The Edinburg Historical Society Board has named Bob Monacchio its 2025 Volunteer of the Year. 

Bob’s hard work and creativity led to new exhibits at the Edinburg Rural Museum and the award was announced at the Sept. 16 members’ meeting. 

One of the displays is a miniature model of a  barn and farm scene originally constructed by the late Fred Brownell, who built the replica of the 1924 Frendale farm when he was a teenager. He passed away in 2017.

Bob, a longtime member of the historical society, finished rehabbing the model at his home earlier this year and it was brought to the museum before the opening of the touring season. The meticulous work includes farm animals, agricultural machinery and silos — ingeniously constructed using potato chip cans. 

Bob also set up Fred Brownell’s model train display, which is currently on a shelf above the farm scene.  

Volunteerism is vital to the historical society and its mission of educating area residents about our important and interesting past, and we are always looking for new members. If interested in becoming a member, come to our meetings — the next member meeting is Oct. 21, 7pm at the Sand Hill School House on Tange Road.