[September 8, 2024] It was 36 years ago when a small group of friends gathered in the living room of one of the town’s citizens to discuss how to create something positive. Since that time, each year, a one-day celebration occurs; they call it Schuylkill Haven Borough Day.
In this small central Pennsylvania town, the annual event draws about 5,000 people or more in a town with a population about that size. The celebration is designed to show off the community-minded spirit of its people.
“The Little Town that Could®” demonstrates that strong leadership works great regardless of the number of people involved, the resources available (small budget), or the town’s size. There is a huge variety of free entertainment, low-cost train rides, free transportation, an antique car show, and complete community involvement.
From getting volunteers to help set up to clean up, beginning to end, both young and old helped where they could. Those things that must be done that are often hidden behind the curtain and often unseen are handled with great care and successfully. While volunteering is arduous at times, there is a sense of pride in the volunteers who are rewarded only by a kind word and a ‘thank you’ from those attending.
The little town of Schuylkill Haven Borough has managed to pull off a fantastic time for all, do so safely, and with everyone leaving happy … and yes, a bit tired at the end of the day.
I tip my hat to those few who pulled this off for the past 36 years, year after year, without complaint or asking for a handout from the government.
Good citizen leadership is what made it happen. Intense personal involvement by those on their committee showed us that all it takes is a little cooperation and a gentle push from a few wonderful people.
This year, the event will happen on Saturday, 28 September. If you are close to this Pennsylvania town, I recommend that you plan to spend the entire day there. Take your family. It will be worth the trip, rain or shine.
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Schuylkill Haven Borough Day website: https://www.shboroughday.com/
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I hope to get there.
I live in Philly and I just might drive up to Schuylkill Haven to attend. Thank you, Gen. Satterfield for highlighting them.
Wow, very colorful website and looks like a fun time for families.
From what I’ve read on Schuylkill Haven Borough Day, the original folks who put it together had the philosophy that there would be a celebration of their town, that is safe, fun, and inexpensive. They wanted families to be able to bring all their kids and see the free entertainment, get a hot dog and coke, and yet spend less than $20 doing so for the whole day. Now this was a long time ago but still applies today. Their website didn’t mention this but I knew some folks from Schuylkill County who are big supporters of the Borough Day event. I’m sure those running it now have the same idea.
Americans are always working hard to have fun …. and I think they are rad.
Cool !!!!!! Looks like a great time for the entire family. 👍👍👍👍👍👍
Gen. Satterfield has mentioned these folks before and IMHO they deserve that very recognition. I also understand that Gen. S. himself was one of the original organizers of this Borough Day. Good for him and the entire municiplaity. We need more like this where towns celebrate their citizens, keep prices down so a family can attend and not go broke. I tried searching the local newspaper The Republican Herald but their search feature crashed. I did see an Orwigsburg Day, another local borough. I hope they feature Schuylkill Haven’s Borogh Day.
BRAVO for the “Little Town that Could.”
I agree, Bill, there is always a good place to find, but only if you look for it. Good leadership in small towns is rarely found but looks like a great one here. I live too far away to attend, but I went to the website: https://www.shboroughday.com/ and discovered that they sure appear to know what they are doing. Thank you Gen. Satterfield for highlighting them.
Looks like a great town celebration. I wish others would do more like this, instead of calling in those little circuses to sap the money from locals.
Excellent point, Vanguard. I knew plenty of towns that outscource all their local entertainment and most of the time, this outscourcing puts their citizens at a disadvantage in terms of spending too much money on too little. Looks like Schuylkill Haven PA has figure out how to solve that problem by having its own citizens do the work it takes. This is what the good ole’ USA used to be about.
Most small towns are like this, or at least I like to think they are. Locals doing the good things that make their town a great place to live, attend church services, raise your kids, and be safe in your homes. too many town leaders now a days are too damn lazy to do anything other than collect a paycheck.
yeah, me too