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In Short
frank. The Lifestyle Magazine for Franklin County A supplement to Hagerstown magazine PUBLISHER Hagerstown Publishing, LLC. EDITORIAL Matt Makowski, MANAGING EDITOR
MattMak@hagerstownmag.com GRAPHIC DESIGN Matthew Piersall, PRODUCTION MANAGER Annie Ellis Dan Jae Smith ADVERTISING ACCOUNT EXECUTIVES Kyra Rodgers • Ext. 117 Kyra@hagerstownmag.com Angela Niessner • Ext. 120 Angela@hagerstownmag.com Stephanie Dewees • Ext. 120 stephdewees@fredmag.com Linda Dove • Ext. 111 Ldove@fredmag.com Misty James • Ext. 113 Mjames@fredmag.com Leslie Lillo • Ext. 110 Llillo@fredmag.com Jean Wright • Ext. 115 Jwright@fredmag.com BUSINESS & CIRCULATION Stephanie Dewees • Ext. 120
Subscriptions@hagerstownmag.com CONTRIBUTING WRITERS Beth Rowland Cheryl Keyser Ellen Ternes James Rada Jr. Rick Hemphill CONTRIBUTING PHOTOGRAPHERS Turner Photography Studio BUSINESS OFFICE Hagerstown Publishing 152 W. Washington Street, Ste. 100 Hagerstown, MD 21740 SEND MAIL TO P.O. Box 2415 Hagerstown, MD 21741
PHONE: 240-313-3940 FAX: 301-662-8399 WWW.HAGERSTOWNMAGAZINE.COM
frank. is a supplement to Hagerstown magazine (ISSN #1555-337X), a publication of Hagerstown Publishing, LLC. ©2016 by Hagerstown Publishing, LLC. All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced without the written consent of the publisher. The magazine is not responsible for unsolicited manuscripts or photographs. Distributed through subscriptions, advertisers and at newsstands and other locations throughout Franklin County, Pa., Washington County, Md., and the surrounding area. For additional copies of frank., please contact the Hagerstown Publishing office at 301-662-8171 or visit www.hagerstownmagazine.com. Subscription price for Hagerstown magazine is $18.87 per year, and includes 6% MD state sales tax. To subscribe, send a check or money order to the business office payable to Hagerstown Publishing, visit www.hagerstownmagazine.com, or call 301-662-8171.
HAGERSTOWN PUBLISHING
2 frank. SPRING/SUMMER 2016
frank.
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Features 24
When Sliced Bread Got An Upgrade From humble beginnings, Franklin County’s own Martin’s Potato Rolls have become the vessel du jour for burgers, hotdogs, and sandwiches the world over.
30
Smoke & No Mirrors
36
The Fall Of The Fly
36
J.M. Boswell & Son take a hands-on approach to their world-renowned pipes and tobacco blends.
The roaring ’20s ushered in the rise of daredevils, and the dangerous feats played out no more perilously than in downtown Chambersburg.
30 Departments
20 8
40
7
View Of The Valley
8
The Citizen
10
Calendar
16
In Short
19
The Citizen
20
A&E: Globetrotting Tenor Corey Rotz
40
Dining: The New John Allison Public House
46
Then & Now
48
While You Were Out
SPRING/SUMMER 2016
frank. 5
LETTER
From the Editor
SOME OF THE ACHIEVEMENTS THAT ARE FIT TO PRINT
6 frank. SPRING/SUMMER 2016
Ed itor
peg-legged Captain Ahab in the operatic rendition of Moby-Dick — not to mention his scores of appearances at the Cumberland Valley School of Music. For the dining section, we learned the myriad reasons to sing the praises of the John Allison House’s new location and delicious menu. While known for their burgers, chocoholics have plenty of reason to celebrate as well — especially if they plan accordingly. The made-byowner chocolate peanut butter ganache torte, which finds itself on the menu when time permits, is the type of dessert you write home about. We even managed to fit a little something in for history buffs about the long-forgotten tale of daredevil — or as they were colloquially known at the time, human fly — George Oakley, who performed his final stunt in Chambersburg in 1924. Spoiler alert: it didn’t end well. We’ve got all that, and a little more, so happy reading, and hope you enjoy.
an ag ing
F
purveyors, Martin’s website is a hotbed of delicious recipes and serving suggestions. Of special note is the Southwest chipotle burger, which was a big hit at the photo shoot. If your hunger leans more toward culture, we also had the pleasure of spending some time with Franklin
M
or this issue of frank. we’re celebrating some of the various success stories of Franklin County, and indulging in what makes this a fun and eclectic place to live, visit, and play in. How many of you knew that one of the world’s most renowned pipe makers is situated right here in Chambersburg? Country oldtimers, Brooklyn hipsters, and aspiring philosophers the world over yearn for J.M. Boswell pipes and their tobacco blends. A quick Internet search reveals scores of blogs dedicated to the planning of pilgrimages to Boswell’s from all over the country. We even learned from the master himself about the proper procedure of pipe smoking — rule number one, don’t inhale. If smoking’s not up your alley though, we also lit a fire of a different kind for the perfect pairing of a backyard barbecue with Franklin County’s own Martin’s Potato Rolls. The golden yellow rolls that have earned a place in so many families’ cupboards and pantries started with the simplest of motivation: “…we were just trying to feed our family,” Lois Martin once told her granddaughter, Julie. From that simple incentive, Martin’s has grown from a garage-born operation that served local farmers markets to the highest selling hamburger bun in the country — and the second most popular hot dog bun, to boot. In addition to their delicious sandwich
, ki ws o ak tM Mat
County native, operatic tenor, crooner, and all around great guy Corey Rotz, who has the distinction of having performed in more than 350 concerts with the Washington National Opera. Amongst Corey’s long list of accomplishments are performing at Carnegie Hall, alongside Plácido Domingo, and most recently as the
All the best, MATT MAKOWSKI, MANAGING EDITOR mattmak@hagerstownmag.com
VIEW of the VALLEY
THE DIMINUTIVE SIDE OF FRANKLIN COUNTY
GOING BIG IN FRANKLIN COUNTY A Quixotic tour along the highways of Franklin County reveals an odd penchant for large landmarks. Anyone who’s made a trip worth its salt down I-81 has no doubt seen the big ol’ firecracker that adorns the Keystone Fireworks building in Greencastle. While, thankfully, the explosive is built for form, and not function, it’s hard to imagine a 12-year-old who hasn’t wished for a lighter big enough to light that bad boy. A bit further up the I-81 corridor, slightly hidden off to the side on Mt. Rock Road, is an old storage tank decked out to look like a can of soft gloss house paint, replete with a large wire handle hanging in the sky. Much like its not-so-explosive brethren, this colossal can of paint serves as a creative form of advertising for the adjacent A & A Decorative Design & Supply, who happen to be an independent Benjamin Moore paint retailer. While slightly less of an advertisement — though no less fitting for the neighboring Shatzer’s Fruit Market — is a 1920 Seldon 1 ½ ton pickup truck that’s perched up on four steel beams on Lincoln Way West in Chambersburg. This mammoth 1:5 scale truck was designed and built by students of the Franklin County Career and Technology Center as part of the Roadside Giants of the Lincoln Highway project to celebrate the strong agriculture heritage of the area, and as a remembrance of the days when roadside fruit stands lined Lincoln Highway.
Tucked along a back road in Shippensburg — little more than a mile away from the oversized paint can, as a crow flies — is Tiny World. Though the grounds, and some of the facilities, could use a little scrubbing, or a fresh coat of paint, the entirety of the town remains intact as a testament to the crafty hands of the town’s creator, Ernest Helm. While being nothing shy of a little quirky, the hilly backyard project is like a blueprint of a smalltown, anywhere USA, of a near forgotten era. Tiny barns, a train station, and a firehouse line the small walkway around the property, with the total of buildings numbering in the 20s. And just as once was the case in most small towns, a church sits atop the crest of the village. The project was started in the 1980s, and is currently under the management of Ernest’s daughter, Donna, who has been working on up-keep since her father’s death. There is a small parking lot for visitors, and while entrance is free, a small donation to keep the project alive wouldn’t be denied.
SPRING/SUMMER 2016
frank. 7
BEING FRANK
Business
TODD MICHAEL HARSHMAN, AIA, NCARB, LEED AP AND COMPANY
We talked to one of the founding members of the architectural firm AND Company about establishing and growing a business in Franklin County.
Q: Having spent your formative years here, you left for school, but opted against prospects to work in some of the country’s most bustling cities in favor of returning to Franklin County. What led to this decision, and how has your homecoming been thus far?
