This article originally appeared in the May 2025 issue of Town&Gown magazine.
I recently had the honor of visiting Jimmy Brown (James Robert Brown) at his home in Spring Mills. He and his fiancé, Susan Randolph, had just restored a rare 1861 map of Centre County that they had found rolled up in the attic of Susan’s childhood home, known as the Millheim Toll House. They proudly shared how they had worked with conservators at Penn State to restore it, and had it framed. It was one of hundreds of rare artifacts in their home, which is more like a curated museum and archive.
Saving and sharing history like this is just a routine thing for Jimmy Brown because history is not a hobby for him — it’s a way of life. If you’ve been to any historical events in Centre County, you’ve likely crossed paths with him. His parents started bringing him to Civil War reenacting events (dressed in period baby gowns) when he was just 3 weeks old. Thirty-one years later, he has never stopped. He’s worked his way through the ranks as a reenactor, living historian, local historian and preservationist. He says he remembers getting more involved in events in the 1990s. His parents went to the premiere of the iconic “Gettysburg” (1993) movie. Jimmy showed me autographs from actors in the film, like Stephen Lang.
Born and raised in Penns Valley, Jimmy graduated from Penns Valley Area High School in 2012. He fondly reflects upon his Penns Valley history class with Martin Tobias, where he acquired an appreciation for collecting oral history. Mr. Tobias had followed retired teacher and Civil War historian Jeffry Wert, who also taught Penns Valley history. Things have come full circle, and Jimmy now works as a paraeducator at Penns Valley Area School District. I could tell that something inside of Jimmy was shaped by those teachers and considered how proud they must be of him. Jimmy, of course, also has a collection of Jeffry Wert’s Civil War books, and opened the cover of one to proudly show me the author’s signature and personalized note.
Jimmy’s collection is eclectic. He has artifacts from ancestors who fought in both world wars. However, it’s his passion for the Civil War that is the heart of his historical persona. For Jimmy, these objects and uniforms are a tangible connection to his ancestors who fought in the Army of the Potomac during the American Civil War. He has three ancestors who fought in the 148th Pennsylvania Volunteer Infantry, known as the “Centre County Regiment.” If you’ve heard of Beaver Stadium, it was named in honor of the colonel of the 148th, James Addams Beaver. Colonel Beaver led Jimmy’s ancestors into battles like Chancellorsville and many others. Pvt. Jacob Emerick, of Millheim, Company A, was Jimmy’s great-great-great uncle, and was wounded at Chancellorsville but survived the war. Men like Emerick volunteered for Company A of the 148th in Rebersburg.
Another relative was Pvt. Nathaniel Brown, of Company D. He is buried at Farmer’s Mills Cemetery in Gregg Township, and Jimmy lays flowers on his grave every Memorial Day. When Jimmy puts on his infantry uniform, he is portraying Nathaniel Brown. In the 148th regimental history, Nathaniel is noted as “a good soldier.” Jimmy is also related to Pvt. William Wingard, of Potter’s Mills, Company G. William was a prisoner of war at Andersonville Prison in Georgia, where he died. So when Jimmy wears his uniform, it is as authentic as it gets.
Jimmy is also a skilled artillery reenactor and is part of a unit called Hampton’s Battery F. He confessed to me that his favorite artifact in his collection is an artillery grease bucket. “I think a few other artifacts that are my favorite would be a pair of original drumsticks and an officer’s commission certificate signed by Andrew Gregg Curtin.”
I asked Jimmy about projects and programs he’s been involved in. He recently helped clean graves at Swamp Poodle Cemetery in Milesburg and Union Cemetery in Bellefonte. He added, “I also took part in the car show and Apple Festival at Milesburg and a couple events at Curtin Village, and I fall in with the Millheim American Legion every year, dressed in my Civil War uniform, with the squad during the Memorial Day services.” He has also presented numerous living history programs for schools like Penns Valley, State College and Our Lady of Victory.
Finally, I asked Jimmy why he has so much passion for learning about and bringing history to life. He summed it up by saying that “both Susan and I have ancestors going back generations here in Penns Valley and Centre County; learning about our ancestors plays a big part in why we are interested. We also like teaching the younger generations. That way, others can get interested and keep these stories alive.” T&G
Information provided by Jimmy Brown. Local Historia is a passion for local history, community and preservation. Its mission is to connect you with local history through engaging content and walking tours. Local Historia is owned by public historians Matt Maris and Dustin Elder, who co-author this column. For more, visit localhistoria.com.
