Wednesday Oct 13th, 2021
It may not look like it at first, but this is a child’s toy. One of my personal favorites since I was lucky enough to find it back when we were doing our State Street storage clean out. It is a beautiful coach that belonged to the Hamot family, yes, the same Hamot as the hospital here in Erie (see blog #6).
Wednesday Oct 6th, 2021
I always love getting to see the evolution of things and felt this would be a fun one. Several sources I looked at made it sound like there is no defined history of the bicycle. This seemed to be the best, and most agreed upon history.
Friday Oct 1st, 2021
On September 10, 1813, Oliver Hazard Perry’s American naval squadron defeated and captured an entire British squadron at the Battle of Lake Erie, northwest of Put-In-Bay, Ohio. It was the first time an entire British squadron was captured. this great victory made the Americans the masters of the lake.
Wednesday Sep 29th, 2021
As you read this, Curatorial Assistant Amanda Rockwood and I will be presenting at a national museum conference in Little Rock, Arkansas. Afterwards, we are going to take a couple well deserved vacation days and relax in Hot Springs, Arkansas, and soak in the mineral waters. The plan is to visit “bath house row” and enjoy the historic ambiance when it was popular in the late 1800s, early 1900s.
Monday Sep 27th, 2021
On September 4, 2021, the house that had been located at 511 Chestnut St, Erie PA, was demolished. While it was determined that the building had no significant historical or architectural importance, one of its inhabitants was certainly noteworthy in Erie history.
Friday Sep 24th, 2021
The Culbertson House is located on Main Street in historic Girard, PA.
The Hon. William C. Culbertson built the house from 1894-1896. Culbertson was born in Edinboro, PA and was a prominent manufacturer and banker. He served as a representative in Congress from 1889-1891, representing the 51st District.
Wednesday Sep 22nd, 2021
Here at the Hagen History Center, we have had the privilege of working with architect Jeff Kidder and contractor Mike Jefferys multiple times on various types of construction projects and exhibit development. Their office is in the city’s oldest, still standing building, the Dickson Tavern. What is the history of this 1815 building which is currently surrounded by the modern UPMC Hamot Hospital?
Thursday Sep 16th, 2021
Occasionally, a blog will appear called, “Found in the Archives!” so to assume any regularity is entirely irresponsible—but the Processing Archivist likes to think proactively so:
This week’s exciting, “Found in the Archives!” at the Hagen History Center is a once a month or two kind of find.
Wednesday Sep 15th, 2021
I grew up in the country, south of Erie, and as a kid I remember riding my bicycle everywhere. One place I enjoyed seeing was Lake Pleasant and being that we didn’t get to Lake Erie often, it was always a treat. The Lake is so peaceful and pretty surrounded by trees and farmland.
Tuesday Sep 14th, 2021
Many of us learned what we know about the Millcreek Flood when riding on the Erie Zoo Train, which passes over a bridge where the creek itself is still visible, before it disappears into the Millcreek Tube. Enthusiastic train engineers describe how the tube has prevented future devastation like the flood that took place on August 3, 1915.