A: Five years in the fifth largest city in the United States is long enough to realize that inherently everyone has a preference for style, pace, and quality of life. I firmly realized after four years that I would gladly trade my view of Two Liberty Place for the rolling landscapes of Blue Mountain and South Mountain. Here in Greencastle, the available natural, financial, and emotional resources, as well as a strong community keep me invested in Franklin County. I worked a few years in Frederick, Md., and then settled into a position in Chambersburg — 14 years, rising through the ranks to become Principal and Partner in a mid-sized architecture firm. Having a different outlook on the future, I opted to set upon my own path, organizing and collaborating with several other Franklin County professionals into starting a new architectural enterprise, with a vision for the future and individual freedom miles apart from the historical pattern of business as usual.
8 frank. SPRING/SUMMER 2016
Our family is raised here, our heart is invested here, and our client base is not only in Franklin County, but in the surrounding townships, cities, and valleys. We most often travel to our clients, whether locally, or regionally, but we still hang our hats and coats in Franklin County and always look forward to the trip home. Quality of life is a primary focus of our business model, and Franklin County offers it in bushels. Franklin County is in a great position for future growth, with its access corridors by road and rail, along with a strong sense of community that draws business and family alike. We still have some work ahead of us — overcoming the peach and corn stereotypes of the agrarian past isn’t always easy — but with sustainable growth strategies, combined with outstanding economic and citizen leaders, Franklin County stands out as a great example for continued business strength.
More powerful than the sum of its parts. COMING SPRING 2016, the Meridian Building is a premier, two-story class A building with private office suites located in the North End of Hagerstown. Three miles from I-81, 5 miles from I-70 and minutes from the Pennsylvania state line.
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AND-COMPANY was formed in the spirit of collaboration – a collaboration of architects, artists, designers, engineers, and their clients.
Greencastle & Carlisle, PA • Gaithersburg, MD • 717-414-6663 • www.and-company.com
Calendar
May 6 VETERAN
Spring & Summer TH
AFFAIRS GOLF TOURNAMENT
Penn National Golf Club, 3720 Club House Road, Fayetteville, 11 a.m.
This first annual Franklin County Veteran Affairs Tournament is slated to be held May 6 at Penn National Golf Club, with all proceeds to go directly to the Franklin County Veterans Outreach Fund. Registration at Trellis Terrace is at 11 a.m., lunch begins at noon, and there will be a 1:30 p.m. shotgun start. Entry is $125, or $345 for a foursome. Registration fees include green fees, cart rental, lunch, course refreshments, and the chance to win the door prize. For more information, call 717.263.4326, or visit www.franklincountyPA.gov, and click on the calendar tab.
(14TH) BLOOM FESTIVAL
MAY
7
Borough Lot, 33 W. Orange St., Shippensburg, 9 a.m.–3 p.m.
TH
BLUES, BREWS & BARBECUE
The Capitol Theatre, 159 S. Main St., Chambersburg
This sixth annual blues and bluegrass outdoor music festival combines an array of beers on tap, delicious local wines, live music, and of course, finger-lickin’ good barbecue, all in the effort of supporting The Capitol Theatre. Attendees must be over 21 to drink, and only service dogs are allowed to accompany attendees. This year’s bands include Kelly Bell Band, Randy McAllister, and Eric Steckel. Admission is $10 and includes a souvenir glass (while supplies last); or $7 for designated drivers. Food and beverage costs extra. For more information, or to get your tickets now, visit www.thecapitoltheatre.org/specialev ents.html.
10 frank. SPRING/SUMMER 2016
14
TH
6TH ANNUAL 5-MILE RUN/ WALK FOR JOHNSTON RUN
Lions Club Park, 405 S. Park St., Mercersburg
Join MACWELL for the 6th Annual MPMC 5 Mile Run/Walk to help support the revitalization of the Johnston Run on May 14 at Lions Club Park. Events begin at 9 a.m., and participants can register at any time up to the day of the race for $30. There is also a special family rate of $50 available, and a limited number of Tshirts will be available to participants. For more information, or to register, visit www.timberhilltiming.com.
Shippensburg will come alive with color, scents, music, and activities that signify the arrival of one of the most breath-taking seasons of the year…springtime! The centerpiece for this annual celebration of the beauty and splendor of spring will be the many shapes, colors, and fragrances of one of nature’s most alluring harbingers of spring, the flowers. Flowers will bloom in all of their magnificent springtime glory in this family-friendly celebration, which will stimulate all of your senses. The event takes place in downtown Shippensburg in the Borough Parking lot, across from the Shippensburg Police Dept. Patron parking is available in designated areas of downtown Shippensburg. This event is free and open to the public, although certain vendors may charge a nominal fee for activities. Event will be held rain or shine. Please note, the children’s area will close at 2 p.m.
Weekly Friday Evening Live Music (events run from 6-8 p.m.)
3/18 3/25 4/1 4/8 4/15 4/22
DAN MCCARTHY
4/29 5/6 5/13 5/20 5/27 6/3 6/10 6/17 6/24 7/1 7/8 7/15 7/22 7/29 8/5 8/12 8/19 8/26 9/2 9/9 9/16 9/23 9/30
TOPPER BROTHERS
RYANE MCCORMICK STRUNG TIGHT LYNN ROUTZAHN DEAD HORSE DEAN BROCIOUS MUSIC
May 14
TH
SINATRA
FOREVER
H. Ric Luhrs Performing Arts Center, Grove Theatre, Shippensburg, 7:30 p.m.
“Sinatra Forever: Salute to Frank Sinatra” pays homage to the legend that many consider one of the greatest singers of all time. This is not an impersonation show, but a loving tribute performed by Rick Michel to the charismatic “Chairman of the Board” whose recordings and performances turned the great American songbook into a work of art. Rick Michel is one of Las Vegas’ premier singers. From the time he was a teenager, Rick has been singing Sinatra’s music and has performed with big bands since the early 1980s. “I think Frank Sinatra was the most articulate of all the pop and standard singers,” says Rick. “Sinatra Forever” is a timeless performance that includes all the original arrangements, and even some of the original musicians who backed up Sinatra himself. Ticket prices range from $25–39. For tickets and additional information, call 717.477.SHOW (7469) or visit www.Luhrscenter.com.
15
TH
SPRING FLING DISC GOLF TOURNAMENT
Whispering Falls Disc Golf Course, 12315 Grant Shook Rd., Greencastle
Registration begins at 8 a.m., with a shotgun start time of 9 am. for this one round of 27 disc golf tournament at the Whispering Falls Disc Golf Course, sponsored by Roy-Pitz Brewery. There will be payouts and prizes for the day’s top finishers, with an awards ceremony at the Roy-Pitz Beer Stube at 3:30 p.m. For more information, check out the details on Facebook at: www.facebook.com/ events/794473180654590/
17 –22 TH
ND
LOVESICK BLUES
Totem Pole Playhouse, 9555 Golf Course Rd., Fayetteville
This musical concert stars Robbie Limon (from Lost Highway) as Hank Williams Sr., and Denise Patton (from Ring of Fire) as Patsy Cline, performing some of the greatest hits of both country music legends, climaxing with a made-in-heaven duet of their respective hit “Lovesick Blues.” This is a not-to-be-missed Totem Pole Playhouse special presentation! Times of performance vary by date. For more information, visit www.totempoleplayhouse.org.
STEVIE D & TOM EB JAMIE NEGLEY THE BRAHMAN NOODLES NICK STAVER STRUNG TIGHT TBD MIKE MONIODIS DEAN BROCIOUS MUSIC DEAD HORSE JAMIE NEGLEY RYANE MCCORMICK TOPPER BROTHERS DING NICK STAVER DAN MCCARTHY THE BRAHMAN NOODLES DEAD HORSE STRUNG TIGHT DEAN BROCIOUS MUSIC JAMIE NEGLEY STEVIE D & TOME EB DING
SPRING/SUMMER 2016 frank. 11
22
ND
BREWMASTER BEER FESTIVAL
44 South Broad Street, Waynesboro, 12:30–4 p.m.
Rain or shine, come on out to sample over 40 craft beers, dig into some beer-pairing noshes and indulge in live music worth tapping a toe to. There will also be an opportunity for educational interaction with the breweries. For more information, check out their Facebook page at: www.facebook.com/WBBeerFestival?f ref=ts, or you can buy tickets directly online at: www.eventbrite.com/ e/waynesboro-brewmaster-beerfestival-tickets-16157209649? aff=ehomecard. Tickets can also be purchased in person at the Beer Shed on Walnut Street, from the Greater Waynesboro Chamber of Commerce, or at the Mainstreet Waynesboro office. Admission is $25 per person, or $10 for designated drivers.
