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Happiness & Long Life for All its Residents #86

Becky Weiser

Wednesday May 25th, 2022

Sometimes just a song can be an inspiration to write a blog about local history. Do you remember Judy Garland? I love her voice and better yet, the old movies she was in. Judy had a tragic personal life, but in her movies she is upbeat, belts out a great tune and usually dances with grace and style. One of my favorite Garland movies is “Babes in Arms”. Produced in 1939, the 17-year-old Judy sings to a photograph of Micky Rooney while on a sleeper bus. I have never been on a sleeper bus, although it would be fun to try.

Honoring our Fallen Vietnam Service Men

Jeff Sherry

Monday May 23rd, 2022

This Memorial Day, “The Wall That Heals,” a portable version of the Vietnam Veterans Memorial in Washington, D.C. will visit Erie. In recognition of the visit of “The Wall That Heals,” the Hagen History Center will recognize the 59 servicemen from Erie County that are among the over 58,000 Americans who gave their lives in Southeast Asia. Each week, a few veterans will be featured on our social media. The week of Memorial Day, several servicemen will be honored.

"TEACHING A LOVE OF BEAUTY": LOVISA CARD CATLIN 1846-1925

Barry J. Gray

Wednesday May 18th, 2022

The curatorial department has begun cataloging the history center's collection of over one thousand pieces of framed art. One of these works depicts a dignified lady with grey hair, wearing a dark dress and a white lace scarf tied by a ribbon. The nameplate attached to the frame states, "LAVINIA STANLEY SANFORD SPENCER, 1817-1886." At the lower right corner of the oil painting, it is just possible to make out the signature of the artist, Lovisa Card-Catlin, and the date, 1910.

Honoring our Fallen Vietnam Service Men

Jeff Sherry

Monday May 16th, 2022

This Memorial Day, “The Wall That Heals,” a portable version of the Vietnam Veterans Memorial in Washington, D.C. will visit Erie. In recognition of the visit of “The Wall That Heals,” the Hagen History Center will recognize the 59 servicemen from Erie County that are among the over 58,000 Americans who gave their lives in Southeast Asia. Each week, a few veterans will be featured on our social media. The week of Memorial Day, several servicemen will be honored.

World War II Fashion: How a War Across the Sea Impacted Women's Fashion on the Homefront of America

Anna Foll

Sunday May 15th, 2022

Historically, clothing and fashion are linked to many aspects of a culture, often reflecting what is happening in society during a given era. As the devastation of war in the 1940s swept across the world, clothing and fashion were naturally impacted globally as well.

Soldiers From the 83rd Pennsylvania Volunteer Infantry Regiment Leave Their Mark at Blenheim House Part 3

Brian Graff

Wednesday May 11th, 2022

Before I moved to Erie in 2016, I lived in Fairfax County, Virginia for over 30 years. Fairfax County is just across the Potomac River from Washington, D.C. During the Civil War the corridor between Washington and Richmond was a hotly contested battleground. Thus, the war played a heavy hand in Fairfax County from 1861-1865 and while I lived there, I visited many of its historic sites. One of these was the Blenheim House near Fairfax Courthouse, about 17 miles west of Washington, D.C. The Blenheim House has an Erie connection which I will explain shortly. (Note: During the Civil War, the house was known as the Wilcoxon House. It was renamed Blenheim House in about 1900).

Honoring our Fallen Vietnam Service Men

Jeff Sherry

Monday May 9th, 2022

This Memorial Day, “The Wall That Heals,” a portable version of the Vietnam Veterans Memorial in Washington, D.C. will visit Erie. In recognition of the visit of “The Wall That Heals,” the Hagen History Center will recognize the 59 servicemen from Erie County that are among the over 58,000 Americans who gave their lives in Southeast Asia. Each week, a few veterans will be featured on our social media. The week of Memorial Day, several servicemen will be honored.

Soldiers From the 83rd Pennsylvania Volunteer Infantry Regiment Leave Their Mark at Blenheim House Part 2

Brain Graff

Wednesday May 4th, 2022

Before I moved to Erie in 2016, I lived in Fairfax County, Virginia for over 30 years. Fairfax County is just across the Potomac River from Washington, D.C. During the Civil War the corridor between Washington and Richmond was a hotly contested battleground. Thus, the war played a heavy hand in Fairfax County from 1861-1865 and while I lived there, I visited many of its historic sites. One of these was the Blenheim House near Fairfax Courthouse, about 17 miles west of Washington, D.C. The Blenheim House has an Erie connection which I will explain shortly. (Note: During the Civil War, the house was known as the Wilcoxon House. It was renamed Blenheim House in about 1900).

Honoring our Fallen Vietnam Service Men

Jeff Sherry

Monday May 2nd, 2022

This Memorial Day, “The Wall That Heals,” a portable version of the Vietnam Veterans Memorial in Washington, D.C. will visit Erie. In recognition of the visit of “The Wall That Heals,” the Hagen History Center will recognize the 59 servicemen from Erie County that are among the over 58,000 Americans who gave their lives in Southeast Asia. Each week, a few veterans will be featured on our social media. The week of Memorial Day, several servicemen will be honored.

Soldiers From the 83rd Pennsylvania Volunteer Infantry Regiment Leave Their Mark at Blenheim House Part 1

Brain Graff

Wednesday Apr 27th, 2022

Before I moved to Erie in 2016, I lived in Fairfax County, Virginia for over 30 years. Fairfax County is just across the Potomac River from Washington, D.C. During the Civil War the corridor between Washington and Richmond was a hotly contested battleground. Thus, the war played a heavy hand in Fairfax County from 1861-1865 and while I lived there, I visited many of its historic sites. One of these was the Blenheim House near Fairfax Courthouse, about 17 miles west of Washington, D.C. The Blenheim House has an Erie connection which I will explain shortly. (Note: During the Civil War, the house was known as the Wilcoxon House. It was renamed Blenheim House in about 1900).

Happiness & Long Life for All its Residents #86

Honoring our Fallen Vietnam Service Men

"TEACHING A LOVE OF BEAUTY": LOVISA CARD CATLIN 1846-1925

Honoring our Fallen Vietnam Service Men

World War II Fashion: How a War Across the Sea Impacted Women's Fashion on the Homefront of America

Soldiers From the 83rd Pennsylvania Volunteer Infantry Regiment Leave Their Mark at Blenheim House Part 3

Honoring our Fallen Vietnam Service Men

Soldiers From the 83rd Pennsylvania Volunteer Infantry Regiment Leave Their Mark at Blenheim House Part 2

Honoring our Fallen Vietnam Service Men

Soldiers From the 83rd Pennsylvania Volunteer Infantry Regiment Leave Their Mark at Blenheim House Part 1

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