Sunday, March 10, 2002
To create jobs during the Depression, Julia Buhl hired out-of-work men to make improvements at Buhl Farm Park.
By MARALINE KUBIK
VINDICATOR STAFF WRITER
SHARON, Pa. -- Julia Forker Buhl had no children of her own, but she guarded the welfare of her city's children.
She provided food, clothing, health care and cod liver oil for youngsters and, during the Depression, jobs for their fathers.
Julia Forker was born May 29, 1854, in Mercer to a prominent family who had pioneered the coal industry. She married Frank H. Buhl, a pioneer of the Shenango Valley's iron and steel industries, Feb. 8, 1888.
Although he was originally from Detroit, Frank Buhl used his wealth to improve health care, recreational and educational facilities for the people of his adopted hometown.
Good deeds: He contributed heavily to the C.H. Buhl Hospital, the forerunner to Sharon Regional Health System, provided the Buhl Library, now Shenango Valley Community Library, F.H. Buhl Club, Buhl Farm Park and the mausoleum in Oakwood Cemetery, and he established a foundation to maintain Buhl Farm Park and continue providing good things for the community.
After her husband's death June 7, 1918, Julia continued the philanthropic work he had started. She remodeled the F.H. Buhl Club, a recreational facility for men and boys, had new equipment installed at the hospital, and established the Julia F. Buhl Girls' Club, a recreational and educational facility similar to the F.H. Buhl Club, for women and girls.
She also maintained the Mercer County branch of the International Sunshine Society. Through it, she provided summer vacations on area farms for hundreds of underprivileged children, as well as medical and dental care, eyeglasses, shoes, clothing, hot lunches, milk and hefty doses of cod liver oil to area schoolchildren.
To create jobs during the Depression, Julia hired many out-of-work men to make improvements at Buhl Farm Park.
Swimming pool: It was during this time that the first swimming pool was installed at the park, along with lighting and upgrades to the other recreational facilities.
A devoted member of St. John's Episcopal Church, Julia provided a chapel for the congregation.
Her generosity and dedication to the people of the Shenango Valley continued until her death June 3, 1936.
kubik@vindy.com