Dunnings Creek Friends Meeting

The Dunnings Creek Friends Meeting (Quakers) will present the fall 2023 event in their “Still Listening” guest speaker series on local history on Oct. 1.

Harriett L. Gaston will present A Story of Bedford’s Black Residents: Their Journey from the 1700s to the 1870s. Ms. Gaston, a local historical researcher and well-known presenter, is chair of the African-American Heritage Project of Blair County. In conjunction with the Friends’ Committee on Peace and Social Concerns, she has kindly agreed to expand her research into Bedford County, PA for this special presentation.

A native of Charlotte, N.C., Harriett Gaston has lived in Altoona for 33 years, and is employed as an undergraduate student adviser by Penn State Altoona. She holds a bachelor’s degree from Davidson College, N.C., as well as a master’s from Vanderbilt University in Nashville. She is involved in PSU’s African-American Read-In, the Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Committee, and the Campus Coalition for Student Success. She is active in the community through such programs as Leadership Blair County, ArtsAltoona, the African-American Heritage Festival, and the Hollidaysburg Heritage Group Tour Committee.

Under her leadership the Heritage Project was created to research and document the hidden history of the area’s Black communities. Ms. Gaston’s research is built upon the gathering of stories, photos, newspaper articles, and books shared with her by members of the Project, the extended families of the local African-American community, the Blair County Historical Society and Genealogical Society, and other community residents.

This Still Listening program will be the first time her research will focus on the history of Bedford County’s Black community. The event will be held at the historic Dunnings Creek Friends Meetinghouse (also known as the Old Brick Quaker Church), 285 Old Quaker Church Road, Fishertown, PA 15539, as well as online via Zoom, on Sunday, Oct. 1, 2023, at 2 p.m. There is no admission charge. Light refreshments will be served. All are welcome, but seating is limited.

Email dunningscreekquakers@gmail.com for the Zoom link or further information.