Blair County Genealogical Society, Blair County, PA

Dennis P. McIlnay, Hollidaysburg, is a professor at St. Francis University, where he has received the Distinguished Professor Award, Outstanding Educator Award and the Distinguished Faculty Award. He is an author of four books about Central Pennsylvania. One of his four books is The Horseshoe Curve, winner of the 2008 Medal, Best Regional Non-Fiction Book in the Mid-Atlantic. This book has received other awards as well and great reviews from all readers.

Dennis McIlnay

February 19, 2009

David W. Seidel

The World Famous Horseshoe Curve

David W. Seidel, Altoona, is the Historian for Horseshoe Curve Chapter and the National Railway Historical Society. The Horseshoe Curve is known worldwide as an engineering achievement by the Pennsylvania Railroad, this landmark, located just west of Altoona, opened to traffic on February 15, 1854, and it enabled a railroad line to climb the Allegheny Mountains and the eastern continental divide. The Horseshoe Curve’s construction, without modern equipment, impacted railroad design and development for mountainous terrain everywhere, enabling access to coal and other raw materials essential for the industrial age. J. Edgar Thompson, chief engineer of the Pennsylvania Railroad, is widely recognized for his engineering and design of the Horseshoe Curve, a concept never utilized previously. Today the curve is still in use and sees approximately 70 trains daily.

David Seidel

March 19, 2009

George Dempsie & Patty Hatch

The Royer Family . . . The Rest of the Story

George Dempsie, a State College elementary school teacher, and Patty Hatch, retired Blair County employee, both Williamsburg natives, will speak on Royer Mansion, which is approximately 5 miles south of Williamsburg on Route 866. Samuel Royer, a local ironmaster and owner of the Springfield Furnace, built the 2-story mansion in 1815 and moved into the home in 1821. This unique structure is made of limestone. Samuel also added an addition to the original site. The Blair County Historical Society owns the Mansion, which it bought from the State of Pennsylvania for $1.

Patty Hatch, George Dempsie

April 16, 2009

The Rev. Wilbert Adam Boerstler

Retired Minister, Evangelical Lutheran Church in America

Thomas Vickroy & Benjamin Franklin, The Western PA Connection

Wilbert Adam Boerstler

April 25, 2009

May 21, 2009

Nathan Zipfel

WorldGenWeb

June 18, 2009

Barbara Zaborowski, Ph.D.

Associate Dean for Learning Resources,

Pennsylvania Highlands Community College

The Underground Railroad and the Main Line Canal

July 2009

Annual Picnic

August 13, 2009

Daniel Horowitz

Genealogical researcher, lecturer and author, will speak on the latest technology tools for Jewish genealogical research.

Searching for My Roots

August 20, 2009

Robin G. Lighty

Manager, Pennsylvania Bureau of Mining and Reclamation

Death and Disaster in the Coal Mines

September 17, 2009

Jan Kinney

Pennsylvania Humanities Council Commonwealth Speaker & Storyteller

Travelin' on the Main Line Canal

October 15, 2009

Dr. Ronald L. Markwood

Fort Bedford

Fort Bedford was one of three forts built during the French & Indian War by British troops under the command of Colonel Henry Bouquet by order of General John Forbes. Dr. Markwood helped build the 1958 replica in honor of the fort's 200th anniversary.