24
TH
ON THE PATIO
The Capitol Theatre, 159 S. Main St., Chambersburg, 5–9 p.m.
Join The Capitol Theatre, HeraldMail Media, and the Franklin County Visitors Bureau for a special, first-time-ever collaboration of local restaurants, wineries, and outdoor decorations, while sharing refreshing summer ideas for you, your home, and outdoor space. There will be a variety of demonstrations from elegant, upscale patio landscaping and design, to a fun family backyard barbecue haven. Guests can also enjoy a summer fashion show during intermission. Demonstrations include: Franklin Fresh Food – Healthy Summer Cooking Recipes, Tips For The Best Backyard BBQ, Summer Fashion Show, Food & Wine Sampling, Garden & Patio Decorating Tips. Tickets are $25 per person, and include a goodie bag of coupons, a souvenir wine glass, food and wine sampling, and you will be entered to win door prizes! For more information, call 301.791.7375.
12 frank. SPRING/SUMMER 2016
30
TH
CVSM MEMORIAL DAY CONCERT
Memorial Park, Chambersburg, 7:30–9:30 p.m.
With nearly 100 members, this band, led by Tim Gotwald, will perform a diverse program of concert band music including patriotic, classical, jazz, marches, and more. If you play a wind, brass, or percussion instrument and would like to be a part of their community symphonic band, please call the office for more information. Participation in the band and attendance at the concert are both free. For more information, or to participate, visit www.cvsmusic.org.
JUNE
4
TH
CHEFS WALK
Along Alexander Avenue, Chambersburg, 4–7 p.m.
For the eighth year in a row, Chambersburg is hosting this funfilled foodie function that features a food and music crawl all along Alexander Avenue with more than 50 local performers and chefs to indulge your ears and taste buds. A dessert station as well as beer and wine tastings will also be on hand. Tickets are $50 per person. For more information, visit www.cvsmusic.org/ event/chefs-walk. (4TH) HOTEL CALIFORNIA H. Ric Luhrs Performing Arts Center, Grove Theatre, Shippensburg, 7:30 p.m.
With their extraordinary vocal and musical talent, Hotel California faithfully and accurately reproduce the sound of The Eagles while re-creating a classic sound which transcends the boundaries of rock, R&B, and country music. Authorized by The Eagles, this highly respected show delivers a modern, actionpacked, fully produced performance. Their great reputation and audience acclaim stamp this as the ultimate salute. Tickets range from $20–28. For tickets and additional information, call 717.477.SHOW (7469) or visit www.luhrscenter.com.
SPRING/SUMMER 2016 frank. 13
12
TH
BRIDAL TASTING & EXPO
Green Grove Gardens, 1032 Buchanan Trail East, Greencastle, noon
Come share the afternoon with presentations from preferred local wedding vendors, and enjoy food tastings, water feature tours, a garden runway fashion show for inspiration, a party in the pagoda, DIY bride displays, and lots of prizes and giveaways. For more information, call 717.597.0800, or visit www.greengrovegardens.com.
12 –17 TH
TH
CHILDREN’S THEATRE CAMP
Totem Pole Playhouse, 9555 Golf Course Rd., Fayetteville, 10 a.m.–3 p.m. daily
Young campers (ages 8–12) will discover the magic of live theatre while learning acting games and skills
used to create vibrant characters. They will also learn elements of set design, costumes, and make-up. All participants will perform on the Totem Pole stage in their own production of a classic work of children’s theatre. Class size is limited. For more information, or to register, call 888.805.7056, or visit www.totempoleplayhouse.org.
JUNE 27–JULY 1 TEEN COMEDY & IMPROV CAMP Totem Pole Playhouse, 9555 Golf Course Rd., Fayetteville
Campers between the ages of 13–18 will perform in their own show similar to Saturday Night Live and Whose Line Is It Anyway?. They will learn about creating memorable characters, developing sketch-writing skills, and creating improvisation scenes from their own imaginations. Class size is limited. For more information, or to register, call 888.805.7056, or visit www.totempoleplayhouse.org.
JULY 8–10, 12–17, 19–24 ONE SLIGHT HITCH Totem Pole Playhouse, 9555 Golf Course Rd., Fayetteville
Set in 1981, this play focuses on the Coleman family of Cincinnati, Ohio — Mom, Pop, and their three girls — on the day of their oldest daughter’s wedding. Mother Delia is frantically sorting last minute details, while father Doc is doing his best to keep Delia calm and the day running smoothly. Bride-to-be Courtney is set to marry Harper, a conservative, straight-laced, all-American guy. All that becomes much more difficult when Courtney’s long-time exboyfriend Ryan shows up at the front door, apparently unaware of the day’s significance, and will not go away as the sometimes zany, sometimes heartfelt events unfold. Performance times vary by date. For more information, or to purchase tickets, visit www.totempoleplayhouse.org.
MOVING? Don’t miss a single issue! Please send address change and effective date to: Frank magazine, Attn: Subscriptions, 6 East St., Suite 301, Frederick, MD 21701 or call 301-662-8171 from 9-5 Monday-Friday.
14 frank. SPRING/SUMMER 2016
16
TH
SMOKE ‘EM IF YOU GOT ‘EM
The Old Jail, 175 E. King St., Chambersburg
Roy-Pitz Brewing Compnany is presenting the eighth annual Smoke ‘Em If You Got ’Em Party on July 16 from noon–6 p.m. in the courtyard at the historic old jail in downtown Chambersburg. This year Roy-Pitz has partnered with The Franklin County Historical Society with all proceeds directly benefiting the historical society. Revelers can expect smoked barbecue vendors, a variety of Roy-Pitz favorites on tap, and plenty of smokin’ hot live music. Additional details are pending, but for more information, check out the event’s Facebook page at: www.facebook.com/events/99741935 6996808.
JULY 29–31; AUG. 2–7, 9–14
AUGUST
A FUNNY THING HAPPENED ON THE WAY TO THE FORUM Totem Pole Playhouse, 9555 Golf Course Rd., Fayetteville
Stephen Sondheim’s joyous musical romp through Rome has desperate lovers, scheming neighbors, and secrets behind every toga. Broadway’s greatest farce is light, fast-paced, witty, irreverent and one of the funniest musicals ever written. “A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum� is a non-stop laughfest in which Pseudolus, a crafty slave, struggles to win the hand of a beautiful but slow-witted courtesan named Philia, for his young master, Hero, in exchange for freedom. The plot twists and turns with cases of mistaken identity, slamming doors, and a showgirl or two. Performance times vary by date. For more information, or to purchase tickets, visit www.totempoleplayhouse.org.
20
TH
POP A CORK FOR THE CAPITOL
Capitol Theatre Center, 159 S. Main St., Chambersburg, 1–7 p.m.
Have a little fun in the sun with live music, featuring island music, beachthemed adult beverages, wine, beer, great food, and outside interactive happenings. This event benefits The Capitol Theatre, and will be held rain or shine! For tickets, or more information, call 717.263.0202, or visit www.thecapitoltheatre.org.
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SPRING/SUMMER 2016 frank. 15
(In)
SHORT
Take a quick peek.
INSTRUMENTAL HISTORY 114-year-old piano’s A ivories were tickled again at The Inn at Ragged Edge for
Summit Physicians Services employees show off FitBit devices they won for participation in a weight-loss challenge.
LOSE WEIGHT, GAIN HAPPINESS group of Summit Physicians Services (SPS) employees lost a combined total of 1,675 pounds during their participation in a weightloss challenge last year. The goal of the 24-week company program was to give employees the motivation and drive to become healthier and lose weight. “I took this challenge because I was absolutely miserable. My clothes didn't fit, my cholesterol numbers were high, I was short of breath just doing minor chores and taking walks. I knew that I had to step up and strive for a healthier lifestyle,” explained Carol Flory, a billing specialist with SPS. “...the best incentive in the end was how I feel now. My cholesterol numbers have significantly come
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down. I am not only walking, but I am doing a walk/jog regimen.” The first part of the challenge, called “I Can Do This,” was a team challenge where participants weighed in each week. For the second part, “Let’s Keep Going,” individuals competed for an additional 12 weeks. Organizer of the challenge Jordan Statler said the goal of the program became more than just about losing weight. “This challenge has been extremely successful and I am amazed by the results.”
