A Venango County native, Sarah Boston grew up in Kennerdell, before attending college at Slippery Rock University. She is co-owner of Bostons Buy Sell and Gold Exchange, which she opened with her husband upon returning to the area about a year ago.
Sarah has two bachelor’s degrees—in Interdisciplinary Studies and History, with a focus on East Asian history and cultures. While in college, she participated in the Japanese Club, Arabic Club, MMA Club, and Model NATO.
After studying the Japanese language and volunteering with the Japanese American Society of Pennsylvania (JASP) and University of Pittsburgh Asian Center, she moved to Japan as an ESL volunteer for a few months. Through her studies, she presented her research at the Indiana University of Pennsylvania’s Asian Studies Research Conference.
Sarah has worked on educational outreach programs with professors to bring culture into communities and schools. Moving back to Venango County, she was able to do a Japanese Workshop at the Franklin Library last summer.
Within the next few years, she hopes to bring more diversity and unique opportunities that will inspire the community to learn and grow. With the county’s unique history, she would like to incorporate and organize a Steam Punk/Diesel Punk Society to attract more people to the history of the area while also having fun and being creative.
Sarah enjoys exploring the area with her husband and dogs through hiking, kayaking, or cave spelunking, and she likes learning new things and volunteering.
“I enjoy the many opportunities there are to allow me to contribute and give back to the community,” she said.
Matthew Boston is the owner of three local businesses—Bostons Buy Sell and Gold Exchange, Boston’s Blade Works, and Little Hammers Forge.
He grew up south of Venango County in Volant, spent summers in Tionesta, and went on to attend Butler County Community College, where he earned an associate’s degree in psychology.
While obtaining his degree, Matthew volunteered with the Crisis Shelter and the Covenant House in New Castle and supported the Art Department at Slippery Rock University’s Art Department, as a donor and through making props for productions.
Matthew is also an educator in traditional metal craft, including bladesmithing, knife making, metal castings, and jewelry processes, using historical recreations and techniques. Before starting his businesses, Matthew had a five-year apprenticeship, which has helped with his success.
Through his buy, sell, trade business, he has a variety of items such as jewelry, gold, silver, video games, coins, DVD’s, and music, as well as a space for trading and playing card games. His other two businesses are focused on his metal working skills, where he produces unique designs with a historical flare.
Matthew has goals to expand his businesses, establish education in traditional metal crafts, and bring unique ventures to the community. In his free time, he enjoys working with metal and going on adventures with his wife and dogs, especially hiking and trying out new places for dining and entertainment.
“Working within Venango County has provided me the opportunity to meet new people with unique stories,” he said.
This article was published in the Venango Area Chamber of Commerce’s June 2018 edition of the VenangoWorks! Newsletter.