This week’s block is Pennsylvania
Here’s some facts about the Keystone state
Entered Union (rank): Dec. 12, 1787 (2)
Motto: Virtue, liberty, and independence
Pennsylvania is the first state of the fifty United States to list their web site URL on a license plate.
In 1909 the first baseball stadium was built in Pittsburgh.
Hershey is considered the Chocolate Capital of the United States. (I want to go there!!)
The first daily newspaper was published in Philadelphia on Sept. 21, 1784.
Philadelphia saw the first Zoological garden in July 1874.
In Hazleton, there is a law on the books that prohibits a person from sipping a carbonated drink while lecturing students in a school auditorium.
Philadelphia is the site of the first presidential mansion.
Betsy Ross made the first American flag in Philadelphia.
“Doctor, if you don’t give me something to help me breathe, I’m going to stop!” came the urgent cry of 16-year old Frederick Gable of Loganville. Vowing not to lose another patient to pneumonia, Dr. George Holtzapple successfully created the first application of oxygen, thus saving his patient’s life and winning international fame through his discovery. The year was 1885.
Stewartstown hired its first police officer in 1876. He was also the town lamp lighter.
The Declaration of Independence was signed in Philadelphia in 1776.
KDKA radio in Pittsburgh produced the first commercial radio broadcast.
Philadelphia is home to the Liberty Bell.
Pennsylvania is the only original colony not bordered by the Atlantic Ocean.
Pittsburgh is famous for manufacturing steel. Its professional football team is named the Pittsburgh Steelers.
Philadelphia was once the United States capital city.
During the depression canned goods served as admission to The Star Theater in Mercersburg to help supply the local soup kitchen.
Punxsutawney citizens are proud to be over shadowed by their town’s most famous resident the world-renowned weather forecasting groundhog Punxsutawney Phil. Punxsutawney is billed as the weather capital of the world.
The first magazine in America: the American Magazine, published in Philadelphia for 3 months in 1741