History from the Homestead.

Joining me today is David Fowler from the Loyalsock Valley Antique Machinery Association. David sits down to talk with me about many of the tools of the trade for Pennsylvania Coal miners. We spend time discussing the Carbide Lamp, Canary cages, Permissible Safety lanterns, and Miner Check tags.

The Homestead Strike, or Battle of Homestead, was a violent labor conflict in 1892 at the Carnegie Steel Company in Homestead, Pennsylvania, triggered by a lockout and a dispute over wages and union recognition. The confrontation escalated into a bloody battle between striking workers and the Pinkerton National Detective Agency, hired by management, resulting in deaths and injuries on both sides....

On this episode I am joined by Darin and Mary from the "Civil War Breakfast Club Podcast" and Author Rob Hilliard ( A season on the Allegheny and In Freedom's Shadow.) We discuss the Battle of Gettysburg for the 162nd Anniversary.

On May 31st, 1889. the South Fork dam broke releasing a wall of water hurtling down the valley to Johnstown, PA. On this episode I am once again joined by Elizabeth Shope from the Johnstown Flood National Memorial. We discuss the South Fork fishing and hunting club who was the owner of the lake at the time of the disaster. We discuss some of the powerful members like Andrew Carnegie and Henry Clay...

Today I am joined by Darin and Mary from the Civil War Breakfast Club podcast. We spent our time talking about obscure, Unknown, Interesting, And even funny stories from the American Civil War! https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/civil-war-breakfast-club/id1531574799

Robert B. O’Connor is the author of the extraordinary new WWII novel "Jeep Show – A Trouper at the Battle of the Bulge." His previous book was the non-fiction "Gumptionade – A Booster for Your Self-Improvement Plan." Two radically different books, both about morale. As a young man, Robert was Phi Beta Kappa at Kenyon College, a marketing executive at Procter & Gamble, then co-owner of an advertisi...

In this episode, we revisit the tragic car crash of Fred Duesenberg, co-founder of the luxury car brand Duesenberg. On July 2, 1932, Fred's life was cut short in a devastating accident on a Pennsylvania highway. We explore the events leading up to the crash, its aftermath, and how it impacted the future of the Duesenberg brand. Tune in for a fascinating look at the life and legacy of Fred Duesenbe...

On this special 20th episode, I invited back several familiar faces to join me and discuss how they became interested in History and why History is so important. Elizabeth Shope from the Johnstown Flood National Memorial, Sarah Goodman from the Drake well Museum, Corey Adkins from the Great Lakes shipwreck museum and Rob Hilliard author of " A season in the Allegheny" and " In Freedoms Shadow".

As one of the most iconic monuments, Mount Rushmore, carved from South Dakota granite, draws more than 2 million visitors each year. I'm joined by Kaylynn Howard to explore the history and purpose behind this massive portrait of former presidents.

On this episode we explore four toys that were invented purely by accident. These toys include the Slinky, Silly Putty, Play-Doh, and the Super Soaker. Thanks to the inventor’s that had an open mind and realization that their mistakes might just be useful our History has been graced by these timeless toys!

Arlington National Cemetery, located in Arlington, Virginia, has a rich and poignant history. It began as the estate of George Washington Parke Custis, the adopted grandson of George Washington. The estate was called Arlington House. Freedman's Village was an important settlement established during and after the American Civil War. Located in Arlington. The village was established by the U.S. gove...

In 1942 during World War 2 Nazi U-Boats brazenly prowled just off the East coast on the United States sinking merchant shipping vital to our war effort. But the most spectacular sinking of them all occurred in April 1942 when U-123 commanded by Reinhard Hardegen sank the tanker SS GulfAmerica only a mere 5 miles off the coast of Jacksonville Florida in full view of beachgoers!

The Big Muskie was a model 4250-W dragline and was the only one ever built by the Bucyrus-Erie. This Mammoth Dragline became the largest dragline in the World! (A record that still stands). This massive machine weighs in at a whooping 27 MILLION pounds! It spent 22 years in Ohio removing overburden from the vast coalfields. it removed over 608,000,000 cubic yards of dirt which twice the amount of...

