Blog

Today’s blog is written by Curatorial Assistant Amanda Rockwood.  Amanda has been with the Hagen History Center for a year and a half and is an Ohio native and Edinboro University graduate.  Enjoy this look of the Battles’ property, also owned and administered by the Hagen History Center.

In the early days of Erie, a great Holiday occurred the first Tuesday of October, and it was as exciting as the 4^th of July and Christmas.  What many of us consider a Thanksgiving dinner staple was an excuse for a party here in Erie! Happy Cranberry Day! 

Hagen History Center is excited to announce that we will be featured at Erie Homecoming 2020: Erie’s Economic Evolution.

The Hagen History Center is collecting materials that document the response of our community to the corona virus that causes COVID-19.

Nearly four years ago, the Erie County Historical Society (ECHS) began a process with the Lake Erie Region Conservancy (LERC) to preserve a large portion of the Battles Farm in perpetuity by creating an easement to prohibit development of over 80 acres of the woods at the south end of the property. That easement closed earlier this summer. In addition to the main grant through DCNR, both Erie Insurance and the Erie Community Foundation contributed to a fund established for improvements to the Girard properties.

Hagen History Center is excited to announce two virtual speakers for the month of October; Rebecca Weiser & Stephanie Wincik. 

School is back in session and this year is certainly unique due to the pandemic.  Erie County is home to 13 school districts, along with many private schools, charter schools and home schools.  It would appear to me that a lack of education around here is not an option!  Education is a serious business today and has been for a long time.  Let us take a look at the development of public schools in the City.

On Saturday, September 26^th, Erie’s Our West Bayfront hosted their 2020 Porch Fest; a fun-filled day of music and entertainment while exploring the historic homes of the West Bayfront Neighborhoods. 

Novelist Les Standiford shows his skill as a storyteller in this fast-paced history of Andrew Carnegie, Henry Clay Frick and the 1892 Homestead steel strike that kept organized labor out of the mills for 40 years.

A few weeks ago, a small group of us from the Historical Society were granted entrance to Erie’s Land Lighthouse which used to be open for tours sporadically before the pandemic.  Because I couldn’t bring all of you along and our Erie lighthouses bring so much happiness, this blog is specifically about this one navigational aid.