With only two years remaining until the commemoration of the 250th anniversary of the founding of the United States, local organizations and volunteers are working together to initiate community improvement projects to showcase local history by improving places that matter.
The non-profit Roland Curtin Foundation and Altrusa International of Centre County are partnering to clean the grave markers of two Revolutionary War soldiers, several Civil War veterans, former iron workers and their family members buried in the Curtin United Methodist Church Cemetery, Curtin Road, Howard, Pa., located just a short distance south of Eagle Iron Works and Curtin Village.
The Curtin United Methodist Cemetery, also known as the Old Curtin Cemetery, contains 134 known burials; the oldest of which appears to be 1815 for the infant grandson of Philip and Susanna Antes, who deeded acreage to establish the “Bald Eagle Chapel” in 1804 as a formal meeting place for the small congregation that had formed in July 1787.
Of the surviving stones, there are few before the 1850’s. Of the nearly 200 Revolutionary War soldiers buried in Centre County, two find their resting place here, Lawrence Bathurst (1757-1845) and Evan Russell (1760-1838).
The Bathurst’s were of English origin and arrived in Bald Eagle Valley in 1786-87, a full decade ahead of Roland Curtin. In 1820-21 two Bathurst’s, Thomas and Lawrence, appeared in the time books of the Eagle Forge.
Thereafter, every decade through 1920 Bathurst’s were listed as tenants in the workers’ village at Curtin and as employees. The 1910 census lists Bathurst’s employed as forge men, stick men and gutter men.
Evan Russell commanded a company under George Washington in the Revolutionary War. After coming to Centre County from Lancaster County, he served as a forge carpenter for Roland Curtin and died at the Eagle Iron Works in 1838.
Volunteers are welcome to participate. Instruction will be provided. If you are joining on Saturday, please bring a bucket, a soft bristle brush and rubber gloves.
Work will begin at 10 a.m. on Saturday, July 20, National Pennsylvania Day. For questions, please call 570-220-9290.