For the past 28 years Patricia Schneider had been head of the West End Fair Museum with co-chair Dorothy Davidson, who passed away earlier this year.

Schneider explained that the front of the building, which had been the fair office, was the only part of the museum until 1996, the 75th anniversary of the fair, when additional space was added.

The new head of the museum, Lisa Borger, has added a few new features this year including a map where people can put a pin in the location of a loved one who was/is in the military.

A pin is placed on their hometown as well as where they served. Fourteen-year-old Blair Rockwell placed a pin for her uncle Logan Mackes, who is in Fort Hood, Texas. Rockwell plans to join the ROTC.

For the 250th anniversary of our nation, Borger put word out that she was looking for local military photos and was pleasantly surprised when she received 400 pictures. Some of the photos are incorporated into every room.

One is a tribute to former fair director Barry L. Schaffer of Jonas.

The framed dedication reads Barry Lee Schaffer “proudly served in the U.S. Army during the Vietnam era.”

He enlisted in April 1965 and served as a bridge specialist and construction worker, “contributing to vital military engineering operations.”

During his service, he earned several distinguished awards including the Purple Heart, National Defense Service Medal, Republic of Vietnam Campaign Medal and Marksman Badge (Rifle M-14).

“After suffering a service-connected injury, he was honorably retired in October 1967 due to physical disability.”

According to his obituary, he had worked at the New Jersey Zinc Company in Palmerton and later for Pennsylvania Department of Transportation as a foreman for 32 years until retiring in 2000, during which time he also owned and operated Barry Schaffer Trucking.

He continued his hobby of tree farming at Little Creek Tree Farm in Jonas. Schaffer was an avid Phillies and Eagles fan and was deeply involved in the community.

He passed away Sept. 6, 2019, at the age of 74.

“We’re very fortunate that all these families allowed me to have pictures of local heroes. It touched my heart. Without all of their sacrifices we would not be here today,” Borger said.

Two other fair directors were honored — Dorothy Burger Davidson and Lester W. Marsh.

According to a framed tribute located next to her photo, “Dorothy loved the West End Fair.”

Her many duties included the flower exhibit building, where she cleaned, prepared everything for the judges and made sure all the plants were watered.

She would rise at dawn and go out to her garden to pick fresh flowers for the fair luncheon. “She took her jobs seriously,” the fair association said. “Dorothy never did anything halfway. She put her all into all of her jobs.”

The one she loved most was creating and improving the West End Fair Museum. “She spent many countless hours making it beautiful and perfect.”

She remained on duty to talk with people and answer their questions.

She passed away May 30.

“We can’t express how much we will miss her, but we are sure she is here, still looking out over her museum and fairgrounds,” her tribute said.

Lester W. Marsh was a longtime fair director and owned and operated Marsh’s food stand at the fair for over 50 years.

“Lester’s turkey BBQ was made from scratch by him and loved by many.”

He died May 22.

A new display is a 1950s barbershop scene with all of the razors and tools used and the centerpiece, a 1950s barber chair. Asher Smith owned the barbershop in Kunkletown where the items are from; it’s now a home his grandson lives in. Borger said that there was a joke among the kids who went to the barbershop that Smith always nicked an ear while cutting their hair.

Mike Desanto, Kresgeville, comes to the museum for “the local military history and local history.”

He visits each year during the fair. There’s always something new to see.

First-timer Joseph Fontan, East Stroudsburg, said the museum brought back a lot of memories. “It’s like coming home,” he said, as his father was in charge of the Nutley museum in Nutley, New Jersey.

Fontan pointed out the typewriter, as it is the same one his mother had.

A photocopy of a letter from Abraham Lincoln is displayed, one of the prized items in the museum.

Local schools have been coming for tours and more interactive exhibits are planned for the museum.

An item that the museum is looking for is an old icebox.

The museum is open during fair hours every year. It is not to be missed with so much rich local history.