andrew gregg curtin “among the loyal governors of the northern states during the rebellion, none...

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.