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Centre County Historical Society



Last Updated: 11/27/2009

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Gender: Female
Age: 100
Sign: Taurus

City: STATE COLLEGE
State: Pennsylvania
Country: US
Signup Date: 6/11/2008

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Sunday, October 04, 2009 

THE BIG FILL: EMIGH'S GAP

Wednesday, October 14, 2009 at 7:00 p.m.





Please join us on Wednesday, October 14 at 7:00 p.m. at the Centre Furnace Mansion for a special presentation by Luther Gette.

No, The Big Fill is not a mass grave. It is Centre County's own huge Horseshoe Curve up the escarpment of the Allegheny Front to Emigh's Gap, opening the coal plateau to commerce. Built up wheelbarrow by wheelbarrow, the Fill carried rails around a curve so tight that trains had to be pushed downhill around it. Based as much on wish as on science, the curve was an 80-year-long headache to the coal train engineers and brakemen linking Philipsburg with Tyrone and the world. Luther Gette's love for railroads and for his home town bring life and joy to this great county story.

Built through the rugged western portion of Centre County between 1858 and 1862, the Tyrone & Clearfield Railroad required some spectacular engineering to climb the Allegheny Front to the 2,040 foot summit of Emigh's Gap near Sandy Ridge. There were steep grades and plenty of curves, the sharpest of which crossed high above Mt. Pleasant Run on nearly one hundred feet of fill, dug from borrow pits along the mountainside by Irish laborers making around a dollar a day. Known as the Big Fill, this tight curve was poorly laid out by the Tyrone & Clearfield chief engineer James E. Montgomery, and hampered railroad operations during the 107 years it was in service (1862-1969). Still, following its takeover by the Pennsylvania Railroad in 1862, the line carried to market upwards of four million tons of Moshannon Valley coal.

Using a power point presentation that includes numerous photos, Luther Gette will tell the story of the many wrecks that occurred on or near the Big Fill, including the famous circus train wreck of May 30, 1893. There will also be a short photographic tour of the T&C from Tyrone to Grampian. A song about the Irish laborers on the T&C and a poem about the Big Fill itself will round out Luther's talk.




5:17 PM 
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Friday, April 10, 2009 
DON'T MISS THESE UPCOMING EVENTS AT THE CENTRE FURNACE MANSION!

  • Technology Transfer and the Government in the U.S. Antebellum Iron Industry:
    Thursday, April 23, 2009 at 6:30 p.m.

    Join us for a special presentation by Dr. Steven A. Walton from Penn State's Science, Technology, & Society Program.

  • "Labor's Legacy: Pennsylvania's Industrial Art" Symposium:
    Tuesday, May 5, 2009

    Explore the history of Pennsylvania's industries and their representation in art. Symposium: 8:30 a.m. to 4:45 p.m., Exhibition Opening and Reception: 5:30 - 7:30 p.m. Registration is just $50.00 (includes symposium, continental breakfast, lunch and reception)

  • Bus Trip to the State Museum in Harrisburg:
    Wednesday, May 6, 2009

    The Centre County Historical Society is sponsoring a bus trip to Harrisburg to visit the exhibit "A Common Canvas: Pennsylvania's New Deal Post Office Murals" on Wednesday, May 6. A bus will transport visitors from State College to The State Museum of Pennsylvania in Harrisburg, where co-curators Dr. Curt Miner and David Lembeck will greet us and answer questions about the exhibit.

  • Plant & Garden Sale at the Centre Furnace Mansion:
    Saturday, May 9, 2009 from 9:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m.

    The Centre County Historical Society is holding the annual Plant and Garden Sale at the Mansion on Saturday, May 9th, the day before Mother's Day. This weekend the hundreds of newly planted daffodils will be blooming, as will the many lilacs in Laura's Lilac Bower. Besides highlighting the extensive work of the Centre Furnace Mansion Garden Committees, the sale will greatly contribute to the continuing development of the Centre Furnace Mansion gardens, with the emphasis on historic plants.

