301 First St., was dedicated July 4, 1908, according to the Schuylkill County Pennsylvania Military History website.
"I chose this topic because it's one of the first things you see when you go into Port Carbon, the monument, and it's just really inspiring how a whole family can give up so much just for one cause, to save the whole nation," said Buleza, daughter of Joan and Dave Buleza, Pottsville.
- Second place - "Mar Lin Dam" by Laura Dallago, 16, a junior at Pottsville Area. The prize was $300.
The remains of the cabins at Mar Lin Dam are only a walk away from Dallago's home.
"My father's recounting of childhood summers spent at the Mar Lin Dam seem like chimerical tales as we look upon the desolate, drained space," Dallago, daughter of Michael and Vickie Dallago, Mar Lin, said in her essay.
Mar Lin Park opened on May 29, 1915. On the perimeter, 12 cabins were built and used as summer homes for their owners. In the 1960s, the area drew hundreds of people on summer afternoons. In February 1999, seven of the cabins burned in an arson fire. Today, only one cabin remains and it's in bad condition, according to Dallago's essay.
"Nature is slowly regaining control of the area, and surely within another 15 years the place will be totally unrecognizable," Dallago said.
- Third place - "The Mahanoy Plane" by Madeline Domalakes, 16, a junior at Nativity BVM. The prize was $200.
"I live near Mahanoy Plane and my grandfather actually ran trains through there," said Domalakes, the daughter of Paul and Patricia Domalakes, Frackville.
The contest was open to high school students in Schuylkill County in grades nine through 12. The historical society sent letters to all county high schools. This year, three participated, Nativity BVM, Pottsville Area and Tamaqua Area.
Last year, only three participated as well, Pottsville Area, Tamaqua Area and Williams Valley.
"The essay must be in the students' own words about a historic place or event that is connected with Schuylkill County. It must be a minimum of 300 words but no more than 500 words in length and typed. Students must include one photo and not more than five photos of the historic building, place or event," according to the instructions, printed in the society's November-December newsletter.
Entries were due Dec. 14 and were judged on two levels, Derbes said.
First was the "high school" level.
Each school was required to select the top three winners of the school competition, then they would submit those to the historical society for judging.
In the school competition, the first place winner received $50, second place received $30 and third place received $20, Derbes said.
Each school assembled its own panel of judges, which was made up of faculty, Derbes said.
The three winners in this level of competition from Nativity BVM were: Domalakes, $50; Felicia Wranitz, $30; and Kayla Prezeiski, $20.
The three winners in this level of competition from Pottsville Area were: Nicole Stephens, $50; Dallago, $30; and Buleza, $20.
The three winners in this level of competition from Tamaqua Area were: Shane Baddick, $50; Jessica Thomas, $30; and there was a tie for third, and the prize was split between Derek Rottet, $10, and Laine Confer, $10.
The top winners in the high school competition are placed in the historical society competition, judged by the society's board of directors, Derbes said.