A History of Flicksville: Foreword

Flicksville, Pennsylvania was my home for most of three decades.  In that time I delved into the history of the village, very little of which had been recorded in a single work, and wrote, with contributions from locals, Flicksville History.  A group of these folks had created a history club and held meetings in the Flicksville Church.  We organized a bicentennial celebration in 1991 and that same year published a monograph on the history of the village.  This piece is the foreword that I wrote for that work.  

FOREWORD

            The dusty memories of a little village of no particular grand distinction will, undoubtedly, be laughable to some. At times, I myself am struck by the notion, "What an incredible squandering of time and energy this project is!"   The number of individuals in this account who gained any notoriety or who were of obvious significance beyond the confines of the village are few.  They are given their due in this work, but they are not necessarily the focal point of our efforts.  We make no attempt to contrive an importance nor to imply an historical impact of Flicksville that simply does not exist.  Young scholars, learning about the many great events that define our nation's past, will not be given the history of Flicksville as part of their fare.  So much the worse for them.  There is much to be gained in studying the supposedly mundane events of a small town and the lives of those who dwell therein.

            This project was undertaken out of a fascination for the events, thoughts, actions and ways of life that shaped the evolution of a small, Pennsylvania village.  My own interest in local history began before I moved to Flicksville eight years ago.  Since my wife and I were only vaguely aware that the house we were purchasing was built by John Flick, it may be seen as a lucky series of events that led to our deepening involvement with the people and history of the town.  But, partially as a result of my relationships with these people, I long ago stopped believing that serendipity is governed by chance.  Searching among the bits and shreds of evidence that unlock the secrets of Flicksville's past has led to the deepening awareness that persons of modest historical stature, in struggling to understand their own lives and the powers that govern them, are themselves, unacclaimed heroes. One cannot help but be struck by the realization that the potential for spiritual greatness exists in every person.

            The members of our historical society are not the first to be captivated by the history of our village.  We are indebted to others who saw value in exploring the past and preserving some record of their own lives.  Among these is Willard Pysher, who grew up in Flicksville and taught, for a time, in the village schoolhouse.  He made numerous photographs of the town, wrote of his family branches, and saved many newspaper articles and memorabilia that heightened our knowledge of the town.  Mr. Pysher was instrumental in production of the historical centennial bulletin of Flicksville Church.  His guidance allowed Sherry Gloss Heard to write a college term paper on the history of Flicksville that was useful in producing our own account.

            Claire Ackerman Vliet compiled a genealogical history of the Ackermans and the Flicks in 1950.  The work has recently been updated by Marianne Uhler Baltrotsky.  The book is a treasure of information on the early days of Flicksville, especially the Civil War years.

            We also owe a debt to the late Ralph Stocker.  Born in Flicksville in 1906, he lived his entire life in the village. Ralph worked in the Griffin Slate Factory and, for several years, in the grist mill.  I will always remember our Memorial Day walks through the village as Ralph expounded on the past of all the old buildings and the people with whom they were associated.  Like all people of his type, we never got enough of him while he was with us.

            Flicksville residents also remember Mr. Roy Craner, who passed away in 1968.  Another local history buff, Roy owned and operated the general store for many years.  Best remembered are Roy's joy in life and love of his community and its people.  Many times he provided a helping hand to neighbors in need.

            The legacy of these individuals, and others of like stature, may be lost forever unless some effort is made to preserve it.  This account of the seemingly mundane history of a Pennsylvania village is an attempt to do just that.  And so it is with humility, and no apologies, that we give to you, gentle reader, a written history of the village of Flicksville, Pennsylvania.

Michael R. Haas

April 8, 1991