HOLLIDAYSBURG – The Blair County Genealogical Society will meet at 7:00 pm Thursday October 19th, 2023 at the Roller Hojeth Memorial Library, 431 Scotch Valley Rd. Hollidaysburg, PA.

Our speaker this month is Byron Smail.  He will be talking about his book entitled “The Iron Furnaces of the Cove!”. It details all of the furnaces that were located in Martinsburg, McKee, Roaring Spring, and Williamsburg.

The book includes information about how the furnaces were used, the communities surrounding them, and what the areas they were located in are like today. Of the 231 Iron furnaces in Pennsylvania, 16 were located in Blair County.

Byron is from Martinsburg and owns a landscaping business.  He is married and has 3 children. Although he never had an interest in writing before, Smail said that he always held a love for history. It was something that his father had instilled in him growing up. “We used to go on a lot of trips where we would see historical places,” he said. “I try to do the same with my children now.”

The meeting is free and open to the public.  Our building is handicap accessible. Donations are gratefully accepted.