DINNER WITH A PURPOSE he Orchards Restaurant held an event supporting the Rhonda Brake Shreiner Women’s Center from Oct. 11–17. During the event, the Chambersburg restaurant donated 10 percent of its profits to the Women’s Center in order to pay for
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16 frank. SPRING/SUMMER 2016
cookbooks containing recipes specially designed for cancer patients. The Orchards Restaurant has donated over $30,000 to support health care services in Franklin County. This is its seventh year fundraising for the Women’s Center.
its inaugural concert on Oct. 24, which featured a worldrenowned pianist. The Steinway Model B Parlour Grand Piano with an intricate inlaid design was built in 1901 for Harrods of London and recently restored by PianoCraft of Gaithersburg, Md. At its new home in the Inn’s front room, the piano made its Chambersburg debut. Pianist Eric Himy, a Juilliard graduate, played selections from Rachmaninov, Scriabin, Albeniz, and Chopin on the historic piano at the intimate concert. Innkeeper Ken Kipe bought the historic piano as a birthday present for his wife, Barb. The couple’s goal is to restore the Cumberland Valley bed and breakfast to its former glory when it was built in 1901, the same year as the piano’s production. The addition of the piano was one way they’re bringing luster and life back to the Inn.
TO THE HEART OF THE MATTER Chambersburg Hospital has been awarded the Mission: Lifeline® Gold Receiving Quality Achievement Award from the American Heart Association for its implementation of measures and practices approved by the AHA. The Mission: Lifeline program looks to increase the speed of treatment in cases where a patient suffers a severe heart attack. In a press release, Pat O’Donnell, the CEO and president of Summit Health, said, “Chambersburg Hospital is dedicated to improving the quality of care for our patients who suffer a heart attack, and the American Heart Association’s Mission: Lifeline program is helping us accomplish that goal through nationally respected clinical guidelines.” This is Chambersburg Hospital’s fifth year receiving the award.
Food For the Needy ummit Physicians S Services employees offer care for their patients every day. But that care doesn’t stop after an office visit; often these employees seek ways to make a positive impact on the communities they serve, outside of offering healthcare services. Lee Ann Pentek, an insurance and referral specialist at Summit ENT and Hearing Services, said it was an easy choice for her and her colleagues to get involved with the United Way of Franklin County’s food and
book drive in January. The office, along with 31 other Summit Physician Services offices, collected nonperishable foods and lightly used books. Total donations, which were distributed to Franklin County food pantries and community services offices, weighed in at more than 10,195.60 pounds. In addition to the 32 Summit Physicians Services offices that participated, employees from Chambersburg Hospital and Waynesboro Hospital also donated food to the United Way food drive.
NURSING STUDENT AWARDED MEMORIAL SCHOLARSHIP he family of the late Kristin Runyon and the Chambersburg Hospital chose their fifth recipient of the Kristin Runyon Memorial Scholarship this year. The recipient, Heather Martin, is a Chambersburg Hospital employee and registered nursing student at Harrisburg Area Community College who plans to graduate with her associate degree in May 2017. Heather was selected for numerous reasons including her academic success and personal values, said Barbara Runyon, mother of the late Kristin Runyon. “Her compassionate spirit, commitment to excellent patient care, and community involvement reflect the qualities and attributes of a nursing professional,” Barbara said.
T Valerie Mongan (far left), progressive care unit nurse manager, Barb Runyon (center left), human resources manager, and Teresa Napier (far right), critical care unit nurse manager, present Heather Martin (center right) with the 2015 Kristin Runyon Memorial Scholarship in August.
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QUANTITATING QUALITY CARE aynesboro Hospital was named one of the nation’s 100 top hospitals by Truven Health Analytics, a leading provider of data-driven analytics and solutions to improve the cost and quality of healthcare this past March. “We are thrilled to receive this honor,” said Vice President and Chief Operating Officer Melissa Dubrow in a press release. The Truven Health 100 Top Hospitals study identified hospitals and leadership teams that provide the highest level of value to their communities based on performance across 11 key measures
W
including patient care, operational efficiency, and financial stability. “The 2016 100 Top Hospitals award winners represent the highest national standards in hospital care and management,” said Jean Chenoweth, senior vice president at Truven Health Analytics. To conduct the Truven Health 100 Top Hospitals study, Truven Health researchers evaluated close to 3,000 short-term, acute-care, nonfederal hospitals. Researchers used risk-adjusted methodologies to analyze public information, core measures, and patient satisfaction data.
Giving Back to Downtown
(left–right): David Livengood, business teacher, Chambersburg Area School District; Tim Fisler, president, Chambersburg Road Runners Club; Bill Dann, board member, Chambersburg Road Runners Club; Barb Rossini, vice president of Community Relations, Summit Health; Peter Fleury, vice president, Chambersburg Road Runners Club; Noel Purdy, president, Downtown Chambersburg Inc.; Kylene Adams, payroll specialist, Summit Physician Services; Tammy Seville, human resources director, Summit Physician Services; and Jordan Statler, recruiter, Summit Physician Services.
ummit Health recently S partnered with Chambersburg Road Runners Club and Chambersburg Area School District to present donations of $6,000 from the Christmas Cash Dash and $5,000 from the
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Splash Your Sole 5k, respectively, to Downtown Chambersburg Inc. for its bike and pedestrian improvements plan. The project aims at making the downtown more bike- and pedestrian-friendly.
AWARDING TECHNOLOGY
Innovative Technology Grant recipients (left– right) John Root, Mathern Mellott, Erin Martin, Rick Burkett, and Krystal Johnson.
The Greater Chambersburg Chamber Foundation awarded grants totaling $17,200 to teachers in Franklin County for using technology in an innovative way in their classrooms. Teachers received the grants at the foundation’s annual luncheon in October at The Orchards Restaurant. GRANT RECIPIENTS INCLUDED: Rick Burkett and Erin Martin from James Buchanan High School received a $4,000 grant for Digital Books Trailers Project involving students traveling to elementary schools and using a green screen and special effects to direct, stage, film, and edit third grade students into storybook illustrations. Krystal Johnson and Betsy Riep from Shippensburg Area Middle School received a grant totaling $5,614.08 for Learning About Robotics Using Lego Mindstorms, which involves eighth grade students using Lego Mindstorms EV3 robots in their technology education class to develop problem solving and teamwork skills. Mathern Mellott from Fannett-Metal High School received a grant totaling $5,079.92 for Alternative Energies, which will commit students to study and work with various types of energy-generating devices to observe firsthand the intricate correlation of not only the production of energy, but the various sources of energy. John Root from Greencastle-Antrim Elementary School received a $2,506 grant for Making Kids Appy for fifth grade students who will be given the tools and instruction to create educational apps for other students in the school.
THE CITIZEN
Community
MAKING YOURSELF AT HOME Having been born a short distance from Philadelphia, my parents relocated to Franklin County in 1972. I was 14 years old, never heard of Shippensburg, and as a teenager I thought moving there was the end of my world. BY SANDY LUTZ After graduating high school, I stayed the summer working at Pine Grove Furnace State Park, but at summer’s end I packed my bags and moved “back home.” I was sure that was where I wanted to be, but after a few months of fighting city traffic, I no longer felt any real connection with my hometown, and ultimately decided to return to Franklin County. Having lived here longer than anywhere else at this point, my outlook is very different. What I used to view as “culture shock” is now
replaced with an appreciation for the charming simplicity of rural living. Just like all places, prices have gone up, but the cost of living in Franklin County has been manageable — and I believe my environment is what keeps me healthier than my siblings, who continue to live with the daily stresses of city life. I have had to work hard, but had I stayed in the Philadelphia area, I could have only dreamt of the home that I was able to afford here. I live in Fayetteville, just seven miles from the
county seat of Chambersburg, and my home is nestled between the South Mountains. Fittingly named “Shared Seasons” by me, one of my greatest joys is unwinding on the front porch, enjoying the mountain views and good conversation with friends and family. Although I am right off of busy Route 30, there is still a sense of solitude at our home, and when people come to visit they often mention how relaxing it is. Today I’m not sure I remember what exactly I missed about the city. I guess sometimes I feel like there doesn’t seem to be much of a variety of things to do in these parts, but if I need a fix, Franklin County is central to many points of interest in Pennsylvania as well as neighboring states. Lancaster, Harrisburg, and State College, as well as Maryland, Virginia, West Virginia, and Washington, D.C., are just a short distance away and offer a variety of interesting things to do. Franklin County continues to grow — slow but steady. Popular food and retail chains, distribution centers and small manufacturers continue to pop up, attracted by the central location and proximity to Route 81. But more importantly, in balance with economic growth, I am delighted to say that land preservation remains a priority with our community leaders, and to this day you can drive a short distance from any more populated area of the county and experience the beauty of our farms, open land, and mountain ranges. Recently, Chambersburg Borough was listed by Niche Local as one of the best places to retire in Pennsylvania, and Franklin County was ranked 19 out of 67 counties for community health in the most recent report from County Health Rankings and Roadmaps. More than 40 years ago I came to live in Franklin County because I had to, but now I stay in Franklin County because I want to. I think I made the right decision.
