Northumberland County Historical Society facts for kids
| Location | 1150 North Front Street, Sunbury, Pennsylvania 17801 |
|---|---|
| Type | Historical/Museum/Library |
| Key holdings | Artifacts from Fort Augusta and the French and Indian War through the American Revolution; civic and church records from the time of the region's earliest settlers to the present; historic newspapers, vintage photographs, and other items of interest to historians and genealogical researchers |
The Northumberland County Historical Society is a special group in Pennsylvania. It was started on October 26, 1925. This group works hard to find, keep safe, and show old items, papers, and photos. These items tell the story of Northumberland County and its people.
The main home of the Historical Society is the Hunter House Museum. This museum is located near historic Fort Augusta in Pennsylvania's upper Susquehanna Valley. The society also has the Charlotte Darrah Walter Genealogical Library. They often hold events and talks about history for everyone. You can visit them from March through December in Sunbury, Pennsylvania.
Contents
Exploring the Charlotte Darrah Walter Genealogical Library
The Charlotte Darrah Walter Genealogical Library is a place where you can learn about your family's past. It has many old records and books. You can find information about families who lived in Northumberland County a long time ago.
The library keeps records like:
- Books about local families.
- Birth, marriage, and death records.
- Church records, like baptisms.
- Old newspapers and photos.
- Land deeds and tax lists.
- Wills and other county documents.
This library is a great place for anyone interested in family history.
Discovering the Hunter House Museum
The Hunter House Museum is the main building for the Historical Society. It's a very old house that was finished in 1852. Captain Samuel Hunter, whose grandfather was in charge of Fort Augusta, built it.
In the early 1930s, the state of Pennsylvania worked to protect Fort Augusta. They bought the land where the fort's powder magazine and well were. Then, in 1931, they bought the Hunter House. Later, in 2004, the Northumberland County Historical Society bought these important properties.
When the Hunter House became the society's headquarters in 1987, it was fixed up. The house was made to look like it did in 1848. They also added more space for meetings.
What You Can See at Hunter House Museum
The Hunter House Museum has many interesting things to see. It includes the original powder magazine from Fort Augusta. You can also see tools made by Native Americans and Moravian blacksmiths.
One special item is the uniform and drum of John Boulton Young. He was a drummer boy who died at age 13 during the U.S. Civil War. Many items were found during special digs in 1937-1938, 1978-1979, and 1981.
The Fort Augusta Model
On the front lawn of the Hunter House Museum, there is a model of Fort Augusta. It was built and opened in 2013. This model is about one-sixth the size of the real fort. The original Fort Augusta was built in 1756 to protect settlers during the French and Indian War.
Learning with the Historical Society
The Northumberland County Historical Society loves to teach people about history. They do this through meetings and special events all year.
Some topics they have talked about include:
- Clearing up common myths about local history.
- Showing old uniforms, vehicles, and weapons from the American Civil War and World War II.
- Discussing how the 1918 Spanish flu affected the coal industry in Northumberland County.
Saving History: Preservation Efforts
Besides taking care of the Hunter House, the society also helps save other old buildings. They work with other groups to protect historic places across the county.
For example, in 2015, the society helped fight to save the Northumberland County Prison (Pennsylvania). This prison was a 139-year-old building that looked like a castle. It had been badly damaged by a big fire.
Books About Local History
The Northumberland County Historical Society works with historians to create books and other learning materials. These publications help people learn more about the area's history.
They have published books on topics like:
- Early migrations to the area.
- The story of early Sunbury and Fort Augusta.
- Important women from Northumberland County.
- The county's role in the American Revolution.
- Local crafts and traditions.
- Stories about famous people who visited the Susquehanna Valley.
The society also publishes a journal called NCHS Proceedings. This journal lets people explore the region's history. It covers everything from Native Americans to early German settlers, and soldiers from the Revolutionary War and Civil War. It even talks about how Thomas Edison helped the area grow.
See also
- Sunbury, Pennsylvania
- Northumberland County, Pennsylvania
- List of historical societies
- Pennsylvania Federation of Historical Societies
