Centre County Historical Society

08/28/2026

- The next couple of weeks will feature images of Centre County from the air.

Aerial view of Bellefonte looking up High Street towards the Courthouse. What is the figure-8 in the lower left corner?
C. 1950, Guyer Kelley

From "Centre County in Pictures: 1800-1950" published by the Centre County Historical Society and the Centre County Sesqui-centennial Committee.

08/24/2026

Please join the Boalsburg Heritage Museum for a special Book Signing Celebration with Local Historian and Author Cathy Horner on Sunday, August 30, 1-3 pm. See details in original post!

Dear Friends of the Boalsburg Heritage Museum,

Please join us for a special Book Signing Celebration with
Local Historian and Author Cathy Horner
Sunday, August 30, 1-3 pm
at the Boalsburg Heritage Museum
403 East Main Street, Boalsburg
light refreshments will be provided

Cathy Horner's new book, Growing up in Boalsburg: Voices of the 1950s, will be available for purchase at $15 each, and Cathy will be there for you to meet and sign your copy! All proceeds will benefit the Boalsburg Heritage Museum. (Thank You, Cathy!)

Please stop by, meet Cathy, purchase her book, and tour the museum! Books may be purchased via cash, check, or PayPal.

08/24/2026

Our calendar for Fall is jam-packed with programs and events.
As always, our members receive program information and RSVP links via email before the general public.
Don't receive the emails? Be sure to check our website at https://centrehistory.org/events/calendar/ for program listings and to RSVP to programs.

08/21/2026

- The next five weeks will feature images of Centre County from the air.

The switchbacks on the Snow Shoe extension of the Bald Eagle branch of the Pennsylvania Railroad.
C. 1950, Guyer Kelley

From "Centre County in Pictures: 1800-1950" published by the Centre County Historical Society and the Centre County Sesqui-centennial Committee.

08/20/2026

March 27, 1931, Keystone Weekly Gazette, Bellefonte
John S. Dale, County, State Grange Leader, Dies At Home Friday
Was Chairman of Encampment And Fair, Centre Hall, For Many Years.

“…He was also President of the Grange Fair Association of Centre County and each year devoted a number of weeks of energetic work in assisting to make the Grange Fair and Encampment at Centre Hall a success.

He was devoted to this work and the increasing popularity of this annual agriculture event evidenced the time and labor which he expended in this direction…”

Click to read the full articlehttps://centrehistory.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/John-Solomon-Dale-Obituary.pdf

Recieved in a packet of photographs and memorabilia from the home John Dale's daughter.

08/17/2026

“What seems like an isolated incident in central Pennsylvania is a microcosm of the American Revolution itself, revealing the conflicting agendas and violent relationships between Patriots, British forces, and Native Americans. Thus, this short film is both a national and local story.” Local Historia.

Join CCHS for a viewing of Graves on Indian Lane which explores the layered history of a little-known burial site in Centre County, a memorial honoring two Revolutionary War soldiers who were killed in action on July 24, 1778, in an engagement with five American Indians. The documentary film is about 17 minutes in length and discussion will follow.

Limited seating, RSVP required. Register at: https://www.jotform.com/261964745003155

08/17/2026

What is it? Did you ever see one in use?

Airmail pickup round canister made of molded rubber with canvas rope drawstring bag with metal buckle attached to inside with leather band and iron bolts. Dome top is attached with metal rivets and has metal loop handle bolted at top center. Canister is painted orange; bottom is open. Side of container is stenciled and reads:
RETURN TO
ALL AMERICAN AIRWAYS, INC.
PITTSBURGH, PA.
JULY, 1949

CCHS 2026.21.01

Read more about these airmail canisters and how they were used at: https://postalmuseum.si.edu/collections/object-spotlight/airmail-pickup-canister

08/14/2026

- The next six weeks will feature images of Centre County from the air.

Unidentified photo location.
Circa 1950.

From a folder of photos taken for the "Centre County in Pictures: 1800-1950" published by the Centre County Historical Society and the Centre County Sesqui-centennial Committee.

08/13/2026

This Saturday, (8/15) is the day for the Old-Fashioned Skills event. All activities will be held at the Blacksmith Shop Area. The event is rain or shine. Join Jack Graham at 1:00 pm for Olde Tyme Tales.
All other activities are continuous between 10:00 am and 2:00 pm.

08/12/2026

📪 The Summer edition of Mansion Notes will be hitting the mailboxes of CCHS members in the next couple of days! For those who requested to recieved their Mansion Notes by email, those should be sent out this week also.

Mansion Notes is published as a benefit of membership in the Centre County Historical Society. Learn more about membership at: https://centrehistory.org/join-support/become-a-member.

See what is on the calendar for Fall programming and events, recaps of Plant Celebration and our Fourth of July event, From the Archives features an article on the recently recieved Harbison-Walker map of Monument, Roger Williams looks at the ties of Centre County to the American Revolution and Ron Smith shares his article on Bryce Jordan and the Big Ten.

Thank you for your membership and continued support ❤