Groundhog Day by Bill Anderson by Punxsutawney Hometown Magazine

Groundhog Day

The True Story of Punxsutawney Phil by Bill Ander son

Punxsutawney Groundhog Club Scribe, Tradition in Punxsutawney author of Groundhog Day: A Century ofHometown magazine ney sutaw and Publisher of Punx

uced, stored ssion of the publishers. No part of this publication may be reprod copying or otherwise, without written permi by any means, electronic, mechanical, photo

Punxsutawney Hometown magazine

rts Publishers: Bill Anderson and Mary Robe Penn Street h Nort 100, Suite ing, Build oad Railr P.O. Box 197, Punxsutawney, PA 15767 email: hometown@mail.com

Fax: (814) 938-9507 Phone: (814) 938-0312, (814) 938-9141

If Groundhog Day be fair and bright, Come, Winter, have another flight; If Groundhog Day brings cloud and rain, Go, Winter, and come not again.

An Old Gro und hog

The Groundhog Legend is centuries old. It recognizes a day that traces its roots into the shadowy past. But thanks to Punxsutawney, where the world’s only weather-forecasting Groundhog lives, the midwinter event is celebrated as an American tradition. As we all know, if Punxsutawney Phil steps out of his stump on February 2 and sees his shadow, he’ll dive back in and Punx’y gets six more weeks of cold

winter weather. Should the sun be obscured, Phil will frolic on Gobbler’s Knob and Punx’y will await spring — and will bathe in another year of media attention and publicity. Despite the weather, Punx’y Phil never disappoints his followers who shiver in the predawn darkness, eagerly anticipating his prognostication. It wasn’t always this way. Punxsutawney’s claim to fame and Phil’s popularity weren’t planned. Through a series of fun and half-witted adventures of a hundred years ago, our town and our most recognized resident soared to stardom.

The Beginning

coon dog licked to a frazzle, just turn him While most people know of loose on a seven-year-old woodchuck. Punxsutawney and Phil, not too many can The captured groundhogs were destined recount the historic details about how for the dinner table, and the hunting Punxsutawney became the Weather party cooked ‘em and ate ‘em right there Capital of the World. on the spot. It all started innocently in the autumn The boys returned to town with their ing look over hills the of 1899. Atop immodest tales. s Punx’y, on Luther Grube’s farm two mile They decided to do it again the by ed pilot — s local the south of town, wing year. This time, however, follo — Court Hoover, a salesman by trade while they were skinning ‘em and took to digging up groundhogs. cooking ‘em and while the fat was Each man in the hunting party had a sizzling, Doc Hughes, a Punx’y dentist, mattock, a legendary tool used to unearth juggled the first jug and brought into the groundhogs that were and still are as being the first recorded batch of “groundthick around Punxsutawney as are the hog punch,” a mysterious beverage that, pesky “ponkis.” according to Groundhog Legend, extends You think hunting groundhogs is a tame life seven years with each swig. sport? Try it. If you ever want to see your favorite 2

The History Maker

The first Groundhog Hunts and Feasts leaped into the history books. The foundation was laid for the greatest community publicity event in the history of mankind. It took an industrious and imaginative newspaper reporter with a fluid pen and uncontrollable imagination to figure out what it would all mean for Punx’y and, unforeseen by him, for the rest of the world. That group of a half-dozen young men could have remained as they were, content with digging up groundhogs, and faded into history if not for Clymer Freas of the local Punxsutawney newspaper. Freas took it upon himself to decide that this band of brothers would officially be named the Punxsutawney

