HEART OF THE FOREST – Featuring Bart Barton

🌲 In the Heart of the Forest: Bart Barton

History lives not only in the objects on display but in the people who work to preserve them. When you ask Bart Barton why he spends so much time volunteering, he shrugs it off with a laugh: “I just try to do what needs to be done.” But anyone who knows him will tell you his commitment runs deep—and the region is richer for it.

“Bart gives so much of himself to the work we do,” says Holly Komonczi, Executive Director of the Lumber Heritage Region (LHR). “He brings time, skill, history, and heart to every project. Volunteers like Bart are what keep our heritage alive.”

🏡 Rooted in Smethport

Bart was born and raised in Smethport, where he says you could always knock on a neighbor’s door if you needed help. That small-town ethic stayed with him throughout a life that took him far from home.

After graduating high school in 1965, Bart joined the Air Force. Thanks to strong test scores—and a lucky conversation with a sergeant who was his neighbor’s cousin—he landed his dream specialty in electronics. He went on to work on missile systems and even joined the historic Apollo program, working on Apollo 8 just two days after leaving the service.

His career after the Air Force sent him all over the U.S. and internationally, installing advanced control systems for pipelines and power companies—including work on the Alaska Pipeline. He remembers urgent trips to the North Slope of Alaska, solving problems that sometimes took just an hour after 22 hours of travel.

After decades on the road, Bart moved back to Smethport in 1996, building himself a quiet log house surrounded by forest. But retirement didn’t last long.

🛠️ Serving the Museum—and the Community

Bart quickly found a second career in volunteerism. He has devoted countless hours to the McKean County Historical Society and other community causes, lending his hands-on skills and creative ideas.

He’s helped plan the memorial brick program, giving families a chance to sponsor engraved bricks for new walkways and resting areas.

For Bart, the museum is also personal—it’s housed in the former county jail and sheriff’s residence, where his grandfather served as sheriff from 1924 to 1928. That family connection gives his work special meaning.

Bart has even planned future rotating exhibits, like showcasing old cell phones to help visitors see how technology has evolved. He jokes that if he ever won the lottery, he’d start a foundation to support local treasures like the swimming pool, library, and museum, making sure Smethport stays a place where everyone feels welcome and connected.

🔨 Restoring the Prospect Hill Fire Tower

One of Bart’s most ambitious projects has been the preservation of the Prospect Hill Fire Tower. With support from two LHR mini-grants—secured through the tireless work of Lu Vandermark, the museum’s longtime director and grant writer—Bart and a team of volunteers saved the 100-year-old tower from demolition.

After storing its components at the fairgrounds, they carefully restored and reassembled the tower on the grounds of the McKean County Historical Society, ensuring it remains part of the county’s living history.

Today, it stands as the only fire tower exhibit in Pennsylvania with wheelchair accessibility, giving visitors of all abilities the chance to roll right up to the door and see inside. It’s an effort that honors not just history but inclusivity.

🤝 A True Team Effort

Bart is quick to say none of this happens alone. He credits a dedicated team of volunteers—neighbors, friends, and new faces—who help with events, maintenance, and improvements.

He’s especially committed to encouraging younger people to get involved, knowing they’ll carry these traditions forward. He’s helped form committees to plan community events, from festivals to winter parades, determined to keep Smethport lively for generations to come.

📸 Capturing the Region’s Beauty

Bart is also a lifelong photographer. For years, he taught night photography at Kinzua Bridge, using class fees to buy a TV for the visitor center so students’ photos could be enjoyed by everyone. Even now, he sells select prints and donates the proceeds to local causes like the museum and library—always finding ways to give back.

❤️ Rooted in Service, Focused on the Future

Bart’s commitment to service didn’t come from nowhere. He credits his father, his grandfather, and other local mentors who showed him that helping your community was simply what you did.

He knows there’s always more work ahead, from welcoming new visitors to maintaining the museum’s historic home. But for Bart, it’s all part of ensuring this region’s stories, places, and spirit are preserved for the next generation.

📣 Want to Get Involved?

Volunteers like Bart help keep the Lumber Heritage Region’s history alive. If you’d like to lend your time and talents to preserving and sharing our region’s stories, email info@lumberheritage.org to learn about volunteer opportunities.

The Old Jail Museum, located at 500 West Main Street in Smethport, PA, operates seasonally:

April, May, September, October: Tuesdays and Thursdays from 1 to 4 PM

June, July, August: Tuesday to Saturday from 1 to 4 PM

Come see the exhibits, learn local history, and experience the legacy that volunteers like Bart help preserve.