Friday Aug 5th, 2022
Many readers have seen the 1998 World War II film Saving Private Ryan. A small group of Army Rangers is sent behind German lines in post-D-Day France to find Private James Ryan whose brothers have been killed in the war. The story is loosely based on the story of the Niland brothers of Tonawanda, New York.
Wednesday Aug 3rd, 2022
Each and every day people get into their cars to travel from point A to point B. Most of us would never give it second thought to our journey. Some of the first cars were open meaning the riders were exposed to the weather, debris, etc. Today though, we have the luxury to jump into our fully covered cars and go where we want, whenever we want to.
Wednesday Jul 27th, 2022
As you walk through the Watson-Curtze Mansion, have you ever found yourself wondering about the story behind a particularly lovely decorative item or a piece of furniture that is on display?
Most of the gorgeous Provincial furniture that resides in the mansion’s parlor came from the estate of a pair of Erie sisters – Helen Taylor and Ethel Taylor Winder.
Wednesday Jul 20th, 2022
Let’s face it, we all like to eat. Maybe some more than others of us as our waistlines may show! We all must eat to live, of course, but how many of us produce what we eat? In the early days of life here in Erie County, it was imperative.
Wednesday Jul 13th, 2022
A few blogs ago, I wrote about the Greyhound bus station being on the site of the Park Opera House. What exactly was an Opera House and why did Erie have one for such a long time?
Friday Jul 8th, 2022
When I was a fourth-grade teacher, I introduced my students to a spelling game I called Ish Kabibble. The kids enjoyed playing the game and being the one who got the shout “Ish Kabibble” at the completion of the correct spelling of the given word. But Ish Kabibble was not a word I made up, it was actually a person’s stage name. The man known as Ish was Erie native Merwyn (Mern) Bogue and the great uncle of my husband, Jeff.
Wednesday Jul 6th, 2022
Last week I wrote a blog about the history of wedding dresses. As I was writing that one, I felt it would also be interesting to also go over other parts of a brides’ outfit.
Friday Jul 1st, 2022
In 1865, the men of Company “K” of the 150th Pennsylvania Volunteer Infantry Regiment, who had been the official Army Presidential guards since their regiment arrived in Washington in 1862, gave President Lincoln’s son Tad (Thomas) a unique gift. A photo album with ninety-seven posed studio photographs of each member off the company. Obviously, the soldiers, known as “Bucktails” for the tail of a deer worn on their caps, were taken by the often precocious Tad. He was also taken by the soldiers.
Wednesday Jun 29th, 2022
With wedding season among us I thought it would be fun to talk about the history of the wedding dress. The most common, and highly debated part of dresses is their color. Were they always white? The answer, not at all.
Friday Jun 24th, 2022
In 1870 at the age of twenty Adolph Brugger left his home in Baden near the black forest in Southern Germany. He left not by choice but because he was under the threat of forced enlistment in the neighboring Prussian Army. He and his family decided it was better to leave than to fight in France for a cause in which he did not believe. Once the decision was made to leave for America Adolph knew he could never return. Not having enough savings of his own, his older brothers John and William helped pay for the journey. He sailed down the Rhine River towards the Netherlands and across the North Sea to Liverpool, England. There he negotiated passage to the United States aboard a four-mast boat. After a long journey at sea he arrived in Halifax, Newfoundland, and then traveled on to New York City. There he arrived at Battery Park and Castle Garden in a time before Ellis Island and the Statue of Liberty. After passing through immigration in Castle Garden, he made his way to Hudson River Train Station. He boarded the train bound for the west and his destination on the great lakes, Erie, Pennsylvania.
