Dustin Elder
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Settling the Frontier: The First Land Grabs of Centre County
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Decades before the iron boom of the 19th century, future Revolutionary War figure James Potter blazed a trail through Native American lands, proclaiming he’d “discovered an empire.” The years that followed highlight one of America’s great land grabs, which quite literally carved out the communities of today’s Centre County.
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Local Historia: The Walter L. Main Circus Train Wreck Tragedy
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In the early morning hours of May 30, 1893, Engineer “Red” Cresswell attempted to bring Walter L. Main’s circus train—full of exotic animals, expert performers, employees, equipment and Main himself—down […]
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Port Matilda: From Plank Road to the Brick Company
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When cruising down Interstate 99, it’s easy to fly past exit 61. Nestled in the Bald Eagle Valley just off the highway between Tyrone and State College lies the small […]
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Local Historia: Daring to Fly ‘Hell Stretch’
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It’s the early hours of an unusually warm, dry June Saturday—perfect conditions for testing the U.S. Airmail’s experimental night flights. The difficulties of flying, especially the “Hell Stretch” above the […]
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Local Historia: The Famed Rattlesnake Pike
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The world of a post-Revolution Pennsylvanian was small. Communities sprouting in the Appalachians were secluded, typically appearing alongside precious resources of the era like fertile soil and iron ore. These […]
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Local Historia: The Nittany Lion’s Namesake
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Throughout Pennsylvania, one predator has captured the imagination of generations: the mountain lion. We are enamored by the thought of such an elusive and dangerous animal, whether serving as the […]
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Local Historia: Tributes to Central Pa.’s Chief Logan
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Logan Branch, Logan Fire Company, Logan Street, Logan Avenue, Logan Valley. All across central Pennsylvania, the name Logan is almost as familiar a branding as the name of any U.S. […]
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PSU’s Original Groundskeeper: William G. Waring
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As students hurry through campus on their way to class, it’s easy to miss the natural beauty of Penn State’s grounds. From the Old Main Lawn at University Park, to […]
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Local Historia: Edison, Electricity and Progress in Centre County
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In October 1879, the world changed forever. From his Menlo Park, New Jersey, laboratory, Thomas Edison finished the first iteration of his newest invention: the incandescent lightbulb. Several inventors at […]
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Local Historia: Mining the Riches of Scotia
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The age of iron was ending. For over a century, the Juniata Iron region of central Pennsylvania had dominated the iron market. The geographic region combined all the essential ingredients […]