The America250PA ”Start Here, America Did” Podcast

In honor of Women’s History Month, this episode of Start Here, America Did highlights the women shaping Pennsylvania’s future today.
Host Sydney Harris-White sits down with Linda Loop of Dress for Success Luzerne County to explore how confidence, opportunity, and support can transform lives.
From powerful stories of resilience to the ripple effect on families and communities, this conversation shows what happens when women are empowered to succeed.
Because when one woman rises, entire communities follow.

In this special Women's History Month episode, host Sydney Harris-White explores a lesser-known side of Gettysburg, one that reaches beyond battlefields, generals, and troop movements to uncover the stories of the women who lived through one of the most defining moments in American history. Joined by historian Tim Smith of Gettysburg History and the Adams County Historical Society and Abbie Hoffman of the Shriver House Museum, the conversation highlights the civilians who found war at their doorstep and were forced to navigate fear, loss, and uncertainty almost overnight.
Through the stories of women like Hettie Shriver, who fled her home with her young daughters as the battle unfolded, Sallie Myers, who cared for wounded soldiers and comforted dying men far from their families, Julia Jacobs, who risked her life to warn Union soldiers of Confederate sharpshooters, and Elizabeth Thorn, who buried the dead while five months pregnant, we begin to see Gettysburg through a different lens. Their courage, resilience, and quiet leadership helped sustain their community during and after the battle, reminding us that as we approach America’s 250th anniversary, Pennsylvania’s story is not only one of soldiers and strategy but also of the women who carried the weight of war in their homes, their hands, and their hearts.
 
*This episode contains discussions of war, combat, violence, and loss related to the Battle of Gettysburg and its aftermath. Listener discretion is advised, especially for those who may find these themes emotionally difficult.*

Travel to Montgomery County’s Borough of Trappe, where history is not confined to exhibits but experienced through preserved homes, landscapes, and artifacts. In this episode, host Sydney Harris-White explores the work of Historic Trappe, a nonprofit dedicated to preserving and sharing 18th-century daily life, Pennsylvania German cultural traditions, and the lasting impact of the Muhlenberg family.Executive Director Lisa Minardi joins the conversation to highlight the organization’s key sites, including the Dewees Tavern and its Center for Pennsylvania German Studies, the Muhlenberg House, and the Speaker’s House, home of Frederick Muhlenberg, the first Speaker of the U.S. House of Representatives. The Speaker’s House will fully reopen in spring 2026 in honor of the nation’s 250th anniversary, marking the culmination of 25 years of restoration and a powerful example of community-driven preservation shaping Pennsylvania’s role in this historic milestone.

As the nation prepares to celebrate its 250th anniversary, another milestone is unfolding right in the heart of the Commonwealth. In Episode 58, we step onto the campus of Penn State Harrisburg, the Capitol College, as it marks 60 years of impact in central Pennsylvania. Host Sydney Harris-White sits down with Assistant Teaching Professor Seth P. Wright to explore how a former Air Force base transformed into a thriving institution dedicated to public service, civic engagement, and workforce development. From its origins during the turbulence of the 1960s to its role today beside the state’s seat of government, this conversation reveals how one campus grew alongside Pennsylvania itself.
This episode goes beyond dates and milestones. It dives into powerful alumni stories, including leadership at the National Transportation Safety Board, and highlights the campus’s nearly $198 million annual economic impact on the Commonwealth. You will hear how Penn State Harrisburg prepares students not just for careers, but for responsibility, equipping them to read the Constitution, shape public policy, and strengthen democracy from the inside out. As we reflect on America’s founding and ask “Who are we?” this conversation makes clear that the next chapter of Pennsylvania’s story is being written by the students walking its halls today.

Episode 57, Where History Ferments: The Story of Stoll & Wolfe, explores how one Pennsylvania distillery is carrying a nearly 300-year legacy into the present. In Lititz, Stoll & Wolfe Distillery draws directly from the Commonwealth’s deep agricultural and distilling roots, using grain grown on a family farm established in 1741 and techniques shaped by centuries of practice. Host Sydney Harris-White sits down with co-founder and distiller Erik Wolfe to uncover why Pennsylvania was once at the center of American whiskey production, and how rye whiskey emerged as a practical, powerful force in early American life.
At the heart of the episode is the influence of Dick Stoll, the legendary master distiller whose mentorship and craftsmanship helped revive a nearly forgotten tradition. Erik shares how Stoll’s philosophy of stewardship, sensory distilling, and respect for history continues to guide every bottle produced today. Together, their story reveals how Stoll & Wolfe is not simply making whiskey, but preserving Pennsylvania history, honoring agriculture, and creating a living connection between the colonial past and the nation’s 250th anniversary.

