EBENSBURG — Cambria County has a lot of important history tied to the United States’ semiquincentennial this year, according to Commissioner Keith Rager, who is part of the county’s America250PA committee.

“Our area was big on coal and steel, and we did so many important things that helped our country be the country that we are,” Rager said, noting about 11% of the county’s adult population are military veterans, who’ve served the country throughout several conflicts — World War II, the Korean War, the Vietnam War, the Gulf War and the Iraq War.

This year’s 250-year anniversary is special to Rager because he was overseas in his first year as a Marine during the bicentennial in 1976 and missed out on that celebration.

However, Cambria County has a “big celebration” planned for July 4 in Ebensburg that Rager is eagerly looking forward to attending.

Beginning about 10 a.m., the event will feature a patriotic parade through Ebensburg, a community ceremony at the Cambria County Courthouse and a live musical performance by the Johnstown Symphony Orchestra, Rager said.

During the ceremony at the courthouse, attendees will be able to view the county’s two commissioned art pieces for America250PA — a county Liberty Bell that was painted by Forest Hills High School art teacher Carol Cecere and a Liberty Torch that was designed and made by Northern Cambria artist J. Andrew Jacobs.

The torch’s design showcases the county’s flood and coal mining history, as well as the Johnstown steel mills and inclined plane. Since February, it has been passed to a different school district for local communities to celebrate the semiquincentennial in their own way, Rager said.

The torch was recently stationed at the Ferndale Area School District, but it has since been transported to the last school district on its tour, Cambria Heights, where it will remain through Friday — the last day of school for students.

Superintendent Ken Kerchenske said the torch will be featured Thursday at the middle school during the sixth, seventh and eighth grade awards assemblies, which are open to the public. The sixth and seventh grade award ceremony will start at about 8 a.m., while the eighth grade class will have a separate ceremony beginning at about 10 a.m., Kerchense said.

Friday evening, during this year’s graduation ceremony, the torch will be at the high school for graduates and their families to take photos with, Kerchenske said.

“We really think we’re a shining star because when we first sat down, we wanted to do different things,” Rager said, noting the committee also organized, and recently announced the winners of, an essay contest that received participation from each of the county’s school districts.

They awarded cash prizes to seven total winners, who will each read their essays during the July 4 ceremony at the courthouse, Rager said.

“It’s going to be just a really cool time,” Rager said of the ceremony in Ebensburg, noting the committee is also sponsoring post-game fireworks during the July 3 Johnstown Mill Rats baseball game at Sargent’s Stadium and the Point.

“That’s on the third, so we’re actually making a whole two days of it,” Rager said. “It’s going to be very nice.”

Other events planned

Most of the county’s America250PA future happenings and prior events are highlighted on the Visit Johnstown website, www.visitjohnstownpa.com, according to committee chairperson Nicole Waligora.

Some of the events, such as the Cambria County Conservation and Recreation Authority’s 250 miles for America’s 250-year challenge, are promoted on the website but aren’t necessarily tied to the committee, Waligora said, noting she wants as many people as possible to celebrate the semiquincentennial.

In addition to the Mill Rats game, Heritage Johns­town is going to host a free concert July 3 at Peoples Natural Gas Park, Waligora said.

“There’s going to be a good amount of activity downtown,” she said, adding more details will be posted to the website as they become available.

Gallitzin Borough is among the communities that will host its own July 4 celebration at Gremlin Park, which is located along Franklin Street, across from Kos’s Body Shop, according to borough Councilman Joe Skura.

“Our borough council was inspired to do this because we are a small, tight-knit community that comes together to celebrate our town, our people and our country,” Skura said. “This is a historical moment for our country, and our council president, James Risban, said, ‘Do we want to be the only town not doing anything?’ We also want to make sure to do it in true Gallitzin fashion.”

Skura said there will be local food vendors, including Double J’s BBQ Catering and More and Mazz’s Pizza, as well as music performed by the White Shadow band from about 5:30 p.m. until fireworks are set off at dark.

Officials will also have bounce houses and children’s rides set up, Skura said, adding a few other groups, like the Penn Cambria girls basketball team, will be doing “some sort of game.”

“We are hoping people will make their Fourth of July picnic day down at the park; maybe play a game of pickup wiffleball or kick ball, cornhole, hang out with the family and just enjoy the celebration,” Skura said, noting officials are accepting donations to help cover the cost of the fireworks.

Cash or checks — written out to Gallitzin Borough Parks and Recreation with “Fourth of July” written in the note — can be dropped off at the Gallitzin Borough office building, 411 Convent St., prior to the event.

“We are really appreciative of every donation, and we’re excited to celebrate the day together in town,” Skura said, adding residents won’t need to leave town to enjoy a top-notch fireworks show.

Historical background

Cambria County was formed March 26, 1804, out of Bedford, Huntingdon and Somerset counties, according to Cambria County Historical Society Vice President Dave Huber, who wrote a book about the county’s early notable inhabitants, “The People of Cambria County,” in 2003.

The Treaty of Fort Stanwix opened up the area for settlement in 1768, which means people technically weren’t allowed to live in the area prior to then, Huber said, noting people like John Hart had a license to trap and trade with Native Americans.

“On the high ground of the Kittanning Trail, near current day Hastings, he (Hart) established his campsite and began trading fur skins with the Native Americans,” Huber wrote in his book.

Samuel, Rachel and Solomon Adams settled near Elton in 1769 in the first year that white settlement was opened up in the region, according to Huber’s book.

“People like the Adams were living here, but this was all part of Bedford County, and whenever there were Indian uprisings, they would travel back to Fort Bedford for safety,” Huber said.

Just prior to March 1804, fewer than 50 families lived in the area, Huber’s book estimates, noting residents in the north conducted their political and legal business in Huntingdon County, while residents in the south used Somerset County.

In March 1805, Ebensburg became the county’s seat, according to Huber’s book, which states it wasn’t until Jan. 26, 1807, that Cambria County was formally organized and released from Somerset County’s control.

Mirror Staff Writer Matt Churella is at 814-946-7520.