Eldred Presents on Charles Dickens' Visit To Hollidaysburg

Charles Dickens, his wife and George Putnam, the traveling secretary, passed through Hollidaysburg during the canal era. Dickens set out on his first two tours of America in an attempt to change international copyright law, as his books were very popular in the United States, but he wasn’t making any money from them.

Author Keith Eldred presented the story of Dickens’ journey through Hollidaysburg at The Hollidaysburg Area Public Library’s history hour earlier this month.

Eldred said looking at how difficult it was travel back then, we should have an appreciation for how much easier it is now.

“I think it is just amusing to think about a great figure like Charles Dickens and his wife having to put up with a lot of indignities and dirt and rain and other problems while they were traveling. It brings a genius like Dickens down to Earth.”

Eldred continued, “I am happy to contribute in a small way to the effort of the Hollidaysburg Heritage Tours. It is a very good effort to educate people about the notable things that have happened in our area and to help preserve history for generations to come.”