Ridgway

by Dr. Dennis M. McGeehan

Overview

Ridgway, known as the lily of the valley, is located on the scenic Clarion River in Pennsylvania's Allegheny Mountains. Ridgway's history has long been closely linked to the river, from a time when residents utilized the water to float timber from the nearby forested hills and supplied lumber for operations around the nation. Much of the beautiful hardwood craftsmanship is preserved today and on display in the elegant Victorian mansions of Ridgway's former lumber barons. The county seat of Elk County, Ridgway has never let the decline of the lumber industry affect its vitality, and today it is a peaceful, artistic community that draws tourists with its idyllic location. Through historic photographs, Ridgway chronicles the history of this progressive community that remains committed to preserving its past, as well as its future.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780738563039
Publisher:	Arcadia Publishing SC
Publication date:	10/27/2008
Series:	Images of America Series
Pages:	128
Product dimensions:	6.40(w) x 9.20(h) x 0.40(d)

About the Author

Dennis McGeehan, a history instructor at Penn State University, DuBois, and the University of Pittsburgh in Bradford, is the president of the St. Marys and Benzinger Township Historical Society. He has worked as a guide for the Philadelphia Foundation for Architecture and as a freelance photographer around the world. He is the author of St. Marys and Elk County

Editorial Reviews

Publication: The Ridgway Record

Article Title: Author to sign new book today

Author: Brent Addleman

Date: 10/31/2008



Dennis McGeehan will be at the Clarion River Trading Company today from noon to 2 p.m. signing copies of his newest book "Ridgway."

McGeehan, who is an instructor at the Pennsylvania State University's DuBois campus, and at the University of Pittsburgh's Bradford campus, is president of the St. Marys and Benzinger Township Historical Society and has worked as a guide for the Philadelphia Foundation for Architecture and as a freelance photographer around the world. His previous books include "St. Marys" and "Elk County."

The book went on-sale this past Monday, and is published through Arcadia Publishing, and is a historial look at Ridgway through the use of pictures.

"I think it's an excellent book," McGeehan said. "The resources of the Elk County Historical Society provided most of the images. There are strong pictures in the book. I found some really nice shots. I tried to tell the story of Ridgway through the use of photographs, using captions as narrative from start to finish."

Since the publishing of the book, McGeehan has learned new details about the history of Ridgway.

"I am very excited," McGeehan said. "This is the third book we've put out. I think it's by far the most powerful, mainly because of the depth of the images we found at the historical society."

The book is available for purchase at the Clarion River Trading Company and the Elk County Historical Society.



Publication: The Daily Press
Article Title: Local author reveals Ridgway history
Author: Grace Kriegisch
Date: 11/3/2008

Drawing on his lifelong interest in the history and geography of Ridgway, local author and photographer, Dennis McGeehan has recently released a new pictorial history book which chronicles the Ridgway area's growth and development.
New from the Arcadia Publishing "Images of America" series, "Ridgway" is a look at this progressive community that remains committed to preserving its past, as well as its future.
The book boasts more than 200 vintage images, taken from the archives of the Elk County Historical Society, including images og the Elk County Courthouse, the Ridgway historical district and Ridgway area businesses.
Other highlights include: The Hyde-Murphy Company and the fire that devastated the downtown, along with photos of Ridgway's famous fireman's celebration, Ridgway's numerous floods, the towns contribution to the country's military defense and human interest photographs revealing Ridgway's social life.
This interesting and informative look at the county seat is available at area bookstores, independent retailers and online retailers or through Arcadia Publishing at 888-313-2665 or www.arcadiapublishing.com.
McGeehan, the current president of the St. Marys and Benzinger Township Historical Society, is the author of several other books including: "St. Marys" and "Elk County". He also contributes a local historical piece which appears weekly in The Daily Press. He is an avid wildlife photographer and traveler.
McGeehen comments that it is his hope that this new volume will expand the interest and develop new discussion about the history of Ridgway.
He will host a book signing at the Clarion River Trading Company store on North Broad Street in Ridgway, between noon and 2 p.m. today.

From the Publisher