What is one thing you would do to make your town a better place?

Posted on March 9, 2026

I live in Mechanicsburg, Pennsylvania, which in itself is a historical town. What would I do to make it a better place? I will explain what I would do and what I have already done later in this blog. Let me give the readers of my blog a little backstory about the history of Mechanicsburg and some of the historic buildings that are still around after more than 160 years. First of all, Mechanicsburg was established in the early 1800’s, originally known as “drysgulch” due to its early inhabitants who were skilled mechanics specializing in the construction and repair of Conestoga wagons. It was also named that because there were no bars in town that served liquor. The name “Mechanicsburg’ reflects this heritage, as it became a center for wagon mechanics and related trades. George Frankenburger built a tavern in 1801, which served as a way station for travelers. This tavern still stands today on East Main St in town and is part of the Mechanicsburg Museum Association, and tours of this building are given during the summer season by museum volunteers. With this town’s growth and development came the railroads. The arrival of the Cumberland Valley Railroad in 1837 marked a significant turning point for Mechanicsburg. The railroad provided essential connectivity, facilitating trade and commerce. This led to the establishment of various businesses, including grain and feed companies, lumber yards, and factories along the railroad tracks. At its peak, the town saw up to 25 trains passing through daily, transporting goods and passengers.

Mechanicsburg played a crucial role as a transportation hub for troops and supplies during the American Civil War. In June 1863, Confederate troops raided the town. These troops were a cavalry brigade under the command of General Albert Jenkins, who had made his headquarters at two different locations, one of which was the old railroad hotel, which is no longer in existence. The other was known as the stone building on what is now East Trindle Road in Mechanicsburg, which still stands today. Jenkins demanded food for his troops and hay for their horses. The town did surrender to the General. Also, during this time was a skirmish between Union and Confederate troops at Sporting Hill Road. This event highlighted the town’s strategic importance during the war. Post-Civil War, Mechanicsburg continued to prosper, with its vibrant downtown area, community events, and the Mechanicsburg Museum Association, which showcases the town’s history through various exhibits and artifacts. The town continues to celebrate its heritage while adapting to modern times, making it a unique place to live and visit.

Now, what have I done to make my town of Mechanicsburg a better place? Two things so far, first is that I have a photography page on Facebook called Thomas Hassell Photography, where for as many years as I have taken photos of many of the buildings in Mechanicsburg, flowers, our town’s residential homes and businesses, holiday decorations, our town park, and banners put up in town each year. I literally have thousands of photos I have taken over the years. I have also been a volunteer at our museum in Mechanicsburg for well over a decade. Being a docent or volunteer, you are trained in the history of Mechanicsburg, which is great for me because I can tell my friends who come to town about its history. I hope to give tours of our town to my friends, so they can learn about its great history. I think a town podcast could be done online to spread the history and background from its beginning to its part in the American Civil War to its problems in the present. There is also an organization that is trying to revitalize the downtown area, which needs a lot of help. So, in closing, I have lived in Mechanicsburg for 19 years this March. This town’s history reminds me a lot of the history of my former hometown of Towanda,

Pennsylvania, which is located in the Endless Mountains in North central Pennsylvania, which also has a lot of history to it.