In the dark depths of the Quecreek mine, a disaster struck that would test the limits of human resilience and courage. It was a fateful night on July 24th, 2002, when nine miners found themselves trapped underground, their only lifeline to the surface cut off by a sudden flood of water from the poorly mapped Saxman mine. As the water rose around them, panic and desperation threatened to consume th...

In 1971 United State Forest Service Chief Edward Cliff convinced former smoke jumper turned astronaut Stuart Roosa to take tree seeds on his trip to the moon on Apollo 14. The seeds returned to Earth safely and were later germinated and planted around the country for the bicentennial celebration of America.

Conrad Reed's discovery of a 17-pound gold nugget in Little Meadow Creek in 1799 marked the beginning of the gold rush in North Carolina. Initially used as a doorstop, the nugget was later identified as gold by a jeweler in Fayetteville. Despite not fully understanding its value, Conrad's father, John Reed, sold the nugget for $3.50, a mere fraction of its actual worth. Recognizing the potential o...

In 1854 the “World Famous Horseshoe Curve” was completed after 3 years of back breaking work by mostly Irish immigrants. Opening this important stretch of railway shortened a trip across Pennsylvania by days! Altoona Railroaders Museum archive manger Matthew Wolff joins me as we explore this Famous Landmark.

Nestled in the Altoona Pennsylvania area is a small side friction rollercoaster named Leap-The-Dips. Built in 1902 Leap-The-Dips has the distinction of being the oldest operating coaster in the World! Joining me is American Coaster Enthusiasts member and historian David Hahner. ACE was instrumental in helping to restore this coaster to operational condition.

On this episode we welcome back author Robert Hilliard to talk about his new book "In Freedoms Shadow". This book is a based on a true story spy thriller set during the Civil War. The book features escaped slave turned spy John Scobell who agrees to work with the Pinkerton Detective agency to spy for the Union.

On October 9th, 1945, members of Bombing Squadron 97 consisting of 21 Curtiss Helldivers, were returning to their base in Michigan after participating in the Nimitz Day Celebration held in Washington, D.C. Encountering heavy fog approaching the Laurel Highlands, they decided to turn back towards New Cumberland. One of the aircraft lost it's way and crashed into the side of a mountain. Killed in th...

On the fateful day of September 11th, 2001, a dark chapter in history unfolded as terrorists commandeered four airliners, transforming these aircraft into malevolent instruments aimed at toppling the iconic Twin Towers of the World Trade Center, inflicting damage upon the Pentagon, and ultimately meeting their end in a solemn field in Shanksville, Pennsylvania. Join me and a circle of close friend...

In the mid-19th century, the Pony Express emerged as a remarkable and daring venture that revolutionized communication in the American West. Spanning a brief but impactful existence from April 1860 to October 1861, the Pony Express left an indelible mark on the history of the United States. The Pony Express was born out of the need for a faster and more reliable means of communication between the...

On August 7th 1679 the “Griffon” launched at the Niagara river for a long expedition on the Great Lakes. After loading with furs in Green Bay the Griffon set out to return to Lake Erie the ship was never heard from again. Sailing on the Great Lake has always been dangerous with its terrible winter storms. An estimated 6000 shipwrecks lie in the Great Lakes. The Edmund Fitzgerald became one of the...

In 1859 Colonel Edwin Drake a former railroad conductor was tasked with drilling an oil well along Oil creek in Titusville PA. With the walls of his well collapsing Col Drake the use of a “Drive” pipe to stabilize his drill shaft. This revolution is still used to this day. The well reached its maximum depth of 69.5 feet deep on August 27th 1859. The next day oil was discovered floating near the to...

Established in 1923 the Allegheny National Forest was essentially a barren wasteland from extensive deforestation during the late 1800s. The area was prone to mudslides and brush fires. With extensive care and work by the Civilian Conservation Corps the forest was returned to the natural beauty we see today. Robert Hilliard has written on sports, history, and the outdoors for over three decades. R...