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From Railroad to Turnpike

In October 1988 the Pennsylvania Turnpike Commission celebrated the fiftieth anniversary of the beginning of construction on Pennsylvania's first super-highway. October 1990 will mark the similar anniversary of the turnpike 's official opening to traffic. Probably few of those who travel the turnpike today are aware that the route was originally planned as a railroad and that after two years of construction in the 1880's, the project lay abandoned for fifty-three years before the Turnpike Commission revived it.

A Photographic Essay: The Towers of Mechanicsburg

This author's interest in the cityscape of Mechanicsburg was aroused several years ago during a bit of genealogical research. A letter written by Mollie Schafhirt in 1893 describes as "Tower Hill" the section of Mechanicsburg to which she had come as a bride. The house, on East Coover Street, still displays a tower. Nearby are five other houses with towers, all sitting on a hill at Coover and Market Streets.

Grace Zuna (Women in World War II)

Interview with Grace Zuna at her home in New Cumberland, Pennsylvania, on June 11, 2002, with Heather Egan as a part of the Cumberland County Women During World War II Oral History Project. Zuna discusses her early childhood growing up during World War II including collecting tin cans, babysitting for working mothers, and war activities with the Girl Scouts. Zuna also talks about her older siblings experiences in the war including a brother who served in the military a sister who worked at the Navy Depot in Mechanicsburg.

Helen Fulton (Women in World War II)

Photo of Helen Fulton during the Interview

Interview with Helen Fulton at the Shippensburg Historical Society in Shippensburg, Pennsylvania, on July 31, 2002, with Steven Burg at part of the Cumberland County Women During World War II Oral History Project. Fulton discusses working at Shirtcraft in Shippensburg, Pennsylvania and then at the Letterkenny Army Depot as a chaufferette. Fulton also talks about the changes which took place in Shippensburg during World War II.

Robert W. Black

Robert W. Black during the interview.

Interview of Robert W. Black for the Elizabeth V. and George F. Gardner Digital Library an initiative of the Cumberland County Historical Society. Black discusses growing up on a farm in Gardners, Pennsylvania during the Great Depression.

Donald E. Owens Sr.

Donald E. Owens Sr.

This transcript includes portions of the tape that relate to the migration of African-American families to Cumberland County or the Underground Railroad. Donald Owens stated that he heard many of these stories from his grandmother, who raised him. Other portions of the tape contain his memories of events in the 1930s, visits to his uncle’s farm where he helped with butchering, going to school, and jobs that he had. 

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