Erie, Pa and Presque Isle State Park Facts and Legends

By Susan L. Duda

Erie, Pennsylvania and Presque Isle State Parks rich history is encapsulated in this book of facts and legends. It contains many beautiful pictures of Eries heritage and is in bullet format to make for easy reading. If you are looking for entertainment, this book highlights many cultural activities Erie has to offer.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Xlibris US
• Release date: Jul 21, 2015
• ISBN: 9781503580053

Susan L. Duda

Susan Duda is a fervent fan of Erie’s rich history and the exciting entertainment opportunities the city has to offer. Susan grew up on Erie’s Upper East Side and attended Mercyhurst University, where she received her master’s degree in education. She is currently employed with Northwest Tri-County Intermediate Unit 5 and is stationed at Villa Maria Academy in Erie as a Reading Specialist. In her spare time, Susan enjoys spending time with her 5 children, Christopher, Chad, Nichole, Ryan, and Zachary Work, and their families, including 9 grandchildren. She also likes relaxing at Presque Isle State Park by walking the many trails it provides, visiting historical sites, and attending a variety of events offered to the public. Susan combines her photography and writing to bring awareness to the 4th largest city in Pennsylvania, which is the great Erie, PA

Book preview

Copyright © 2015 by Susan L. Duda. 705093

ISBN:      EBook            978-1-5035-8005-3

All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, or by any information storage and retrieval system, without permission in writing from the copyright owner.

Rev. date: 09/09/2015

Xlibris

1-888-795-4274

www.Xlibris.com

Dedicated to

My awe-inspiring children and grandchildren who encouraged me to write about my passion for the rich history of Erie, Pennsylvania and Presque Isle State Park.

May the legacy live on through them and through you –the readers.

Contents

Erie, Pennsylvania Located in Northwestern Pennsylvania of the United States of America

Erie Bluffs State Park Girard and Springfield Township off Route 5

Erie Philharmonic Orchestra 609 Walnut Street Erie, Pa 16502

Harry Thacker Burleigh African-American Classical Composer and Singer

Tom Ridge Environmental Center 301 Peninsula Drive Erie, Pa 16505

Presque Isle State Park Millcreek Township, Erie County

Joe Root King of Presque Isle

Presque Isle Wind Energy Project

Beach 1

Barracks Beach

Beach 6

Beach 7 or Waterworks Beach

Beach 8 or Pettinato Beach

Mill Road Beaches include the following: Stone Jetty, Short Jetty, Saw Mill, Ainsworth, and Goddard

Beach 9 or Pine Tree Beach

Sunset Point

Beach 10 or Budny Beach

Beach 11

Waterworks Park Presque Isle State Park

Waterworks Gear House

Feather Observation Platform Presque Isle State Park

Sturgeon Bay

Presque Isle Lighthouse

Presque Isle North Pierhead Lighthouse

The Karl Boyes Multi-purpose National Recreational Trail (13.5 Miles)

15 Nature Trails at Presque Isle State Park Presque Isle Lighthouse/Sidewalk Trail (1.25 miles)

A Trail (.2 miles)

B Trail (.25 miles)

Canoe Portage Trail (0.25 miles)

Dead Pond Trail (2 miles)

Duck Pond Trail (.5 miles)

Fox Trail (.5 mile)

Grave Yard Pond Trail (.75 miles)

Gull Point Trail (1.5 miles)

Long Pond Trail (1 mile)

Marsh Trail (.25 miles)

North Pier Trail (.7 mile)

Pine Tree Trail (.7 miles)

Old Gas Well Trail

Ridge Trail (.5 miles)

Perry Monument or Perry’s Victory Monument

Lady Kate Presque Isle

Lagoons

Pontoon Boat Tours Presque Isle Lagoons Pontoon Boat Station Past Perry Monument

Horseshoe Pond Presque Isle State Park

United States Coast Guard Station Erie Presque Isle State Park

Bird Watching at Presque Isle State Park

Boating, Kayaking, and Canoeing

Winter Activities at Presque Isle State Park

Boat Launches

Marina

Scallywags Pirate Ship West Basin at the Foot of State Street Erie, Pa 16507

Victorian Princess Cruise Lines, Inc Docked on the east side of Dobbins Landing Erie, Pa 16507

