Somerset, Pennsylvania
Somerset is a borough in Somerset County, Pennsylvania, United States. The population was 6,277 at the 2010 census. The borough is surrounded by Somerset Township. It is the county seat of Somerset County. Somerset is just off Exit 110 of the Pennsylvania Turnpike. Somerset is the principal city of the Somerset, PA Micropolitan Statistical Area, and is also one of two cities, the other being Johnstown, that make up the larger Johnstown-Somerset, PA Combined Statistical Area.
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Paid Content by The Somerset County Historical Society - A Tour of the Teackle Mansion
Farming has deep roots throughout Somerset County
By: WJAC Web Staff
SOMERSET, Pa. -- With the exception of a few towns in Somerset County, the majority of the area is pretty rural.
The rustic nature dates back deep into Somerset County's history as a farming haven. It's no secret agriculture drives the region with hundreds of family farms still in operation.
At the Somerset Historical Center there is a model showing the first people of Somerset.
Mike Ware, from the historical center, said the first known inhabitants of the area were the Monongahelas.
They had been here hundreds and hundreds of years in a primitive culture, Ware said.
The Monongahelas were hunters, gathers and farmers and survived in the area for a long time, raising crops like squash, corn and beans, Ware said.
Times and climates changed, however, and by all accounts, the tribe couldn't keep up, with all of them believed to have died off before the first European settlers reached the area.
In the 1770s, farmers filed into the area.
Some of the first things farmers did were first to clear the land and to plant the crops, Ware said. It was very important to get a crop in the very first year that they were there so they'd have food to sustain them through the winter.
The settlers and farmers developed and were able to obtain tools, allowing them to greatly increase their production and creating a way to make money.
In Somerset County they weren't really professionals, they were jacks-of-all-trades, Ware said. Along with farming, they could do coopering and make buckets for the maple sugar industry. They did blacksmithing on the side, so you see a lot of people that were able to do a multitude of handy crafts on the farm.
Communities continued to grow and the people supported each other.
The community would come in for a day of barn raising, Ware said. They would be well fed. The women would prepare big dinners, and the men would erect a barn, sometimes in a single day.
For the McWilliams family, the rich farming history has stayed in their blood.
Charlene and Clyde McWilliams own a dairy farm just outside of Somerset.
There's a lot more than anybody realizes. It's just 24 hours a day, Charlene said. It's just all we do. I grew up on a farm, lived on a farm all my life. It's really all you do.
Clyde and Charlene have passed the farming tradition down to their son, Sam, and daughter, Jill.
The family raises and milks 130 cows.
The cows gets milked three times a day, Sam said.
Their milk is sold by the pound, not the gallon. Their farm produces 10,000 pounds of milk a day, with it going to Johnstown-based Galliker's Dairy.
The family also grows crops. Some they sell on the side, but most of it goes into feeding the cows.
Before, in yesteryears, you'd be for hours feeding this many cows, Clyde said.
Now, Clyde said it only takes 60 minutes with the machinery they have in place.
The family said there's a big difference between owning a farm for milk cows than owning a farm for beef cows.
The milk cows aren't slaughtered for their meat, so they almost become part of the family.
One of the family's older cows died in early July.
It's sad. She was 14, it was said, Charlene said. They're just like your best friend.
The family does have younger calves. One is about a month old, but won't be ready to produce milk to nearly 2-year-old.
The family had moved from Westmoreland County to Somerset County and said there is no place they'd rather be.
All the infrastructure is here. [Farming] is probably one of the biggest employers in the county, and probably the biggest economic income in the county, too, Clyde said.
Farming work is hard, but is what Clyde wants to do.
Nobody wants to put the hours in. When you go to McDonald's or a fast food restaurant and get better pay and less hours, Clyde said. It's something you have to like to do.
Charlene said, it's the only thing she wants to do.
There's nothing else I'd rather do. This is it, Charlene said.
Video #10 - Uptown Somerset Town Trek - Historic Somerset Trust Building
A brief documentary describing the history behind the Historic Somerset Trust Building on the corner of Union Street and Center Avenue in Uptown Somerset, PA. Learn more about this and other landmarks in Historic Uptown Somerset at somersetincpa.org.
Somerset County Jail
Somerset County officials discuss the challenges of running – and paying for – Somerset County Jail.
Somerset Pennsylvania
Turnpike
Here's Some Info On Somerset, Pa
Somerset ( /ˈsʌmərsɛt/) is a borough in Somerset County, Pennsylvania, United States. The population was 6,277 at the 2010 census.[1] The borough is surrounded by Somerset Township. It is the county seat of Somerset County.[2] Somerset is just off Exit 110 of the Pennsylvania Turnpike (I-70 and I-76).
