Philipsburg Historical Foundation

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Philipsburg Historical Foundation

The Philipsburg Historical Foundation is a 501(c)3 non-profit established to preserve and protect Philipsburg's Heritage.

08/28/2026

In the summer of 1821, the turnpike from Philadelphia to Erie was completed. Hardman Philips built what was the only screw mill in the US at that time. It is another amazing story of technological progress in the wilderness. The screw factory site is at Point Lookout beside the Moshannon Creek passed, as the only power available at that time was provided by a water wheel. These early screws, 1,000 gross per week, had a blunt tip, as the sharp tip process didn't exist. In fact in the end it was that improvement that doomed the endeavor, as well as the long road to market. In 1824, the Franklin Institute Exhibition in Philadelphia had this to say about Hardman's screw, made by American invention of his own iron; "The screws are superior to the best imported, and we hope that they will soon be brought into general use". Unfortunately, the wire tipped point and route to market ended the endeavor around 1837. The old factory burned in 1859. In 1915 the DAR acquired a piece of ground at the site and erected a memorial now visible at the site. The Foundation is looking to upgrade the monument and to apply for a PHMC historic marker.

08/16/2026

This week I thought we could look at what was in the Daily Journal 100 years ago this weekend. One of the first things I saw on the front page was this quip; "Be a real optimist regarding Philipsburg's future and show your faith by your works". Penn State finished its summer term and 2,200 students went home. Rudolph Valentino, early movie heartthrob, had an emergency appendectomy (he died a week later). Two armed bandits held up a train in Rawlins, Wyo. The percapita value of Los Angeles reached an incredible $4,285.71 making it the richest city on earth. You could buy a Orthophonic Victror Victrola for $160. And finally, Thomas Edison visited Bellefonte with his wife. According to the paper "he was especially interested in Bellefonte as it was the 2nd town in the US where he installed lights, the first being Sunbury". Well....sort of true.

08/07/2026

William G. 'Turk' Jones, the adman turned conservationist, was the first environmentalist I knew as a young person. He attended Bucknell studying Biology, then went to New York and became a successful Madison Ave. advertising executive. After 17 years as an "Adman" (1946) he quit, moved here and bought an abandoned farm near Kylertown that had acres of stripped ground, naming it Rolling Stone Tree Farm. He began growing fir trees on the slag piles left behind by early coal operators. He had ideas about what types of trees could survive and grow on this inhospitable ground. He connected with PSU and the US Forest Service and worked with them. He imported evergreens from Austria, Scotland and Norway as well as Douglas Firs from the Pacific Northwest. He also used hybrid poplars that grew very fast. By 1948, the first backfilling laws were enacted in PA forcing mine owners to remediate. Coal operators resisted, and the actual beginning of the tree planting didn't occur until the late 1950's. At that time, 'Turk' became a consultant to the Central PA Open Pit Mining Association. He bought another large farm with 800 acres of stripped land that became the Robert Bailey Estate Tree Farm where he continued his research and plantings. No one believed, including coal operators, that anything could be grown on this devastated land, but he persevered with his ideas and through his research, direction and oversite, 36 million trees were planted on formerly strip-mined sites in 17 PA counties. He received countless environmental awards. After the establishment of Earth Day in 1970, 'Turk' became a sort of folk hero, a new age "Johnny Appleseed". Students, scientists, broadcasters, all flocked to his incredible tree farms. He was featured in TIME Magazine, Reader's Digest, interviewed by Walter Cronkite, appeared on the TODAY show, wrote a book "The New Forest". He continued to inspire environmental restoration through reforestation here and overseas after his retirement. He died Nov. 1, 1981. When you visit Project 70 you are seeing his work all around you. The trees recently harvested in the area long Rt 504 were also his plantings. In fact, you can't drive anywhere around here without seeing his incredible legacy.

08/02/2026

The American Red Cross began in 1863 with Clara Barton, one of the greatest women in American history. RC came to Philipsburg in 1917 when the Moshannon Chapter was created to help with the war effort (WWI). At its inception here, it boasted 777 volunteers. Their original office was in a building where the Amvets is today. In my time, they had an office above the Boro office. After WWI it turned its attentions to natural disasters, fires, and floods. The blood collection system part of RC started in 1941 as a response to the need for blood during (WWII). The Red Cross collected 13 million pints in that effort. After WWII, a national system of blood supplies was needed, the RC continues to supply 40% of Americas blood needs, including the military. It is facing a National Blood Emergency as donors and donations have declined. It could run out tomorrow! The Red Cross desperately needs new donors now. Call 800-733-2767 or visit RedCrossBlood.org for a nearby donor location.

07/27/2026

History repeats itself today, as the PO 14u VFW Teener League All-Starteam wins the state title in Mt. Union. This comes 50 years after PO won the title in 1976. They beat Lebanon Valley in the final after first losing to them in pool play. Congratulations to the players & coaches.

07/17/2026

Saturday is Lumber Legacy Day at Black Moshannon. Experience the life of a “wood hick” and understand our absolute connection to the trees. From those above the ground to those beneath the ground turned to coal, our history is made of trees. Events are ongoing from 10-4. Join the Philipsburg Historical Foundation at 12 and 2 at the Nature Centre to relive the history of lumbering.

07/12/2026

The 2026 PO VFW Teener League tram won the district title today by defeating Clearfield 27-3. They now move to the state tournament.

07/11/2026

Teener League baseball season is entering the state tournament season this weekend. In August of 1976, the Philipsburg Teener League team won the state tournament in a five game series 3-2.
Teener League is a sponsored by the VFW. In years past Teener League was an important venue for young baseball players and shown is the winning team and its manager "Keno Beezer". Good luck to this years entry.

07/04/2026

Happy 250th Birthday America! In Philipsburg, we weren't here in 1776 (1797). But here are some folks to remember who were part of that noble struggle. John Gearheart, buried in the Mud Church yard is the only Revolutionary soldier interred in Philipsburg. John Henry Simler, owner of the Simler House, came with Lafayette and the French in support of American independence. At Yorktown he was scarred with a saber that he took in combat from the dead British officer. Finally, Abraham Goss and his mother Elizabeth "Betsy" are buried in the Goss Cemetery (Crain Cemetery) near the Decatur Twp. Building. The son, Abraham was George Washington's groom (takes care of your horse) and his mother a nurse and cook.

07/03/2026

Independence Day Parade
July 4, 1899

Address

203 N Front Street
Philipsburg, PA
16866

Website

http://www.phf1797.com/

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