When Matthew Wolfe walks through the Railroaders Memorial Museum in Altoona, he isn’t just surrounded by locomotives and artifacts, he’s surrounded by the lives of the people who built them.

and

In September 1982, that problem surfaced on a small network of computers at Carnegie Mellon University, where a few dozen computer scientists were using early electronic message boards—primitive by today’s standards, but revolutionary at the time. Messages were text-only, stripped of facial expressions, tone of voice, or context. Humor, sarcasm, and jokes often landed the wrong way.

When Matthew Wolfe walks through the Railroaders Memorial Museum in Altoona, he isn&rsquo;t just surrounded by locomotives and artifacts, he&rsquo;s surrounded by the lives of the people who built them.
and
In September 1982, that problem surfaced on a small network of computers at Carnegie Mellon University, where a few dozen computer scientists were using early electronic message boards&mdash;primitive by today&rsquo;s standards, but revolutionary at the time. Messages were text-only, stripped of facial expressions, tone of voice, or context. Humor, sarcasm, and jokes often landed the wrong way.

When people come together and talk about really interesting topics, great questions spark better understanding and opportunities for new ideas to form. On The Spark from WITF, host Asia Tabb starts conversations about what’s happening in the world and at home. Share your ideas at https://witf.org/programs/the-spark.

When people come together and talk about really interesting topics, great questions spark better understanding and opportunities for new ideas to form. On The Spark from WITF, host Asia Tabb starts conversations about what&rsquo;s happening in the world and at home. Share your ideas at https://witf.org/programs/the-spark.

The Spark

When people come together and talk about really interesting topics, great questions spark better understanding and opportunities for new ideas to form. On The Spark from WITF, host Asia Tabb start the conversations about what’s happening in the world and at home. Share your ideas at https://witf.org/programs/the-spark.

When people come together and talk about really interesting topics, great questions spark better understanding and opportunities for new ideas to form. On The Spark from WITF, host Asia Tabb start the conversations about what&rsquo;s happening in the world and at home. Share your ideas at&nbsp;<a href="https://witf.org/programs/the-spark">https://witf.org/programs/the-spark</a>.

The Spark Weekly | Trailblazers in Pennsylvania: Horseshoe Curve and The Rise of The Internet.

Journalist Roundtable

Mt Tabor

(00:00:00)

We begin with Gillian McGoldrick of The Philadelphia Inquirer, who details her reporting on the Shapiro Administration’s lawsuit against a vendor accused of failing to deliver more than 3 million pieces of mail from state agencies. The missing documents, everything from benefits notices to tax information, raise serious questions about oversight, transparency, and the impact on Pennsylvanians who depend on timely communication from their government. WITF’s Jaxon White then previews the upcoming state budget season, reflecting on last year’s prolonged delay and the political stakes as Gov. Shapiro seeks re‑election.

(00:22:18)

In the second half of the show, we turn to Mt. Tabor AME Zion Church in Mount Holly Springs, a one‑room church built by formerly enslaved people and a cornerstone of the region’s African American community for more than a century. Now the focus of the Mt. Tabor Preservation Project, the church stands as a testament to resilience, faith, and the determination to protect Black history in Cumberland County. We speak with Carmen James, a board member and lifelong advocate for the site, about the ongoing restoration efforts, the stories preserved within its walls, and why safeguarding Mt. Tabor’s legacy matters for future generations.

(00:00:00)
We begin with&nbsp;Gillian McGoldrick of The Philadelphia Inquirer, who details her reporting on the Shapiro Administration&rsquo;s lawsuit against a vendor accused of failing to deliver more than 3 million pieces of mail from state agencies. The missing documents, everything from benefits notices to tax information, raise serious questions about oversight, transparency, and the impact on Pennsylvanians who depend on timely communication from their government.&nbsp;WITF&rsquo;s Jaxon White then previews the upcoming state budget season, reflecting on last year&rsquo;s prolonged delay and the political stakes as Gov. Shapiro seeks re‑election.
(00:22:18)
In the second half of the show, we turn to Mt. Tabor AME Zion Church in Mount Holly Springs, a one‑room church built by formerly enslaved people and a cornerstone of the region&rsquo;s African American community for more than a century. Now the focus of the Mt. Tabor Preservation Project, the church stands as a testament to resilience, faith, and the determination to protect Black history in Cumberland County. We speak with Carmen James, a board member and lifelong advocate for the site, about the ongoing restoration efforts, the stories preserved within its walls, and why safeguarding Mt. Tabor&rsquo;s legacy matters for future generations.

