Erie County Historical Society-Hagen History Center

Jerry Skrypzak presents When the Iron Horse Roamed the City

Historically, the wealthy always had private libraries in their homes. To make things more democratic, Benjamin Franklin established the United States’ first lending library, the Library Company of Philadelphia in 1731. The National Library of Congress in Washington, DC followed when our country was formed. Sadly, this building was burned in 1814 by the British during the War of 1812. Thomas Jefferson sold his personal library in 1815 to initiate the rebuilding of that collection. Erie was not far behind in forming our own libraries. Read more at the link!

We are so excited to be apart of the iHeartRadio Bridal Market & Expo on Sunday April, 18th! Looking for a Wedding Venue? Are you hosting a reunion? Family Party? Come talk to us!

Last call for GALentines Yoga! Sweet treats & a 350 mL bottle from Mazza Vineyards available for pickup tomorrow 8 AM - 5 PM. Sign up here: https://hagenhistorycenter.square.site/

Brandon Wiley founded OpenedEyes in 2014 as a result of personal experiences of racial discrimination and identity crisis due to his biracial background. Brandon felt that the world would needs a program to encourage and increase dialogue around social justice related issues. Brandon is passionate in the areas of self development, diversity & inclusion and cultural appropriation. Brandon will discuss the history and overview of OpenedEyes. He will be discussing the importance of mindfulness-based practices in how we see and understand ourselves as well as the diverse world around us.

Join us LIVE at 7PM tonight!

An Act for the gradual abolishment of slavery in Pennsylvania passed in 1780. What it stated was that the importation of slaves from overseas into the Commonwealth would cease. People in slavery born before this date could remain in slavery until they died or were freed. People born of slave parents after that date would remain indentured servants until the age of 28, then would be free. Erie County was settled around 1795; were there slaves here at that time? Read more at the link.

Get involved in the process, important advice from Fred Rush. Fred Rush is a native of Belzoni, Mississippi. His parents moved to Erie when he was 2 years ...old. Rush graduated from East High School and went on to Pennsylvania State University to begin his college education until he received a U.S. Army draft notice. I got a little letter, and the postman said, ‘We have a letter for Fred Rush. Will you sign for it?’, said Rush. I said no, and then he left. The next day I come home and my mom says, ‘You had a letter. I signed for it for you.’ It basically stated, ‘Your friends and neighbors have selected you to represent them in the Armed Forces of America’. I went to Buffalo and then to Fort Dix, New Jersey. After spending 13 months in combat during the Vietnam War, Rush returned to Erie and earned a degree in sociology from then-Gannon College. Rush worked as a social worker and as a full-time newspaper reporter for the Morning News before beginning his career in state and local government in 1971. For his first government job, he served as the assistant director of the Erie Model Cities program under Erie Mayor Louis J. Tullio until 1974. Then, he left Erie to take a marketing job with Xerox Corp. Rush moved back to Erie in 1977. Always believing that it was important to make friends and work with people on both sides of the aisle to deliver programs to constituents, Rush worked for the first County Executive of Erie, Republican Russell Robbie Robison and then for County Executive Judy Lynch, who is a Democrat. Rush also eventually became the first director of the Erie County Human Relations Commission. Rush returned to the Tullio Administration in 1979 and worked as a mayoral assistant until 1990. He also worked for former Gov. Tom Ridge in Harrisburg as director of the governor’s commission on African-American affairs. Before retiring in 2015, Rush spent nine years as coordinator of community initiatives, primarily in economic development and education, under the Sinnott administration. In 2015, Fred Rush decided to retire at the age of 71 after a long career in public service, saying, I’ve been blessed, and have had a great life. Retirement is a choice you have to make. The time is right for me now. I’ve still got the energy to do other thingsI’ve been lucky to have the chance to work with some quality people who were truly committed to the job they were doing and the betterment of the community. I still want to be involved in planning the future of this community, and I still plan on working closely with any member of local government who is willing to improve the lot of all of our citizens. Rush saw possibilities everywhere he looked. He spent decades helping to shepherd initiatives benefiting the entire city and kept a special eye from the inside on ways the city might more effectively address endemic issues of inequity and discrimination. We are truly grateful for his commitment, his passion, and his service to the Erie community. We hope you have enjoyed our celebration thus far of our city’s rich, cultural diversity. For the month of February, we will feature Americans who have made significant contributions locally and across the nation from #BlackHistory and #ErieBlackHistory for #BlackHistoryMonth. Information sourced from: GoErie.com | Erie Times-News (photo and career information) ShareHeritage.org Erie County Historical Society-Hagen History Center Fred Rush (wpsu.org) (military photo and quote about draft notice)

