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B92.1

Happiness & Long Life for All its Residents #92

Becky Weiser

Wednesday Aug 10th, 2022

Where am I?  The land for this community was part of the Erie “Triangle” which was 315 square miles claimed by New York, Connecticut, and Massachusetts at the same time.  In 1778, the Commonwealth (the Merriam-Webster Dictionary defines a state and a commonwealth as the same thing with the only difference being in the name) of Pennsylvania and the Federal Government signed a treaty with 24 Iroquois Chiefs and was purchased for $165,640.00 ($3,508,399.23 today).

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An Erie Family Tragedy in World War II

Jeff Sherry, Museum Educator

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.

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Coats, and gloves, and goggles, oh my!

Amanda Rockwood

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.

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Did you ever wonder about . . .?

Jan Whitman Walters - HHC Volunteer

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.

B91.1

Happiness & Long Life for All its Residents #91

Becky Weiser

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.

B90.1

Happiness & Long Life for All its Residents #90

Becky Weiser

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?

Mern

The History of “Ish Kabibble”

Chris Merz- HHC Docent

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.

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Wedding Accessories and Their Meanings

Amanda Rockwood

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.

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A Gift for Tad Lincoln

Jeff Sherry

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.

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Wedding Dresses

Amanda Rockwood

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.