Rodney Gasch

HARMONY — For the first time in 21 years, a new face is heading Historic Harmony.

Rodney Gasch, a Forward Township resident, was elected president of the historical society last month after the death of John Ruch.

He has lived in the area since 1993, after moving from Minnesota.

“I liked the vibrancy of the group and the things they did,” Gasch said of first working with the historical society.

He joined Historic Harmony’s board in 2014 and served as vice president in 2015. However, his first experience with the historical society was in 2003 on the George Washington commemorative hike that runs through the borough.

“It’s was the 250th anniversary in 2003,” Gasch said. “I developed kind of a personal connection that Washington would travel on part of our property, which was kind of exciting.”

Gasch said Ruch asked him to join the historical society’s board.

He said some goals he would like to achieve while in office include more preservation efforts and bringing in more musical events tied to local history.

“It’s a really strong presence in the borough and really in all of Western Pennsylvania,” Gasch said of Historic Harmony. “It attracts people from all around the world and learn about our Harmonist history and George Washington’s travels.”

For the developments at the Connoquenessing Creek on Jackson Township’s side, Gasch said the historical society will continue to work with municipalities in the area to “make sure any development in the area is not detrimental” to local history.

The borough created the “Creekside Committee” earlier this year to build communication between the borough and Jackson Township regarding development in the area.

Gasch said he has not been asked to join the committee, but would be open to joining it. Ruch was one of the founding members of the committee.

Historic Harmony member and borough Mayor Cathy Rape said that while Ruch will be missed, the historical society is looking forward.

“I’ve always said that John did a lot of things people had no idea he was doing,” Rape said. “There was a lot of paperwork that needed to be done and nobody did that but him.”

Ruch served as Historic Harmony’s president for a total of 26 years in two nonconsecutive time periods.

“There’s more than just showing up at a board meeting,” Rape said. “I hope Rodney does the same thing.”

Gasch said while he “won’t be able to fill John (Ruch’s) shoes,” he believes the he and the board is poised to “continue to do important things and be a vibrant part of the community.”

“I don’t want people to think I’m the new John Ruch,” he said. “But we have a great group of officers and an active volunteer group.”