Tag Archives: Erie Pennsylvania

The Woman Who Told FDR No

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Charlotte Elizabeth Battles is a name you probably haven’t heard but she made history back in her day.

Born in 1864 to a family that owned the R.S. Battles Bank in Girard, Pennsylvania, she was educated, worldly and strong. Her father was Rush Battles, a farmer, lawyer and banker whose bank had been a local staple since 1859. When her father died, she was promoted to fill his shoes as bank president. The year was 1904 and she was one of the first women to serve as a bank president.

She ran this bank until it closed in 1946.

Let us pause here for a moment. Women didn’t get the vote until 1920. She successfully ran a bank for years before she could walk into a ballot booth.

But I digress. She gained fame in 1933 when President Franklin Delano Roosevelt ordered American banks be closed as part of the Emergency Banking Act and she refused to comply.

As a privately owned institution, she believed they were not governed by the state or federal government. In a letter to Roosevelt, Battles said “We’re minding our business, you mind yours”.

They remained open as they always had, placing no restrictions on deposits or withdrawals, but they did serve only existing customers that week.

The Erie Times News published a story about the incident under the headline “Girard Bank Says ‘Pooh’ To State And U.S. Edict.” The funny thing was that it wasn’t even big news back then. The story ran on page 11.

If you visit the Hagen History Center in Erie, PA, you will find a room dedicated to this pioneering business woman who thumbed her nose at the feds.

The exhibit tells the story of her life as a banker but also that of an artist, a world traveler, a gardener and what appeared to be a woman who embraced life fully.

She died in 1952 and her home in Girard is now owned by the Hagan History Center. That’s less than 30 minutes from the Hagen Center in Erie.

This museum has some amazing exhibits including maritime history, Frank Lloyd Wright’s field office, art and stunning mansions to tour. Go visit!

A Year Ago

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A year ago today, I was celebrating Labor Day weekend with my Pittsburgh pal. We did some fun stuff in her city and took a whirlwind trip up to Erie, PA for some book shopping and outdoor exploration at Presque Isle State Park.

What a lovely time that was. We saw gorgeous views.

Learned about history.

Ate seafood.

Shopped for books.

Saw boats.

And simply enjoyed life.

It was such a fun and joyful time that I hope to repeat the experience someday. Meanwhile, I have memories to enjoy and other adventures ahead!

Here’s one more photo – we cruised around Presque Isle one last time before leaving town and found a kite club!

Friends, it’s always worth a second look and another loop around. Labor Day is late this year so you still have time to plan a little adventure. How will you spend your holiday weekend?

Remembering Lt. Commander Bobbi Hovis

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On this Veterans Day, I want to tell you about Lt. Commander Bobbi Hovis, a remarkable woman who enlisted as a Navy Flight Nurse and volunteered for service in Korea and Vietnam. I learned about her at the Hagen History Center in Erie, Pa. 

Born in 1925, Bobbi grew up in Erie County, PA and graduated from the Western Pennsylvania Hospital School of Nursing in 1946. During her service in Korea, she flew the Pacific with the 1453rd Medical Evacuation Squadron that evacuated 16,604 injured without any fatalities. In Vietnam, she witnessed at least four coup d’etats. She was shot at once and kept the bullet that narrowly missed her. 

Exposed to Agent Orange during her service, she suffered its effects until her death in 2024. 

Lt. Commander Bobbi Hovis was tough as nails.

This museum has her flight jacket, her service medals and a Green Beret given to Bobbi by a grateful patient. It was the only thing he had to give and was one of her most prized possessions. They also have a jet helmet that Bobbi wore on a classified mission assisting a flight surgeon on a Douglas F3D Skynight jet. She was the first Navy flight nurse to go on this type of mission. 

She authored a book titled Station Hospital Saigon, A Nurse In Vietnam and they have a copy of that book as well. 

Lt. Commander Hovis retired in 1967 after twenty years of service. In 2019 she was interviewed for a Vietnam War 50th anniversary oral history project. You can watch that video here if you are so inclined. 

I was fascinated by the photo of this pretty lady and did my best to imagine her dodging bullets, wading through blood and muck while she performed whatever heroics earned her all those medals. I could not fathom what that must have been like. She was a pioneer, a hero and one of many women who served who deserve our gratitude. 

History is full of incredible stories about real people like Lt. Commander Bobbi Hovis. If you have a veteran in your life, remember to say thanks for their service. They may not get museum displays or tell you their stories but they deserve our thanks. 

Silent Sunday: Erie, PA

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Frank Lloyd Wright’s Hotshot

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Frank Lloyd Wright owned a number of cars in his lifetime and most of them seem kind of flashy and unique to me.

Imagine my surprise when we walked into the Hagen History Center in Erie, Pa to find a car that was once owned by the renowned architect. Not only that, the car is a Crosley!

Crosley was a Cincinnati business first known for radios and then household appliances, cars and other items. I have a couple of their radios in my vintage radio collection and squeal like a little girl every time I see one of their products out in the world.

So, meet Frank’s (yes, I call him Frank) 1950 Crosley Hotshot roadster 

Isn’t it fabulous?

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Here’s a look at that Crosley logo.

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And another look.

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Headlights!!!

And just one more….

I somehow missed any signage describing this car but I think it speaks for itself. Want to see it for yourself? Visit the Hagen Center in Erie, PA. Don’t forget to check out yesterday’s story about Frank’s office which you can tour here as well.

Frank Lloyd Wright In Erie, Pennsylvania

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As September draws to a close, it occurs to me that many, many stories are left untold from my Labor Day trip to Pennsylvania. Today we will start at the Hagen History Center which serves Erie County, Pa. They have two campuses and we visited the one on Erie’s Millionaire’s Row.

The campus includes two historic mansions, a new building for exhibit space and a historic carriage house which is home to a gift shop and library/reading room. This is where you buy your tickets.

My friend had already been there and was excited for me to see a specific exhibit but she held her cards close. She didn’t show her hand until we were in the room and compared it to throwing me a surprise party.

What was so special?

They have Frank Lloyd Wright’s office.

You read that right. The walls, floors, furniture, typewriters, pencils and protractors. They have it all. It even has a unique smell that I couldn’t quite identify- aged wood, pipe tobacco, and brilliance?

And that remark about this being like a surprise party? This was way better than a party.

This is Frank Lloyd Wright’s San Francisco field office which he used while working on California projects. It was disassembled and sold to a private collector long ago before spending some time behind glass at the Heinz Architectural Center at the Carnegie Museum of Art in Pittsburgh.

Now at the Hagen in Erie, the office is no longer behind glass – you can walk through it! This is his desk! The office is relatively small with room for a desk, two guest chairs and a couch.

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Those guest chairs, if you want to call them that, look rather unwelcoming to me.

This is the workroom. Notice the windows feature the image of the actual San Francisco view.

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The view as you enter.

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The secretary’s typewriter.

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And her desk with the view.

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And here’s the man himself keeping a sharp eye on visitors.

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Walking through this space was near magical and I recommend going to see it if you are a fan of his work. Want to visit? Get more info here.

Also, come back tomorrow and we will have a look at his car!!!! It’s absolutely fabulous.