Johnstown’s Past: Fact, Fiction, and Everything in Between

In Johnstown’s Past: Fact, Fiction, and Everything in Between, local author and historian Joshua Penrod offers a thoughtful exploration of the city’s layered history, blending documented events with the stories we tell about them. Drawing on his research, writing, and personal connection to the region, Penrod examines how industry, environment, and memory have shaped Johnstown across generations. From iron and rail to flood and recovery, this talk invites audiences to consider not only what happened, but how history is interpreted, preserved, and sometimes reimagined.