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BEAVERTOWN -- George "Tickey" F. Norman stepped into Beavertown's square on Aug. 15, 1945, carrying the kind of determination that only comes from losing a bet in front of half the town.
Japan had just announced its surrender, and the square was already swelling with people cheering, hugging and shouting the news across Main Street. Norman didn't join the crowd. He walked straight to the patriotically painted barrel waiting for him, the one he had promised to roll eight miles to Middleburg if the war didn't end by March 17.
The barrel glinted in the late-summer sun, red and blue against the dust of the road. As he leaned into it and began the slow push out of town, the celebration followed him, a trail of laughter and relief stretching behind him like a parade no one planned but everyone needed. It was noisy, joyful and a little absurd, the kind of moment that becomes local legend because it captures exactly who Beavertown is when history turns a page.
A new exhibit built on old traditions
That same spirit runs through the Beavertown Historical Society's new exhibit, "Beavertown Celebrations and Events," a collection of anniversaries, parades and hometown traditions that show how the borough has marked its milestones with heart and humor for more than two centuries.
The story reaches back to 1855, when Snyder County was carved from Union County and named for Simon Snyder, Pennsylvania's three-term governor. A hundred years later, the county celebrated with parades and gatherings that pulled Beavertown into the center of the excitement, setting the tone for decades of community celebrations to come.
Marking 200 years of Beaver Dam Township
One of the largest arrived in 1987, when Beavertown honored the 200th anniversary of Beaver Dam Township. Before 1787, Penn Township covered the entire region. That changed on April 4 of that year, when the county was divided into Penn and Beaver Dam. The original Beaver Dam Township encompassed what is now Beaver, West Beaver, Adams, Spring, part of Franklin and Centre townships, Beavertown Borough, McClure Borough and part of eastern Decatur Township in Mifflin County.
The bicentennial celebration stretched across days of activity, from a queen's crowning to a large Memorial Day parade, from a walking tour of Beavertown to a Pennsylvania Dutch service and flea market. Residents rode through historic sites, worshipped at Mount Pisgah and gathered for a picnic at the carnival grounds, turning the township's history into a full community festival.
Borough milestones and community pride
The borough's own anniversaries carried the same energy. On Nov. 14, 1989, Beavertown celebrated its Diamond Jubilee, marking 75 years since its incorporation. The Beavertown Historical Society opened its archives for public viewing, offering residents a chance to see the borough's story laid out in photographs and artifacts. During the celebration, 91-year-old Mabel Smith was honored as the oldest resident, a moment that underscored the community's deep roots and the generations who helped shape the town.
In 2010, Beavertown marked the 200th anniversary of its layout. Frederick Evans of Middleburg surveyed and designed the town plan in 1810, transforming a scattering of log buildings into a defined village. While a few structures existed before that year, they were not considered a town. The anniversary recognized the moment Beavertown truly became Beavertown, celebrating the transition from frontier settlement to organized community.
Four years later, on Nov. 14, 2014, the borough celebrated its 100th centennial anniversary. One of the most anticipated moments came when the American Revolution Bicentennial time vault, buried on July 17, 1976, was opened during the festivities. The vault connected generations, offering a glimpse into what residents had chosen to preserve nearly four decades earlier and reminding the community of its long tradition of looking forward while honoring the past.
Beaver Drop, parades and Hillbilly Fever Days
Some celebrations have been uniquely Beavertown. Richard and Gwen Wagner created Bucky the Beaver for the Beavertown New Year's Eve Beaver Drop, a tradition held from 2009 through 2017 and rekindled this year. The original beaver was lowered from a fire truck ladder owned by Tom Wagner, drawing crowds who gathered to welcome the new year with a distinctly local twist. The Beaver Drop quickly became one of the borough's most recognizable traditions, blending humor, creativity and community spirit.
Parades have long been central to Beavertown's celebrations. During the borough's bicentennial, Debra Thomas was crowned queen and rode on the Beavertown Historical Society float in the Rescue Hose Fire Co.'s annual parade.
The fire company itself added to the borough's festive calendar when it launched Hillbilly Fever Days in 1988. The carnival, still held each year, features live entertainment, games and food, including the famous possum burgers, which are not actually made from possum, and homemade French fries that have become a local favorite.
Honoring service and sacrifice
Beavertown's World War II Honor Roll stands as another powerful reminder of the community's connection to national events. First displayed on Aug. 1, 1943, the red, white and blue board listed residents serving in the Armed Forces. When photographed, it held 56 names, including one casualty, Raymond Harshbarger.
Later, Clarence E. Keister and Charles W. Thomas were also killed in action. Roy Thoman built the honor roll, and Charles Dreese, a World War II veteran, allowed it to be placed in his yard. The board grew as the war continued, becoming a symbol of sacrifice and solidarity.
A time capsule for tomorrow
The exhibit ends with a look toward the future. In 2016, Ron Dague designed, built and installed the Beavertown Historical Society Time Capsule, a project that quickly became a point of pride.
"We are fortunate enough to have such a skillful person living in Beavertown," said Karen Burns, president of the Beavertown Historical Society.
Dague, owner of Aurand Memorials, created a capsule meant to bridge generations. It will be opened on Nov. 14, 2064, during the borough's 150th Sesquicentennial Celebration, offering future residents a chance to reflect on the community's long tradition of celebration.
Celebrating Beavertown's story
"Beavertown Celebrations and Events" gathers these moments into one place, offering residents and visitors a chance to walk through the borough's most joyful, heartfelt and defining events. It is a tribute to a community that has always found reasons to come together and celebrate.
The Beavertown Historical Society Museum will be open the following Sundays: July 26, and Aug. 9 and 23, from 1 to 3 p.m. in the Beavertown Borough building, located at 111 W. Walnut St., Beavertown. For more information, call (570) 658-7385.