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ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT
Commmunity
To honor Antonin Scalia's 25th year on the bench, a party was held at the Supreme Court where Corey Rotz offered a surprise performance. Here he is pictured (left) with Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg and Justice Scalia.
THE MUSIC MAN Amidst performing on stages from New York to Tokyo, tenor Corey Rotz never fails to miss an opportunity to return home for a performance in Chambersburg. BY CHERYL M. KEYSER
| PHOTOS BY TURNER PHOTOGRAPHY STUDIO
O
“
Once you have solid technique, you can sing anything.
”
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peratic tenor Corey Evan Rotz has sung many roles in his career, been mentored by Plácido Domingo, and continues to return home to Chambersburg and contribute to the musical institution that imparts a welcoming home base. At times he has stretched himself between St. James Boarding School in Hagerstown, where he taught voice and musical theater, to that pinnacle of operatic achievement, Carnegie Hall in New York City, where he made his 2007 debut in Tchaikovsky’s Maid of Orleans.
His tremendous talent was not recognized as a young man growing up where he was just another kid attending the Chambersburg Area Senior High School who liked to sing and ride horses. “I was never exposed to classical music, much less opera,” says Corey. That is, until he went to Shenandoah College in Virginia. “I started out there as a baritone, singing in the ‘lower registers,’ until one of my teachers asked me why I was using that voice. ‘You’re a tenor,’ he said.” Thus was born a career which has reached the heights of international renown.
Preparing him further, one of his teachers insisted that he needed more work on his technique. That involves such things as breathing, posture, body alignment, and vowel formation. “Once you have solid technique, you can sing anything,” Corey recalls. Despite his natural abilities and arduous training, he still wasn’t sure of the direction he wanted to go. “No one tells you in college how to have a career.” Entering the world of performing arts presents the ultimate challenge for any aspiring artist: the audition. “You enter a rehearsal room with 20 other people and realize each one followed a different path to get there. And then you stand alone on a relatively empty stage and get about seven minutes to sing an aria and a half,” Corey says. And even with a favorable audition, there are no guarantees. “You just have to mind your time,” says Corey, who adds “especially considering that I was often the youngest person in competition for a role.” With the help of a friend, he signed up for a position in the chorus of the Washington National Opera at the Kennedy Center in Washington, D.C. “I was totally apathetic and I didn’t want to go to the audition.” But despite his tentative approach, not only did the chorus master who knew of his talent warmly welcome him, he was also the recipient of several contracts for work through the next year. The following season he auditioned again, winning a role as an animal vendor in Strauss’ Der Rosenkavalier. “I carried around a Lhasa Apso at the concert hall of the Kennedy Center,” he laughed. When Plácido Domingo was appointed artistic, and then general, director of the WNO in 1996, that door opened wider. In 1999, Corey was cast in Mozart’s Abduction from the Seraglio, which is where his voice was first heard by the famous tenor.
“That was fortunate timing,” says Corey. “I learned most of my craft from working with and understudying for Domingo.” He eventually performed with Plácido in Verdi’s Otello, on the WNO’s tour of Japan. This acceptance from a major figure in the opera world is a significant breakthrough for any singer, and Corey did not take this commendation lightly. He saw the opportunity, and took it. When Corey appeared in a zarzuela (a form of light opera sung
primarily in Spain), Plácido coached him in Spanish. Corey also sings in Italian, French, German, and, of course, English. “I have been blessed with a good ear in terms of language,” he says. Considering that so many roles are written in languages other than English, projecting one’s voice with the right intonation in another language is a major part of operatic training. He has sung in many roles as varied as the Italian opera The
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ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT
Commmunity
Here, Corey performs as the gentleman soldier, Cassio, in a performance of Verdi’s Otello.
Barber of Seville, the German oneact Salome, the Russian opera The Queen of Spades, and the French opera The Tales of Hoffman, just to name a few. But his most challenging was as the tortured Captain Ahab in the American classic,
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Moby Dick. “The first act alone was 300 pages long. And I also had to walk on a peg leg on a stage raked at a 35 degree angle,” he notes. In all, Corey has sung in over 420 performances with the Washington National Opera. As
he put it: “When you are a professional, you don’t miss a concert.” That maxim is evidenced by an event to which that Paula Hepfer, executive director of the Cumberland Valley School of Music in Chambersburg (CVSM), can attest: “We had put together a musical Christmas program at the Inn at Ragged Edge where they a have a wonderful Steinway piano when Corey notified me that he had an emergency.” The Washington National Opera had called to let Corey know that one of the cast members in its production of Hansel & Gretel (an opera based on the fairy tale) was ill and he would need to play the witch. Not only did he sing two performances at the WNO that Saturday, but he was here in Chambersburg — some two hours away — for rehearsals on Sunday. “I have always found his voice and his passion for music exciting,” Paula says, and adds that Corey’s loyalty may be all that trumps that passion. His ties to the school extend from a scholarship set up in the name of his most admired teacher, Margaret Weeks — the first teacher to join the faculty of CVSM, teaching at its voice and drama camp for children from the 4th to the 8th grades — to returning for periodic performances. The latter are his favorites, for the ability to, as he describes it, “transition to my lighter side,” with concerts of music from the Great American Songbook, such as those made famous by Frank Sinatra and Broadway. For these occasions, he dons his tux, speaks directly to his audience, and croons in his marvelous tenor instrument those pieces that are part of a national heritage. And if you listen well, you may well hear the young man from Chambersburg who still sings in the stairwells of the CVSM just because the acoustics are so great.
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“My
dad was the grocery-getter of the family. My mom was always so darn pleased when she'd unpack the brown paper bags to find Martin’s potato rolls! She'd say, ‘Mmmmm...now I could really throw my lip over one of those!’" says 49year-old Holly Koons O’Leary about growing up in Waynesboro.
When Julie Martin sat down with her grandmother Lois Martin a few years back to record her memories of starting what is now Martin’s Famous Pastry Shoppe, she showed Lois a picture of Michelle Obama eating a trendy Shake Shack burger on a Martin’s potato roll. Recalls Julie, “I asked Grandma, ‘Did you ever think the First Lady of the United States would be eating your rolls?’ Grandma just kind of laughed and shook her head and said ‘No, we were just trying to feed our family.’” Lois did indeed feed her family. But since 1955, when she and husband Lloyd started baking their potato rolls in a onecar garage in Chambersburg and selling them at local farmers markets, Martin’s rolls and bread have fed millions of people far beyond Franklin County. Today, Martin’s is the top selling hamburger bun in the country, and the number two hot dog roll. Two huge plants turn out approximately 20 million rolls and loaves of bread every week for daily distribution to 15 states and export abroad. And it’s not uncommon to see Food Network celebrity chefs put their gourmet burgers on Martin’s rolls. What hasn’t changed is that Martin’s Famous Pastry Shoppe is still a family-run business based in Franklin County, as committed to Lois and Lloyd’s ethic of sharing profits with charity as they are to baking. And the rolls…well, there’s still something about them that has made them best sellers for decades.
they drove their rolls to farmers markets every Saturday. “Grandpa would drop off Dad and some supplies at the first one, Grandma at the second, and he would go to the third one,” says Julie. Lois and Lloyd made a great team. Lois was the original baker, always looking for a way to do it better. When she was 10 years old, she learned to make potato rolls from her mother and sold them door-to-door in their Shippensburg neighborhood. When her parents moved to Chambersburg to start Wenger’s bakery in 1942, Lois was in the kitchen baking. Lloyd, who grew up on a Franklin County farm, was the natural salesman, Julie says, “so happy you just wanted to buy stuff from him.” When he and Lois turned the garage behind their house into a bakery, Lloyd was also the peeler of the thousands of potatoes that ended up in the rolls. In the following decades, the Martins made smart business decisions that took them from the garage to the bakery on Lincoln Way, which they named Martin’s Famous Pastry Shoppe, to account for the 130 items in the cases, and later a restaurant in the front. In 1978, they opened the first Martin’s industrial bakery — the start of today’s complex on Potato Roll Lane. “The potato rolls were really taking off. They said, ‘This is where we can take it and run with it, this is where we’re unique and really gifted,’” says Julie.
