The German 77: Bellefonte's Lost WWI Memorial

The German 77 at the Bellefonte Courthouse and W. Harrison Walker
Photo Retrieved From: Pennsylvania Newspaper Archive

    After four horrific years, the "War to End All Wars"  ended on the 11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th month of the year 1918. The Great War, as it came to be known, introduced the world to a level of death and destruction previously unknown. Approximately 16 million lives had been lost during the conflict, almost 2% of the world's population at that time. The United States, who had only joined the war in 1917, saw 205,690 service members returning home with wounds of various degrees. Another 116,708 never came home.

    The following year, Armistice Day was established by President Woodrow Wilson as a day to celebrate the peace that followed the end of the war and honor those who had served. As part of this remembrance, monuments and statues were erected in towns and cities across the country. Some of these dedications were comprised of military equipment captured from the enemy on the battlefields of Europe. 

Halloween Series: The Man in Black (Austin, Potter County)

The ruins of the infamous dam that caused the Austin Flood

The town of Austin in wonderfully rugged Potter County is known for dam that almost wiped it off the map over a century ago. The Austin Dam Disaster still stands as the second worst dam failure in Pennsylvania's history and the sixth deadliest dam disaster in the United States. Even before the dam completely failed, it exhibited several warnings that disaster was unavoidable. Sadly, all of these warnings went unheeded by the town and the paper company responsible for its construction. However, it appears that while the dam was sending signals of impending disaster, a gentleman in black appeared out of nowhere to offer a warning from beyond the grave...

Halloween Series: Cry Me a Squonk- A Pennsylvania Cryptid

 

North-central Pennsylvania is a haven for all sorts of wildlife, from the majestic bull elk bugling from the hollows to the shy songbirds that call from the tree tops. Few places can top such diversity and natural beauty. However, there is one species that few people, save the most seasoned sportsmen, have probably seen. More elusive than an old whitetail buck or cagey fisher, this animal has never been successfully captured  and probably never will....

Castanea Brick & Tile Co. (Clinton County)

This small locomotive, often called a dinkey,
is hauling clay from the mines to the Castanea brick works

    Castanea is the Latin name for chestnut. The American chestnut (Castanea dentata) was once a hearty tree that thrived across Central Pennsylvania, especially on the steep rocky ridges of Bald Eagle Mountain. In 1871, the village of Castenea was established across Bald Eagle Creek from the city of Lock Haven. The story of Castanea, like many small communities throughout the region, mirrors that of the ill-fated chestnut tree, as in both cases there are few reminders of what once was.