Portage Area Historical Society

Portage Area Historical Society We are dedicated to the preservation, education and exploration of the rich history of Portage, Penn

A recent visitor to our Portage Station Museum was Donna (Helsel) Devlin from Quarkertown, PA. Being a Portage native, ...
08/31/2026

A recent visitor to our Portage Station Museum was Donna (Helsel) Devlin from Quarkertown, PA. Being a Portage native, she stopped by to see our museum treasures. We were happy to have her come by. She has promised to bring her family in to see what we have on display.

Mainline Monday - continued from last Monday's Mainline Monday - Penn CentralThe "Too Big to Fail" Crash: During the h...
08/31/2026

Mainline Monday - continued from last Monday's Mainline Monday - Penn Central

The "Too Big to Fail" Crash: During the harsh winter of 1969-1970, the network completely seized up due to deferred maintenance, equipment failures, and deep-rooted inefficiencies. By June 1970, the leviathan railroad was bleeding $1 million a day. When the Nixon administration refused a government bailout, the company had to file for bankruptcy on June 21, 1970.

Corporate Diversification: Before the railroad completely died, executives desperately tried to pivot the company away from railroading. They bought real estate companies (including the air rights above Grand Central Terminal) and an amusement park, attempting to become an investment conglomerate.

The Silver Lining of Conrail: Because the railroad was essentially the backbone of the American Northeast, it couldn't just vanish. To save it, the federal government eventually stepped in, absorbing its track network into the state-backed Conrail corporation in 1976, while its passenger services became part of Amtrak

We met Kathy Moir, husband Mike and their children at the Cassandra Overlook. They are from Linthorne Ontario, once aga...
08/31/2026

We met Kathy Moir, husband Mike and their children at the Cassandra Overlook. They are from Linthorne Ontario, once again at the Overlook. Kathy gave us two coins as a gesture of friendship, a Loonie ($1) and a Toonie ($2). How nice of her! Love it. We will display the coins at athe Museum.

Recent Visitors to the Portage Station Museum were Patricia and Ray Bollman, and Royce Bowman. All are from Portage, ha...
08/30/2026

Recent Visitors to the Portage Station Museum were Patricia and Ray Bollman, and Royce Bowman. All are from Portage, having moved to Caldwell Avenue from Johnstown in April. Welcome to Portage! So glad you stopped by the Museum.

#101 - 1861 April - The Civil War begins on April 12 with the attack on Fort Sumter.Article from the Mountain Sentinel ...
08/30/2026

#101 - 1861 April - The Civil War begins on April 12 with the attack on Fort Sumter.

Article from the Mountain Sentinel - SIXTEEN DIVISION THIRD BRIGADE Cambria Quitman Guards.

A word on past military companies -- Cambra County furnished two companies in the war of 1812, commanded respectively by Captains Moses Canan and Richard McGuire, who were in the celebrated Black Rock expedition. Two companies volunteered for the Mexican war - the Cambria Guards commanded by Captain James Murray, afterwards Captain C. H. Heyer, and the Highlanders, commanded by Captain John W. Geary, afterwards Governor of Pennsylvania.

The Quitman Guards were a military unit formed in 1861 during the Civil War.
They were named after John A. Quitman, a prominent Southern politician and military leader.

The unit was primarily composed of volunteers from Pennsylvania.
They were part of the 1st Pennsylvania Reserve Regiment, also known as the 30th Pennsylvania Infantry.

The Quitman Guards participated in several key battles, including the Battle of Gettysburg.

Their formation reflected the growing tensions and divisions in the United States leading up to the Civil War.

The article talks of the Quitman Guards meeting in Portage and electing officers.

Recent visitors to the Portage Station Museum were Thomas and Maribel Koszarek from Whitney Island WA, and daughter Emil...
08/29/2026

Recent visitors to the Portage Station Museum were Thomas and Maribel Koszarek from Whitney Island WA, and daughter Emily Koszarek from Pittsburgh PA. We were gifted the prom dress that his mother, Jean Repko, wore in 1956 as the prom queen. It is part of our summer display. Being a Portage native, he enjoyed showing his family the history of his hometown. We were delighted to have them.

#100 - Where was our village in the beginning?The village started where Route 53 and Munster Road intersect today. The...
08/29/2026

#100 - Where was our village in the beginning?

The village started where Route 53 and Munster Road intersect today. There were several hotels in the area that sprang up due to being at the Foot of the No 2 Plane on the Allegheny Portage Railroad.

As time went on, what we can Lee Street was the main entrance to town, although it was not much more than an alley.

And when the New Portage Railroad came through, the center of town moved south to where North and South Railroad Streets are today.

It is interesting to note that South Railroad Avenue was a corduroy road at first - meaning made out of logs. This was necessary because cut wood was hauled down that road for the Railroad to use. The corduroy was useful over swampy or low land.

Photo is a example of a corduroy road.

08/28/2026

The annual Meet the Band and Bonfire. Our Mustangs for the 2026-2027 season. Love it.

Address

400 Lee Street, PO Box 45
Portage, PA
15946

Opening Hours

Thursday 12pm - 4pm
Friday 12pm - 4pm
Saturday 12pm - 4pm

Telephone

+18147369223

Website

Alerts

Be the first to know and let us send you an email when Portage Area Historical Society posts news and promotions. Your email address will not be used for any other purpose, and you can unsubscribe at any time.

Contact The School

Send a message to Portage Area Historical Society:

Shortcuts

Share