✦ A Family Affair
✦ Spreading the Goodness
The first thing you see when you walk into the new Martin’s visitors center outside their Chambersburg plant is a shiny 1954 Dodge Coronet, a replica of the Martins’ first delivery vehicle. Like the original, the trunk is loaded with sticky buns — fakes so realistic there’s a sign that says “Do not eat” — and the backseat is removed and filled with trays of potato rolls. In the 1950s, Lloyd and Lois Martin and son Jim shared the front bench seat as
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Martin’s trucks hit the interstates, and Martin’s rolls began catching on outside of Franklin County. They moved into stores in Philadelphia and New York, and eventually through the northeastern corridor. When snowbirds headed down to Florida for the winter, they still wanted their Martin’s rolls. “For a while, we were shipping it all down there,” Julie says. “We decided we needed another facility.” So in 2007,
Building a Brand Martin’s Pasty Shoppe wasn’t always famous. What started as a mom-and-pop shop out of Lois and Lloyd Martin’s garage has blossomed into one of the premier brands of bread in the country. While visitors aren’t allowed inside the production facility, there is a small welcome center showcasing the period of time Martin’s got things started.
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“I asked Grandma, ‘Did you ever think the First Lady of the United States would be eating your rolls?’ Grandma just kind of laughed and shook her head and said
‘No, we were just trying
to feed our family.’”
Martin’s built its first plant outside of Franklin County, in Valdosta, Ga. They also added new products — the latest favorite being the cinnamon-raisin swirl potato bread. Like Lois and Lloyd’s move out of the garage bakery, each venture includes some risk, says Julie. “You take a look at the market, you take a look at your product, you do as much assessment as you can, and then, as we do, we pray. Okay here’s the data, let’s pray for wisdom.”
✦ There’s Gold In Them Thar Rolls “I could never figure out where the heck the potato was hidden in those things!” Holly Koons O’Leary.
Lois Martin’s potato rolls were indeed made with real potatoes, peeled, boiled, and mashed with milk, then mixed with the flour, sugar, and yeast. Lois also added yellow food coloring to some of the rolls, to give them that soft golden color. The Martins took both the white and the yellow versions to the farmers markets, and, says Julie Martin, “The yellow outsold the others every time.” Over the years, some ingredients have changed. The potatoes and the milk now are dried, and the flour is from high protein wheat. Martin’s stopped using the dough conditioner azodicarbonamide (ADA) and switched from soybean oil to non-GMO sunflower oil. “We stay on top of scientific studies, because we want to eat as healthy as we can too,” Julie Martin says. And the yellow color? Well, the artificial food coloring is gone, replaced by a combination of turmeric and annatto, which add color but no flavor.
Customers’ Choice The Martin’s worked their buns off to get their rolls into backyard barbecues, and today can even be found in hip burger joints all around the county.
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Egg Salad Sandwich Recipe courtesy Martin’s Famous Pastry Shoppe ✦ 2 slices Martin’s Whole Wheat Potato Bread ✦ 2 hard-boiled eggs ✦ Lettuce ✦ 2 tablespoons mayonnaise ✦ ¼ teaspoon mustard ✦ salt & pepper to taste ✦ paprika to taste ✦ 2 green onions chopped finely ✦ 1 stalk celery chopped finely ✦ 2 slices of tomato (optional) Once the eggs are hard-boiled, cool, peel, and chop. Place the eggs in a bowl, and stir in mayo, mustard, spices, green onion, and celery. Spread the egg salad over a piece of bread, top with lettuce and tomato, and enjoy.
✦ The Third Generation Martin’s Famous Pastry Shoppe is still a family business. Lois and Lloyd have passed away, but Jim Martin, who sat in the Dodge on the way to farmers markets, is the company president. Jim’s four kids all worked in the plant to earn college money, but it wasn’t a foregone conclusion they would make a career at Martin’s. “When we were growing up, Dad told us, ‘Figure out what you want to do, get educated on it, then someday if you want to work at Martin’s, we’ll talk,’” says Julie Now, all four have come back to Franklin County from other professions and other parts of the country to help run the business. As the Martins have done since the garage bakery, they are keeping an eye to the future, using social
media, testing new products, and getting products into new states. “Grandma and Grandpa started it, Dad took it wholesale into the stores, now the four of us are thinking ‘How can we do better, how can we expand, how can we take a good product and make it better?’” says Julie.
✦ Franklin County Hip It’s a great time to be a Martin’s roll. Shake Shack — one of today’s most popular new burger joints — raves on its website about how they use only Martin’s rolls in locations from Midtown Manhattan to Dubai and London. Food Network chef Bobby Flay’s burger chain uses Martin’s sesame buns, and Rachel Ray — who recently published a burger cookbook — told
Julie, “I love your rolls!” And celebrity restaurateur Marc Murphy’s recipe for his slightly decadent Ditch Dogs notes: “Martin's brand preferred.” But even as celebrity has cast its glow on Martin’s, for people who have grown up on them, the pillowy rolls are more than just the latest thing. Lexie Keller Sheard grew up in Waynesboro and has since lived far from where she could buy them. “I have tried to search for pale replacements around the globe, but nothing compares,” she says. “Thailand was a total bust and I had high hopes for Australia. ... but darn it, Martin’s, if you didn't spoil me for life.” To find more recipes for what to do with your Martin’s rolls, head to their website to find top-rated recipes. Or if you think your recipe is worth sharing, submit your own recipe and we’ll share it for others to enjoy! ✦ www.potatorolls.com ✦
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Smoking a pipe will give you a respite from the daily grind to clear your mind or collect your thoughts. The aroma of pipe smoke is so unique that it can provide you with an instant time machine, catapulting you back to your childhood at your father’s or grandfather’s knee. It is an ancient habit performed in moderation with a wide variety in the quality of pipes, from the lowly corncob to the fancy meerschaum.
J.M. Boswell, of Chambersburg, has been making his worldrenowned pipes for over 40 years. “I make 3,000 pipes a year, J.M. says. “We do a lot of custom work and we ship pipes all over the world to places I have never heard of.” And J.M. takes pride in the fact that they make their world-renowned pipes for the working guy. Each Boswell pipe is unique. It is cut from Mediterranean briarwood, which is the best wood for a pipe due to its heat resistance and ability to absorb moisture. “I never start to make a pipe with a thought in my mind,” J.M. says. “I just have a bare block and a pencil and I just start cutting.” Though he prefers the more traditional pipes, J.M. also does a lot of freehand and exotic pipes. “I don’t get caught up in the artist stuff, as you are only as good as the next thing you do. Ours are engineered in a certain way to make a better draft.” “It is the thickness of wood, the stem draft, the engineering that we have perfected over the years that makes ours better,” J.M. says. “I have developed my own system to suit me and I don’t use any jigs. I use machines, but it is all by look and feel.” “All eye and hand coordination. All the holes of the draft in the bottom that creates the smoke are done by hand. That is what separates us from the rest.” The most difficult pipe to make is an Oom-Paul, which is known for its deep bend. “When you can make a good one in a half-hour you are a true pipe maker and that is the bar,” J.M. says. “I have no issue with it, never have.” But it’s not about just churning a product out. “I do not make anything that will not smoke. It has to be proportional with the thickness of wood, mouthpiece, and it is all equally proportioned to the tobacco hole.” J.M. doesn’t consider himself an artist or craftsman, but a professional pipe maker, as it is what he does to pay the bills. He has worked long hours since he started his own shop back in 1980 after learning the craft from Richard Johnson. “I was 22 years old, married three years, and my son was 9 months old.” J.M. remembers. So he had to go to work, and applied for a job at Ingersoll Rand. “By happenstance, as I drove through Chambersburg, and on the second block of South Main Street there was a tiny little store with a sign in the window that said ‘will remodel to suit.’” J.M. looked at his wife, then back to the store, and said to his wife, “That is where my store is going to be.” With $350 in the bank, a mortgage payment, and an old car, J.M. took $175 and rented that store where he started. That store housed his business for a mere 18 months before he expanded down the street, which eventually gave way to his present location 20 years ago. “In the old days we made up to 20,000 pipes a year,” J.M. explains. The brand went national in 1982 and started selling their pipes to stores throughout the country in every state in the union. “You have to work at it all the time, as it is very time-consuming and very intense. The only way you can make money in this business is time.” Most of his customers are collectors who prize them for the beauty of the wood and the creativity of the pipe. He has done some of the biggest functioning pipes in the world, and just completed one that he sold for $2,000.
