Tuesday Dec 27th, 2022
You've probably walked in the Erie cemetery, and been stumped to explain those "tree" headstones. What about pyramids, obelisks, urns and drapery? What meanings do the various choices hold, and what might have led people to choose one style over another?
Tuesday Dec 20th, 2022
Do you love history as much as we do?
Join Kyle Churman (owner of Werner Books), B. J. Lechner and Mark Squeglia for some reading and discussion of history-themed books every month and taking a few field trips too!
Sunday Dec 11th, 2022
We still have dates available for your holiday company or family party for up to 40 guests.
Wednesday Dec 7th, 2022
Explore our Jewish Heritage Exhibit and our Hunting and Fishing Exhibit now open in the Watson-Curtze Mansion.
Monday Dec 5th, 2022
Born in 1853, he and his wife Carrie and their daughter Winifred owned the mansion at 365 W. 6th St. They built it on land they purchased from the Morrison family to the east (the current Wood-Morrison House on the Hagen History Center campus). The house cost the Watsons $50,000 to build, roughly $10 million today.
The Watsons previously lived on East 16th St., across from the Erie roofing paper factory that he owned. Their oldest daughter Gertrude died there at age 8 in 1887 of scarlet fever.
In the mansion, Harrison's den is a unique blend of architecture. The narrow drawers in the room were designed to hold butterflies, insects and rocks he collected as a hobby that he had throughout his life. The unique small doorway inside the room is a closet -- although many visitors like to believe it is a secret passage.
He died Nov. 10, 1904 at age 50. He had been unwell the last five years of his life and had installed an elevator in the mansion to help him get to the four floors of the house.
He is buried in Erie Cemetery.
