Curtin Village Newsletter Spring 2024

In this newsletter you can expect:

Exciting Updates

2024 Programs & Events Member Spotlights Site Improvements Stories of Impact

Fundraising and Volunteer Support Opportunities

In the coming months, the nonprofit Roland Curtin Foundation (RCF) will accept ownership of Eagle Iron Works and Curtin Village (EIW+CV) from the Pennsylvania Historical and Museum Commission (PHMC), a process that requires passage of legislation by the PA House of Representatives and Senate On April 9, 2024, that legislation was passed unanimously by the House Senate action is the next step

Over the last five years RCF members and volunteers have worked toward passage of this legislation as it provides the means to return Eagle Iron Works and Curtin Village to local ownership and opens the possibility to seek grant funding, initiate a capital campaign, enhance interpretive programs and establish an endowment program to support long-term operation.

The vision of our predecessors who fought to save EIW+CV from demolition and established the RCF in 1966, and the work of the PHMC to accurately reconstruct the iron furnace components lost to fire in 1921 and restore the mansion to its 1850 appearance inspires this generation of volunteers to persevere and preserve

We invite you to join the RCF in this undertaking Take a tour, attend a program, become a member, volunteer, contribute your talents and your resources and help us preserve this distinctive historic site and inspire future generations It is the longest-lived charcoal-fired iron furnace operation in Pennsylvania, the family home of Civil War Governor Andrew Gregg Curtin, and village community of nearly 200 industrial and agricultural laborers

Come visit us in 2024

Sue Hannegan RCF President

Civil War Governor Andrew Gregg Curtin’s personal carriage will again be out for Heritage Weekend 2024

2024 Programs*

APRIL

April20: CurtinClean-up,9am–noon;Gov Curtin’s209thBirthdayParty Volunteersneededandwelcome!

MAY

May8-9: CentreGives2024,GiveGenerouslyathttps://centregives.org/

May9-11: SocietyforthePreservationofOldMillsmeetsatCurtin

JUNE

June2: BellefonteOutdoorAdventureExpo,TalleyrandPark,12-5p.m.

June9: OpeningDayTour,2-4p.m.,Celebrating50YearsofPublicTours!

June23: LogCabin/LivingHistoryDay,2-4pm

JULY

July14: TourSunday,2-4p.m.

July28: TourSundaywithIceCream,2-4p.m.

AUGUST

August3: NBEREmployeePicnic–privatefunction

August11: TourSunday,2-4pm

August25: TourSunday,2-4p.m./LanternTours(detailscoming)

SEPTEMBER

Sept8: TourSunday,2-4p.m.

Sept14: HeritageDay: demonstrations,craftsandgames

Sept22: TourSunday,2-4p.m.-TourSeasonCloses

OCTOBER

Oct19: AppleFest:food,music,ciderandapplebutter

DECEMBER

Dec8&9: ChristmasattheCurtin: photosandeveningreception

*Someeventshaveadmissionfees.Anyadditionaleventswillbeadvertised.

CheckforupdatesandadditionaleventsonourFacebookpage.

Emailustovolunteer:curtinvillage@gmail.com.

BOARD MEMBER

Now retired from public service, Sue Hannegan serves as president of the Roland Curtin Foundation In this role she shares her passion for preserving and maintaining historic properties, her community revitalization expertise, and her strong interest in sharing the stories of the people who contributed to central Pennsylvania’s extensive history She is a graduate of Penn State University and has served on various non-profit boards, including the statewide Historic Preservation Board; two years in service as chairman She has been awarded recognition in both Clinton and Centre Counties for her work in historic preservation

Volunteer Spotlight: Rich Watters

“I’m drawn to volunteer at this historic site because it transcends the cutting edge manufacturing and transportation technologies of the 19th century, and is intimately related to agricultural and social aspects as well.”

unities to engage and wledge of American history has been an active RCF volunteer for two and a half years, formerly serving on the program committee and board of directors, and now focusing on site maintenance Should you need an old hinge realigned, a century-old well pump reset , a kitchen garden re-fenced with engineering precision and accurate historic style, a handsomely tailored, handsewn Victorian men’s frock or vest, belt or brogans, Rich is the craftsman to call!

His newest project is repairing a model of a canal lock similar to Lock #11 of the Bald Eagle and Spring Creek Navigation Canal at Curtin The model is on loan from Clinton County Historical Society, and once repaired, will be an added teaching tool for RCF guided tours this summer

Many thanks to Rich for his dedication to faithfully preserving the cultural and historic legacy of Eagle Iron Works and Curtin Village.