Dobbins Landing 7 State Street

The Bicentennial Tower 7 State Street Erie, Pa 16507

USS Wolverine

US Brig Niagara or the Flagship Niagara 130 East Front Street Erie, Pa 16507

Erie Maritime Museum 150 East Front Street Erie, Pa

Union Station 121 West 14th Street between Peach and Sassafras Street Erie, PA

General Anthony Wayne Blockhouse Soldiers’ and Sailors’ Home Foot of Ash Street Erie, Pa 16507

Erie Land Lighthouse Lighthouse Street Erie, PA

Warner Theatre 811 State Street Erie, Pa 16501

Erie County Historical Society 356 West 6th Street’ Erie, Pa

Cashier’s House 417 State Street Erie, Pa 16501

The Old Customs House Current Art Museum 409 State Street

Yahn Planetarium of Erie at Penn State Behrend 4205 College Drive Behrend School of Science Zurn Rm 49 Erie, Pa

Erie Playhouse 13 West 10th Street Erie, PA

Watson-Curtze Mansion 356 West 6th Street Erie, Pa

The Station Dinner Theatre 4940 Peach Street Erie, Pa

Firefighters Historical Museum 428 Chestnut Street Erie, PA

Erie Zoological Park and Botanical Garden of Northwestern Pennsylvania 423 West 38th Street Erie, Pa

Erie Art Museum 411 State Street Erie, Pa

Experience Children’s Museum 420 French Street Erie, Pa

Splash Lagoon Indoor Water Park Resort 8091 Peach Street Erie, PA 16509

Laser Tag 8111 Peach Street Erie, Pa 16509

Waldameer Park 220 Peninsula Drive Erie, Pa

Erie’s Wild Rib Cook Off and Music Festival Perry Square Downtown Erie, Pa

UPMC Sunset Music Series Presque Isle State Park, Beach 1

Sounds of Summer Music Series Senior Centers in Erie, Pa

Romolo Chocolates 1525 West 8th Street Erie, Pa

Thursday Night Block Parties Downtown Erie, Pa

Erie Art Museum’s Mid-Day Break Concerts The patio is situated on East 5th Street between French and State Street Erie, Pa

Erie Art Museum Blues and Jazz Festival Frontier Park Erie, Pa Corner of West 8th Street and the Bayfront Parkway

8 Great Tuesdays Liberty Park Erie, Pa

Discover Presque Isle Days Presque Isle State Park

Roar on the Shore

Lake Shore Railway Museum 31 Wall Street North East, PA 16428

Wintergreen Gorge and Sergeant Donald S. Oaks Bridge Harborcreek Township

Lake Erie Arboretum at Frontier Park (LEAF) 1501 West 6th Street Erie, Pa 16505

Asbury Woods 4106 Asbury Road Erie, Pa

Elk Creek

Walnut Creek

Battles Museum of Rural Life 436 Walnut Street Girard, PA 16417

World War II Memorial and the Korean War Memorial Located beside Veterans Stadium 2614 Glenwood Park Avenue Erie, PA

Vietnam Veterans Memorial Located beside Veterans Stadium 2614 Glenwood Park Avenue Erie, PA

The Purple Heart Memorial 2614 Glenwood Park Avenue Erie, PA

Erie 9/11 Memorial 160 East Front Street Erie, PA

Works Cited

Erie, Pennsylvania

Located in Northwestern Pennsylvania

of the United States of America

•  Erie is situated between Cleveland, OH, Buffalo, NY, and Pittsburgh, PA on the south central shores of Lake Erie

•  According to the 2010 United States Census Bureau, Erie has a total of 28 square miles with 22 square miles being land and the remaining 21.54% being water

•  It is located in the snow belt that stretches from Cleveland to Syracuse and Watertown; its winters are typically cold, with heavy lake effect snow, but has occasional stretches of mild weather that causes accumulated snow to melt

