Special Exhibition

First Lady of Pennsylvania Katherine Wilson Curtin’s 1880s Dress

Volunteers from the Katherine Wilson Curtin Tent 62, Daughters of Union Veterans of the Civil War were instrumental in the conservation of Katherine’s French-made purple velvet and satin dress ensemble. The dress was on loan from the National Civil War Museum in Harrisburg for conservation by Tent 62, under the mentorship of Shippensburg University’s Fashion Archives and Museum.

The dress was on display in the Centre Furnace Mansion for the pubic to view for a brief time in December 2024 in conjunction with a presentation as part of the annual Central Pennsylvania Civil War Round Table and Centre County Historical Society joint meeting. The video from this presentation is sponsored by the Central Pennsylvania Civil War Round Table, Centre County Historical Society, and the Happy Valley Adventure Bureau and may be viewed by clicking on this link:

Katherine Wilson Curtin’s 1880’s Dress Presentation Video

According to the Eagle Iron Works and Curtin Village website, Katherine Irvine Wilson (1821-1903) married Andrew Gregg Curtin (1815-1894) on May 29, 1844. She was the daughter of a country doctor, Dr. William Irvine Wilson (1793-1883) and Mary Potter Wilson (1798-1861). Katherine’s mother, Mary Potter Wilson, was the daughter of General Judge James Potter (1767-1818). Katherine’s great-grandfather was Revolutionary War Colonel — then Brigadier General — James Potter (1729-1789), a Scots-Irish immigrant who had arrived in America in 1741.

Permanent Exhibition

Jackie’s Joinery: Early American Woodworking Tools
This permanent tool exhibition is available during tour hours Sun, Wed, Fri 1:00 – 4:00 p.m.

The early 20th century outbuildings at the Centre Furnace Mansion add charm, color and interest to the grounds, but they also serve a vital purpose. Named for our emerita CCHS Board President, Jackie Melander, this upper “Jackie’s Joinery” shed contains the Richard W. Pencek Collection of carpentry and wood working tools donated by Dick Pencek. Read More

Past Exhibitions

Building on the Past

Archaeological excavations conducted in 2009 and 2010 by Heberling Associates, Inc., unearthed the foundations of the Valentine iron ore washing plant, which operated from 1887-1898. Also found were pieces of machinery and the tools used by the men who worked there. Read More
Centre County and the Civil War

Pennsylvania’s important role in the Civil War cannot be denied. Over 360,000 soldiers, including 8,600 African Americans, fought for the preservation of the Union while valuable resources such as iron, steel, and agricultural products helped to sustain the effort. Those along the southernmost part of the Commonwealth had a direct view of war through battles,… Read More
Everyday Iron

Iron Objects of the 18th and 19th Centuries Everyday Iron explores the progression from “furnace to market”, with a special emphasis on the role of the blacksmith. This exhibit featured a rich and wide variety of over 100 iron artifacts from CCHS, private collectors and other local historical organizations, this broad range of artifacts made… Read More
The ABCs of Centre County

An Alphabetical Look at Places and Spaces around Centre County A Aaronsburg (Haines) — Philadelphia land speculator Aaron Levy laid out the village of Aaronsburg in 1786. It was the earliest town in what would become Centre County, along its earliest road. Aaronsburg’s location near the geographic center of Pennsylvania probably prompted Levy to propose… Read More
Those Who Came Before: The Archaeology of Centre County’s Native Americans

Those Who Came Before – The Archaeology of Centre County’s Native Americans, explored the rich history of the people who lived in Central Pennsylvania for thousands of years before Euro Americans arrived. This exhibit was presented in 2011 by the Centre County Historical Society, the Bald Eagle Archaeological Society, and the Matson Museum of Anthropology… Read More
Tough Times and Lasting Legacies

Tough Times and Lasting Legacies: The Great Depression, the New Deal, and Centre County Presented by the Centre County Historical Society in 2008. Pennsylvania’s history as an industrial leader made it especially vulnerable to the economic breakdown that epitomized the 1930s and the Great Depression. Within four years of the stock market crash of 1929,… Read More
Unraveling the Threads of History

Objects like samplers and fraktur often hold important historical context and family history. Examples in the exhibition are from Centre County, and more broadly Central PA for the most part. Read More
Up, Up, and Away: Sherm Lutz and the State College Air Depot

In the beginning of the 20th century, aviation was not a technology on the minds of most everyday folk. A technology known for its dangerous crashes and malfunctions, aviation failed to resonate as a meaningful science. Centre County’s own pilot pioneer, Sherman “Sherm Lutz” embraced the adventure, but also had a grander vision of bringing… Read More