Last week, nearly 200 friends of the Greater Johnstown School District gathered to celebrate a true local legend—Rose Knox!
The community packed the Knox Middle School auditorium, named in Rose Knox’s honor, for the long-awaited launch of Rachel Greenfield’s new biography, Rose Knox: How One Woman Mixed Kitchen and Boardroom to Remold an American Business.
Ms. Greenfield was introduced by Johnstown’s Superintendent of Schools, Alicia D. Koster, who donned a Rose Knox-styled hat made by Quinn Swartwout’s sixth grade students.
“Nearly a century ago, Rose Knox’s generosity and vision helped establish this very campus,” Koster said. “Through her donation of land and financial support, she made an investment not simply in buildings and facilities, but in the future of our community and generations of students who would learn, grow, and create lasting memories here.”
During her author chat, Ms. Greenfield was joined on stage by Sue Kowalski—daughter of Bill Pollack, the original curator of the Johnstown School Museum—to reflect on the legacy of Rose Knox. While the rest of the world may know Knox as a pioneering businesswoman and CEO of the Knox Gelatine Company, locals know her best for her generous heart and enduring commitment to the Johnstown community.
In the days leading up to the Rose Knox celebration, teachers integrated Rose Knox into their lesson plans to highlight her lasting legacy in Johnstown:
- Art students from Knox and JHS created Knox gelatin prints that were on display;
- Students in “Fascinating Folks” Elective class at Knox produced detailed research papers and posters;
- Students created and decorated hats inspired by Rose Knox’s signature style;
- JHS art students created a canvas mural showing Knox Field, adorned with lyrics to the JHS Alma Mater.
As part of the District’s AgriQuest initiative, students planted flower bulbs across the Knox campus, and added rose bushes in honor of Rose Knox, creating a hands-on way to connect students with local history.
“What makes this evening particularly meaningful is that we are not simply reflecting on our history,” Koster said. “We are creating opportunities for our students to engage with it, learn from it, and recognize how the leadership, determination, and generosity of one individual can have a lasting impact on an entire community.”
“As a school district, we recognize that education is about more than what takes place within our classrooms. It is also about helping our students understand the community to which they belong, appreciate those who came before them, and recognize the difference they, too, can make in the world,” she added.
Ms. Greenfield’s book is available locally at Mysteries on Main Bookstore in Johnstown. To learn more about the book, or order a copy online, please visit Ms. Greenfield’s website.