Groundhog Club, a decision still echoing today through the halls of “Small Town Claims to Fame.” At every opportune moment, Freas began touting the escapades of his “groundhoggers” in his newspaper columns. The city editors caught on, too. They couldn’t resist telling the tales of the “live wire” organization in the little town with the strange name of Punxsutawney. With his pen in hand, Freas propelled the Groundhog, his club, and his small town to the top of the list of “celebrations by reason of peculiar products,” or perhaps, by “reasons of insanity.” It was a great moment for Punx’y, setting the stage for the goings-on over the next century. 3

awney Traveling to Punxsut ndhog Hunt and Feast was tabbed

Readers from Pittsburgh to Philadelphia and from Washington, D.C. to Buffalo were fascinated with the idea of digging up, catching, and eating groundhogs. Newspapermen, politicians, celebrities, and those just seeking adventure from near and far were eager to participate in the hunts. They journeyed to Punx’y to join in the high-colored autumn event and to enjoy a feast of woodchuck. From an attendance of six, the number increased in the early years until fully 300 disciples of Br’er Groundhog were present. And every tale was recounted in the pages of the metropolitan newspapers. The Pittsburgh Gazette referred to the Groundhog Club in 1903 as “an ancient and respected organization,” and the 4

Grou as “the greatest event of the year in Punxsutawney.” Groundhog hunting was successful beyond expectations, and the annual get-together saluting the festive tunnel diggers laid the groundwork for Punx’y to become the official home of the King of the Weather Prophets. In the early 1900s, Freas referred many times to the “groundhog weather prophet,” and “weather making” in Punx’y was receiving recognition amidst the hoopla of the Groundhog Hunts. On the heels of the famed hunts and feasts, Punxsutawney’s Feb. 2 weather prognostications were born.

The First Shadow

In 1906, Freas reached a new level with his imagination when he decided “the weather-forecasting groundhog” would be from Punxsutawney. “Can’t see his shadow today?” Freas wrote on February 2, 1906, “Why he is seeing it now!” For the first time, the Groundhog was officially reported as casting a shadow in Punxsutawney. Henceforth, each succeeding February 2 marked the day as to whether the “Punxsutawney Groundhog” would come out, or would stay back in. Freas, through his glowing accounts of Groundhog Day, maintained that the only groundhog who could properly interpolate a shadow lived in Punx’y. He baptized the town as the “Home of the Groundhog,” sanctifying Gobbler’s Knob

as the original location of the Weatherworks. “Promptly at 12:22 o’clock, p.m.,” Freas put forth in 1907, “a rift was riven in the overhanging clouds and Br’er Groundhog sallied forth, casting a shadow which shot through a shimmering sheen and sent a shaft of effervescent and effulgent rays athwart the cities of Punxsutawney and Lindsey with a rebound against John Hoffman’s tower on South Side which knocked his onion theory into smithereens. Br’er Woodchuck produced from his hip-pocket an escutcheon which contained a correct schedule for all things meteorological for the next six weeks.” The article sent shivers up and down the spines of anxious readers. 5

Weather-Town Aspirants his reputation as a

As Punx’y came to be known throughout the land as the “Groundhog Town,” other hamlets, jealous of the publicity Punx’y was gaining, began claiming groundhogs of their own as weather forecasters. Punxsutawney’s spirited boosters were not about to let that happen. At the same time Br’er Groundhog first saw his shadow in Punxsutawney, a young, flamboyant, rotund, country doctor decided to set up shop in the Groundhog Town. Dr. Francis Lorenzo, a surgeon and outdoorsman, took it upon himself to adopt the Groundhog and lead the “cold ss war” against groundhog pretenders acro the country. 6

Benefiting from physician and “Groundhog mixologist,” Dr. Lorenzo frowned upon any village that dared to invade Punx’y’s groundhog domain. He called them “Johnny-comelate-lies trying to horn in on the fame and publicity” of Punxsutawney. He invited trainloads of prominent people to Punxsutawney for the town’s two main events, the autumn hunt and Groundhog Day, and solidified Punx’y’s reputation as the “Weather Capital of the World.” Through six decades — 1906 - 1952 — Dr. Lorenzo spread the word and fame of the Punx’y Groundhog without the benefit of television and radio.

