Cumberland County Historical Society

Building on a Legacy

Being one of the oldest surviving county historical society in Pennsylvania, the Cumberland County Historical Society (CCHS) has cause for celebration during its 125th anniversary year. Founded in 1874 as the Hamilton Library Association, the Society's first century is recalled by Milton E. Flower in the publication "The First One Hundred Years".

Tita Eberly

Screenshot of Tita Eberly during the interview.

Interview of Tita Eberly for the Elizabeth V. and George F. Gardner Digital Library. Eberly discusses growing up in Mechanicsburg, Pennsylvania and owning a business.

Robert M. Frey

Interview of Robert Frey by Susan Meehan. Frey discusses his life in Carlisle including his experiences as a lawyer and being on the last passenger train to through Carlisle.

Elizabeth V. and George F. Gardner Part 2

Image of Elizabeth V. and George F. Gardner during Interview

Part two of an interview of Elizabeth V. and George F. Gardner conducted by Susan Meehan on September 10, 2014. The Gardners talk about their involvement with the Cumberland County Historical Society, Elizabeth's time at Boiling Springs High School including her time in the band, her time working as nurse for various doctors in Carlisle, George's experiences with Carlisle in the sixties, and other stories related to Cumberland County.

Hamilton Library Association

Photo of the Hamilton Library Building with group of men in front. Building decorated with bunting for the 1909 Old Home Week.

James Hamilton, Jr., founder of the Hamilton Library and Historical Association, was born in Carlisle, Pennsylvania on October 16, 1793, the only son of Judge James Hamilton (born 1752 in Belfast, Ireland, died February 13, 1819) and his wife Sarah Thomson, daughter of Rev. William and Susanna Ross Thomson.

James Hamilton, Jr. (1793-1873)

Image of James Hamilton Jr.

James Hamilton, Jr., founder of the Hamilton Library Association and what became the Cumberland County Historical Society, was born in Carlisle, Pennsylvania on October 16, 1793, the only son of Judge James Hamilton (born 1752 in Belfast, Ireland, died February 13, 1819) and his wife Sarah Thomson, daughter of Rev. William and Susanna Ross Thomson.

Marguerite Grove Harnish

Interview of Marguerite Grove Harnish for the Elizabeth V. and George F. Gardner Digital Library. Harnish discusses her family including the story of her mother staying in her house as it was moved across the Holly Pike, her interest in gardening, the Two Mile House. Also discussed is her experience running the Hub, a women's dress shop, and one of her more well known customers Bessie.

Charles Francis Himes

Charles Francis Himes, professor of natural sciences at Dickinson College, was born in Lancaster County in 1838.1 Developing a great interest in Latin and the natural sciences though his time at grammar school, Himes applied to Dickinson College in 1855.

Historical Work of Milton Embick Flower

For nearly half a century until his death on January 2 at the age of 85 Milton Embick Flower was the best informed, most authoritative, and most widely known historian of Carlisle and Cumberland County. He was the author of books, monographs, and catalogues that recorded and interpreted the past of this area, and, in the words of one of his successors as president of the Cumberland County Historical Society...

Mary Wheeler King

Mary Wheeler King was born on December 24, 1901 in Newville.1 After graduating from Carlisle High School in the spring of 1919, King moved away to continue her education at Wilson College in Chambersburg.

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