He knows Lititz is important. He knows history is important. And he knows Lititz history is important.

That's what makes Cory Van Brookhoven a well qualified candidate for the job. So qualified, in fact, that they created a position for him.

At the onset of the new year, Van Brookhoven officially became the full-time president of the Lititz Historical Foundation. Born and raised in Lititz, Van Brookhoven had been a regular volunteer at the Lititz Historical Foundation until the organization combined the former part-time positions of event coordinator and museum coordinator.

"I like working behind the scenes and being anonymous," said Van Brookhoven. "I'm thrilled about the new position. I still can't believe it. But I like to focus on the foundation. The Lititz Historical Foundation is alive, we work with the community, we're out there. We're real. We're authentic."

In a town as historic as Lititz, there are few things more authentic than the Lititz Historical Foundation. Supported by a board and a 45-member staff made up of mostly volunteers, Van Brookhoven is responsible for duties including fundraising, event planning, marketing, guiding tours, changing displays and managing the general day-to-day operations of the Lititz Museum, the Johannes Mueller House, which is located at 137-145 E. Main St., just east of Lititz's downtown business district. Van Brookhoven was already performing some of those duties as a volunteer. But his new position allows him to focus even more time and energy on their finer details.

"A lot of my inspiration comes from my grandfather, who carried mail in Lititz," said Van Brookhoven. "I guess you could say it's in my blood. I always had hoped that someday I could make a full-time career out of something I'm so passionate about."

"I've been involved with local history and tourism since 2008," added Van Brookhoven. "I learned as I went. I taught myself a lot. I did a lot of reading."

Armed with a degree in video and television broadcast from Kutztown University, Van Brookhoven has held a number of employment positions over the last three decades of his work life, including a job at the Lititz Record-Express. But none have indulged his lifelong curiosity about local history the way that his current one does.

"Lititz is steeped in history," said Van Brookhoven. "There are so many layers to its history, like an onion. People want to learn about history - where they come from. People are fascinated with the past - why we are where we are. To understand the present, you've got to learn from history."

Last year, tourists from 49 of the 50 United States and 43 countries visited the Lititz Museum.

"(Lititz has) more original standing structures than (Colonial) Williamsburg," said Van Brookhoven. "People come to Lititz for the Norman Rockwell atmosphere. It's one thing to have an historic town. But it's a whole other thing to have one with a thriving mom-and-pop business district downtown. There are a lot of things to do here, and it's affordable."

For more information about the Lititz Historical Foundation, go to http://www.lititzhistoricalfoundation.com.