Local Historia: Departing for World War I

On the streets of Bellefonte, on September 11, 1917, the First Pennsylvania Cavalry, Troop L, along with the Regimental Hospital Corps, marched from their PA National Guard Armory on the corner of North Spring and West Lamb streets. A touching photo reveals soldiers marching among families, with children helping the troopers carry their belongings, walking step for step with their heroes. The procession then took a right on High Street and headed downhill over today’s Veterans Bridge toward the train station amid a crowd of about 5,000 people, as reported by the Democratic Watchman:

“As they marched down the street, the soldiers were loudly applauded, but when the train pulled slowly away from the station there was no resounding cheer. Every man, woman, and child in the vast multitude was too intent on fixing in his or her mind the last glimpse of some loved one, and their hearts were too full to cheer. And that last glimpse will linger forever in the minds of all because it showed the true American, most of the boys smiling and waving farewell, be it for only a few months, a year, two years, or forever.”

The train cars had been loaded the previous day, so when the order to “Entrain!” was given, the marching men only required a stoic ten minutes to embark for the “War to End All Wars.” The train included a flat car, two horse cars, a forage car, a property car, three coaches, a Pullman and a kitchen car. It departed the Pennsylvania Railroad depot at about 8:40 a.m., with 128 men under Captain Laird Curtin. Picture the young doughboys, waiving and gliding away on the train, with one heard saying “Goodbye, old Bellefonte.” They conveyed along the Bald Eagle Valley Railroad to Lock Haven and beyond to their training camp at Camp Hancock, Augusta, Georgia. 

By 10:30 the same morning, the Boal horse-mounted machine gun troop departed the Oak Hall station with about ninety-three men, thirty-four horses, five auto trucks, two wagons and other cargo on the Lewisburg & Tyrone Railroad to Montandon and beyond to Georgia as well.

On the Boal estate, Colonel Theodore Davis Boal had established Company A of the 107th Machine Gun Battalion, 28th Division. At “Camp Boal,” they built a German trench for training that would serve them well. After exemplary service, the Boal Troop started to hold reunions in 1919 to honor twelve of their comrades who “died in France for liberty.” Their names are among today’s monuments at the 28th Division Shrine, upon the Pennsylvania Military Museum grounds.

In 1916, Troop L of Bellefonte and the Boal Machine Gun Troop had already been deployed to Texas to guard the border in response to the threat of Mexican revolutionary Pancho Villa. Thankfully, they returned in full strength after 205 days. However, as the U.S. declared war on Germany in April of 1917, the local units would soon nationalize and mobilize again. The Great War had something different on the horizon. Among the troops who boarded the train on September 11, 1917, were Edward B. Brooks of Boggs Township and Charles F. Doll of Bellefonte; both would be killed in action the following September, 1918.

Local newspapers would relay letters from soldiers on the front for the folks back home. One of those letters featured Ralph Dunlap of the 107th Machine Gun Battalion, 28th Division, published in the Democratic Watchman on August 30, 1918:

“Somewhere in France, Aug. 1, 1918. Still alive and well, but dare not write much of interest to you except that the Huns [sic] are moving faster than ever toward Germany. … This morning reminded me of one of those beautiful mornings back home. … Just remember to have a good Christmas dinner for me for if we get to Berlin before Christmas I will be home. If not, I will eat some weenies and sauerkraut in Berlin.”

Dunlap, from Pine Grove Mills, was among the many who contracted the pandemic influenza virus. He died at the base hospital in France on October 12, 1918. He was twenty-two years old.

According to the Pennsylvania National Guard, “The Pennsylvania division, now known as the 28th Division, was called up in the wake of America’s entry into World War I. With its entry into the war, the American forces helped turn the tide to the Allied victory.” Pennsylvania’s 28th Division, including dedicated troops from Centre County, answered the call. While most Centre County soldiers returned home, some paid the ultimate sacrifice and would not be on the train home. T&G

Local Historia is a passion for local history, community and preservation. Its mission is to connect you with local history through engaging content and walking tours. Local Historia is owned by public historians Matt Maris and Dustin Elder, who co-author this column. For more, visit localhistoria.com.

Sources:

“Dunlap.” Centre Reporter (Centre Hall, PA). Nov. 14, 1918. https://panewsarchive.psu.edu/lccn/sn83032058/1918-11-14/ed-1/seq-4/

Horner, Cathy. “Pennsylvania Military Museum.” Centre County Encyclopedia of History & Culture. Centre County Historical Society. June 7, 2022. https://centrehistory.org/article/pennsylvania-military-museum/

“In Centre County’s Hall of Fame.” Democratic Watchman (Bellefonte, PA). Oct. 18, 1918. https://panewsarchive.psu.edu/lccn/sn83031981/1918-10-18/ed-1/seq-4/

“Pennsylvania National Guard History.” DoD Web.Mil. Dec. 2, 2023. https://www.pa.ng.mil/History/

“Ralph Dunlap, of Pine Grove Mills.”  Democratic Watchman (Bellefonte, PA) Aug. 30, 1918. https://panewsarchive.psu.edu/lccn/sn83031981/1918-08-30/ed-1/seq-4/

“Reunion of Boal Troop.” Democratic Watchman (Bellefonte, PA). Sept. 5, 1919. https://panewsarchive.psu.edu/lccn/sn83031981/1919-09-05/ed-1/seq-8/

“Soldier Boys are Off.” Centre Reporter (Centre Hall, PA). Sept. 13, 1917. https://panewsarchive.psu.edu/lccn/sn83032058/1917-09-13/ed-1/seq-5/

“Troop L Home from Texas Border.” Democratic Watchman (Bellefonte, PA). Jan. 19, 1917. https://panewsarchive.psu.edu/lccn/sn83031981/1917-01-19/ed-1/seq-8/

“Troop L Off for the South.” Democratic Watchman (Bellefonte, PA). Sept. 14, 1917. https://panewsarchive.psu.edu/lccn/sn83031981/1917-09-14/ed-1/seq-8/