Browse Stories

Cumberland County has been the home of thousands of individuals and organizations. Each has contributed to its history in ways both small and large. The Gardner Digital Library collects these stories in the Memory Bank. From Oral Histories of locals experiences in World War II to serving local civic organizations to growing up in Carlisle, Silver Springs Township, the West Shore, or Shippensburg, the Memory Bank is a place where the collected stories of Cumberland County can be shared and engaged with to present a fuller history of the County.

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Tony Verenna

Interview of Tony Verenna for the Elizabeth V. and George F. Gardner Digital Library. Verenna discusses his time in the United States Army including his time at the Army War College.

Bruce Wall

Interview of Bruce Wall for the Elizabeth V. and George F. Gardner Digital Library. Wall discusses his experiences as a student at Dickinson College during the Vietnam War including his service as a member of the ROTC.

Fred Wardecker

Interview of Fred Wardecker for the Elizabeth V. and George F. Gardner Digital Library. Wardecker discusses the Wardecker/Blumenthal Clothing Store in Carlisle, Pennsylvania along with the history of downtown Carlisle, the Carlisle Indian School, and many other stories.

Sylvia A. Waters

Interview of Sylvia A. Waters for the Elizabeth V. and George F. Gardner Digital Library Memory Bank. Waters discusses the history of her families connection to Cumberland County, PA including her father's family in Newville. Waters then talks about growing up on B Street in Carlisle and attending the old Wilson and Lamberton Schools.

The following is a machine generated transcript:

Evelyn Wilson

Evelyn Wilson

Interview of Evelyn Wilson at the Black History Festival in Carlisle, Pennsylvania for the Elizabeth V. and George F. Gardner Digital Library Memory Bank. Wilson discusses moving to Carlisle when her husband was posted at the Carlisle Barracks and the tension her family experienced being the first Black family to move to North Pitt Street. She mentions her work experience and family. Wilson further talks about how she stayed in Carlisle because of the schools and the positive direction Carlisle is moving.

Kirk Wilson

Kirk Wilson

Kirk Wilson discusses a number of aspects of his life including being a member of the Carlisle High School Band, joining the Carlisle Fire Police and Friendship Fire Company, and his experience as the mayor of Carlisle. Wilson also discusses the fire appratus of the Friendship Fire Company, fires during his experience in the 1970s and 1980s including the South Pomfret Street Apartment Fire, the Cumberland Valley Savings and Loan Fire, and others.

Nicole Witmer

Image of Nicole Witmer during Interview

Interview of Nicole Witmer by Alan Schultze on March 25, 2015. Witmer discusses growing up on a farm outside of Carlisle, Pennsylvania and the physical changes to the landscape as farms are replaced by warehouses in the area. She further talks about her school experiences including being home schooled, attending Pennsylvania Cyber Charter School, and Shippensburg University.

Peggy Wolf

Interview of Peggy Wolf for the Elizabeth V. and George F. Gardner Digital Library. Wolf discusses growing up in Westfield, New Jersey before attending Penn State University and meeting her future husband Wilbur Wolf. The Wolfs then moved outside Newville where they have lived on a farm for the past 50 years.

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