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“Pipe smoking takes work,” J.M. says. “You have to sit down and work it. You take the time to smoke it, and that is the idea, it slows you down. It makes you stop being caught up in all of the day-to-day life stuff.” J.M. adds that it’s about enjoyment, and if done right — smoked for taste and not inhaled — is when it’s most enjoyable. “Most true pipe smokers are not addicted, J.M. says, because the smoke’s not inhaled into the lungs — as pipes were never intended for that. “I want people to live a long and
You cannot sell pipes if you don’t have good tobacco to put in them. It takes me years to come up with a new blend, as it has to be —J.M. Boswell
just right. prosperous life. Part of that is smoking a pipe to help them relax to eliminate the stress that is beating people down today.” J.M. knows from personal experience how the pipe cuts stress. “I have customers in their 90s,” he states. “Most times they are picking up the pipe and just holding it. It is something they do to clear their mind. When I get into a tough situation I get my pipe, I puff and it just breaks the train of thought.” He adds that it’s not the business itself that’s stressful — at least for J.M. — it’s all the stuff that comes with keeping the business going like dealing with taxes, regulations, and the like. But he deals with it fairly easily, he says, thanks to finding time to smoke his pipe. Most people have the image of a pipe smoker as an older bearded professional person, but that is not necessarily the case as there are many young men who are coming a long way to get their hands on a Boswell pipe. About 60 percent of their business is Internet based — and that is not just pipes, but blended tobacco as well. “All the tobacco we have, we blend,” says J.M., who has been working on his offerings for 40 years to perfect them. To date, Boswell’s offers 28 blends to which they add their own organic flavorings to be mild. “You cannot sell pipes if you don’t have good tobacco to put in them. It takes me years to come up with a new blend, as it has to be just right.” Just right and unique are the bywords of J.M. Boswell. He makes each pipe the best one he has done and takes pride in his ability to make the best in the world. “You have to control your atmosphere,” J.M. says. “I’m a professional pipe maker. Nothing more, and nothing less. If I were a ditch digger I would want to be
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the best one out there.” Though it’s more than just resolve for J.M. He asserts enjoying and being dedicated to what he does plays no small part in his successes, and will also lead to the brand’s longevity. “Boswell pipes are not going to go away.” With Internet sales leading the way — an aspect of the business J.M.’s daughter-in-law and wife take care of together — he admits that is the future, but insists he will always have a storefront. In fact, plans have just been finalized to open up a sister store this June in Alexandria, Pa. “I love the people and we need a destination for the pipes.”
Pipe Up J.M. Boswell & Son 586 Lincoln Way East Chambersburg, Pa. 17201 717.264.1711 www.boswellpipes.com
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The
Fall Of The
Fly Written by
JaMes Rada, JR.
the roaring ’20s ushered in the rise of daredevils, and the dangerous feats played out no more perilously than in downtown Chambersburg.
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Many a young boy loves to cliMb a tree, pushing the liMits of gravity to see how high he can cliMb, while reveling in the rush of adrenaline as the ground grows farther and farther away. those boys grow up though, and realize that if they should fall, they could be seriously injured. Other boys just never seem to outgrow that urge to climb; they become daredevils. In the early 20th century, these climbers earned the handle of “Human Fly.� They toured the country, accepting the challenge to climb the tallest buildings in any town. Although many of the famous Human Flies
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were active only in the first couple decades of the 20th century, Human Fly John Ciampa climbed buildings in the 1940s and early 1950s. Human Fly George Willig even climbed the World Trade Center in 1977, and Human Fly Rick Rojatt was a stunt rider in the 1970s. Way back in 1924, plans to have an open-air attraction from New York City entertain the crowds during Old Home Week in Chambersburg fell through, so Human Fly George Oakley, “one of the most daring of present-day human flies,” according to The Franklin Repository, was invited as a replacement act. He was going to be performing in Hagerstown the week before, so it fit perfectly in his schedule.
onto the tube and then he would scale the wall to the window where he would wait for her until she had dropped the tube from the window above,” The Franklin Repository reported. It was an exciting show that left people holding their breath and shutting their eyes when the tension became too great. During the Sunday night performance, thousands of people gathered to watch George repeat his daring deeds. After his first stunt, his assistant, Anna Vivian Murray, urged him to rest a bit before scaling the tall bank building. But George waved off her concerns and told her that he was in a hurry and wanted to leave Chambersburg that evening. It would be at least 9 p.m. by the time that he finished. “He kissed me and sent me upstairs with the tube,” Anna said later. Anna went into the building to wait at the second-floor window and George soon began his climb. Minutes later, as he neared the fourth floor and hooked his cane on the inner tube, the crowd heard a “dull snap.” The inner tube had broken, and the cane went flying off into the crowd. “His fall was unbroken except by one man who rushed in in an attempt to save him,” The Repository reported. George landed on his left side, crashing hard against the pavement. The crowd screamed and several women fainted. Because of the dense throng of crowds, the police and rescue personnel had trouble getting to George. Four men lifted George and put him into a cab. Anna — who was said to be his wife — had reached his side by that time. George was still conscious, and two things were on his mind. He asked for a priest and inquired how far he had fallen. “Only three stories. You’re all right. George. You’re more scared than hurt, you’ll be all right,” Anna told him. This was not George’s first accident in his six years of daredevil climbing. His first accident had actually happened earlier in the year on July 4, when George fell a story and a half while
It was aN excItINg show that left people holdINg theIr breath aNd shuttINg theIr eyes wheN the teNsIoN became too great. George arrived for a pair of evening of performances on the last Saturday and Sunday of August. Upon arrival, it was noted that he did not have the appearance of a daredevil. He was a 36year-old man of medium height and a stout build. As planned, George performed two daredevil feats for the crowds. For the first stunt, according to The Franklin Repository, “He will stand on his head on the front bumper rail of an auto, which will attain a speed of 30 miles an hour and suddenly stop. When it stops, Oakley will turn a somersault in the air, and land in the street right side up.” The second feat was just as, if not more, dangerous. He scaled the outside of the Chambersburg Trust building. “In scaling the walls he used a cane and an automobile inner tube. Someone would precede him to each story inside the building and hold the tube against the outside. The cane he used to hook
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climbing a building in Scottsdale, Ariz. He walked away from that fall with nothing more than an injured left hand. However, the possibility of greater injuries was not beyond the thoughts of George. Mere weeks before the “dull snap” that led to his unwelcome descent upon the Chambersburg sidewalk, George’s climbing partner was killed in a stunt involving an airplane and a malfunctioning parachute that failed to open. Upon his arrival at Chambersburg Hospital an examination showed that George had a number of broken bones, including lower vertebrae, his pelvis, ribs, in his left arm, and his breastbone, with many of the bones being broken in multiple places. Additionally, The Franklin Repository reported that his “nervous system [was] suffering much from shock.” George remained conscious for several hours. Father Noel of Corpus Christ Catholic Church arrived to deliver last rites. Throughout the night George’s condition grew worse and Anna and a young boy remained by his bedside. George died early the next morning. His body was taken to H. W. Cramer’s for preparation for burial. His wife, Clara, arrived from Cleveland, Ohio, which surprised many people because George had introduced Anna as his wife, and the young boy as his son. According to George’s World War I draft registration card, not only was George married, but he had three children. During the coroner’s inquest, Anna admitted that she and George hadn’t been married, but had been planning to wed. “I loved George as I thought I could never love any man. We were to be married within a month. I never knew he was a married man — if he really was,” she said. More importantly, she told the jurors that Chambersburg had been the first time that she had held the inner tube for one of George’s climbs. Chief Byers and Motorcycle Officer Suder tested the tube using the top of an open door at police headquarters to stretch the tube over, and Officer Suder reported that it broke under little strain. In the end, it appeared that it was simply a faulty or weak inner tube that was the culprit. Coroner Shull ruled the death of Human Fly George Oakley as accidental.
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FOOD Gastropub
A PUBLIC DISPLAY OF PERFECTION The John Allison Public House has a dish and setting for every palate. BY BETH ROWLAND
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And if you’re lucky and it’s on the menu when you visit, make sure to leave room for the chocolate peanut butter ganache torte. This out-of-thisworld dessert isn’t just homemade, it’s “owner-made.”
