Curtin ancestors return to their roots at historic Bellefonte mansion

BELLEFONTE — There is something about the house you grew up in, and the experiences from that place, that draws people to revisit their childhood homes. Memories of an 1800s house are what caused Kate Gauche to arrange for some of her relatives to take a tour through Curtin Mansion, once the home of their ancestors

The Curtin family is famous for the Eagle Ironworks, and the ironworks’ founder, Roland Curtin, had the mansion built in 1830. His son, Andrew Curtin, was the first Republican governor of Pennsylvania.

Gauche’s mother, Eliza Curtin Yeager, was the last person born in the Federal-style home. Growing up, Gauche spent many happy hours visiting and playing in the upstairs. Her sister, Susan Story, said, “I cried when I had to leave the house. I had such a good time there.”

Story and her husband, Phil, chose the mansion as the site of their marriage 34 years ago. As the group entered the front door on April 17, they stood before the fireplace and relived the memory of their vows.

Another visitor on April 17 was Gauche and Story’s cousin Ellen Ostromecki. Her father, James Curtin, was the youngest of the Curtin siblings and was killed when Ostromecki was still very young. She was eager to show her daughter and son-in-law, Jessica and Mike Blattenberger, through the house that is part of their family history. Jessica and Mike’s offspring, Jack and Alyx, enjoyed the tour of a house and seeing the style of living they could hardly imagine. Ostromecki’s son, Garrett, his spouse, Melanie, and their children, Rory and Fiona, were visiting for the first time.

Another cousin, Thomazine Shanahan, arrived after the first tour had started, so Gauche repeated  it for Shanahan, her daughter, Tina Spurloch, and Tina’s four children.

The Curtins’ family and friends enjoyed many parties and celebrations at the Curtin Mansion. They held an annual Apple Butter Day on the site for many years, continuing into the late 1990s. The family who gathered on April 17 described four or more kettles filled with the spicy apple treat and hundreds of people scattered across the lawn, waiting to sample and buy the apple butter. Apple butter making was a huge fundraiser for the property at that time.

The Roland Curtin Foundation, which operates the mansion, is planning a number of events for the summer. While there, visitors can tour the Eagle Ironworks at Curtin Village, a state historical site.