Greetings, all. Mars, Pennsylvania and Adams County merging, which requires a referendum on the ballot in November 2026.
The people will have choices to make on a new name however the name Mars will stay in the picture.
We understand it is possible that the old Mars Bank Building will be vacated by the new bank and giving to the city. Which would give us reason to move the ship's bell from its current location to an inside location where it can be properly cared for and appreciated. To encourage city council to agree to such a move, it was suggested that the crew might consider some financial incentive be offered. However, the following questions for the crew need to be resolved first:
1. Would the crew members consider a donation from our bank account?
2. If so, what would the crew member consider as a goal amount to be given?
3. Rather than an outright contribution from the bank account, should we establish a fund to be collected at reunion registration with a time limit and a specific goal amount being set in advance. We have some time to get in front of this before anything is finalized. All I am asking for now are your thoughts about what the crew would want to do. I invite all of the crew members to contribute their thoughts. It is not my decision, but yours. Please let me know. Take care and God bless you all.
Ed Biddle edbid@yahoo.com
Our Ships Bell in Mars Pennsylvania.
If traveling to see our bell take Rt 228 East off I79
to Pittsburgh St and Grand Ave in Mars PA.
Aerial view of our Bell as it sits in the town square.
We have now located over 1513 former crew members. To keep this number growing we need your help. If you are visiting this site for the first time and you are a former crew member please go to the Welcome Page and fill out a "Found Martians" form and submit it. We enjoy Welcoming back aboard Found Martians.
We have another new page in the menu list called " Our Ship's Bell in Mars Pennsylvania" Mars Museum and Artifacts It was fun for me to develop it and I am proud of all the accomplishments our association has had over the years. Please take a look at this page and let me know of your thoughts.
Also check out the Contact Pageto see who has contacted us.
If they have contacted us by submitting a "Found Martian" form, then the word contacted will appear after their name. If you wish to contact a shipmate, then click on Send Me An Email, the link is provided below:
I am continuing a good relationship with Mayor Gregg Hartung of Mars PA. He likes to include us in some of the city functions as best he can, I rode in a car in the Fourth of July Parade and what an honor that was.
It is great news that the Borough of Mars will be awarded a $1 million grant from the RACP funds of the state of PA. It was released on the state awards webpage yesterday. It appeared in the Butler Eagle, the basic information, associated with the grant process. The official letter with details has not been received yet. A big thanks to Senator Scott Hutchinson who championed this project for us in Harrisburg. The County Commissioners and Planning Department for their support. A special thanks to NASA who we collaborate with and all the fine people locally who have been important supporters all along the way. There is much more to work to do! This is a major break through for a non-traditional approach to revitalizing our downtown for families and their children. Pictured here is Senator Hutchinson and Mayor Hartung on the caboose at the Mars Historical Society at the end of the "Walk Through Tour" of the town on Wednesday before the grant award was announced. Photo provided by Commissioner Kim Geyer.