Ph il M e et s th e Pu bli c

Punx’y was committed to both its Groundhog and attributing the Groundhog Legend to Punxsutawney. Following in the steps of Dr. Lorenzo was no easy task, but, in the spirit of those first groundhoggers, Sam Light, a Punx’y coal operator and sportsman, picked up the acacia cane and began moving the Groundhog Legend to an even higher level. Light immediately bestowed “formality” upon the Groundhog Day tradition. Considering Phil a “Very Important Person” (VIP), he introduced a dress code — a silk hat and cutaway coat. Light opened the Groundhog Day

prognostications to the reporters and the public and, for the first time, the February 2 trek to Gobbler’s Knob became a popular media event. He ushered in a new era for Punx’y Phil during the 1950s with a great deal of color, pageantry, and a festive degree of showmanship. With the advent of television, Punx’y Phil was introduced to millions of American homes. “It’s such a happy story,” Light said, “that people everywhere love it. It’s one bright spot one day a year that people can just enjoy. On that day, the eyes of the world are on Punxsutawney.”

Phil Finds Fame Over the next several decades, Punx’y Phil emerged frequently on national television shows and continued his reign as “Weather King” each February 2. In his efforts to entertain his followers, he branched out from weather forecasting to take an imaginary and successful trip to the moon on a spaceship fueled with Groundhog Punch. Later he arrived on the Oprah Winfrey Show in an episode about “things that make small towns famous.” Phil appeared in headlines other than those on Groundhog Day. In 1986, gearing up for the Groundhog Club’s mythical one-hundredth birthday celebration, Punxsutawney’s most famous resident 8

was introduced to the nation’s most distinguished citizen, President Ronald Reagan. A Punxsutawney contingency, led by Groundhog Club President Jim Means, was cheerfully greeted by President Reagan in the Oval Room of the White House in March 1985. While reveling in the Groundhog Day publicity, no one in Punxsutawney, not even Phil, could see the fireball looming over the horizon at Gobbler’s Knob. In 1992, all of the history of Punxsutawney Phil would be eclipsed and Phil’s popularity would reach astronomical proportions because of one single event: Phil would become a movie star.

Phil and Bill

The newspapers reported, “Bill Murray, star of Saturday Night Live and the Ghostbusters movies . . . and scheduled to star as a TV weatherman in a new film called Groundhog Day, climbed to the Weatherworks for a personal meeting with Punxsutawney Phil.” The occasion would signal an exciting new dawn for Groundhog Day. “These are delicious when barbecued,” Murray joked, while holding Phil on Gobbler’s Knob. Phil, unruffled by the attention, sniffed at the microphone, but made no sound. “There are so many people to thank,

Phil didn’t know where to start,” Murray joked. “All hail Groundhog supremacy,” Murray proclaimed as he left the Knob. And “All hail Groundhog supremacy” the nation did. The movie was released in 1993. Bill Murray played the part of a television weatherman, Phil Connors, who only had one day to live, over and over and over, in Punxsutawney. It was a huge box-office success. It was a bigger success for Punxsutawney and Punx’y Phil.

Groundhog Wild Groundhog Day in Punxsutawney would never be the same. Phil’s faithful had gone “Groundhog Wild!” Following the release of the movie, tens of thousands of moviegoers, wishing a glimpse of Phil, packed the icy woods surrounding Gobbler’s Knob. “An outdoor bash that looked like a summertime rock concert, complete with bare-chested men, bikini-clad girls, and fireworks,” one reporter wrote. “I think we’ve created a monster,”

Groundhog Club President Bud Dunkel said, viewing the unruly throng awaiting Phil’s celebrated moment. “We heard it’s ragin’,” said a college student from Villanova, who, on a lark, a drove five hours through the night with s. mate class carload of The movie was an “open” invitation to tens of millions of viewers to come to Punxsutawney to join the “mob at the Knob” and to take part in the good-time t antics and absurdity of a midwinter even of a lifetime.

