From the mid-1930s onward for over 10 years, a general interest column, “Wandering with Walter Jack,” appeared in the Erie Daily Times. It was a popular feature, often appearing once to three times a week. The column documented local history as well as significant events within the regional community. Walter Eugene Jack (1883–1966) was aContinue reading “Rocks of Ages”
Tag Archives: History of Northwestern Pa
The Timeless Face of Howard Falls
Part One For the past 200 years, Howard Falls has been visited by many scientists, geologists and ecologists, drawn there by its unique geological features and the ecologically important Gorge below it. As we detailed in our earlier blog, “The Portage Escarpment“, these features were created from the melt-waters of the Laurentide ice sheet asContinue reading “The Timeless Face of Howard Falls”
Albert Perry Howard and the Legacy of the Cottage at Howard Falls
If you read our previous blog post, Mayhem at the Cottage, you have already been introduced to Albert Perry (A.P.) Howard and his summer cottage at Howard Falls. Today, we are taking a closer look at the man behind the cottage and sharing some exciting news about the cottage’s future. The Man Behind the NameContinue reading “Albert Perry Howard and the Legacy of the Cottage at Howard Falls”
Ringing the Bell: The Lost One-Room Schools of Franklin Township
Long before the consolidated regional schools serving a broad area of today, there were small schools dotting the landscape. These “One-Room Schoolhouses” were located so children could walk or be taken by horse and carriage to school each day. In Franklin Township in the mid-1800s, there were nine schoolhouses shown on the 1855 township map,Continue reading “Ringing the Bell: The Lost One-Room Schools of Franklin Township”
Coming to America
Here at Howard Falls, we work to document historical events in Northwestern PA, which over the past 200 years have collectively contributed to shaping both our natural environment and the people who call this area ‘home.’ Invariably, much of that work involves research into the genealogical roots of those who have settled here. While manyContinue reading “Coming to America”
Mayhem at the Cottage
We recently came across a poignant statistic: Only a small percentage of Americans can readily name all eight of their great-grandparents. According to a 2019 survey by Ancestry®: – About 21 percent of Americans don’t know which city any of their grandparents were born in.– 14 percent don’t know what any of their grandparents doContinue reading “Mayhem at the Cottage”
The Portage Escarpment
Background In our earlier Blog, “Formation of the Falls Run Gorge,” we discussed the potential dynamics of how the Gorge and Falls formed during the end of the Laurentide Ice Age over 12,000 years ago. Further review of literature on similar gorges in Ohio and New York allowed us to refine these dynamics further andContinue reading “The Portage Escarpment”
Route 98 Dedication, 1926
As we wrote in our blog “Crossing the Divide; The Challenge of Bridging Elk Creek,” the dedication of a new concrete bridge across Elk Creek was an auspicious occasion in early August 1926. On hand were over 100 dignitaries and local residents. One of those residents in attendance was George Howard, who had been askedContinue reading “Route 98 Dedication, 1926”
Crossing the Divide
The Challenge of Bridging Elk Creek Prologue:In early August 1926, over 100 people gathered at Elk Creek, where the state highway connecting Fairview and Franklin Township crossed the stream as reported by The Erie Daily Times. In attendance were Fairview and Franklin residents as well as county and local officials. It was a momentous occasionContinue reading “Crossing the Divide”
Hillside
Prologue: Last week the Girl Scouts of America received a record donation of $84.5 million from Philanthropist MacKenzie Scott. Among other uses, the grant is meant to “create more equitable membership opportunities in communities that have been under-engaged” and “foster meaningful program innovation informed by the current interests and needs of girls to prepare themContinue reading “Hillside”