Local history

50 years ago: After about three years, the federal government approved the formation of Conrail, the Consolidated Railway Corp., to take over bankrupt northeastern railroads like the Pennsylvania Railroad and New York Central Railroad, which had already merged into the Penn Central.

25 years ago: High winds damaged a homeless display set up in the parking lot of Walmart by the Veterans National Coalition for the Homeless for Veterans Day. Damage was so extensive, police were first called, as the damage was thought to have been caused by vandalism.

10 years ago: A Blair County lawsuit seven local school districts filed against the City of Altoona concerning money the then-defunct Centax tax collection agency diverted to Altoona was settled, each district getting a 75% to 95% refund.

— Compiled by Tim Doyle

World history

Today is Tuesday, Nov. 11, the 315th day of 2025. There are 50 days left in the year. Today is Veterans Day.

Today’s Highlight in History:

On Nov. 11, 1918, fighting in World War I ended as the Allies and Germany signed an armistice aboard a railroad car in the Forest of Compiègne in northern France.

On this date:

– In 1620, 41 Pilgrims aboard the Mayflower, anchored off Massachusetts, signed the Mayflower Compact, creating a local government for the colony that called for a “civil body politick, for our better ordering and preservation.”

– In 1966, Gemini 12 blasted off on a four-day mission with astronauts James A. Lovell and Edwin “Buzz” Aldrin Jr. aboard; it was the 10th and final crewed flight of NASA’s Gemini program.

— The Associated Press