Latest news with #HagenHistoryCenter
Yahoo
07-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Eco-tourism partnership blooms in Girard between Hagen History Center, PA distillery
The Hagen History Center has entered into an eco-tourism partnership with a Pennsylvania distillery. And the seeds will be cultivated on the historic site of the Battle of Girard. 'Sunflowers are the happy flower. And we know from lots of examples throughout the story that people will travel. This will be one of the largest sunflower plots in the tri-state area,' said Caleb Pifer, executive director of the Hagen History Center. On that historic field in Girard, 1.2 million sunflowers are being planted. Come August, the historic site's 50 acres will be fully in bloom, and people are sure to take notice. PHOTOS: Rainbow stretches over downtown Erie Tuesday But just as important is what will happen to the sunflowers come fall. That's when Wild's Sonshine Factory in Kane, Pennsylvania, will step in. The factory distills the only spirits made from sunflowers in the world. From that field, those sunflowers will be harvested and distilled into a completely unique sonshine spirit that will be sold first here in the 814. 'We'll produce probably between, I thought somewhere in the $500,000 to $600,000 worth of product off these fields. We can get 300 to 400 bottles an acre of finished product, so we'll take that and offer it to Erie County first,' said David Conklin, president of Wild's Sonshine Factory. The battle site has come full circle to its agricultural roots. Erie Zoo asks city to transfer 106 acre property to Erie Events 'This is one of the earliest suppliers of grapes to Welch's, as an example, so this brings it all back,' said Pifer. Girard Mayor Peter Burton said a number of special events will be planned on the site, but the public is welcome to take in the beauty of the sunflower field for free. 'It's really a unique opportunity to bring people to the property and get people excited about Girard and the battles. Miss Battles would just love that this is going on!' said Mayor Burton. Weather permitting, planting will begin on May 12. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WJET/WFXP/
Yahoo
13-02-2025
- General
- Yahoo
Erie's first black resident, Boe Bladen, the original owner of Glenwood Estates land
As we continue our observance of black history month, we do a deeper dive into the life of the first black property owner in the region. Bladen not only was the first black property owner, he was here from the start overcoming slavery to set up a foundation for future generations. Remembering Erie's Pope Hotel during Black History Month 'Boe Bladen came here before Erie existed. He came here with the original surveyors and settlers,' said Sarah Thompson, a local historian. Boe Bladen, the man widely considered the very first African American man in Erie, arrived here as another man's property. 'He was brought over on a slave ship to the United States. He was sold into slavery into Maryland. He came to Erie in 1796. He was with John Grubb the captain of a local militia,' said Adam Macrino, director of programming at the Hagen History Center The status of slaves at the time was…complicated. Large projects scheduled for Harborcreek Twp. in 2025 'Some people were slaves, some people were free and some people were serving a period of time,' Thompson said. That's because Pennsylvania passed a gradual abolition act in 1780 so children of slaves were freed at age 28 but adult slaves were slaves for life unless their owner freed them. It appears that's what happened to Boe Bladen. 'Shortly after coming here he obtained his freedom, purchased a 400-acre farm which his family lived on for generations,' Macrino explained. Boe Bladen's 400-acre farm was located on property now known as Glenwood Estates in Millcreek Township. Close Thanks for signing up! Watch for us in your inbox. Subscribe Now The land was passed down, changing the trajectory for future generations of Bladens. 'His son and grandson were industrious farmers who were good neighbors, good citizens,' Thompson said. His grandchildren eventually sold much of the property to developers, and in a sad twist of irony, it became a segregated neighborhood for a time. 'In the Glenwood Estates area it was actually written into deeds that you couldn't sell your property to an African American,' Thompson went on to say. With two days to go, Erie florists ready for Valentine's Day rush Illustrating just how ahead of his time Boe Bladen was. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
06-02-2025
- General
- Yahoo
Black History Month — Highlighting Boe Bladen, the first African-American property owner in Erie region
We kick off our coverage for Black History Month Wednesday with a look back at the first African-American property owner in the Erie region. What historians now know about Boe Bladen is on display at the Hagen History Center. AHN Saint Vincent kicks off Black History Month with special celebration According to their Story of Us exhibit, Bladen probably arrived here in 1795 as Captain John Grubb's slave. But just a year later, Bladen was a free man who was somehow able to purchase his own plot of land in Millcreek Township. It's believed that his wife remained a slave throughout her life. But his two sons inherited the farm and passed it down for two generations. 'Right off [the] Cherry Street Extension, there's a small windy road called Bladen Road. There's three street signs that have Bladen Road on it. It's right on the corner of the Glenwood neighborhood,' said Adam Macrino, director of programming at the Haggen History Center. To learn more on Boe Bladen, tune in for our Black History Month special airing on February 18. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