History
The Somerset County Courthouse and Uptown Somerset Historic District are listed on the National Register of Historic Places.[3]
[edit]Geography
Somerset is located at 40°0′25″N 79°4′53″W (40.006920, -79.081297)[4].
According to the United States Census Bureau, the borough has a total area of 2.7 square miles (7.0 km2), all of it land.
Somerset has the ninth-highest elevation of towns in Pennsylvania, at 2,190 feet (670 m) above sea level.[5]
[edit]Climate
Somerset has a humid continental climate that is affected by the high elevation, rendering them colder much of the winter than Altoona, Johnstown, or State College, despite being well south of either location, although the average winter high temperatures are a bit higher. Somerset holds the June and November record lows for the state of Pennsylvania. Somerset is also the only place in Pennsylvania to receive accumulations of snow in June before (other places at most received a partial dusting), and due to the arctic air, it was powdery snow that was photographed being swept off porches with brooms.
Philadelphia's Battle Against Opioids Takes Aim at Hard-Hit Neighborhood
President Trump's opioid commission is calling for more federal funding to battle addiction and deadly opioid drug-related overdoses in the United States. More than 175 Americans are dying every day and the Trump administration has declared the opioid crisis a “public health emergency”. VOA's Chris Simkins takes us to a hard hit Philadelphia neighborhood where the opioid epidemic is on open display.
Originally published at -
PA Turnpike continues to take Somerset into the future
By: WJAC Web Staff
SOMERSET, Pa. -- Described as the Highway of the Future, the Pennsylvania Turnpike has literally been built into the mountains and lives of Somerset County residents.
The Turnpike was born out of the idea of safer cross-state travel, but also was built at a time when Americans needed work the most.
To complete the Turnpike task, which wasn't easy with the mountainous terrain through Somerset County, engineers used abandoned railroad tunnels to create the highway's path.
The first tunnel along the mainline Turnpike was the Laurel Hill Tunnel, which connected Westmoreland and Somerset counties.
The tunnel was used until 1964, when it was bypassed.
That tunnel was put back into service in the early 2000s, reportedly by western Pennsylvania race team owner Chip Ganassi, according to Racecar Engineering. The tunnel is reportedly used by Ganassi to test NASCAR and Indy cars.
The second tunnel drilled for the Turnpike was the Allegheny Tunnel, in the eastern end of the county.
That tunnel is still in use today.
Just a few miles east of the tunnel is a unique feature, a set of stairs that lead from the interstate to a cemetery.
The stairs were put in as an agreement between the Turnpike Commission and St. John's Church in New Baltimore. The cemetery couldn't be taken by eminent domain during upgrades, so the stairs were built.
The stairs may not be around for much longer, as talks of Turnpike upgrades have them on the chopping block for safety reasons.
Tour of USS Somerset in Philadelphia
The USS Somerset was docked at Penn's Landing, Philadelphia, in the week before it was commissioned on March 1, 2014, and was open for public tours on several days. The ship is 684 feet long and is known as an amphibious transport dock, designed to deliver Marines by sea. The ship takes its name from Somerset County, PA, where United Flight 93 crashed on 9/11, and throughout the ship are emblems and other tributes to those who died aboard the flight. The ship's bow includes steel that originated in a coal company dragline (a crane-like machine used to extract coal) that was standing within view of the crash site.
Osprey Landing on the USS Somerset
From: Somerset B-roll. Courtesy Video | Pentagon Channel | Date: 02.28.2014. USS Somerset (LPD-25), a San Antonio-class amphibious transport dock, is the fifth ship of the United States Navy of that name; in this case in honor of Somerset County, Pennsylvania.
Comfort Inn Somerset in Somerset PA
Prices: . . .. .. ... . .. .. ... . . . . Comfort Inn Somerset 202 Harmon Street Somerset PA 15501 Easily accessible off the Pennsylvania Turnpike, Interstate 70 and Interstate 76, the Comfort Inn Somerset hotel is only minutes away from Flight 93 National Memorial and the Somerset Historical Center. This hotel features amenities like: Free wireless high-speed Internet access, Free weekday newspaper, Free local calls, Free coffee in the lobby. Spacious guest rooms offer features like coffee makers, curved shower rods, hair dryers, irons, ironing boards, voice mail and cable television. Non-smoking and connecting rooms can be requested. This hotel also has a seasonal outdoor pool and exercise room. Morning Breakfast features eggs, meat, yogurt, fresh fruit, cereal and more, including a choice of hot waffle flavors. There are many entertainment venues, shopping centers, retailers and restaurants nearby. Guests can visit Cruizers, the hotel's on-site cocktail lounge. Corporate travelers will welcome additional conveniences like the on-site business center, access to copy and fax service and a meeting room. This is a pet-friendly hotel; fees apply. There are laundry facilities located on the premises and valet cleaning service is available Monday through Friday. On-site parking is provided and can accommodate most vehicles. Other area attractions include: Seven Springs and Hidden Valley ski areas; Idlewild, Soak Zone and Living Treasure Animal Parks. The Great Allegheny Passage and Laurel Highlands National Scenic Trail are within a few miles. Ohiopyle State Park along the Youghiogheny River is close by.
