andrew gregg curtin “among the loyal governors of the northern states during the rebellion, none...
TRANSCRIPT
ANDREW ANDREW GREGG CURTINGREGG CURTIN
““Among the loyal governors Among the loyal governors of the Northern States of the Northern States
during the rebellion, none during the rebellion, none were placed in were placed in
circumstances requiring circumstances requiring greater watchfulness, or greater watchfulness, or
more prompt and decisive more prompt and decisive action, than the patriotic action, than the patriotic
Governor of Pennsylvania, Governor of Pennsylvania, and none fulfilled their high and none fulfilled their high
trust with greater fidelity trust with greater fidelity and loyalty.”and loyalty.”
Early LifeEarly Life
Born in Bellefonte, PA Born in Bellefonte, PA April 2, 1817April 2, 1817 Father Rowland CurtinFather Rowland Curtin Iron Manufacturer; Iron Manufacturer;
left ample fortune left ample fortune
for family including Andrewfor family including Andrew
EducationEducation
Educated in Milton, Northumberland, Educated in Milton, Northumberland, PAPA
Law School – Carlisle, PALaw School – Carlisle, PA
Before becoming Before becoming Governor……Governor……
Became a lawyer in BellefonteBecame a lawyer in Bellefonte Secretary of the Secretary of the
CommonwealthCommonwealth Supporter of Supporter of
Abraham LincolnAbraham Lincoln Advocate of EducationAdvocate of Education
Andrew G. CurtinAndrew G. Curtin
Pennsylvania GovernorPennsylvania Governor RepublicanRepublican Inaugurated Jan. 15Inaugurated Jan. 15thth, 1861, 1861
CIVIL WARCIVIL WAR What event was the start of the Civil What event was the start of the Civil
War?War? First person Lincoln called to First person Lincoln called to
Washington, D.C.?Washington, D.C.?
Congressmen James G. Congressmen James G. BlaineBlaine
““On the eleventh day of April, one On the eleventh day of April, one day before the South precipitated the day before the South precipitated the conflict, the Legislature of PA passed conflict, the Legislature of PA passed an act for the better organization of an act for the better organization of the militia, and appropriated five the militia, and appropriated five hundred thousand dollars to carry hundred thousand dollars to carry out the details of the measure. It was out the details of the measure. It was the first official step in the loyal the first official step in the loyal States to defend the Union……”States to defend the Union……”
Civil War GovernorCivil War Governor
11stst Regiment to enter Regiment to enter
nation’s capital in nation’s capital in
defense defense
of the Union of the Union 2525thth Pennsylvania Pennsylvania
VolunteersVolunteers
Civil War GovernorCivil War Governor PA was threatened and border PA was threatened and border
invadedinvaded Capital threatened Capital threatened One of Bloodiest battles of the warOne of Bloodiest battles of the war
Civil War GovernorCivil War Governor Required Governor Curtin calmness Required Governor Curtin calmness
and execution to re-assure his people and execution to re-assure his people and organize them for resistance to and organize them for resistance to the invadersthe invaders
What he had to faceWhat he had to face
3 times PA was invaded3 times PA was invaded 90,000 troops led by Lee within 90,000 troops led by Lee within
States bordersStates borders
His responseHis response
Utmost Promptness to every call of Utmost Promptness to every call of the national governmentthe national government
Troops, moral, or political supportTroops, moral, or political support
After leaving officeAfter leaving office
Re-Elected 1863Re-Elected 1863 Continued to help Republican Party Continued to help Republican Party
as a speakeras a speaker Appointed U.S. Minister to RussiaAppointed U.S. Minister to Russia Returned to politics; served in Returned to politics; served in
Congress for 3 terms (Democrat)Congress for 3 terms (Democrat)
CURTIN CURTIN VILLAGEVILLAGE
A local A local
Ghost Town??Ghost Town??
What is a What is a Ghost Town?Ghost Town?
term for any once term for any once flourishing American flourishing American community that has community that has been abandoned, been abandoned, generally for generally for economic reasons. economic reasons. While most of the While most of the towns have little or towns have little or no population, they no population, they often contain old often contain old buildings, which may buildings, which may serve as tourist serve as tourist attractions attractions
Where is Curtin Village?Where is Curtin Village?
http://maps.google.com/maps?hl=enhttp://maps.google.com/maps?hl=en&tab=wl&tab=wl
CURTIN VILLAGECURTIN VILLAGE Founded around 1810 Roland CurtinFounded around 1810 Roland Curtin Iron Plantation CommunityIron Plantation Community Last old-style iron furnaceLast old-style iron furnace
Roland CurtinRoland Curtin
Irish ImmigrantIrish Immigrant Arrived 1793; escape French Arrived 1793; escape French
RevolutionRevolution First coronerFirst coroner SheriffSheriff Married Margery GreggMarried Margery Gregg
Roland CurtinRoland Curtin Partner Moses Boggs purchased Partner Moses Boggs purchased
11,000 acres (7,000 timber)11,000 acres (7,000 timber) erected Eagle Iron Workserected Eagle Iron Works First iron was shipped toFirst iron was shipped toPittsburgh by horsesPittsburgh by horses Located along Located along Bald Eagle CreekBald Eagle Creek Sold to Curtin 1815Sold to Curtin 1815
CURTIN VILLAGECURTIN VILLAGE 30,000 acres provided for the whole 30,000 acres provided for the whole
communitycommunity Furnace operation 1922Furnace operation 1922 Iron producing Iron producing
center from center from
1810 until 19221810 until 1922
As Curtin's great-grandson later recounted,As Curtin's great-grandson later recounted, "Everything required had to be transported on "Everything required had to be transported on flat-boats . . . or on pack horses over mountain flat-boats . . . or on pack horses over mountain trails, roads cut thru forests, dams built, ore trails, roads cut thru forests, dams built, ore mined, wood chopped . . . and . . . converted mined, wood chopped . . . and . . . converted into charcoal, waterwheels and blowing into charcoal, waterwheels and blowing machinery for furnaces and forges constructed machinery for furnaces and forges constructed . . . before a pound of iron was made.". . . before a pound of iron was made."
