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Image: Dam on Mountain Creek by Jim Bradley
An initiative of the Cumberland County Historical Society the Elizabeth V. and George F. Gardner Digital Library seeks to fulfill the Society's mission of collecting, engaging, and sharing the stories of Cumberland County.

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      Sylvia A. WatersInterview 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.
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      Shirley I. HeishmanInterview of Shirley Heishman for the Elizabeth V. and George F. Gardner Digital Library. Heishman discusses her life growing up in Bloserville outside of Newville, Pennsylvania including her experiences working on her parents farm to meeting her husband Don Heishman and their many business ventures from hauling milk, water, and whey to building the Heishman Softball Complex.

      Highlighted Entries    
    
      Miss Margaret MacDonald (1760-1844)Margaret MacDonald was born on June 22, 1760, one of Duncan and Sarah MacDonald’s four children.1 Her father, described as “the old Scotch highland piper,”2 likely served in one of the British regiments sent to Carlisle during the French and Indian War.

      The Tavernkeeper’s Wife: Elizabeth PopeBeing the wife of a tavernkeeper meant that Elizabeth helped with the running of the tavern as well as taking care of her family. Washing, cleaning, cooking in a hot kitchen over a fire for hours as well as helping in the barroom was hard work.

    Recently Published
  
      Letter: James Hamilton, Jr. to his mother Mrs. Sarah Hamilton, 1839James Hamilton, Jr. was in Baltimore for Emma J. Wilson’s wedding on April 23.
Read more about Letter: James Hamilton, Jr. to his mother Mrs. Sarah Hamilton, 1839

      Letter: To James Madison, Secretary of State, from Thomas Cruse, 1806Thomas Cruse was the brother-in-law of Judge James Hamilton of Carlisle, Pennsylvania
Read more about Letter: To James Madison, Secretary of State, from Thomas Cruse, 1806

      Letter: To Miss M. A. Hood, Stoughstown, PA from John Zug, 1839John Zug, a new lawyer, writes to his intended bride Margaret about the perils to his mind, body, and soul of being a lawyer. He is determined to follow a new regimen to improve his health. 
Read more about Letter: To Miss M. A. Hood, Stoughstown, PA from John Zug, 1839

    Railroads
  
Jim E. Largent Sr.Largent discusses his experiences growing up and his time working for a railroad company. Watch Story...
Dillsburg and Mechanicsburg Railroad“The Dillsburg and Mechanicsburg Railroad was built with the backing of the Cumberland Valley Railroad primarily to haul iron ore from the vast reserves around Dillsburg to furnaces in the Harrisburg region. Read Article...
Hey Ollie, Let's Go RailroadingReproduced below are a number of the photographs which were displayed at the Cumberland County Historical Society as an exhibit "Hey Ollie, Let's Go Railroading." Over 250 photographs were put on display as a tribute to all the railroaders, both here and gone, who worked in the Cumberland Valley. Read Story...