History

What a milestone—125 years of service for the Presque Isle Chapter of the National Society of Daughters of the American Revolution (DAR) in Erie, PA. The chapter celebrated with a luncheon and celebration at the historic Kahkwa Club on Saturday, October 22, 2022.  I am the vice-regent (former treasurer) of the Presque Isle Chapter and volunteered to…

Would any of us today in North America have the fortitude to resist a fascist government or dictatorship? To withstand prolonged periods of cruel torture? To lose our lives? To see our children killed before our eyes because of our own actions, though noble? Thousands of Italian women during World War II said yes. Of…

I, like so many, feel utterly helpless sitting here at home while a maniacal monster scourges the landscape of Ukraine. I wish I could reach back in time and change the course of history and the insidious spread of communism into China in 1949.  I learned about China’s civil war as I researched my book William…

Here’s an updated and improved index to William E. Dimorier: Servant Leader, published in February 2022. While the book is about a particular man who was born in upstate New York and spent his career in Erie, PA, the lives of the people he interacted with over the years are included in the book.

It’s been a long time coming, but the Dimorier Project finally has something to show for decades of research and writing and thousands of dollars to honor a good man—William E. Dimorier. After numerous efforts to get William’s story published in the traditional way, I finally decided to publish his biography myself. It is now…

2026 Note: Perry Monument is being renovated and completion should be in time for its 100th Anniversary on September 10, 2026. In 1922, during a period of massive inflation resulting from WWI, Erie, Pennsylvania, was trying to raise funds for the construction of a stadium in front of Academy High School. To support the stadium…

By David Chernicky, Guest Contributor. From his forthcoming book, Justice for Christina: A Cold Case in My Hometown. For most people, cemeteries are peaceful, solemn places that families periodically visit to pay homage to a loved one, relative, or friend. My memory of visits to the graves of grandparents and other relatives dates back to my…

When an infuriated ex-soldier took a Veterans Administration official hostage in Erie, Pennsylvania, Sgt. Leo J. Waldinger and Patrolman Walter R. May rescued the victim and sacrificed their own lives.

A verdant legacy lies above Lake Erie in northwestern Pennsylvania. That is Zuck Park, located in Millcreek Township, adjacent to the city of Erie.

Last week, I attended a performance of Rent’s 20th Anniversary Tour. The musical follows a year in the lives of several artists, some of whom are afflicted with HIV/AIDS. In 1996, the future was grim for those who had the disease. Over the years I’ve seen Rent on Broadway, on tour, and on the big screen. Reflecting on the passage…