Plan would develop manufacturing museum

MEADVILLE, Pa. (AP) -- A manufacturing museum has been proposed to showcase the Meadville area's railroad and manufacturing history.
Organizations backing the proposed $4 million Northwestern Pennsylvania Railroad and Tooling Heritage Center presented details recently to the Crawford County commissioners. Organizers said the complex of museums would draw tourists.
"We will combine the old and new, old artifacts and state-of-the-art technology," said Ed Cronin of the French Creek Railroad Historical Society. "We want to be the western gateway to Pennsylvania."
Precision Manufacturing Institute will move its museum and displays to the site, said Tim Mullen of the Northwestern Pennsylvania Chapter of the National Tooling and Machining Association.
Plans include a display showing the Foriska Machine Shop, one of the first tool shops in the area.
"People tell us they have things to give us, but want it to be displayed," said Dan Higham, president of the Crawford County Historical Society. "We need a place to display them. We want to preserve our heritage for the future."
"It's a rather ambitious program," said Crawford County Commissioner Roger Williams, but he added it is important to preserve the history.