Quality Inn and Conference Center Somerset - Somerset Hotels, Pennsylvania
Quality Inn and Conference Center Somerset 2 Stars Hotel in `Somerset,Pennsylvania Within US Travel Directory Located off Interstate 76, this hotel is just 1.
6 km from Georgian Place Shopping Center.
It features an indoor swimming pool with a hot tub and offers guest rooms with free Wi-Fi.
A continental breakfast is provided every morning at Quality Inn and Conference Center, consisting of fresh pastries, hot items and fruit.
The hotel also features a lounge that offers a full bar and game area with a pool table.
A cable TV and in-room coffee are included in the rooms at Quality Inn.
The warm-colored rooms provide also provide a hairdryer for guest convenience.
This hotel is an 8-minute drive from Somerset Historical Center, and a 6-minute drive from Lake Somerset.
Laurel Hill State Park is 18.
3 km away.
Quality Inn and Conference Center Somerset - Somerset Hotels, Pennsylvania
Location in : 215 Ramada Road, PA 15501, Somerset, Pennsylvania
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Comfort Inn Somerset, Somerset (Pennsylvania), USA, HD
Book it now -
Easily accessible off the Pennsylvania Turnpike, Interstate 70 and Interstate 76, the Comfort Inn Somerset hotel is only minutes away from Flight 93 National Memorial and the Somerset Historical Center. This hotel features amenities like: Free wireless high-speed Internet access, Free weekday newspaper, Free local calls, Free coffee in the lobby.
Spacious guest rooms offer features like coffee makers, curved shower rods, hair dryers, irons, ironing boards, voice mail and cable television. Non-smoking and connecting rooms can be requested. This hotel also has a seasonal outdoor pool and exercise room.
Morning Breakfast features eggs, meat, yogurt, fresh fruit, cereal and more, including a choice of hot waffle flavors. There are many entertainment venues, shopping centers, retailers and restaurants nearby. Guests can visit Cruizers, the hotel's on-site cocktail lounge.
Corporate travelers will welcome additional conveniences like the on-site business center, access to copy and fax service and a meeting room. This is a pet-friendly hotel; fees apply. There are laundry facilities located on the premises and valet cleaning service is available Monday through Friday. On-site parking is provided and can accommodate most vehicles.
Other area attractions include: Seven Springs and Hidden Valley ski areas; Idlewild, Soak Zone and Living Treasure Animal Parks. The Great Allegheny Passage and Laurel Highlands National Scenic Trail are within a few miles. Ohiopyle State Park along the Youghiogheny River is close by.
Getting To Know Somerset: A Brief History
Somerset Place was the third largest plantation in North Carolina, active from 1785 to 1865. In that time, over 861 enslaved persons lived and worked on the grounds, growing corn as the major cash crop. Three generations of the Collins family owned the plantation, but only one, that of Josiah Collins III, lived onsite. Today, Somerset Place is a State Historic Site managed by the North Carolina Department of Natural and Cultural Resources. If you have any questions about this video, please comment below.
Photos of Josiah Collins I, II, and II from the State Archives of North Carolina.
Somerset Place, once the third largest plantation in antebellum North Carolina and now a representative state historic site, is open to the public Tuesday - Saturday from 9:00am to 5:00pm. We offer 90-minute guided tours upon request, with tours beginning no later than 3:30pm. Directions are located in the About section of our channel. Be sure to check out our official website and social media accounts below to find out more information about the site and our upcoming events.
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Hoffman Lutheran Church Oral History - Somerset County, PA
Recorded in 1998, digitized for the 200th anniversary of the church. Memories from parishioners date back to 1912 and cover the great depression, WW2, weddings, and festivals.
A Common Canvas- Somerset, Pennsylvania
Open until May 17, 2009 at The State Museum of Pennsylvania. Visit statemuseumpa.org for more information.
Independent scholar David Lembeck began researching and documenting Pennsylvania's New Deal post office art in 1995. He then teamed up with architectural photographer Michael Mutmansky to document these works of art in their original location. The artwork featured in this exhibition is based on Mutmansky's original photographs, as well as artifacts, original works of art, and archival documents culled from private and public collections around the country. Lembeck curated this exhibition with Dr. Curtis Miner, Senior Curator of History at The State Museum of Pennsylvania.
