These
Are The Days...
Steelton,
PA: Then and Now
During the Spring of 2001, thirteen Dickinson College students, along with
three professors, took part in a community study immersion project called,
The American Mosaic. After taking three classes on-campus
in Carlisle, the group began traveling back and forth to Steelton, PA,
participating in many events such as walking tours of the town, attending
church services, eating in local restaurants, visiting schools, local hang-outs,
the Boys and Girls Club, and interviewing many members of the community.
The thirteen students broke up into separate groups that focused on many
different aspects of the Steelton community. Throughout the many
oral histories that were recorded, several themes emerged in the interviews.
One of the themes that this web site is based on is the idea of the past
and the present; what Steelton used to be, and what is has become.
By highlighting three men and women who experienced Steelton years ago,
as well as three students who are currently growing up in Steelton,
we have been able to acquire a greater understanding of what growing up
in Steelton is like. We also collected old photographs of important
sites from the past and juxtaposed them with current photographs of the
same location. We would like to give a special thanks to Harold Kerns,
Frank Albert, the Penn State Cultural Center's Archives, and John Yetter's
Steelton, Pennsylvania: Stop-Look-Listen for all of their insight
into Steelton's history and collections of wonderful photographs.
The
Locust Street stairway through the years...
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|
 |
 |
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1903
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1911
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2001
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"At
the top of the hill there was a beautiful limestone staircase that went
five flights up to the next plateau. When I reached the top of the
stairs, I turned around and looked out upon the town. The sirens
and dull roar of the steel mill machinery sank into the backdrop as the
people on the quiet streets went
about
their day." - Caroline Herter, Reflections of Steelton
The doors below are links to sights that highlight the lives of six Steelton
residents. Select the older door to meet three people who reflect
on their childhood experiences and where they are today. Select the
new door in order to become aquatinted with three members of Steelton's
younger generation who are experiencing growing up in Steelton today.
| Click here for "Then" |
Click here for "Now" |
Steelton:
Then and Now Photo Gallery
Reflections
on the American Mosaic
American
Mosaic Homepage
Dickinson
College Homepage
Click here to e-mail Caroline
and Colby
