Upcoming Historical Society Events
Altoona Curve 20th Season Exhibit
February 28, 2018 Grand Opening
Baker Mansion Lecture Series
March through November
FREE - Donations Accepted
Explore a Wide Variety of Historical Topics with an Engaging Lineup of Knowledgeable Speakers . . .
The Blair County Historical Society is pleased to present its annual lecture series at the Baker Mansion History Museum. The talks take place in the lecture room in the basement level of the Mansion. All talks are free and open to the public, although donations are gratefully accepted. All talks take place at 7pm on the fourth Wednesday of each month.
The Blair County Historical Society is pleased to present its annual lecture series at the Baker Mansion History Museum. The talks take place in the lecture room in the basement level of the Mansion. All talks are free and open to the public, although donations are gratefully accepted. All talks take place at 7pm on the fourth Wednesday of each month.
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April 25 – Cat Schirf
A Bloody Wilderness: Colonial Raids and Skirmishes in the Alleghenies Pennsylvania’s hinterlands were ripe for conflict in the second half of the 18th century. Indians and colonists had overlapping boundaries that led to disputes over millions of acres. When the American Revolution broke out, these long-standing contentions burst into brutal and bloody warfare. Cat Schirf will explore the violent chain reactions waged among colonial neighbors in central Pennsylvania. May 23 – Caroline Burkhart War and Remembrance: The Story of a Blair County POW When Tom Burkhart left Altoona in search of work in 1937 he never thought that it would be nearly nine years until he returned. By June of 1941 Tom was a newly minted 2nd Lieutenant and on his way to the Philippines. After Bataan fell to the Japanese in WWII, he spent time in two dismal Philippine POW camps before being taken on a “hellship.” Explore an incredible story of survival amid wartime as told by Tom’s daughter, Caroline. June 27 – Nathan Koozer The Johnstown Flood: Blair County Connections On Friday, May 31, 1889, the worst disaster of its kind in American history struck Johnstown, Pennsylvania, having a profound impact on the people of Blair County and all Americans. In this presentation, National Park Service Ranger Nathan Koozer will provide a general overview of the flood and identify the various Blair County connections to the flood story. Lessons will be learned and myths will be dispelled during this engaging talk. July 25 – Jeff Holland The History of the Altoona and Logan Valley Electric Railway Dating back to 1882, the Altoona and Logan Valley Electric Railway has humble origins, but it quickly became a viable transportation system serving the city of Altoona. Often referred to as the Logan Valley, the railway employed 300 people, transported 11.5 million passengers a year until economic conditions forced the line to discontinue service on June 2, 1954. Join Jeff Holland for a nostalgic ride on the rails. August 22 – Dr. Michael Farrow Now Showing: A History of Blair County Theaters Dozens of theaters, playhouses, and nickelodeons dotted the streets of Blair County in decades past. While most of the sites were long ago demolished, rich photographic evidence remains of the golden age of cinema. Dr. Farrow will take guests on a cross-county visual journey exhibiting some of the most popular entertainment venues in local history. September 26 – Jim Lowe We Can Take It: The Civilian Conservation Corps in Pennsylvania From 1933 to 1942, hundreds of thousands of unemployed men worked in camps throughout Pennsylvania. Some camps were on army bases, some were in national parks, some worked with the soil conservation service, but most camps were in state parks and forests. Pennsylvania had the second highest number of camps in the nation. Jim Lowe will offer stories of local projects and workers who served during the Great Depression. October 24 – Michael Allison Grimoires and Hexenmeisters: Folk Magic in Pennsylvania Although the environment of rural Pennsylvania leans toward the quaint rather than the creepy, cultural expressions of folk magic and symbolism have a long and colorful history among Pennsylvanians. Join the ever-entertaining Michael Allison for a lively presentation on folk magic that is timely for the Halloween season. Spells will be cast and boils will be cured! November 14 – Jared Frederick Treasures from the Archive: Blair County in WWI Thousands of Blair County residents served in various capacities of the World War I. Known for its incredible, systematic carnage, the conflict was commonly referred to as “the war to end all wars.” Frederick’s presentation will highlight local individual stories and historical treasures from the Blair County Historical Society’s vast collections for the centennial of the war’s end. |
Royer Mansion Antique Show
April 2018
More information coming soon!
Wine in the Woods at Royer Mansion
June 23, 2018
More information coming soon!
Haute Dog Fashion Show at Baker Mansion
Sunday June 24th
Rain Date July 1, 2018
The Blair County Historical Society is hosting a "Haute Dog Fashion Show" outdoors at the Baker Mansion
Bring your friendly pooches, poodles and playful pups to the first "Haute Dog Fashion Show" being held at the Baker Mansion. There will be food, fun, games, and contests to select the best costume, cleverest character, and most dynamic duo (dog and owner).
Fabulous door prizes will be raffled off every half hour.
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Cost is $25 to register for the event.
Registration includes: Admission for 1 friendly dog and any
friendly humans the dog brings!
1 Meal ticket (hotdog, drink & pretzels)
3 door prize raffle tickets
Entry in all dog games and contests on-site*
Additional purchases: $5 Extra meal (hotdog, drink & pretzels)
for extra humans
$5 For 10 extra door prize raffle tickets
for extra chances to WIN!
Rain date is July 1.
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Can’t come to the fashion show event? Then enter the on-line “Haute Dog Photo Contest” for $15 on our Facebook page. *** 1st Prize is FREE Dog Food for a Year *** Your friends and family will determine the winner by voting for their favorite dog.
For Haute Dog fashion show and photo contest details go to www.blairhistory.org.