What if the next great adventure was already waiting just beyond your doorstep? 
In Episode 56, The Department of Adventure: The Story of Purple Lizard Maps, host Sydney Harris-White talks with Michael Hermann, founder of Purple Lizard Maps, about how a single hand-crafted map of Rothrock State Forest in 1997 grew into a beloved Pennsylvania-born brand rooted in exploration and connection. Michael shares the vision behind maps designed not just for navigation, but for helping people discover the depth and accessibility of the Commonwealth’s public lands.
The episode explores what makes Purple Lizard Maps unique, from field-verified detail and durable design to a deep commitment to conservation and stewardship. As Pennsylvania steps into 2026 and looks toward America’s 250th anniversary, this conversation is an invitation to witness the Commonwealth’s immense natural beauty and rediscover journey and exploration right in your own backyard.

Step into a Pennsylvania town that helped save Christmas. In Episode 55, The Town That Saved Christmas: Pennsylvania’s Wellsboro Glass Legacy, host Sydney Harris-White travels to Wellsboro with guest Kylie Birgensmith of the Wellsboro Glass Historical Association to reveal how this small Tioga County community became a global force of light and innovation. From the late 1800s to the arrival of Corning Glass Works in 1916, Wellsboro’s natural resources and determined workforce transformed the borough into a powerhouse of glass production that illuminated cities and homes around the world.
When war disrupted global supply chains, Wellsboro rose to the moment. By adapting the ribbon machine, the plant produced millions of American-made Christmas ornaments, earning the town its unforgettable title. This episode explores the staggering scale of that achievement, the plant’s vital wartime contributions, the women who stepped into the workforce, and the pride that still defines Wellsboro today. It is a story of ingenuity, resilience, and holiday magic that proves Pennsylvania history continues to shine. 

In Episode 54, “Beyond the Chocolate Bar: The Story of The Sweetest Place on Earth,” host Sydney Harris-White sits down with Quinn Bryner of Hershey Entertainment & Resorts to explore how Milton S. Hershey’s vision became far more than a chocolate empire. From the creation of Hersheypark and its iconic resorts to the founding of the Milton Hershey School, this episode uncovers how one man’s commitment to community, innovation, and giving back continues to shape Hershey today.Listeners will also step into the magic of the holiday season as Quinn shares what makes Christmastime in Hershey so special, from five million twinkling lights and live reindeer to nostalgic traditions that have spanned generations. Whether you’re a lifelong visitor or discovering Hershey for the first time, this conversation reveals why The Sweetest Place on Earth remains one of Pennsylvania’s most beloved destinations.

In 1976, Fairview Township caught the “Spirit of 76” and never let it go. In this episode, host Sydney Harris-White sits down with original Fairview Bicentennial Committee members Sabina Shields Freeman and June Hetz to relive the unforgettable year when Freedom Festivals, community variety shows, ox roasts, and neighborhood history tours brought an entire township together. What began as a volunteer effort to celebrate America’s 200th birthday unexpectedly sparked something bigger: the creation of the Fairview Area Historical Society.
Sabina and June reveal how researching early settlers, restoring a forgotten cemetery chapel, and rallying neighbors around the historic Sturgeon House launched a movement to preserve Fairview’s story. Now, as the Historical Society turns 50 alongside America’s 250th, they reflect on half a century of exhibits, camps, and community traditions, and share how Fairview is preparing to honor both its past and its future.
If you love local history, small town stories, and the people who keep them alive, this is an episode you will not want to miss.

In 1825, the Marquis de Lafayette returned to a young United States and turned Lancaster into a sea of arches, banners, and cheering crowds. In this episode, host Sydney Harris sits down with local historian Benton Graves Weber to walk through Lafayette’s unforgettable visit to Lancaster, PA, from the moment he crossed the Chester County line to the candlelit ball, saluting veterans, and even a hastily built pontoon bridge thrown together so the general could continue his journey.
Together, they explore why Lafayette was once honored on the same level as George Washington, what his farewell tour meant to everyday Americans, and how Lancaster marked the 200th anniversary of his visit. Along the way, you will hear about golden ticket style invitations, rare artifacts, and why reenacting history can still inspire new generations as we approach America’s 250th birthday.