Operable model of a canal lock being repaired by Rich

Site Improvements Keep Visitors Safe

In January, the replica of the flume that stood on the site prior to the Civil War, underwent major changes when a large section was removed due to structural deficiencies The three remaining sections have been stabilized Thanks go to West Penn Power employees who teamed together for this project In March, portions of the charging bridge decking and the underpinnings were replaced In October 2023, the Bryan Log Cabin located in the workers’ village received a new roof Gracing the cabin is a new garden fence completed by volunteers

Board Members

Roland Curtin Foundation

Sue Hannegan, president

Philip Ruth, vice president

Brittany L Ondish, treasurer

Andrew D Ondish, secretary

Thomas Bathgate

Gloria D. Briggs

Karen Bryan

Will Curtin

Mike Fisher

Jerry Glenn

Gary V Hoover

Linda Kao

The Outcome of Dedicated Volunteers, Grants and Donors

Programs and special events (see the list on page 2) inspired by volunteers will provide various ways to explore and enjoy the history of Eagle Iron Works and Curtin village in 2024 This year we celebrate 50 years of Curtin Mansion tours. Be sure to visit and receive your “I was There” badge

Funding provided through grants made possible by The Happy Valley Adventure Bureau and the Centre County Board of Commissioners has made it possible to incorporate an orientation video into our 50th season of summer tours These grant dollars also contribute to events, marketing, and wayfinding signage such as the new PennDOT installed signs along PA Route 150 in Bald Eagle Valley

Coming soon will be 5 large interpretive signs intended to provide more history for visitors on those days when the buildings are not open Self-guided walking tour guests will benefit significantly by this project. A huge thank you goes to Phil Ruth for his immense amount of e to complete this project

CURTIN RISING: A Capital Campaign for The Roland Curtin Foundation kicks off later this year with a goal of raising $1.5M.

village.com

Through the generous loan of a working model of a canal lock from the Clinton County Historical Society in Lock Haven, PA, we will be able to incorporate more canal transportation history into our 2024 tours Visit us on Log Cabin Day, June 23, to see the model’s debut.

Looking forward, The Roland Curtin Foundation is hopeful to receive grant funds for the reconstruction of the Curtin Rail Station and the Eagle Emporium (the company store)

Shown with this story is a photo of the Howard Rail Station which will serve as design inspiration for the rebuilt Curtin Station Should you have a photo of the Curtin Station or any portion of the station showing in the background of a family photo, please share via curtinvillage@gmail com

1975 Proposed Curtin Station from Master Plan

Eagle Iron Works & Curtin Village

Early 20th century view of Howard passenger and freight station on the PRR’s Bald Eagle Valley Railroad

MarkYourCalendars!

TheRolandCurtinFoundationis among200organizations participatinginthethirteenthyear ofthis36-hourannualgivingevent settobeginWednesday,May8

RCF’scampaignthemeisGive ChildrentheGoldenOpportunityto ExperienceHistoryatCurtin. Donationswillbededicatedto offeringavarietyofeducational programsforyouthin2024

RemembertovisitCentreGives.org between8am Wednesday,May8 and8pm Thursday,May9 Your donationof$10ormoretoRCFwill beincreasedinvaluefromthe StretchPoolof$300,000 Fora donationof$30ormore,first-time donorswillreceiveaRCF membership;alldonorswhoseRCF membershiphaslapsed,orwill expireinMay,willreceivearenewed membership

SupporttheRolandCurtin Foundationforthe PreservationofEagleFurnace May8-9,2024at CentreGives.org

RolandCurtinFoundationEarns

foreveryLIKEon VolunteerCentreCounty FacebookPage

EagleIronWorksandCurtinVillage isspotlightedonVolunteerCentre County’sFacebookpage Toearn dollarsforRCFby“Liking”us,visit VCCFacebook Scrolldownuntilyou findthespotlightpostpictured below Please“like”thepostand sharewithyourpersonalnetwork

VolunteerCentreCountywilldonate $1toRCFforevery“Like”receivedin April

ToseeourRCFprofileonVolunteer CentreCounty’swebpage,visitVCC Partnersandentersearchterm “Roland”

AprilisNationalVolunteerMonth WhynotvolunteeratCurtin?!There aremanyopportunitiesallyearround whenvolunteerscancontributetheir timeandtalents Weareall volunteersandvalueyour participation Volunteeractivitiesare listedontheApplicationForm,or sendusanemailat

curtinvillage@gmailcomfordetails

Manygeneralandspecificneedsare alsopostedontheRCFFacebook pagehere

New&Renewed Members

Since January1,2024,the followingnewandrenewed memberswerewelcomed

NewMembers:

AbigailGrove AlanMills

CorbyKoleno MelanieSchramm

EricKotzur NickWellar

GeoffreyMayes

RenewedMembers:

AudreyChambers

Candace&RobertDannaker

TomandLizDavidson

JamesDunne

MarthaHartleandTomSmith

EvonneHenninger

MarkHiggins

SusanandPaulHochreiter

MelissaHombosky

LindaMarshall

WilliamMonsell

NancyPerkins

AndyRupert

AnnSager

JohnandVirginiaSpicher

LeonandDeeStout

JustinVreeland

JenandThomasWalker

LoisWolfe ------------------------------------

T j i .

Bellefonte student tests his strength hoisting a heavy bar of pig iron with one hand.