Looking for the perfect holiday gift this year? Give your favorite history lover a bundle of local Erie history this holiday season! AND immortalize their family name with a custom brick on the Carriage House Patio (former Planetarium). https://hagenhistorycenter.square.site//historian-pre/119 ... This gift bundle includes: - Brick (customization form will be emailed after purchase, $100 value) - Historic Erie County by Edward Wellejus - Journal of Erie Studies: Moxie & Mortar - Bicentennial Tower print - Watson Curtze Mansion mug - Erie souvenir spoon - 2 Watson Curtze Mansion note cards - 2 ECHS pencils - ECHS fan sticker - Lake Erie Shipwreck Map - Dragonfly Lake Scents Bath Bomb - Holiday ornament - key bottle opener

Dr. Michael DeSanctis presents "A Proper Seat for Emmanuel: Personal Reflections on the History and Meaning of the Christmas Crèche"

Through the months of October & November the community is invited to participate in the 2020 Hagen History Center Homeport Erie Driving Tour. This is a socially distant spin off our usual historic homes walking tour each fall. Guests are welcome to visit Hagen History Center Carriage House Gift Shop to purchase their driving tour for $10. Members of HHC and Erie FCU will receive a discounted rate of $8. With the purchase of the driving tour guests will receive Home Port Erie by Robert MacDonald & David Frew and the self-guided driving brochure. For an additional $5 each, guests can purchase Lake Erie related books, Waters of Repose or Dreams Afloat.

Did you know tanning is the worlds oldest profession? Click the link below to learn why!

The Hagen History Center is collecting materials that document the response of our community to the coronavirus that causes COVID-19. As Erie County residents and those throughout the world like you react to new policies and recommendations aimed to restrict the virus' spread, we wish to document and preserve the materials and stories that demonstrate how you are continuing to communicate, work, commute, learn, teach, and give aid to others. Tell us your story by sending the ...Hagen History Center photographs, short videos or a PDF of your recollections that best represent the experiences and observations that have stood out to you most. How are you and your family members spending your time? What do you regard as your biggest challenges? Was there a moment when you realized a historic event was taking place? The photographs we collect will allow all of us to study and share these experiences in the future. You can assist us by donating your photographs to help document this tragic and historic time in history. Please submit photos and videos to [email protected]

Help us reach 100 subscribers on our YouTube channel!!

Tomorrow night at 7:00 PM on our Facebook Live! Dr. Michael DeSanctis will be giving his presentation on "A Proper Seat for Emmanuel: Personal Reflections on the History and Meaning of the Christmas Crèche"

We're in awe of our ginkgo tree! Come join us The Watson-Curtze Mansion is open for tours today 11AM-5PM

In 1843 #onthisdayineriehistory The "U.S.S. Michigan (later the "wolverine"), launched in Erie. U.S.S. Michigan was the United States Navy's first iron-hulled warship and served during the American Civil War. She was renamed U.S.S. Wolverine in 1905 in order to free the name Michigan for a new United Navy battleship.

Erie Arts & Culture and its Cultural Service Partners are proud to present the End of Year Variety Show as part of this year’s United Arts Fund campaign! This show includes acts and segments presented by Erie Arts & Culture, the Erie Philharmonic, the Erie Playhouse, the expERIEnce Children's Museum, the Flagship Niagara League - U.S. Brig Niagara, the @Erie County Historical Society Hagen History Center, and other arts and entertainment organizations. The show was produced in-part by our friends at CAM Erie. Sit back and enjoy the show!

We are collecting Toys for Tots!! Please donate new, unwrapped toys by November 29th to the Carriage House Gift Shop! Open Friday-Sunday 11am-5pm

71 degrees and holiday trees

Parents have always worried about their children perhaps those worries have just changed a little over the course of history. The title of this blog about long life was certainly a worry for parents before the advent of vaccines and modern medicine. Click the link below to learn more!

We’re very excited for this!

In 1981, #onthisdayinEriehistory Judy Lynch was elected to first term as County Executive.

November photo challenge with @magnifyzoology accepted! #Day2 is #WhoAmI We will be taking the #Museum30 challenge to Instagram (@eriehistory) only on Tuesday, make sure to keep following along over on that platform! Please join in and share your memories and photos of your favorite museums using the hashtag #Museum30.... #hagenhistorycenter #eriepa #eriehistory #eriemuseum #november #watsoncurtzemansion

In 1965 #onthisdayinEriehistory Louis J. Tullio was elected mayor of Erie for the 1st of 6 terms.

November photo challenge with @magnifyzoology accepted! #Day1 is #Museum We will be taking the #Museum30 challenge to Instagram (@eriehistory) only on Tuesday, make sure to keep following along over on that platform! Please join in and share your memories and photos of your favorite museums using the hashtag #Museum30.... #hagenhistorycenter #eriepa #eriehistory #eriemuseum #november #watsoncurtzemansion