John Ritz rests beneath the worn stone on the left I had arrived at Altoona's Fairview Cemetery to remember two local baseball players who rest within the sacred grounds. On this journey I had been joined by Zech and Jen as we explored the region. We had parked at the top of the hillside, in … Continue reading The Brief Career of James Ritz
Grave of John Gochnaur, Fairview Cemetery, Altoona Of all the cemeteries I’ve ever been in, Altoona’s Fairview Cemetery was the one that definitely needed some help. From the moment I passed through the gates on Willow Avenue, I was shocked by the condition of the cemetery grounds. The hillside was marred by sunken graves, toppled … Continue reading John Gochnaur: The Worst Shortstop Ever?
Vincent Hudson, St. John's Cemetery, Altoona Driving slowly along Altoona’s First Avenue, we could see the grave of Vincent Hudson a short distance off the road, but that was the closest we could get to it from this street due to the iron fencing. Turning onto Tenth Street, I carefully maneuvered the vehicle through the … Continue reading The Strange Death of Vincent Hudson
J. Levi Roush, Saint Patrick's Cemetery, Newry The Medal of Honor symbolizes the ideals of patriotism, courage, sacrifice, and integrity and is the highest award presented for military valor in action. These recipients have shown bravery in combat, going above and beyond the call of duty, risking – and often sacrificing – their lives for … Continue reading Medal of Honor: J. Levi Roush
Agnes Doe, Oak Grove Cemetery, Tyrone Note: I need to start this article with a warning. This article involves the unsolved death of an infant. If you find the subject too sensitive, please stop reading here. Usage of the name “Doe” as the last name of an unidentified victim, often infers that the unidentified victim … Continue reading Unsolved: Agnes Doe
Grave of aviator Wilmer Stultz I had never been in Williamsburg before, much to the surprise of my parents who were accompanying me on this trip. Over the years we had made countless trips on Route 22 between Huntingdon and Altoona, but had never made the detour to the south to visit the community of … Continue reading Wilmer Stultz, Aviator
The Pennsylvania Rambler 