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Shirley Sharp, (left), was a volunteer coach with the Streaker Girls Softball team at Homestead Air Force Base, Florida. Her daughter Peri Lynn is in the far right of the front row.
Woman of the Year
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just so happened that one of the mansions on Mahoning Street was for sale when she was in the market for a house. She said that it was the original home of Dr. Sutton S. Hamilton, a physician in the town in the early 1900s, as well as the railroad’s surgeon. Sharp fell in love with the yellow brick masterpiece, still boasting the original stained-glass windows and beautiful wood wainscoting throughout, and she spent a couple years restoring it. Sharp revealed that the house holds even more significance due to the fact that her great-grandfather had lived next door years ago. When she was not working on house projects,
Sharp first dedicated her volunteer efforts to the Chamber of Commerce’s revitalization effort, which evolved into Punxsutawney Revitalization, Investing, Developing, Enhancing (PRIDE) where she volunteered on the economic development committee. Continued from page 7
“Later I served on the board. PRIDE started a number of improvement efforts in town like the façade improvement program,” said Sharp. The program awards grants to businesses in order to improve the facades of their buildings, signage, all in an effort to improve commerce. “We were excited because people were beginning to notice that the town was looking better,” she added.
In the midst of these activities that focused on the town in its present-day form, Sharp had the thought that perhaps the citizens should be making a conscious effort to preserve a huge part of the Punxsutawney area’s past.
“Everyone has a connection to coal,” Sharp professed. “We needed to do something to preserve our coal history.” PRIDE tested the idea and developed a working committee. When it appeared that the project was viable, PRIDE transferred the project to the organization that specializes in preserving the past, the Punxsutawney Historical and Genealogical Society (PHAGS). A Coal Committee was established, and Sharp has generously been a key member of the group throughout its existence. Many Hometown readers will recognize her name and its association with the coal articles that regularly run in the magazine. Another focus of Sharp’s is the Punxsutawney Area Community Foundation (PACF), a group created in 2013 by PRIDE in order to further stimulate the community. Again, PRIDE found a way to enable the establishment of (PACF) through affiliation with Bridge Builders Community Foundations (BBCF) which provides the administrative support and according to its website, helps “generate growth and progress in our communities by actively engaging individuals and organizations through transformative philanthropy.”
“What I love about the community fund is the concept that people can leave a legacy to our community by simply making a donation,” Sharp stated. “The donation may be part of an individual’s estate planning and/or will, or it can be an annual donation. The important thing is that the legacy keeps on giving long after we are gone.”
PACF is governed by a local fifteenmember board, aims to educate the public and non-profit organizations about eligibility for possible grants that could aid in their goals. Sharp believes that this is a truly beneficial program that can do so much good for the town. With that purpose in mind, Sharp wants to get the word out about the Week of Giving that takes place in March of every year. She explained that it is an event when people can donate money for local causes and BBCF will enhance the amount through donations from philanthropists.
Sharp is also proud of the fact that the Punxsutawney Community Foundation, with her assistance, has established an endowment fund for the Coal Memorial, accessible online.
“I am excited about it because PRIDE developed it, and I was a part of it,” Sharp said.
The persistence that Sharp and her comrades have had in establishing these community groups and projects has certainly not been in vain but has brought about considerable and worthwhile results.
“Don’t ever take ‘no’ for an answer,” Sharp advises others interested in promoting a cause. “There’s a right time and right place for it to happen.”
In the past two decades since her return to Punxsutawney, Sharp has busied herself with being a mother, grandmother and great-grandmother and has volunteered her energy to a multitude of additional activities that have benefitted the community that she treasures. She has volunteered her time with Van Dyke & Co. during side street shows and stage performances. Sharp also spends many hours every week at the historical society where she serves as the Volunteer Coordinator, as well as the coordinator of genealogy activity. In addition, she has served on the board of the society as an officer. Sharp was also active in helping this past year with the 150 th anniversary of the Jefferson County Courthouse. And, two years ago, Sharp compiled a book of history for the 150 th anniversary celebration of Big Run. Sharp mentioned that she is currently on the board of BBCF and is working on improving the foundation’s webpage.
Although she retired from her career twenty years ago, Sharp has not slowed down, nor does she plan on doing so. She said that she wakes each morning and asks herself, “What seeds for good can I plant today?” Sharp’s motivation behind her devotion to her community stems from her genuine desire to help people and to make her town a better place, actions that she hopes will inspire others to do the same.
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George Washington First President 1789-1797 State Represented: Virginia Party Affiliation: Federalist Fact(s): In May 1775, Washington was elected commander in chief of the Continental Army.
Thomas Jefferson Third President 1801-1809 State Represented: Virginia Party Affiliation: Democratic-Republican Fact(s): At age 33, he drafted the Declaration of Independence. He constructed his mountain top home, Monticello.
James Madison Fourth President 1809-1817 State Represented: Virginia Party Affiliation: Democratic-Republican Fact(s): Louisiana and Indiana became states during his term. He helped form the Bill of Rights.
James Monroe Fifth President 1817-1825 State Represented: Virginia Party Affiliation: Democratic-Republican Fact(s): He was the first president to ride a steamboat. He made the Monroe Doctrine.
John Adams Second President 1797-1801 State Represented: Massachussets Party Affiliation: Federalist Fact(s): His son, John Quincy, became president. He was the first Vice President.
John Q. Adams Sixth President 1825-1829 State Represented: Massachussets Party Affiliation: Democratic-Republican Fact(s): His father was president.
Andrew Jackson Seventh President 1829-1837 State Represented: Tennessee Party Affiliation: Democratic-Republican Fact(s): He was in the war of 1812. He studied law.
Martin Van Buren Eighth President 1837-1841 State Represented: New York Party Affiliation: Democratic-Republican Fact(s): He gave us the word "OK" or "Okay" which was an abbreviation for the name of his New York home "Old Kinderhook."
William Henry Harrison Ninth President 1841 State Represented: Ohio Party Affiliation: Whig Fact(s): He was the first president to die in office.
John Tyler Tenth President 1841-1845 State Represented: Virginia Party Affiliation: Whig Fact(s): Loved to play the violin. His first wife died while he was president.
James K. Polk Eleventh President 1845-1849 State Represented: Tennessee Party Affiliation: Democrat Fact(s): He died from exhaustion and hard work soon after he left office.
