This guide is a collection of thirty fascinating events that helped make Pennsylvania what it is today. From the witches of PA to the Expedition that changed the world, authors Fran Capo and Scott Bruce write with a comedic yet dramatic flair and an easy to read style that will entertain readers as they learn more about the colorful, and sometimes wacky history of Pennsylvania.
| Preface |
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ix | |
| Acknowledgments |
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xii | |
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A Witch in Pennsylvania 1683 |
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1 | (4) |
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For Whom the Bell Cracked 1752 |
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5 | (6) |
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The Birth of a Nation 1776 |
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11 | (5) |
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16 | (7) |
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An Expedition in Search of a Beginning 1803 |
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23 | (6) |
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The Eastern State Penitentiary 1829 |
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29 | (6) |
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35 | (6) |
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The Lost Children of the Alleghenies 1856 |
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41 | (5) |
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Well. . . That's a Deep Subject 1859 |
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46 | (5) |
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The Battle of Gettysburg 1863 |
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51 | (6) |
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Memorial Day in Boalsburg 1864 1865 |
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57 | (5) |
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The Handprint on the Wall 1877 |
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62 | (5) |
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A Million Dollar Baby Is Born 1879 |
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67 | (7) |
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74 | (5) |
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Water, Water Everywhere and Way Too Much to Drink 1889 |
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79 | (5) |
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The Birth of Professional Football 1892 |
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84 | (5) |
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Tragedy at 700 Feet Below 1911 |
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89 | (6) |
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Fill `er Up: Convenience on the Road 1913 |
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95 | (5) |
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The First Armored Car Robbery in History 1927 |
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100 | (7) |
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Getting Gypped on the Jeep 1940 |
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107 | (6) |
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The Road to the Future: The Pennsylvania Turnpike 1940 |
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113 | (6) |
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A Shrine for the Lion 1942 |
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119 | (6) |
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125 | (5) |
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The Toy That Walked into Fame 1945 |
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130 | (6) |
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136 | (7) |
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The Homer by the Fielder 1960 |
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143 | (5) |
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A Greyhound Bus and a Load of Bananas 1965 |
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148 | (8) |
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Roswell Comes to Pennsylvania 1965 |
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156 | (6) |
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The Mysterious Demise of Dr. Bentley 1966 |
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162 | (6) |
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Siamese Twins Set a Precedent 1977 |
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168 | (7) |
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Thirty Minutes to Meltdown 1979 |
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175 | (8) |
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183 | (5) |
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A Potpourri of Pennsylvania Facts |
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188 | (3) |
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191 | (3) |
| Bibliography and Further Reading |
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194 | (6) |
| Index |
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200 | (5) |
| About the Authors |
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205 | |
Fran Capo is a freelance writer, standup comic, lecturer, and the Guinness Book of World Records' Fastest Talking Female. This Queens College graduate has appeared on more than 248 radio shows and 98 TV shows, including Larry King Live, Entertainment Tonight, and Good Morning America.Scott Bruce is a professional comedian who has been performing in every available venue, including television, radio, stage, colleges, cruise ships, and comedy clubs.
