Erected 1785 by Thomas Blair. Residence of his son, John Blair, for whom Blair County was named in 1846. John Blair was a member of the General Assembly and until his death, 1832, a leading citizen of the region. — — Map (db m52309) HM
The spring opposite here was a favorite stopping place of Prince Gallitzin, famous missionary and founder of the Loretto Settlement. He was often known as Father Smith. — — Map (db m52473) HM
The spring opposite here was a favorite stopping place of Prince Gallitzin, noted prince-priest and missionary who founded the settlement at Loretto in 1792. He was also known as Father Smith. Buried at Loretto, site of his chapel. — — Map (db m52474) HM
Teamster wagon driver resistance to the Portage Railroad was fierce. As the railroad right-of-way was cleared the wagons used the newly cleared and graded surface as their thoroughfare. Even the interruptions of the railroad right-of-way by . . . — — Map (db m234773) HM
The first canal engineers came from England, Wales, or Holland. By the late 1790's these European engineers had trained a small cadre of engineers, mostly concentrated in the New York area. The New York engineers worked to design canals and to train . . . — — Map (db m234182) HM
Standards of hygiene were horrific by today's standards. It wasn't that people didn't care; they didn't connect hygiene with health. In fact, bathing was considered dangerous to your health. Clean clothes were the mark of a dandy or a rich man. A . . . — — Map (db m234459) HM