Why the location?Why the location? Huge amount of iron depositsHuge amount of iron deposits Dense forestsDense forests Limestone supply for fluxLimestone supply for flux Water supply for Water supply for
powerpower
Curtin VillageCurtin Village
Products: charcoal, bloom, bar, and Products: charcoal, bloom, bar, and rod ironrod iron
Canal built and opened 1848Canal built and opened 1848 Bald Eagle/Spring Creek Navigation Bald Eagle/Spring Creek Navigation
CompanyCompany Route to Lock HavenRoute to Lock Haven
Pennsylvania CanalsPennsylvania Canals
Curtin Curtin VillageVillage
Railroad replaced Railroad replaced
canalscanals Curtin family got Curtin family got
involved in the railroad industryinvolved in the railroad industry Train stop at Train stop at
Curtin and Curtin and
post office called post office called
RolandRoland
CURTIN VILLAGECURTIN VILLAGE Iron "plantation"Iron "plantation" 60 structures60 structures
- Ironmaster's Mansion- Ironmaster's Mansion
- charcoal-fired iron furnace (only - charcoal-fired iron furnace (only stack remains)stack remains)
- rolling mill- rolling mill
- forge- forge
- worker's village- worker's village
IRON PLANTATIONIRON PLANTATION Two areas: Industry & CommunityTwo areas: Industry & Community Self-SufficientSelf-Sufficient Ironmaster and family at topIronmaster and family at top Other positions Other positions
determined determined
by occupationby occupation
Curtin’s Curtin’s MansionMansion
15 rooms 15 rooms
(10 still open to public)(10 still open to public) 10 fireplaces10 fireplaces Walls 2 ft. thickWalls 2 ft. thick Curtin family Curtin family
homehome
until 1950suntil 1950s
PLEASANT FURNACEPLEASANT FURNACE
Erected 1848Erected 1848 Destroyed by fire 1921Destroyed by fire 1921 Last coal blast furnace in U.S.Last coal blast furnace in U.S. Restored charging house, blast house Restored charging house, blast house
withwith
overshot waterwheel, flume, casting overshot waterwheel, flume, casting rooms, and tapping shedrooms, and tapping shed
During its heyday, about 600 tons a During its heyday, about 600 tons a year of pig iron and cast-sheet and year of pig iron and cast-sheet and bar iron were produced. bar iron were produced.
Worker’s VillageWorker’s Village Log Cabins (restored today 1825)Log Cabins (restored today 1825) ““Village Green”Village Green” Two types: Ironmaster/Family and Two types: Ironmaster/Family and
Worker’s housesWorker’s houses 1-2 Story houses 1-2 Story houses
(some still remain)(some still remain)
Mansion built by Roland Curtin Mansion built by Roland Curtin (1830)(1830)
Abandoned 1951Abandoned 1951 2 and ½ floors made of stone2 and ½ floors made of stone Huge central hallwayHuge central hallway 4 Main rooms4 Main rooms FireplacesFireplaces
Ironmaster’s FamilyIronmaster’s Family
Curtin FamilyCurtin Family Sons: Austin, James, Roland Jr., and Sons: Austin, James, Roland Jr., and
Andrew GreggAndrew Gregg Andrew Gregg CurtinAndrew Gregg Curtin
- Trustee Advisor, - Trustee Advisor,
supporter &supporter &
friend of friend of
President LincolnPresident Lincoln Roland Sr. Roland Sr.
retired 1848retired 1848 Passed onto sonsPassed onto sons
Central PA During Civil WarCentral PA During Civil War
Aikey House – during Civil WarAikey House – during Civil War
CURTIN VILLAGECURTIN VILLAGE What Remains?What Remains?
60 acres of land, Old Mill, 1830 60 acres of land, Old Mill, 1830 Plantation house, couple of houses.Plantation house, couple of houses.
Gristmill (only 4 unstable Gristmill (only 4 unstable
walls remain)walls remain)
Store, church, rail station,Store, church, rail station,
schoolschool
Today……….Today……….
In the one-hundred-eleven years of iron In the one-hundred-eleven years of iron production in this village contributed to production in this village contributed to today's industrial and social status of today's industrial and social status of Pennsylvania. That Eagle Furnace was Pennsylvania. That Eagle Furnace was in active production for such a long in active production for such a long period and that so much of the period and that so much of the community remains combine to make community remains combine to make the restoration of Curtin a valuable and the restoration of Curtin a valuable and desirable project. desirable project.
End of Curtin VillageEnd of Curtin Village
Because of new high-quality iron ore Because of new high-quality iron ore deposit discoveries, changes in deposit discoveries, changes in technology, and rising costs of technology, and rising costs of production, the Eagle Iron Works, production, the Eagle Iron Works, which was one of the last active which was one of the last active charcoal iron manufacturers "blew charcoal iron manufacturers "blew out" for the last time in 1921. out" for the last time in 1921.