411 Chestnut St, P.O. Box 871, Meadville, PA 16335-2902

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  • With the Thurston Classic beginning tomorrow, it is good to remember the father and son who made hot air ballooning a part of Crawford County history. Samuel Sylvester Thurston was born in Randolph Township in 1835. During his adult life, he ran the Crawford House Hotel next to Diamond Park. Always passionate about ballooning, Samuel made over 200 ascensions over his life. His son, Alic Thurston, inherited his father’s love for ballooning and continued to make balloon excursions even after his father’s death in 1888. On July 4th, 1896, Alic set a distance record by flying from Diamond Park to just west of Guys Mills in only 22 minutes. Their lifelong infatuation with hot air balloons is commemorated by Meadville’s annual Thurston Classic Hot Air Balloon Event. The Classic starts tomorrow with the Night Glow event. Lift off is scheduled for 9 PM at Robertson Field.
  • (Photo taken in 1908) The Meadville Phoenix Ironworks was opened in 1865 by Mr. David Dick at 180 Mercer Street. It was part of a growing industry in the region which began in the 1840's. Meadville Phoenix Ironworks continued to produce various products, primarily engines and boilers, into the 20th century. The ironworks eventually became part of Sunbeam Corporation and was acquired by Seco/Warwick in 1991, still in operation today.

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