Queen's Run Fire Brick Company (Clinton County)

    The Queen’s Run Fire Brick Company was one of the many fire brick manufacturers in central Pennsylvania in operation through the 19th and mid-20th centuries. Fire, or refractory brick, is a combination of clay and heat resistant minerals utilized in high temperature applications such as furnaces and kilns. Concentrated deposits of clay combined with the vast network of railroads and waterways for transportation laid the foundations for one of the most prosperous fire brick companies in the region.

Renovo Coaling Tower (Clinton County)

    Located in the quiet mountain town of Renovo the remnants of a once powerful industrial giant, the Pennsylvania Railroad, lies silent. A towering concrete structure remains a silent sentinel to the community's railroad history.

Titanic Post #6

By this time 109 years ago, RMS Titanic was resting 12,500 feet below the ocean.

Earlier this morning, at 2:20 am, Titanic slipped beneath the frigid waves, taking many unfortunate passengers with it. Almost an hour later, the rescue ship RMS Carpathia reached the scene of the disaster and began taking survivors on board.

In the end, over 1,500 people out of the 2,200 on board perished in the sinking of Titanic.

Statistics are as follows:
78% of the crew died
75% of third-class passengers perished
45% of first and second class passengers were lost
68% of the total number of people on board were fatalities

The sinking of Titanic affected almost every corner of the globe. From Lebanon to Bosnia, Norway to Japan, the United States and England, and of course right here in Pennsylvania.

Titanic's legacy is one that will transcend time, captivating generations long after the ship itself is gone. However, it's important to remember that the story of Titanic is composed of the individual experiences of those who were there. By seeing through the eyes of passengers like Aminah Murbarik, William Carter, and the others we explored in previous posts, the real story of Titanic comes to life.

I wish to thank everyone who has joined me on this journey the last few days. Exploring Pennsylvania's connection to the Titanic has been an enlightening adventure; I sincerely hope it was for everyone as well. In addition, I also would like to thank those who shared stories and details that provided additional insight along the way.

If you are new to the page, I encourage you to check out the previous posts on passengers bound for Pennsylvania.

Information Retrieved From:

Tikkan, A. (2019). Titanic. In Encyclopedia Britannica dictionary. Retrieved April 9, 2020. https://www.britannica.com/

Titanic Post #5

108 years ago tonight, Titanic entered a region of the North Atlantic known for icebergs. Throughout the day, Titanic had received messages from other ships warning of ice along their route. Not all of these messages were delivered to those commanding the ship and those that were didn't seem warrant a change of course.

Around 11:40 PM, an iceberg was spotted directly in Titanic's path. The alarm was sounded; the ship began to turn, but it was too late. Titanic sideswiped the iceberg, rupturing several of its watertight compartments. The clock started ticking; Titanic has just 2 hours and 40 minutes to live...

Titanic Post #4

April 13, 1912

Everyone aboard Titanic was probably thinking about how smooth the journey was going. The ocean remained calm and no serious problems had arisen. Little did they know that danger was just one day away...

Passenger Snapshot #4

Name: Mary Corey and Claire Karnes
From: Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
Destination: Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

Born Mary Emma Miller in 1879, she was reportedly a native of Cambria, County. Mary later relocated to Pittsburgh and became a teacher there. She married Percy Corey in 1911. The two moved to Burma where Percy was working at the time. While there, Mary became pregnant and decided to travel back to Pennsylvania to have her baby.

Mary Corey boarded Titanic on April 10th as a second-class passenger along with her friend Claire Karnes. Claire had been in Burma as well and was returning home to Pittsburgh. She was also pregnant.

What happened to Mary and Claire during the sinking remains a mystery. It appears neither of them made it into a lifeboat. Both bodies were never recovered.

Information Retrieved From:

Encyclopedia Titanica (2020). Mary Emma Corey (ref:#388, last updated 5th January 2020, accessed 13 April 2020) URL: https//www.encyclopedia-titanica.org/titanic-victims/mary-phyllis-elizabeth-corey.html

Titanic Post #3

By this time 108 years ago, RMS Titanic had reached the open ocean on its journey to New York. Passengers explored the lavish ship as the crew settled into a routine. All appeared well as Titanic steamed through calm waters. In just two days, all that will change....

Passenger Snapshot #3

Name: Redjo Delalic
From: Bosnia
Destination: Harrisburg, Pennsylvania

Redjo Delalic boarded Titanic in Southampton, England as a third class passenger on April 10th. He was 25 years old and married. His occupation was listed as "general laborer."

