OAHA is run by an all-volunteer board, passionately dedicated to preserving area history. In 2021, we participated in two First Fridays: the September Car Show where we displayed Vern Ringler's 1947 soapbox derby car, and November's “Hometown Heroes” theme during which we featured the story of William Bemis, a World War II veteran. We submitted two articles to the Oxfordian, both on the history of the Union Fire Company, and developed a 2022 calendar featuring items from our Archives collection. We presented awards to Faye Doyle and Bill Sumner for their service to OAHA. Even though our Archives building hasn’t been open to visitors, we have been able to accept donations to our collection and answer questions through emails and phone calls. If you have items to donate, please email information@oxfordhistorical.org. Over the past couple of years, OAHA has been fortunate to receive two large gifts – one from the Chester County Community Foundation and one from an anonymous donor – both for capacity building. Because of this funding, we were able to create our first strategic plan, and we are now working with nonprofit consultant Krys Sipple to implement that plan. Part of that work will include enticing more community members to get involved in OAHA. Programs We presented eight online programs in 2021, including Roberta McManus's program on The Journeys of Ellen & William Craft (about two slaves who escaped to freedom); John Bradley's program on the Dickey family; Ralph Denlinger's program, "The Chester County Militia fighting for freedom at the Battle of Brandywine"; and Gene Pisasale's program on the Underground Railroad. Please visit our website at www.oxfordhistorical.org and follow links to Facebook to view past programs or to attend current ones. We started off 2022 with a well-attended, compelling program presented by Dennis Downey on the lynching of Zachariah Walker in Coatesville in 1911, and we are excited for the rest of this year’s programming. Membership OAHA is currently revamping our entire membership program – so keep an eye out for communication about that in late fall of 2022. Financials OAHA excels at doing a lot with a little, and we are able to do that because of the extraordinary support we receive from the community. Between gifts, grants, membership, and programs, a full 99% of our funding comes directly from people in our local area. OAHA exists because of you.

Oxford Area Historical Association Annual Report 2021

Year End Balances for Dec. 31, 2021 Income: $43,653.00 Expenses: $30,643.00 Acct Balances as of Dec. 31, 2021 Truist, Archives $52,214.04 Truist, Operating $1,298.56 Bird-in-Hand, Archives $15,277.46 Bird-in-Hand, Restricted $7,906.31 Total Funds $76,696.37