Home | Elizabeth V. and George F. Gardner Library

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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      Highlighted Stories    
    
      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.

      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.
The following is a machine generated transcript:

      Highlighted Entries    
    
      Phebe Paine: Educator (1802-1872)
      
In recollections of her life in Carlisle, Mary C. Dillon, author of the novel “In Old Bellaire,” wrote about the faculty circle of Dickinson College. She said that it included “the brilliant spinsters, Miss Sarah and Miss Phoebe Paine, who had a finishing school for young ladies on West Street

      Bertha G. Kitch: North Middleton Township School Teacher
      
A black and white photograph shows two horse-drawn wagons filled with children from the Basin Hill School and their teacher Miss Bertha Kitch. They are having their picture taken in front of Carlisle’s Market House. The ground is covered with snow.

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      Peter Whitmore, Blacksmith of Boiling Springs, PA
      
Peter Whitmore was born circa 1784. He was married twice, had eleven children and made his living as a blacksmith at the Carlisle Iron Works in Boiling Springs. We get a glimpse of his life from a series of Cumberland County court records.
Read more about Peter Whitmore, Blacksmith of Boiling Springs, PA

      Cemeteries of Cumberland CountyCemeteries of Cumberland County ARC GIS Map:

https://arcg.is/15ze8a0
Read more about Cemeteries of Cumberland County

      The Kline Family of Tavern and Hotel Keepers
      
Cumberland County taverns and hotels were often operated by men who leased them from year to year, creating a constantly shifting network of proprietors of hotels and taverns. Among those involved in this trade were members of the Kline family and their relatives.
Read more about The Kline Family of Tavern and Hotel Keepers

    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...