Eastern Militias Meet to Find Common Goals
On Saturday, News2Share's Ford Fischer was given exclusive access to record a segment of the Eastern Regional Affiliated Militias (ERAM) conference.
American constitutional militia groups operate independently of one another, but stay in contact to maintain common goals and ideals over time.
ERAM was convened January 19th at an undisclosed location in Virginia, where 11 groups from 9 states (Vermont, New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Maryland, Virginia, West Virginia, North Carolina, South Carolina) assembled to discuss goals for 2019.
Two representatives from left-wing militia groups also attended, but wished to remain off-camera and off-record for the duration of the recording.
Overall, the groups agreed on three primary shared goals. The first was community out reach. The militias intend to each hold town hall meetings with their respective communities that remain as apolitical as possible and focus on local issues.
Secondly, the groups plan to develop a mutual aid network for relief during natural disaster situations. During 2017 and 2018, militia groups responded to several natural disasters, but they agreed that additional preparation and coordination work could be done ahead of these situations to handle them most smoothly, and without the help of FEMA or the Red Cross.
Lastly, the groups hoped to push Second Amendment outreach into communities without a strong firearms presence, particularly minority communities.
Those in attendance included:
New York Lightfoot Militia State Commanding Officer George Curbelo
New York Lightfoot Militia State Executive Officer Andrew Hollister
South Carolina Lightfoot Militia Commanding Officer Timothy Flaherty
South Carolina Lightfoot Militia Executive Officer John Cody
Maryland Citizens Response Team State Commanding Officer Loren Lavoy
Maryland Citizens Response Team State founder Kevin Dennis
Maryland Citizens Response Team State Executive Officer Jessie Alexander
Maryland People's Militia State Commanding Officer Gary Sigler
Maryland People's Militia State Ops Officer Bill Harding
Maryland People's Militia State Sergeant of Arms Kenneth Brasheer
Pennsylvania Lightfoot Militia State Commanding Officer Christian Yingling
My Brothers Threepers State Executive Officer Larry Lewis
Filmed by Ford Fischer
NO REUSE WITHOUT PERMISSION Please contact Ford Fischer at fordfischer@news2share.com or call (573) 575-NEWS to license video. Photos and additional footage may be available upon request.
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Georgian Place offers taste and views of Somerset
By: WJAC Web Staff
SOMERSET, Pa. -- On a hill overlooking the Laurel Mountains on one side, and Somerset on the other, sits the Georgian Inn. It's one of Somerset County's best known lodging and dining establishment.
It got its start as a mansion back in 1915, built by coal baron and businessman Daniel Zimmerman who owned three coal mines in the area.
The property was sold decades later and not much was done to preserve its history. That was until current owner Charles Charrie arrived.
At that time, it was a very important part of Somerset to have a building of this size and this structure to be realistically in the middle of the town, Charrie said.
When he took over the property, he wanted to bring it back to a vibrant life.
I can explain it as it was 20 years tired, Charrie said.
Charrie went to great lengths to restore the building to its original splendor.
Much of the woodwork in the decade's old building needed to be restored. In some cases, it was painted over, and Charrie said he had to have all that paint stripped off.
It took time to bring the place to life, and Charrie said it was no easy process.
When you enter this room, you can tell it's back from 1915 again, Charrie said.
The inn boasts 16 rooms, each uniquely decorated. Televisions are tucked away so rooms don't look too modern. The only piece of technology you'll notice right away is an alarm clock.
Over the past few decades, guests have traveled to the inn from just about anywhere imaginable, Charrie said.
We get from around the world. We get travelers who come quite a distance to come here, Charrie said.
The guest list includes state dignitaries, too. Gov. Tom Corbett stayed twice so far in 2014.
The Georgian Inn also offers fine dining in its restaurant. Open seven days a week for lunch and dinner, anyone can stop in for a meal.
We have a saying that the staff uses for anyone who comes off the Turnpike, comes to the front door and says, 'I'm really not sure we're dressed to come in here,' Charrie said. But we have them tell everyone that we have a very strict dress code, you have to have some on.
All meals are prepared by master chefs.
When you give very good people very good food, they can create a lot of things with it, Charrie said.
The inn turns 100 next year, and Charrie said he's planning celebrations every single weekend, starting with New Year's Eve.
It will be here long past me, and a lot of others, Charrie said.
The Georgian Inn is located just off or Route 601, or North Centre Avenue, not far from the Turnpike interchange.