The 16-by-20-inch painting, by artist Sue Hand, of the Harding brother’s tombstone that rests at the Jenkins-Harding Cemetery, West Pittston. The painting, in a custom and matted frame, is being auctioned off to benefit the Wet Pittston Historical Society.
Submitted
WEST PITTSTON — Well-known local artist Sue Hand offered her talent to create a painting of the tombstone of brothers Benjamin and Stukley Harding (who died at the hands of Native Americans) that rests at the Jenkins Harding Cemetery.
The 16-by-20-inch painting, in a matted custom frame, was donated to the West Pittston Historical Society (WPHS) by Hand and is being auctioned off to raise funds for the annual First to Fall program held close to the Fourth of July.
Hand estimated the painting to be valued at $550. The starting bid for the piece was set at $425 and bids are being accepted online at tinyurl.com/4p82mk43.
You may also email a bid to Mary Portelli, WPHS president at portelli101@comcast.net.
Deadline for the auction is Aug. 31.
“Sue is actually related to the Hardings buried at the Jenkins-Harding Cemetery,” Portelli said. “She has such an interest in this area’s history and has done so many pieces of art based off of our local history so we are honored to have her help us out in this way. She is just so amazing and she told us she would do another piece for us next year.”
Portelli said the WPHS has a few events coming up in the next few months leading to Christmas.
“I’m working on doing a West Pittston Strange and Unusual event and I’m researching and gathering information for that,” Portelli said. “This event could be fun and informative and I want it to do it closer to Halloween.”
For further information or would like to join or support the WPHS, go to westpittstonhistory.org.