Lost Mail, Late Budgets, and the Legacy of Mt. Tabor

Erica Jo Shaffer

The Rise of The Internet

(00:00:00)

Winter may still have its grip, but we’re already dreaming of green. In this episode, we finally dig into the houseplant care we didn’t get to last time. From keeping indoor plants thriving to refreshing bird feeders and bird baths during the coldest stretch of the year. We’ll talk about what’s blooming right now, the seeds you can start early, and the small rituals that help us look toward spring.

(00:22:30)
Then we shift to a very different kind of ecosystem: the early internet. Our guest reflects on the moment he proposed the very first emoticons :-) and :-( and how those simple keystrokes reshaped digital communication. 

(00:00:00)
Winter may still have its grip, but we&rsquo;re already dreaming of green. In this episode, we finally dig into the houseplant care we didn&rsquo;t get to last time. From keeping indoor plants thriving to refreshing bird feeders and bird baths during the coldest stretch of the year. We&rsquo;ll talk about what&rsquo;s blooming right now, the seeds you can start early, and the small rituals that help us look toward spring.
(00:22:30) Then we shift to a very different kind of ecosystem: the early internet. Our guest reflects on the moment he proposed the very first emoticons :-) and :-( and how those simple keystrokes reshaped digital communication.&nbsp;

Growing Things: In the Garden and Online

Horseshoe Curve

York Art Association

(00:00:00)

First, we meet Matthew Wolff, Curator at the Railroaders Memorial Museum, whose passion for railroad history fuels his work preserving the legacy of the people who built Altoona into a powerhouse of American industry. Matthew guides us through the astonishing story of the Horseshoe Curve, an engineering marvel blasted, dug, and carved through the Allegheny Mountains in the 1850s by Irish immigrant laborers. The Curve became a vital artery for the nation, a target of wartime espionage, and a symbol of the grit that defined Railroad City. We explore how the museum keeps that legacy alive and why the story of Altoona’s workers still resonates today.

(00:22:34)

Then we travel to York, where Roth J. Preap, Executive Director of the York Art Association, is leading a new chapter for one of Pennsylvania’s oldest arts organizations. Founded in 1905, the Association has weathered cultural shifts, urban flight, and technological change, and now, under Roth’s leadership, it’s preparing to move into a new permanent home known as the Little Green Church. With a $2 million capital campaign underway, Roth shares how the organization is expanding arts education, strengthening community access, and honoring more than a century of creative history.

(00:00:00)
First, we meet&nbsp;Matthew Wolff, Curator at the Railroaders Memorial Museum, whose passion for railroad history fuels his work preserving the legacy of the people who built Altoona into a powerhouse of American industry. Matthew guides us through the astonishing story of the Horseshoe Curve,&nbsp;an engineering marvel blasted, dug, and carved through the Allegheny Mountains in the 1850s by Irish immigrant laborers. The Curve became a vital artery for the nation, a target of wartime espionage, and a symbol of the grit that defined Railroad City. We explore how the museum keeps that legacy alive and why the story of Altoona&rsquo;s workers still resonates today.
(00:22:34)
Then we travel to York, where Roth J. Preap, Executive Director of the York Art Association, is leading a new chapter for one of Pennsylvania&rsquo;s oldest arts organizations. Founded in 1905, the Association has weathered cultural shifts, urban flight, and technological change, and now, under Roth&rsquo;s leadership, it&rsquo;s preparing to move into a new permanent home known as the Little Green Church. With a $2 million capital campaign underway, Roth shares how the organization is expanding arts education, strengthening community access, and honoring more than a century of creative history.

The Spark Weekly | Trailblazers in Pennsylvania: Horseshoe Curve and The Rise of The Internet.

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