Posts Tagged ‘PA history’

S.S. Grand View Ship Hotel memorabilia for sale

January 22, 2010

Olga Herbert, executive director of the Lincoln Highway Heritage Corridor in Pennsylvania, has a friend who wants to sell his collection of Ship Hotel memorabilia. Anyone interested in purchasing part or all of the collection should send their name and phone # to Olga at office@LHHC.org. In about a week, she will send the info to him and he will follow up by telephone. NOTE: no portion of the profits will go to the LHHC, she is doing this as a favor since he doesn’t have e-mail.

The complete story of the Ship Hotel is due out in March in a book written by, well, me. I began researching the Ship in 1988 and became friends with Clara Gardner, granddaughter of founder Herbert Paulson. Clara is gone now but her children graciously permitted me to use many, many family photos. Look for more peeks inside the book in the coming months.

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Posted in highways, history, Lincoln Highway, lodging, Road trip, roadside, travel | 7 Comments »

PA Landmark Mountain View Inn demolished

November 17, 2009

The Mountain View Inn east of Greensburg, Pa., a long-time landmark along the Lincoln Highway, was sold earlier this year. Reports were that the new owners wanted to build a shopping plaza, and indeed, people have been writing about the inn’s destruction. Here’s a note from blog reader John: “the original section of the hotel has been razed. The only sections saved from destruction are those built this decade.”

The Pittsburgh Tribune Review reported last month that asbestos concerns had halted the dismantling following an auction of its all its contents. A state Department of Environmental Protection inspector “ordered the building secured until it could be examined to determine if asbestos is present. As a result, Altman dozens of successful bidders had to wait to collect their purchases.

Brothers James and Daniel Snyder …

purchased the property for more than $2.5 million after the inn, restaurant and bar closed in January. The real estate developers plan to raze part of the structure to make way for commercial development. The sale included the inn, 14 acres and a house on the property…. The hotel’s Mountain Laurel wing overlooking Route 30 will be retained as a 53-room lodge run by about 10 employees, according to plans presented this week to township officials.

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Posted in highways, history, Lincoln Highway, lodging, roadside, transportation | 2 Comments »

PA gets new Lincoln Highway board game

October 14, 2009

Students at 61 elementary/middle schools along the historic Lincoln Highway just received copies of The Lincoln Highway Road Trip Board Game, courtesy of the Lincoln Highway Heritage Corridor, Ligonier, Pennsylvania. Using pewter-like game pieces (vintage gas tank, suitcase, compass, tourist cabin, postcard, and antique auto) players move along the highway beginning in Irwin. The goal is to be the first to travel 200 miles along the historic highway to Abbottstown.

PA_LHHC board game

A sampling of a few of the 200 question cards (answers at the end):

1) “What Lincoln Highway community had 5 trolley car companies in one town?”  A. Gettysburg; B. Irwin; C. Breezewood; or D. New Oxford.”

2) “Bill’s Place once boasted to have the country’s smallest _________, which tourists often used before leaving the attraction.”  A. Gift Shop; B. Bowling Alley; C. Post Office; or D. Bathroom.

3) “Name the town along the Lincoln Highway Heritage Corridor that you would most likely see bison roam.”  A. Fayetteville. B. Schellsburg; C. Harrisonville; or D. Tatonkaville.”

LHHC summer intern Alex Gra, developed the game, which meets/exceeds PA Academic Standards for Mathematics, Science and Technology, Reading, Speaking and Listening, and History.  In addition to the Lincoln Highway Heritage Corridor, funding support was through The Sprout Fund/Pittsburgh 250/Community Connections in Pittsburgh.

A limited number of the games are available for purchase through the Lincoln Highway Heritage Corridor website at http://www.LHHC.org — click on Gift Shop, then Collectibles; or call the office at 724-238-9030. (Answers: B, C, B)

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Posted in highways, history, Lincoln Highway, Road trip, souvenirs, travel | Leave a Comment »