Previous Historical Presentations

Lower Paxton Township Historical Commission B-26 Crash

April 22, 1951, a B-26 traveling from Ohio to Delaware crashed into Blue Mountain, north of Linglestown, in Lower Paxton, Pennsylvania. Three crew members were killed in the accident.

The hour presentation tells the story of the crew, plane and flight presented by Bob Thomas and David Doyle with a special guest that visited the site soon after the crash, telling eyewitness accounts.

View the B-26 Historical Presentation.

Lower Paxton Township Historical Commission Presentation of the Running Pump Farm by Eric Kessler

This presentation tells the history of the farm from 1725 to 2018. This farm has produced crops every year since 1725 and continues today. This Historical Presentation covers the 6 families that lived on the farm and how their lives were affected by its history.

View the Running Pump Farm Presentation.

Linglestown Fair Presentation

The following link is for the Lower Paxton Township Historical Commission Presentation of the Great Linglestown Fair. Many thanks to Judy Miller Klinefelter and her Brother Bob Miller.

View the Linglestown Fair Presentation.

Bryan Van Sweden from the Pennsylvania Historical Preservation Department, Pennsylvania Historical & Museum Commission

Discussed the Preservation of Historical Buildings in Lower Paxton Township Historical Society of Dauphin County, The State Museum of Pennsylvania

View the Preservation of Historical Buildings video.

1875 House Restored by Audrey and Jayson Cowden

Find out why it is better to restore a home than destroy it. Audrey and Jayson found many treasures as they uncovered the wonders of their 1875 Linglestown Home in Lower Paxton Township, Pennsylvania.

Follow their adventure as they worked in the home and what they uncovered.

View the 1875 House Restored by Audrey and Jayson Cowden video.

Trolleys of Lower Paxton Township

The History of the Trolley System that serviced the Harrisburg, Lower Paxton and Linglestown. The Linglestown Trolley ran from 1904 to 1931.

View the Trolleys of Lower Paxton Township video.

Eisenhower House

The story of the Restoration of the 1820 Eisenhower House located off of Nyes Road Lower Paxton Township, Pennsylvania.

Built by the Great, Great Grandfather of Dwight D. Eisenhower, 34th President of the United States.
Four Generations of Eisenhower's lived in Lower Paxton Township and Dauphin County.
Restoration and Presentation done by Pam and Paul Velencia.

View the video of the Eisenhower House.

Prince Hall of Pennsylvania Orphanage & Masonic Home

This is the story of the Orphanage and Masonic Home in Linglestown, Lower Paxton Township Pennsylvania, from 1908 to the 1950's.

If you missed the February meeting you can now see the Historical Presentation on YouTube.

View the Prince Hall of Pennsylvania Orphanage and Masonic Home video.

South Mountain Railroad

Did you know that Lower Paxton Township almost had a railroad running through it? In the 1800's a rail line was laid out that would have passed through the Linglestown area, construction started but the line was never completed. However to this day, nearly 150 years later, there are excavations and stone masonry artifacts remaining that tell this brief chapter in our local history. The Historical Presentation for March was the South Mountain Railroad, presented by Bob Thomas, which was incorporated May 5, 1854 and was to run from Harrisburg to Jonestown. Around 1872 grading began between Rockville and Linglestown, however the collapse of the Bridge Route plans in the panic of 1873 brought work to a halt.

The company was forced to auction off its personal property in 1877 and in 1880 right-of-way, leases and passenger were sold off. It was reorganized in 1893 as the Blue Mountain Railroad and in 1901 as Harrisburg and South Mountain Railroad which was inactive by 1912.

View the South Mountain Railroad video.

B-26 Memorial Presentation at Heroes Grove on May 4

Visit the following link to the video of RJ Harris WHP 580 Salute the Troops and Lower Paxton Township Historical Commission Memorial to the crew of the B-26 that crashed into Blue Mountain on April 22, 1951 North of Linglestown, Pennsylvania Heroes Grove, Brightbill Park.

This event was held on Saturday May 4, 2019 and Congressman Scott Perry, State Rep. Andrew Lewis, LPT Supervisor Norm Zoumas, LPT Historical Commissioners David Doyle and Bob Thomas took a part in this event.

View the B-26 Memorial Presentation at Heroes Grove on May 4 video.

Doctors in Lower Paxton

On July 11, 2019 Drs. William and Dudley Gordon of Lower Paxton Township presented what it was like being a family doctor in a small town.

View the Doctors in Lower Paxton video.

American Legion Post 272 - 100 years

Here is a link to the Historical Presentation of the American Legion Post 272 which started at the Eagle Hotel in the Summer of 1919. They planned the "1919 Welcome Home Parade" and applied for an American Legion Charter.

From that small beginning they grew to a pillar of the community. 100 years of parades, memorial services, helping veterans and their families at home and abroad.

View the American Legion Post 272 - 100 years video.

Blue Ridge Country Club

The history of Blue Ridge Country Club as told by its members and long time President Denny Woolf, Sue Dym and Linda Schwab, Conrad Siegel, Toby Yoffee, and Pete Micklewright. All gave a running history of Blue Ridge Country Club. Thanks to Eric Epstein and GK Visual for a great production.

View the Blue Ridge Country Club video.