Blog

Harry Kellar

Happiness & Long Life for All its Residents # 79

Becky Weiser

Wednesday Mar 9th, 2022

March 10th is the 100th anniversary of the death of a famous Erie born and raised man.  He brought happiness throughout the world and was a mentor and inspiration to generations of performers who followed him.  Who was that person?

Planetarium v2

Erie Planetarium History, Part II

Jim Gavio, Director, Yahn Planetarium of Erie

Monday Mar 7th, 2022

From the 1960’s up through the 1990’s, the Erie Planetarium was operated by the Erie School District, Gannon University and the Erie County Historical Society.  At its beginning, a Planetarium committee was formed in order to get the Planetarium properly operating on a regular basis for the public and potentially thousands of kids, some local amateur astronomers and Behrend professors (called lecturers) were recruited to participate. 

The Wall that Heals v9

Honoring our Fallen Vietnam Service Men

Jeff Sherry

Monday Mar 7th, 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.

James A. Garfield

Killed by his Doctor: The Assassination and Death of President James A. Garfield

Jeff Sherry, Museum Educator

Friday Mar 4th, 2022

On July 2, 1881, the 20th President of the United States, James Abram Garfield was shot in a Washington, D.C. railroad station by a disgruntled office seeker Charles Guiteau. Garfield was shot on the back and sustained a minor wound in the arm. The wound to his back was not a fatal one, or at least it shouldn’t have been.

Disney Kin 3

Disneykins are a unique brand of miniature hand painted plastic figures manufactured by the Marx Toy Company from 1961 to 1973. Do you remember them?

Amanda Rockwood

Wednesday Mar 2nd, 2022

Today we will discuss some big childhood favorites, Disney, and Marx toys. Has anyone ever heard of Disneykins? I hadn’t until I saw my first one here in the collection of the Hagen History Center- Erie County Historical Society.

The Wall that Heals v8

Honoring our Fallen Vietnam Service Men

Jeff Sherry

Monday Feb 28th, 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.

StoneHouse v2

African Americans in Erie County: A Trail of Shared Heritage #29

KayAnn Warner

Sunday Feb 27th, 2022

For the month of February, the Hagen History Center will be recognizing African Americans in Erie County: A Trail of Shared Heritage (The Trail).

Gospel Hill Cemetery Marker 05.2015 1

African Americans in Erie County: A Trail of Shared Heritage #27

KayAnn Warner

Friday Feb 25th, 2022

For the month of February, the Hagen History Center will be recognizing African Americans in Erie County: A Trail of Shared Heritage (The Trail).

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African Americans in Erie County: A Trail of Shared Heritage #24

KayAnn Warner

Wednesday Feb 23rd, 2022

For the month of February, the Hagen History Center will be recognizing African Americans in Erie County: A Trail of Shared Heritage (The Trail).

Woodcut of Le Griffon

Happiness & Long Life for All its Residents #78

Becky Weiser

Wednesday Feb 23rd, 2022

Who were the first people to live in Erie County?  Why the indigenous people of course!  Not much is known about the Eriez or Cat Nation (probably referring to racoons), but scholarship assumes that the group was assimilated by the Iroquois nation long before European settlement.  The traditional area of Eriez settlement found through archeological digs was mainly between Erie and Dunkirk, New York.