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Happy 185th Birthday Strong Vincent

Jeff Sherry

Friday Jun 17th, 2022

Born in Waterford, Pennsylvania, in 1837, Vincent was named Strong for his mother’s maiden name. The Vincent family moved to Erie when he was a boy. He worked for a time in his father’s iron foundry and then attended Trinity College in Hartford, Connecticut. It was at Trinity that Vincent met his future wife, Elizabeth Carter. After an altercation in which a man insulted Elizabeth and Vincent attacked him, Vincent moved to Harvard in Cambridge, Massachusetts, to study law. After graduating in the middle of his class in 1859, he returned to Erie to “read law” in the office of William S. Lane on W. 6^th Street. The house that was the office still stands today.

Happiness & Long Life for All its Residents #88

Becky Weiser

Wednesday Jun 15th, 2022

Hallo liebe Leser! I attended a workshop at Old Economy Village near Pittsburgh recently. The program was on unlocking the stories of German immigrants to the United States by studying family documents, books, and objects. Plus, it was a wonderful opportunity to network with others in the museum business. The 2000 census claims that 20% of Americans have some ethnic connection to Germany. With a name like Rebecca Weigert-Weiser (both German), I decided the workshop was the right one for me!

Penelec powers Pennsylvania communities for more than 100 years

Todd Meyers, Penelec

Friday Jun 10th, 2022

Tracing its roots to a handful of companies that illuminated downtown streetlights-from dusk until an hour after the saloons closed in some spots-the Pennsylvania Electric Company (Penelec), a FirstEnergy Corp. (NYSE: FE) utility, marked its 100^th anniversary on June 10, 2019.

What began long ago as a tiny company in Philipsburg, PA, with 16 customers along 2 miles of line, Penelec evolved into a modern electric utility with more than 700 employees servicing nearly 600,000 customers throughout a sprawling 17,000-square-mile service territory, the largest footprint of any FirstEnergy utility.

Lafayette

Amanda Rockwood/ Researched by Stephen Manheimer and Amanda Rockwood

Wednesday Jun 8th, 2022

Recently we received a donation from Stephen Manheimer from New York. These items relate to General Marquis de Lafayette and his visit here to Erie, Pennsylvania where a banquet was held in his honor. These are important to us because Lafayette played such a significant role in the American Revolutionary War. Although he was a French aristocrat and military officer, he aided the Americans in many of the major battles during the war. Upon returning home to France, Lafayette then played a key role in the French Revolution. He was considered a national hero to both his native France and to the newly ordained United States of America.

Happiness & Long Life for All its Residents #87

Becky Weiser

Wednesday Jun 1st, 2022

Have you ever heard of the village of Hatch Hollow in Amity Township, Erie County? I have because I grew up near to there, but any resemblance to a village is long gone.

Honoring our Fallen Vietnam Service Men

Jeff Sherry

Monday May 30th, 2022

This Memorial Day, “The Wall That Heals,” a portable version of the Vietnam Veterans Memorial in Washington, D.C. will visit Erie. In recognition of the visit of “The Wall That Heals,” the Hagen History Center will recognize the 59 servicemen from Erie County that are among the over 58,000 Americans who gave their lives in Southeast Asia. Each week, a few veterans will be featured on our social media. The week of Memorial Day, several servicemen will be honored.

Honoring our Fallen Vietnam Service Men

Jeff Sherry

Sunday May 29th, 2022

This Memorial Day, “The Wall That Heals,” a portable version of the Vietnam Veterans Memorial in Washington, D.C. will visit Erie. In recognition of the visit of “The Wall That Heals,” the Hagen History Center will recognize the 59 servicemen from Erie County that are among the over 58,000 Americans who gave their lives in Southeast Asia. Each week, a few veterans will be featured on our social media. The week of Memorial Day, several servicemen will be honored.

Humes Chrysler Jeep Dodge and RAM in Waterford Celebrates 75 years

Matt Clark

Friday May 27th, 2022

Blazing the trail for the company actually began 85 years ago when founder Delbert C. Humes was working on a local farm and delivering produce out of the trunk of his car to local farmers and Erie residents.

His Waterford-based business grew and Humes soon expanded his fleet of trucks, drawing the attention of J.I. Case and Chrysler Motors. By 1946, Humes and his wife, Ruth, had added a franchise that included DeSoto and Plymouth car lines and Case tractors and farm equipment.

Honoring our Fallen Vietnam Service Men

Jeff Sherry

Wednesday May 25th, 2022

PLEASE NOTE: Earlier versions of this blog incorrectly stated Mr. Schaaf had died on September 5, 1969 as a result of wounds. The information, taken from the website Honor States. The Hagen History Center apologizes for the error.

This Memorial Day, “The Wall That Heals,” a portable version of the Vietnam Veterans Memorial in Washington, D.C. will visit Erie. In recognition of the visit of “The Wall That Heals,” the Hagen History Center will recognize the 59 servicemen from Erie County that are among the over 58,000 Americans who gave their lives in Southeast Asia.

Happiness & Long Life for All its Residents #86

Becky Weiser

Wednesday May 25th, 2022

Sometimes just a song can be an inspiration to write a blog about local history. Do you remember Judy Garland? I love her voice and better yet, the old movies she was in. Judy had a tragic personal life, but in her movies she is upbeat, belts out a great tune and usually dances with grace and style. One of my favorite Garland movies is “Babes in Arms”. Produced in 1939, the 17-year-old Judy sings to a photograph of Micky Rooney while on a sleeper bus. I have never been on a sleeper bus, although it would be fun to try.

3 NEW EXHIBITS NOW OPEN

Happy 185th Birthday Strong Vincent

Happiness & Long Life for All its Residents #88

Penelec powers Pennsylvania communities for more than 100 years

Lafayette

Happiness & Long Life for All its Residents #87

Honoring our Fallen Vietnam Service Men

Honoring our Fallen Vietnam Service Men

Humes Chrysler Jeep Dodge and RAM in Waterford Celebrates 75 years

Honoring our Fallen Vietnam Service Men

Happiness & Long Life for All its Residents #86

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