We will hold our Annual History Banquet on April 21, 2012, at Homewood @ Spring House Estates. The cost is $20 each for the banquet at which we honor the Historian of the Year. This year we will have a lecture on the War of 1812 given by Roger Kirwin, our Historian of the Year in 2011.

Decoration Day Ceremony - May 28, 2012

Decoration Day Ceremony & Parade at Fockler Cemetery, Saxton Parade, Music, Speeches, Grave Decoration

Car Show - July 28, 2012

History, Hogs, & Hot Wheels Motorcycle & Car Show at Tussey Mountain High School. Activities include the Car Show, Silent Auction, Food, Music, Cake Roulette.

Quilt Show Registration - September 28 & 29, 2012

Registration of quilts for the quilt show will be on September 28 and 29.

Quilt Show and Sale - October 6-14, 2012

Our annual Quilt Show & Sale will be held at BCHS, 2nd Floor, on October 6-14. We will also hold our Quilt Raffle.

Quarterly Meeting and Lecture - October 20, 2012

We will hold our Quarterly Meeting on October 20, 2012. Details and information about the lecture at this meeting will be announced later.

Ongoing Commemoration of the Civil War

In April 2011, the Bedford County Historical Society and other historical organizations in Bedford County will begin to commemorate the 150th Anniversary of the Civil War. Over the next 5 years until 2015 there will be re-enactments, lectures, exhibits, and events to commemorate our ancestors that fought to preserve the Union. Click here for more details.

Recent Events

Quarterly Meeting and presentation entitled, "The Metzgers of Dry Ridge and The Old Glade Pike - January 21, 2012

The Bedford County Historical Society held the quarterly meeting on January 21, 2012, at which Randy Hillegass and Wayde Hyde gave a presentation entitled, "The Metzgers of Dry Ridge and the Old Glade Pike." Click here to download our press release on the event.

Tour of National Civil War Museum - November 16, 2011

The Bedford County Historical Society hosted a tour to the National Civil War Museum in Harrisburg on Wednesday, November 16, 2011. This museum is the only museum in the United States that portrays the entire story of the entire Civil War. For details click here.

Quarter Sessions Presentation - November 12, 2011

The Bedford County Historical Society hosted a special presentation on Saturday, November 12, 2011, at 1:00 pm by Gerald H. Smith, author of the book, "Bedford County, PA Quarter Sessions, 1771-1801," which includes abstracts of Docket 1 (1771-1789) and Docket 2 (1777-1801). Both dockets begin with events at the formation of the county contain many items of historical interest. For details click here.

Quilt Show - October 1-9, 2011

The Bedford County Historical Society held the annual Quilt Show from October 1 through October 9. at the Society, 6441 Lincoln Hwy, Bedford. For details click here for results of judging of quilts.

Everything You Wanted To Know About The "Bill Of Rights" - September 24, 2011

The Bedford County Historical Society hosted a discussion of the "Bill of Rights" on Saturday, September 24. To celebrate the "National Constitution Week" a panel consisting of the Honorable Carson Brown, the Honorable Thomas Ling and the Honorable Jeff Leber discussed questions regarding the "Bill of Rights."

Walk for Life - Saturday, September 17, 2011

Precious Life of Bedford held a Walk-4-Life on Saturday, September 17, at 10:00am at the Bedford High School. For details click here.

Union Civil War Encampment - September 17, 2011

The Cumberland Valley Township Historical Society sponsored a reenactment of the encampment of several units of the Union army during the Civil War, which was at Camp Mason and Dixon on current U.S. 220 South near the Maryland state line as it borders Cumberland Valley Township. The Cumberland Valley Township Historical Society is also soliciting donations for a historical marker denoting occurrances at Camp Mason and Dixon. For details click here.

Book Signing - September 10, 2011

The Bedford County Historical Society held a book signing on September 10, 2011 for "Your Affectionate Son," Letters from the a Civil War Soldier by Milann Daugherty. To purchase the book, click here.

Tour of Meadowbrooke Gourds and the U.S. Army Heritage & Education Center - August 24, 2011

The Bedford County Historical Society wass pleased to sponsor a tour of Meadowbrooke Gourds and the U.S. Army Heritage & Education Center in Carlisle, Pennsylvania, on Wednesday, August 24, 2011. Click here for details.

A Celebration of Bedford County's Civil War Heritage - July 30 and 31

A commemoration of Bedford County's role in the Civil War was held at the Juniata Woolen Mill on July 30 & 31 with particular attention to the mill's role in keeping the army supplied during the conflict. Re-enactors added living history to the event. Click here for more details.

Motorcycle & Car Show - July 23, 2011

The Bedford County Historical Society was pleased to sponsor the History, Hogs, & Hot Wheels Motorcycle & Car Show once again on Saturday, July 23, 2011, at the Tussey Mountain High School, Saxton, PA. Click here for details.

Civil War 150 Road Show - June 17-19, 2011

The Civil War Alliance of Bedford County, of which the Bedford County Historical Society and Old Bedford Village are a part, hosted the Pennsylvania Civil War 150 Road Show on Friday through Sunday, June 17-19, 2011, from 9:00 am - 5:00 pm at Thomas Chevrolet, Business 220, Bedford. Click here for more details. Everyone had a wonderful time.

Special Memorial Day Service Commemorating the 150th Anniversary of the Civil War

The Bedford County Historical Society was pleased to join with The Pleasantville Veterans of Foreign Wars, Post 9219, to co-sponsor a Special Memorial Day Service Commemorating the 150th Anniversary of America's Civil War to be held on May 30, 2011, in Pleasantville. Click on the soldier/flag on the right or here for more details.

