Blog

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.

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. 

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 51^st District. 

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?

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.

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.

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.

Today’s blog came to me while working one day. My office, also known as the mezzanine, is within the Archive building where I am surrounded by objects. Most of these objects have been catalogued into our system and properly put away for storage. Although there are still a small number that have not yet been looked at.

With a recent attempt to finish putting objects away, I stumbled upon a group of military pieces.

On a beautiful September Friday in 1813, Oliver Hazard Perry’s nine-ship squadron of hastily built ships and converted merchant vessels defeated a six-ship British squadron off Put-in-Bay at the western end of Lake Erie. It was the first time in United States naval history that an entire enemy fleet was captured.  This meant American control of the lake.

The title of this blog is a perfect description for this Erie store because it has brought much happiness to generations of Erie residents.  It has been in business for 135 years and still serves the community with a smile.  Its tag line is “If we don’t have it, you don’t need it”.  Can you guess which store I am writing about?