Artifacts providing a glimpse into the storied history of Northeast Pennsylvania popped up on a screen Saturday.
Next to it, local government officials, judges, state representatives, school administrators and newspaper editors strained their brains to identify what they were seeing and also answer local history questions —some dating to the 1800s — during the Lackawanna Historical Society’s “You Live Here! You Should Know This!” history game show.
Eight teams huddled at the Lodge at Montage Mountain as student moderators from Valley View and Riverside high schools tested their knowledge.
The trivia night began eight years ago as a “FUNraiser” for the historical society, said Mary Ann Moran-Savakinus, director. With a minimal entry fee of $5 to $10, it mostly serves as an educational program for the local students.
“We were trying to come up with a way to engage younger people in local history and at the same time make it fun and educational, and we thought, ‘Why not do a game show,’ ” she said.
To come up with the questions, the group of about 10 students began digging through the historical society’s archives in the fall and visiting local landmarks, including the Everhart and Anthracite Heritage museums.
“It’s like detective work, figuring out what happened in the county,” said Valley View senior James McKane, who has participated in the game show for the past two years.
A history buff, McKane, 18, knew some local history before helping create the questions.
“It really expanded my knowledge about Lackawanna County by doing this,” he said, adding he enjoyed “getting to be with other students and just the camaraderie.”
Categories quizzed challengers on topics like “What Am I?” in which descriptions of local places were read; one answer was Montage Mountain. Questions also quizzed the teams on the Pennsylvania Game Commission, including where an over-700-pound bear was caught, and about local waterway facts.
The game show has gained a local following, said Moran-Savakinus.
“It’s a lot of fun and keeps history alive,” she said.
A team from The Times-Tribune — Brian Fulton, library manager, Chris Kelly, columnist; Erin Nissley, assistant metro editor; and Patrick J. McKenna, associate editor — beat the team from Scranton City Hall — Councilmen Wayne Evans, Joe Wechsler and Tim Perry, and City Clerk Lori Reed — to advance to the semifinals.
But the championship round went to Team McGurl — Bernie McGurl, executive director of the Lackawanna River Conservation Association, with Silvia Orner, Sharon Quinn and Joe Klapatch — which beat Stephanie Longo and Dunmore Friends, including Annie Longo and Thomas J. Hallinan.
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