Redjo's experiences during the sinking are unknown. It is likely that by the time he made it to the deck from his 3rd class cabin deep within the ship, it was too late to reach a lifeboat. Redjo died in the sinking. If his body was recovered, it was never identified. Six 3rd class passengers are known to have been traveling to Harrisburg. None of them reached their destination.

Information Retrieved From: 

Encyclopedia Titanica (2015). Redjo Delalic (ref:773, last updated: 6th September 2015, access 12th April 2020) URL: https://www.encyclopedia-titanica.org/titanic-victims-redjo…

Titanic Post #2

At 1:30 PM 109 years ago, Titanic set sail for New York from its final European stop at Queenstown, Ireland. About 1,300 passengers and 900 crew were on board. As the ship sailed towards the horizon, no one on shore thought it would be the last time they'd ever see Titanic.

Passenger Snapshot #2

Name: Daher Shadid
From: Lebanon
Destination: Kulpmont, Pennsylvania

One passenger was probably glad to see Europe fade into the distance. Daher Shedid had boarded as a third class passenger the previous day in Cherbourg, France. He was 19 years old.

Daher's journey had began under the most tragic of circumstances. He had fled Lebanon after accidentally killing a girl in his village while experimenting with a gun. Fearing retribution from the girl's family, Daher decided to leave the country and relocate to Kulpmont, Northumberland County, where his uncle was living.

Though he escaped a fate in Lebanon, Daher did not survive the sinking of the Titanic. His body was recovered in the days after the disaster. After being transported to Nova Scotia, his remains were shipped to Mount Carmel for burial. Daher Shedid was interred in St. Mary's Cemetery. His grave is not marked.

Information Retrieved From:

Kobeissi, K. (2012). The story of the forgotten Arab victims of the Titanic, told 100 years later. Morocco World News. https://www.moroccoworldnews.com/…/the-story-of-the-forgot…/

Encyclopedia Titanica (www.encyclopedia-titanica.org).

Titanic Post #1

109 years ago today, RMS Titanic began its maiden voyage from Southampton, England to New York City. At 882.5 feet long, Titanic was the largest moving object on Earth at the time. No one on board expected that this so called "unsinkable" ship was sailing straight towards disaster.

Starting today and running until April 15th, I will be sharing stories of passengers who were looking forward to returning home, or starting a new life, in the Keystone State.

Passenger Snapshot #1

Name: Aminah Mubarik
From: Lebanon
Destination: Houtzdale, Pennsylvania

25 year old Aminah was traveling with her two sons to Houtzdale, Clearfield County to reunite with her husband Jirjis, who had opened a grocery store there after immigrating in 1908. The family boarded Titanic in Cherbourg, France on April 10th as third class passengers. Aminah and her children were being escorted on the journey by a family friend.

During the sinking, it is believed that Aminah and her sons escaped aboard Collapsible Lifeboat C, just 20 minutes before the ship took the final plunge. The family friend escorting her perished in the disaster. Upon reaching New York, the family was treated for exposure. After treatment, the family reunited with Mr. Mubarik in Houtzdale. Aminah later took on the more Americanized name of Minnie, as did her husband, who went by George.

Information Retrieved From:

Encyclopedia Titanica (2018). Aminah Mubarik (ref:#1044, last updated: 23rd September 2018, accessed 10th April 2020). URL:https://www.encyclopedia-titanica.org/t…/omine-moubarek.html

Tikkan, A. (2019). Titanic. In Encyclopedia Britannica dictionary. Retrieved April 9, 2020. https://www.britannica.com/…/Ti…/Aftermath-and-investigation

The Central Railroad of Pennsylvania: Bellefonte's Forgotten Railroad

The last intact pier from the viaduct
Author's Photo

    This stone pillar is one of few remnants of Bellefonte's forgotten railroad. With a proper inscription, it would be a fitting headstone for the ill-fated enterprise. "Here lies the Central Railroad of Pennsylvania- A Victim of Circumstances."

Centre County's Boudinot Lands

Elias Boudinot

Did you know that the city of Philadelphia owned land in Centre County for 140 years?

This story begins with one man, Elias Boudinot, lawyer, statesman, and former director of the U.S. Mint. Born in Philadelphia in 1740, Elias quickly gained prominence in his chosen career of attorney-at-law and then as a state representative of New Jersey during the American Revolution. Following America’s independence, Elias was appointed director of the federal mint in Philadelphia by President George Washington.

The Colby Murders (Clinton County)

Luther J. Shaffer- The Murderer
Image Retrieved From:

    133 years ago today, Luther Shaffer was mulling over his final moments. One has to wonder what his final thoughts were as he stood over the trap door of the gallows. Seconds must have seemed like hours before the lever was pulled. When the order was given, Luther fell to Earth, only to be stopped short by the noose around his neck.