Perry Twp. Celebrates “CITIZEN OF THE PAST” at The Fall Festival

The Perry Township Historical Society chose William P. Snyder to be honored as its “Citizen Of The Past” at Perry Township’s Fall Festival on September 20. He was chosen for his role in bringing electricity to the township in 1937.

Carol Snyder Adams, granddaughter of Bill Snyder, reviews photos and ephemera, along with Mr. Snyder’s World War I uniform jacket.

William P. “Bill” Snyder was born in Snyder Valley, Perry Township, on December 1, 1895, a son of Isaac and Lettisia McFarland Snyder, and lived his entire life in the Valley. He was a veteran of World War I, serving in France as a private in the Army.

He was one of the founders of Pennsylvania Rural Electric Co-op, Inc., (at that time commonly called the REA and now known as Central Electric), organized July 12, 1937, in Parker where its first office was located. He served on its board of directors and was president of the board. He was one of five organizers, the others being F. W. MacDonald of Nickelville, R. C. Dickson of Slippery Rock, C. T. Smith of Kittanning, and Clarence H. Smith of Parker. These five gentlemen had to take care of every detail when things were getting started, from hiring staff and recruiting members, to buying the furniture needed for the original co-op office which consisted of 2 desks and 8 chairs that they purchased used from a coal company for $55.

Display of memorabila of Perry Township’s “Citizen of the Past”, William P. Snyder.

He is honored as a man who saw the future and brought us an instant change in the way we lived— electricity. Grandson, Jim Snyder, gave remarks during afternoon ceremonies.

Mr. Snyder died June 17, 1989, and is buried in Mt Calvary Cemetery, Dutch Hill.