•  There is an average of 2.5 days with sub -0 degree lows annually, and the lowest temperature ever recorded was -18 degrees on June 19, 1994 and on February 16, 2015

•  Erie lies on the typical humid continental zone and experiences a full range of weather, including snow, ice, rain, thunderstorms, and fog

•  Because of its lakeside location, summer heat is tempered with an average of only 3.8 days of 90 degree highs annually, and the highest temperature ever recorded was 100 degrees on June 25, 1988

•  Erie is known as the Flagship City because of its status as the home port of Oliver Hazard Perry’s Flagship Niagara, and it is also called the Gem City because of its sparkling Lake Erie

•  It is named for the Native American tribe, the Eriez (an Iroquoian group), who resided along its southern shore

•  Originally, the six nations of the Iroquois Confederacy, including the Senecas, occupied the land

•  In 1773, Europeans first arrived in the region when the French constructed Fort Presque Isle, as part of an effort to defend New France against the encroaching British

•  In January 1789, the Iroquois released the land to Pennsylvania for payment of $2,000 from Pennsylvania and $1,200 from the federal government

•  In February 1791, the Seneca Nation separately settled land claims against Pennsylvania for $800

•  Today Erie is situated in what was the disputed Erie Triangle, a triangle of land that was claimed by the states of Massachusetts, Connecticut, Pennsylvania, and New York

•  On March 3, 1792, after Massachusetts, Connecticut, and New York relinquished their claims to the Federal Government, Erie officially became part of Pennsylvania

•  Erie is the fourth largest city in Pennsylvania and has a population of 102,000

•  280,000 people reside in Erie’s Metropolitan Area and 195,000 in the Urban Area

•  Erie County’s seat of government is the city and is governed by a mayor-council government, consisting of a mayor, treasurer, controller, and a seven member city council, all of whom are elected to four year terms

•  Erie City emerged as a maritime center after the American Revolution, then as a railroad hub during the westward expansion

•  At one time Erie was booming with heavy industry, and it became important for iron and steel manufacturing during the Industrial Revolution and thrived well into the 20th century with big industry

•  Today, Erie’s manufacturing sector remains prominent in the local economy through service industries, healthcare, higher education, and tourism

•  Every year, millions of people flock to Presque Isle State Park, a peninsula that juts out into Lake Erie and has 7 miles of public beaches, wetlands, and fishing sites

•  Other main attractions are the Casino and Presque Isle Downs, the horse racing track

•  The Casino, which is operated by MTR Gaming Group, broke ground for its new facility in October 2005 and opened its doors for business on February 28, 2007; it contains over 2,000 slot machines

•  Horse Racing is found at the Presque Isle Downs and Casino in South Erie nearby Summit Township; it opened its oval track on September 2, 2007

•  The city is home to the Erie Philharmonic, which has been in existence since 1913, with the exception of an interim during World War ll

•  Erie Philharmonic consists of a group of professional musicians and a full chorus

•  It has a Junior Philharmonic that also travels the area

•  Another group, the Lake Erie Ballet performs well-known programs throughout the year, including The Nutcracker

•  The Erie Civic Association attracts sponsors and books performances by professional singers, musicians, entertainers, and ensembles from around the world

•  Erie also has a number of semi-pro and professional sports teams

•  AA baseball is played by Erie SeaWolves, which was founded in 1989 is a minor league baseball team affiliated with the Detroit Tigers; all home games are played at Jerry Uht Park

•  The Erie Otters, which had its beginnings in 1996, is a major junior ice hockey team in the Ontario Hockey League; all home games are played at the Erie Insurance Arena in downtown Erie

•  The Erie BayHawks, a professional minor league basketball team, which began in 2008, belong to the National Basketball Association Development League; all home games are played at the Erie Insurance Arena

•  The Erie Illusion, established in 2003, is a women’s football team playing in the independent Women’s Football League and is a member of the Women’s Football Alliance; all home games are played at the Erie Veterans Memorial Stadium

•  The Erie Explosion, which began in 2007, is a professional indoor football team and a member of the North Division of the Continental Indoor Football League;