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PHOTOS BY TURNER PHOTOGRAPHY
omething for everyone.” That’s a promise often given but rarely kept in the real world, sad to say. But at Greencastle’s John Allison Public House, that promise does indeed hold true. The restaurant’s newish space (acquired last fall) offers enough variety under the same roof to please any guest’s hankerings or suit any mood. While the old location in downtown Greencastle was spacious, the current location on South Antrim Way (Route 11) has 7,200 total feet of space, arranged
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into sections offering different hospitality atmospheres. Guests can cheer on their favorite team or have a quiet romantic dinner or conduct a business meeting. The tavern room is a classic sports bar, its walls a rich deep blue with six largescreen HDTVs and arcade games lining the walls. Pub tables make this the least formal room at the John Allison Public House. “A big kid’s playroom,” owner John Flannery calls it. The adjoining pub room’s bar is 60 feet long, and offers six regular on-tap
craft beers with an additional dozen rotating drafts, and more TVs lining the walls. Despite its size, the pub room has a cozy “at home” feel, with a ceiling lined with hundreds of beer steins. Many of these tankards are “owned” by members of the restaurant’s Beer Club. For a $100 fee, members receive a personalized stein, a shirt emblazoned with the club’s logo and member’s name, and special discounts on food and drink. The pub room flows into a large lounge-type dining area, with tables and booths and six more TVs, and a stage for live entertainment on Friday and Saturday nights from 9 p.m. to midnight. There’s also room to get up and dance — if one is so inclined. Deep burgundy walls with
dark brown furniture and appointments give this area a warm and luxurious feel, while remaining cozy and intimate. A doorway separates the lounge area from the dining room — the most formal area of the place. Even though the dining room is in close proximity to the other areas with their music and TVs, the dining room feels
Think you don’t like salad? Try the Black and Blue, which is blackened steak, topped with roasted peppers that sit atop a bed of leafy mixed greens, and is finished with crumbled Gorgonzola cheese.
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FOOD Gastropub worlds apart. It’s quiet and elegant without being intimidatingly so. Seasonally, the outside deck is open and is a popular spot for the Public House’s regulars; the “Is it open?” phone calls begin as soon as the weather turns nice. It also has TVs installed along the main wall (there are actually 24 high-definition large screen TVs throughout the restaurant). Even though heavily trafficked Antrim Way is just beyond, the patio gives the impression of being far flung from the hustle and bustle, and on a sunny day feels like a mini-vacation. The restaurant also offers a large banquet room for parties or meetings. Regarding the food, one sure way to pick a fight in this region is to talk about who has the best crab cake. Although the John Allison Public House refers to its version as a “Signature Crab Cake,” they could Feeling crabby? Cheer yourself up with the Signature Crab Cake, which sits 3 inches high, and is paired with shaved Brussels sprouts, which are lightly sautéed and lightly drizzled with lemon juice.
also call it one of the best — if not the very best — in the region. It’s huge, sits over 3 inches high, and is mostly crab with light spices. Accompanying the crab cake on one recent day were shaved Brussels sprouts, lightly sautéed, a hint of salt and pepper and a drizzle of lemon juice. Even those who think they don’t like Brussels sprouts will love this side dish. The John Allison Public House is known for its burgers and burger
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FOOD Gastropub specials — on Wednesdays all burgers are 50 percent off. The Pub Burger is the most popular, says John, and it’s easy to see why. A full 8 ounces of Angus beef is topped with onion rings, sautéed mushrooms, and smoked Gouda, and served on a fabulous potato roll with all the trimmings, and a generous portion of hand-cut fries round out the dish. On the salad side of the menu, the Black and Blue is a standout. Blackened steak, roasted peppers, tomatoes, and Gorgonzola cheese top
fresh mixed greens on this winner of a meal. The menu also offers a full range of appetizers, soups, sandwiches, and entrées, including steaks that at least one reviewer describes as “like cutting butter.” And if you’re lucky and it’s on the menu when you visit, make sure to leave room for the chocolate peanut butter ganache torte. This out-of-this world dessert isn’t just homemade, it’s “owner-made.” John Flannery is the only person on staff who makes it. And it’s that kind of personal touch that John and his wife Ame bring to the John Allison Public House. “We think of people who come here as guests,” says John, “not ‘customers.’”
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The couple also own Flannery on the Square in Mercersburg, and The Dressing Room — an upscale home décor and clothing consignment shop, also in Mercersburg. In fact, it was the expertise gained over 10 years with Flannery on the Square that led the Flannerys to open the John Allison Public House at the first Greencastle location a little over five years ago. The restaurant quickly became known for its selections of draft beers and great American fare. While the Flannerys were happy with
GO PUBLIC!
THE JOHN ALLISON PUBLIC HOUSE 155 S. Antrim Way Greencastle, Pa. 17225 717.643.0218 www.johnallisonpublichouse.com Mon–Thur: 11 a.m.–11 p.m. (Kitchen closes at 9 p.m.) Fri–Sat: 11 a.m.–12 a.m. (Kitchen closes at 10 p.m.) Sun: 11 a.m.–9 p.m. (Kitchen closes at 8 p.m.)
that location, they did feel somewhat limited in their ability for growth. So when Cal Morris, the owner of Casey’s Bar & Grill on Antrim Way retired and closed his restaurant, John and Ame jumped at the opportunity to purchase the building and expand their operation. Their clientele followed them, along with their staff. John Flannery says the team is a big part of the restaurant’s success. “We have a great staff here. We’re like a big family,” he says. Ame agrees. “I don’t have to
worry with the people we have working here. I can go home at night and know it’s in good hands.” As proof of the “like family” comment, General Manager Jeff Bruckhart has worked with the Flannerys in both locations for over nine years. His assistant, Janelle Smithwick, is married to Head Chef Ian Smithwick. And just who is the John Allison in the name? Well, he was actually the founder of Greencastle, back in 1782, whose father ran a tavern — or “public house” — at the crossroads of what are now Baltimore and Carlisle streets, right around the corner from the restaurant today.
THEN And Now quick tour through the archives of the friendliest old jail in the country — which also happens to be the home base for the Franklin County Historical Society — reveals that while some embellishments and architectural trends may change, a structure’s façade often largely stays the same.
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Public Opinion | What was once the site of the Cumberland Valley Railroad Passenger Station, has since been streamlined, and is now home to the Public Opinion newspaper.
White Building Built in 1896, the H.M. White Building was purchased in 1913 for $50,000, and became the home of F&M Trust in July 1918. Employees of the bank took care of the heavy lifting, and moved all the machines, supplies, and money in peach baskets.
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Market House | Located at the corner of South Second and East Queen streets, the Market House was saved during the burning of Chambersburg on account of proximity to the Methodist church. Today, the building serves as the Borough Office and Chambersburg Police Department.
Quaker State | Once the place where locals filled up their cars, 108 Lincoln Highway is now the spot to fill up your belly. Currently, the building houses The Historic Texas Lunch, and the Doh-Nuh T Company.
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WHILE YOU WERE OUT
Come back soon.
OKTOBERFEST evelers didn’t need to descend from Deutschland to enjoy a day’s worth of Bavarian-inspired festivities in downtown Chambersburg on the first Saturday in October. The slightly damp, yet fun-filled day included lots of music, food, and games provided by local vendors, and some excellent craft beer, cider and root beer provided by Roy-Pitz Brewing Company. In addition to the standard fare, the John H. Harmon Memorial 5K, North Square Farmers Market, and Duck Derby took place, with proceeds used for downtown revitalization efforts. Don’t forget to dust off your dirndls and lederhosen for this year’s event, which is slated for Oct. 1.
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ICEFEST
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iles of snow weren’t enough to keep plenty of mittened merrymakers away from downtown Chambersburg for the 14th annual Icefest during the last week of January. There were a bounty of events and 80 majestic sculptures lining Main Street, which were prepared by DiMartino Ice Co., and the festivities culminated in a 5K run that was new to the event this past year. The always popular double-wide ice slide was carved at the Capitol Theatre parking lot, and the Snowfall Ball returned this year, as did the chili cook-off, cake decorating competition, and the polar dunk plunge.
APPLEFEST he skies were blue, and the smell of food wafted all the way down Main Street during this free, family event in downtown Chambersburg, which has had an annual lock on the third Saturday in October. The festival featured gastronomic goodies served from food truck and tents,
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where street food reigned king, as well as art, crafts, music, kids’ activities, and even carnival rides. Apple haters (is that a thing?) still had plenty to celebrate and enjoy during this day-long event that’s not to be missed. And there’s already good news for the long-term planner — you can mark your calendar for Oct. 15 so as not to miss it this year!
COCOA CRAWL
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articipants came from all around Franklin County to vote for their favorite downtown merchant's hot cocoa recipe, while also being entered to win a $100 gift certificate to their favorite participating store on Dec. 4. The only snag was that more people came out than
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anticipated, resulting in a shortage of commemorative mugs — something they are planning on amending for this year. The 2015 Cocoa Crawl winner was Teas & Such, LLC, with Webb's Sports Bar netting second place, and C & C Coffee Company placing a respectable third.