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Photo Contest for “Haute Dog” on Facebook to win the grand prize of FREE DOG FOOD FOR 1 YEAR.
Entry fee: $15
How to enter:
STEP 1: Take a current digital photo of your favorite pooch in costume in the setting of your choice. Props encouraged! Please ensure the safety and comfort of your pet while taking the photo.
STEP 2: Use Paypal to pay the contest entry fee of $15. Link: www.blairhistory.org/events, Haute Dog Photo Contest on Facebook for FREE Dog Food for a Year
STEP 3: Email your photo to contest@blairhistory.org along with your PayPal account name for payment verification. Your photo will be posted on our Facebook page upon payment verification.
STEP 4: Vote on Facebook and encourage your friends and family to vote! The winner will be determined by the DOG PHOTO that has the most “Likes” on Facebook by midnight June 30, 2018.
PHOTO CONTEST RULES:
Contest winner will be announced on Facebook Sunday, July 1, 2018 and the winner will have 1 week to claim the prize or forfeit to the runner-up. Winner shall be determined based on Facebook votes. In the case of a tie, BCHS shall determine the winner with a coin toss.
Winner must show proof of dog in photo by bringing dog to collect prize or making other arrangement for proof (e.g. FaceTime verification).
3. Photo submitted must be current photo. Photos will be posted on Facebook ONLY after verification of payment through PayPal.
4. You may enter more than once with different photo of same dog as this is a photo contest. Each photo requires payment of the entry fee.
5. Photos will be accepted from April 15 through Jun 15. (Note, later entries have lower chance of winning, as voting starts the day the photo is put on Facebook.)
6. Prize of FREE Dog Food for 1 Year will be a gift certificate to PetSmart for $450.00 (based on http://www.akc.org/expert-advice for cost of food for 1 year = $435, article written 2015
Bring your friendly pooches, poodles and playful pups to the first "Haute Dog Fashion Show" being held at the Baker Mansion. There will be food, fun, games, and contests to select the best costume, cleverest character, and most dynamic duo (dog and owner).
Fabulous door prizes will be raffled off every half hour.
----------------------------------------------------------------
Cost is $25 to register for the event.
Registration includes: Admission for 1 friendly dog and any
friendly humans the dog brings!
1 Meal ticket (hotdog, drink & pretzels)
3 door prize raffle tickets
Entry in all dog games and contests on-site*
Additional purchases: $5 Extra meal (hotdog, drink & pretzels)
for extra humans
$5 For 10 extra door prize raffle tickets
for extra chances to WIN!
Rain date is July 1.
----------------------------------------------------------------
Can’t come to the fashion show event? Then enter the on-line “Haute Dog Photo Contest” for $15 on our Facebook page. *** 1st Prize is FREE Dog Food for a Year *** Your friends and family will determine the winner by voting for their favorite dog.
For Haute Dog fashion show and photo contest details go to www.blairhistory.org.
--------------------------------------------------------
Photo Contest for “Haute Dog” on Facebook to win the grand prize of FREE DOG FOOD FOR 1 YEAR.
Entry fee: $15
How to enter:
STEP 1: Take a current digital photo of your favorite pooch in costume in the setting of your choice. Props encouraged! Please ensure the safety and comfort of your pet while taking the photo.
STEP 2: Use Paypal to pay the contest entry fee of $15. Link: www.blairhistory.org/events, Haute Dog Photo Contest on Facebook for FREE Dog Food for a Year
STEP 3: Email your photo to contest@blairhistory.org along with your PayPal account name for payment verification. Your photo will be posted on our Facebook page upon payment verification.
STEP 4: Vote on Facebook and encourage your friends and family to vote! The winner will be determined by the DOG PHOTO that has the most “Likes” on Facebook by midnight June 30, 2018.
PHOTO CONTEST RULES:
Contest winner will be announced on Facebook Sunday, July 1, 2018 and the winner will have 1 week to claim the prize or forfeit to the runner-up. Winner shall be determined based on Facebook votes. In the case of a tie, BCHS shall determine the winner with a coin toss.
Winner must show proof of dog in photo by bringing dog to collect prize or making other arrangement for proof (e.g. FaceTime verification).
3. Photo submitted must be current photo. Photos will be posted on Facebook ONLY after verification of payment through PayPal.
4. You may enter more than once with different photo of same dog as this is a photo contest. Each photo requires payment of the entry fee.
5. Photos will be accepted from April 15 through Jun 15. (Note, later entries have lower chance of winning, as voting starts the day the photo is put on Facebook.)
6. Prize of FREE Dog Food for 1 Year will be a gift certificate to PetSmart for $450.00 (based on http://www.akc.org/expert-advice for cost of food for 1 year = $435, article written 2015
Born to be Wild: A Musical Celebration
August 4, 2018
More information coming soon!
Vintage Car Cruise-In at Baker Mansion
August 2018
Baker Mansion History Museum Bus Tour
Returning September 2018
Royer Mansion Pumpkin Festival: Quilt & Antique Show
Returning September 2018
Exploring Haunted History
All Throughout October 2018
Halloween events include:
October 19-20: Mansion Murder Mystery Tours
October 24: Michael Allison presentation on Pennsylvania Folk Magic
October 26: Downtown Haunted Walking Tours
October 27: Baker Mansion Halloween Bash
More details coming soon!
October 19-20: Mansion Murder Mystery Tours
October 24: Michael Allison presentation on Pennsylvania Folk Magic
October 26: Downtown Haunted Walking Tours
October 27: Baker Mansion Halloween Bash
More details coming soon!
Annual Awards Dinner
November 1, 2018
Heritage Holiday Tours
December 1-23, 2018
Includes December 22 Tea with Santa
