Blair County Genealogical Society, Blair County, PA

C. Arnold McClure, a native of Shirley Township, Huntingdon County, has been the publisher of The Valley Log newspaper in Orbisonia for the past 30 years. He worked for 20 years compiling the information in his first history book, A History Between the Rivers, the Susquehanna, the Juniata, and the Potomac, 1609-1959, published in February of 2009.

February 18, 2010

John Rita & Kate Shaffer

Historic Mishler Theater

John Rita

Professional art conservator John A. Rita, co-founder of Albert Michaels Conservation, Inc., a historic preservation firm, owner of Albert Michaels Gallery, and a partner in The Church in the Middle of the Block Cultural Resource Center, spent over 15 years conserving much of the art and architecture in the Pennsylvania State Capitol Building at Harrisburg.

Kate Shaffer

Kate Shaffer has served as the Blair County Arts Foundation’s Executive Director for 15 years, having joined the organization in 1992 as the Arts Festival Coordinator. She has been a member of Altoona Community Theatre since 1980, is a member of the Pennsylvania Rural Arts Alliance, and is past Chair of the City of Altoona’s Planning Commission.

March 18, 2010

Bill Deasy

GG1 4913 - A Locomotive's Journey

is the story of Andrea Vibbert’s heroic efforts to save GG1 4913 from the scrap yard. Tracing the lives of both Andrea and the amazingly durable engine, the reader is taken on a train ride through time that ultimately leads back home to Altoona, Pennsylvania. The book is the first in a series to be published by the Altoona Railroaders Memorial Museum.

April 15, 2010

Bruce Teeple

The Political Culture of Moonshine

Local historian Bruce Teeple, columnist for the Centre Daily Times, is currently researching and writing As Good as a Handshake: the Farringtons and the Political Culture of Moonshine in Central Pennsylvania.

May 20, 2010

Michael & Astride McLanahan

The McLanahan Corporation - 175th Anniversary