All posts by Brian Tomlin

History of Education in Pennsylvania: 1776-1937

o 1776: First Pennsylvania Constitution called for the state legislature to establish at least one school in every county, but this was never enacted or enforced.
o 1790: “Poor Laws” led to the creation of schools in various parts of the state available only for poor children to receive free education.
o 1818: The first public schools for children of all income levels in the state were started in Philadelphia County.
o 1831: A Common School Fund created to raise money to build schools by land sales.

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Leonard Reedy, Gunsmith

ReedyRifle-001Leonard Reedy

Leonard Reedy (August 20, 1776- April 18, 1837) has been recognized as one of the most skillful gunsmiths during the period 1650-1850. Reedy  learned his trade in the Womelsdorf- Reading school of gun-smithing. Reedy was born in Lehigh County, later moving to Schuylkill County before moving to Gratz around 1815. He was a veteran of the War of 1812. He married twice and had 13 children.  His twin sons Henry and William served in the Civil War.

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