Historian of the Year

On April 9, 2011, the Bedford County Historical Society held the Annual Banquet and named Roger Kirwin as the "Historian of the Year" for 2010. Click here for more details.

Bedford County Days - March 6, 2011

Elected officials, local historians, Scouts and the public gathered on March 6, 2011, at the Bedford County Courthouse for Bedford County Day, a celebration of Bedford County's founding on March 9, 1771 and our history. Everyone had a wonderful time. For more details about the celebration, click on the picture on the right or on this Bedford County Days link.

Past Events - 2010

20th Annual Quilt Show - October 2-10, 2010

The Bedford County Historical Society hosted its 20th Annual Quilt show from October 2 through October 10, 2010 at the Pioneer Library. The show was a great success with many beautiful quilts displayed, over 400 people who visited, and a beautiful quilt that was raffled off. Mary Lou Pelin of Schellsburg won the raffle quilt. Click on the picture on the right or on this 2010 Quilt Show link for a more information and a list of winners of various awards given at the show.

Underground Railroad Presentation and
Book Signing - August 21, 2010

On Saturday, August 21, the Bedford County Historical Society hosted a presentation by Judy Coopey about the Underground Railroad and some of the associated activity in and around Bedford County.

Click here for more details about the presentation and to learn about the book she has written about the Underground Railroad.

Motorcycle & Car Show - August 1, 2010

The Bedford County Historical Society hosted the History, Hogs, & Hot Wheels Motorcycle & Car Show on Sunday, August 1, 2010, at the Tussey Mountain High School, Saxton, PA. The event was a huge success. Click here for details.

Bloody Run 5/10K Race - June 19, 2010

The Second Bloody Run 5/10K Race sponsored by the Bedford County Historical Society was held on June 19. The race course followed an historic Indian trail beginning at the Juniata Woolen Mill on Lutzville Road near the UPMC Bedford Memorial Hospital. You will find more details about the race, a map of the course, and a registration form by clicking on the image or you can go directly to the registration form by clicking here.

County Flag flies with the Coast Guard

The Bedford County Flag was recently flown over the U.S. Coast Guard Cutter Monomoy in the Persian Gulf. Boatswain's Mate David Wenger of Cessna had the flag flown above the ship in January of this year. He recently returned home from duty and presented it to the Bedford County Historical Society. Click here to read the story that appeared in the Bedford Gazette.

Bus Trip to the Broad Top - May 15, 2010

The Bedford County Historical Society sponsored a tour of the Broad Top on Saturday, May 15, 2010. We visited the Coal Miners Museum, Robertsdale Middle, the Coal Camp Office/Company Store Site, Dudley, a coal town, the Coke Ovens at Riddlesburg, and the Keystone Foundry at Hopewell. Click here for more details.

Everett Sesquicentennial Celebration - May 7 & 8, 2010

On May 7 & 8, 2010, Everett began celebrating 150 years as a Borough. Additional Susquicentennial Celebration events are planned for later in the year, which will be highlighted as they approach. Click here for more details.

Quarterly Banquet - April 24, 2010

Our Quarterly Banquet was be held at the Methodist Church Fellowship Hall, East John Street, Bedford, at 6:30pm on April 24, 2010. The talk for the Banquet was being given by Walter Powell, PhD. The title of the talk was: "The most famous keynote speaker we never knew: Edward Everett and the Preservation of Mount Vernon." Dennis Tice was named the Historian of the Year for producing a film on World War II veterans from Bedford County.

Lecture on ARTILLERY IN THE U.S. - March 20, 2010

On March 20, 2010, the Bedford County Historical Society hosted a special presentation by Melvin Huston, who spoke about about Military Artillery in the U.S. until 1865, with his emphasis being on the artillery of the Civil War. For more information about the lecture, click on the picture on the right or click on this Artillery Lecture link.

Bedford County Days - March 7, 2010

Elected officials, local historians, Scouts and the public gathered on March 7, 2010, at the Bedford County Courthouse for Bedford County Day, a celebration of Bedford County's founding on March 9, 1771 and our history. Everyone had a wonderful time. For more details about the celebration, click on the picture on the right or on this Bedford County Days link.

Circus Train Wreck Lecture - January 16, 2010

On January 16 the Pioneer Library hosted a lecture by Paula Zitzler about The Town of Tyrone and the Wreck of the Walter L. Main Circus Train in 1893. A number animals and people were killed in the wreck. For more details about the lecture and the train wreck, click on the picture on the right or on this Train Wreck link.

Basket of Books Raffle - January 16, 2010

On January 16 the Pioneer Library held the drawing for the Basket of Books that the raffled off for a fund raising activity. The raffle was very successful. Over 900 tickets were sold. Arlene Cottle from Everett, PA, won the raffle. To see a picture of Arlene with the Basket of Books that she won, click on the image or on this Raffle Winner link.

Past Events - 2009

19th Annual Quilt Show - October 3-11, 2009

The Bedford County Historical Society hosted its 19th Annual Quilt show from October 3 through October 11, 2009 at the Pioneer Library. The show was a great success with many beautiful quilts displayed, over 300 people who visited, and a beautiful quilt that was raffled off. Arden Moser of Alexandria, Virginia, shown on the right, was a very surprised winner of the raffle quilt. Click on the picture on the right or on this 2009 Quilt Show link for a more information and a list of winners of various awards given at the show.

Upcoming Events

Bedford County Day - March 11, 2012

Annual History Banquet - April 21, 2012