HOLLIDAYSBURG — When riding on Interstate 99, Harriett Gaston wants travelers to realize the highway they are taking once was a path slaves followed to freedom.
Gaston, a Penn State Altoona minority programs counselor and chairwoman of the African American Heritage Project of Blair County, gave a presentation titled ‘‘What You Don’t Know About Blair County’’ at the Hollidaysburg Area Public Library as part of Black History Month.
‘‘Remember: This is an Indian path, which becomes a road, which becomes an interstate,’’ she said of I-99.
The underground railroad came from Cumberland, Md., into Bedford to East Freedom, Roaring Spring, Hollidaysburg and Altoona. Slaves then went into Tyrone or toward Cambria County, Gaston said.
Janet Eldred, library director, said people learn about their community through programs like the one held Monday.
Sue Michrina of Duncansville brought her home-schooled daughter and friend to the event for a history lesson.
‘‘I’m fascinated by all the information presented,’’ Michrina said, adding that she was impressed with the audience’s knowledge. ‘‘Being a history buff, anything you hear about the area where you live is fascinating. This is the stuff that makes you crazy, makes you want to drop everything and find out more.’’
Gaston, who collected her information from books such as ‘‘The Underground Railroad in Pennsylvania,’’ by Charles Blockson, newspaper articles and stories told by locals, said black history typically is not written down, but told.
‘‘There is some written stuff, not as much as I’d like,’’ she said.
At least 10 black Civil War veterans are buried in Union Cemetery on North Montgomery Street in Hollidaysburg.
Local blacks not only fought for their country, but they also pushed through boundaries to become pioneers.
Borough native Dr. Daniel Hale Williams founded the nation’s first interracial hospital in Chicago. He also performed the first successful surgery on the human heart in 1892.
Blair County also gave Gaston reason to rejoice when a covenant was struck down in 1974 allowing blacks to be buried in a local cemetery.
‘‘That was one of the most interesting things to celebrate in this area,’’ she said.
The project meets the second Thursday of each month at 7 p.m. at Mount Zion Missionary Baptist Church, Altoona.
For more information, call Gaston at 949-5281 or e-mail her at hlg5@psu.edu or harriett gaston@verizon.net.
Mirror Staff Writer Amanda Clegg is at 949-7030.
