This image is the cover for the book Hidden History of Northwestern Pennsylvania, Hidden History

Hidden History of Northwestern Pennsylvania, Hidden History

From unsolved murders and ghastly disasters to medicinal water and sports legends, Northwestern Pennsylvania has a rich and diverse history.


Titusville native John Heisman shaped football into the recognizable sport that it is today. Girard's Charlotte and Libbie Battles broke glass ceilings by becoming early female titans of business and banking in the region. Marx Toys in Erie County found success in crafting affordable popular toys for the masses and became the largest toy company in the world. The horrific Ashtabula train disaster of 1876 was the worst train incident in history to that point. Join author Jessica Hilburn as she reveals the shrouded history of Northwestern Pennsylvania.

Jessica Hilburn

Jessica Hilburn is the historian and head of reference at Benson Memorial Library in Titusville, Pennsylvania. A native of the area, she performed her undergraduate work in history and political science at Mercyhurst University and received her master's degree from Edinboro University of Pennsylvania. She is a voracious consumer of all things literary and historical and lives in beautiful Northwestern Pennsylvania with her family and countless feline friends, including her best friend, Charlie. You can find more of her hidden stories at nwpastories.com.

The History Press