2:18 PM 
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Sunday, June 15, 2008 
You are invited to become a member of the Centre County Historical Society. Your membership supports all aspects of the Historical Society's operations. Membership benefits include: quarterly issues of Mansion Notes, the Society's newsletter; Centre County Heritage, the Society's journal; advance notice of programs; and a 10% discount on all Society publications.

Why Should You Become a Member?
  • To help preserve Centre County's historic landscape
  • To celebrate Centre County's architectural richness
  • To remember the importance of Centre Furnace
  • For all the opportunities membership provides

The Centre County Historical Society relies heavily on members and friends in our efforts to preserve the area's history and provide quality programming for children and adults each year. CCHS is an independent nonprofit organization; it is not a state-funded agency. Your contributions help to preserve Centre County's heritage for generations to come. No matter the size or the type, all gifts are meaningful and provide important support for the Society's work of collecting and caring for the materials that document life in Centre County.

Annual Dues$35.00
Friend$60.00
Patron$100.00
Life Membership$350.00
Benefactor $500.00


Send payment to: Centre County Historical Society, 1001 E. College Ave., State College, PA 16801
1:33 AM 
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Saturday, June 14, 2008 

Category: Parties and Nightlife

The Centre Furnace Mansion is a unique place to host a private party, dinner or wedding reception. Facilities available for use at the Mansion include the Hearth Room (the lowest level), the gardens and grounds, a small modern kitchen, and two wheelchair-accessible restrooms.


The site offers several acres of beautifully landscaped grounds. There are extensive gardens at the Mansion filled with hundreds of varieties of perennials, lilacs and roses. The grounds around the Mansion can accommodate about 150-200 people.


Local groups and non-profit organizations may use the Mansion for a meeting space for a modest fee. Please contact the Program Coordinator at info@centrecountyhistory.org or (814) 234-4779 for more information about hosting your event. Or visit our website here and here.


8:37 AM 
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Thursday, June 12, 2008 

Category: Jobs, Work, Careers
The Centre County Historical Society is a volunteer and community-based institution, and the need for volunteers is great. If you think you can find a niche at the Mansion, please contact us!



DOCENTING
Docents and greeters are always needed for our regular tour hours - Sundays, Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays afternoons, 1 to 4 pm, and for school tours. Docent workshops and other educational materials are available to prepare for leading tours, as is the opportunity to work with other docents. Docenting opportunities are also available at the Boogersburg school.

GARDENING
The Centre Furnace Mansion Gardens are tended by the Centre Furnace Mansion Garden Committee, coordinated by Mary Sorensen. Thanks to the Centre Furnace Mansion garden committee and Penn State Master Gardeners, there are many ongoing garden-related projects, as well as regularly scheduled gardening times (Thursdays from 5:00 in the evening until about 7:00).

EDUCATION & PROGRAM PLANNING
CCHS has a busy schedule of programs and other activities, but there is always a need for fresh ideas and fresh energies. Are there subjects, or speakers, or special events you would like to see scheduled? If so, please considering joining the Program or Education Committee. Program Committee goals are to offer monthly programs, that can be varied or tied to a single theme, and often include tours to county locations.
9:06 PM 
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Wednesday, June 11, 2008 

Category: Travel and Places


1001 East College Avenue
State College, PA 16801

(corner of College Ave. & Porter Rd.)

The Centre Furnace Mansion is open to the public for FREE tours year-round on Sundays, Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays, from 1 to 4 pm. Admission is free, and no appointment is necessary. The grounds are open for exploring at any time.

For larger groups, we ask that you call ahead to schedule your tour. For information on school tours, please click here.

The Mansion is closed on most public holidays.

* In the case of inclement weather, it is advised to call ahead to make sure the Mansion is open. The Mansion is closed when the State College Area School District cancels classes. *
9:38 PM 
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