Ph il an d Ou r To w n

The early Groundhog Days, the shadow day of the year, they live, work, and play casting, and the publicity that made toge ther the remaining 364 for a better Groundhog Day what it is today tomo rrow. Unlike Phil Connors, howevcertainly wasn’t planned. Nevertheless, er, Punx sutawney “nailed it” a long time through the decades, it has all worked ago. out well for the little town with the The movie was a tremendous tourism peculiar name. boost for the community. The members The town has been blessed with many of the Groundhog Club and spirited citizens who have a love for their resid ents have worked to Groundhog-ize Groundhog and community. As corny as the town, assuring that the tens of it may sound — just as it was in the thousands of “faithful followers” know movie — the people of Punxsutawney groundhogs are the most valuable have grasped what Groundhog Day is all resource and Perfect Groundhog about, knowing that while it is just one Weather is abundant in Punxsutawney.

Finding the Shadow the Rest of the Year Those traveling to Punxsutawney in search of groundhogs will find much to their interest with groundhogs appearing at every turn. One of the most famous landmarks in Punx’y is Gobbler’s Knob, a small clearing of woods located on a hill overlooking the town. The amphitheater-like setting hosts Punx’y Phil’s annual emergence and is easily accessible. Located off Woodland Avenue, it is the official home of the Groundhog Club. A marker at the entrance to Gobbler’s Knob identifies the site as a Pennsylvania Historic Landmark. “Where can I see a groundhog?” is the most frequently asked question by visi12

tors to Punx’y. The Groundhog Zoo is the year-round home of Punx’y Phil. He greets thousands of visitors who clamor at the large window to catch a glimpse of the worldfamous Groundhog. The zoo is located in the Punx’y Civic Complex adjacent to the park in downtown Punx’y. Phil can be found at the zoo all but one day a year, when he enigmatically pops up at Gobbler’s Knob to perform his legendary prognostication. The giant, wooden Groundhog, as seen in the movie, is located at the bottom of the Indiana Hill, Route 119 south of Punxsutawney.

Photo Phil

Opportunities for colorful photos abound in Punxsutawney. Appearing throughout the “Weather Capital of the World” are the winsome, six-foot-tall, fiberglass Groundhogs known as “Phantastic Phils.” Sponsored by Punxsutawney groups, organizations, and businesses, the Phantastic Phils promote the hometown legend. Each groundhog statue is unique, reflecting the personality of the sponsor. The large Groundhogs can be found on nearly every Downtown street corner. They include: • Punxsutawney Phil

• Get Your Phil of Roses • Ponksutenink Phil • Look at the View Phil • It’s a WonderPhil World • There’s Work to be Done Phil • Phil’d With Love Phil • Start to Finish Phil • Freedom Phil • Fireman Phil • Through the Eyes of Pizzaria Phil • The Spirit of Punxsutawney • Philtuminous: The Heritage Hog • Mary A. Philson Undercover • One Dollar Phil • Postcards from Phil • It’s Springtime for Phantastic Phyllis • Phil Your Piggy Bank • A Garden Philled with Memories • Presby MacPhil • Phil’d with Service • Phil My Prescription, Please • and more.

g Summertime with the Groundhoers, comedi-

Not to be overshadowed by Groundhog Day, Punxsutawney’s biggest celebration g of the year is the summertime Groundho Festival, a week-long, fun-filled event, which draws tens of thousands of visitors, in addition to most Punx’y residents, to Barclay Square, located in downtown Punxsutawney. Audiences at Punxsutawney’s Groundhog Festival enjoy endless hours of all types of entertainment at no cost. Thanks to the generosity and cooperation of local corporate backers and more than one hundred sponsors, Punxsutawney stages one of the best festivals anywhere.

In addition to singers, danc ans, musicians, puppets, craft stands, games, and more, there is the food court. “It’s a very special week for the town,” a member of the Groundhog Festival committee put forth. The highlight of the festival is the nightly entertainment. Each year, popular vocal and musical groups perform free concerts to the delight of the crowds. The looked-forward-to celebration, which grows bigger every summer, is usually held the week of July 4. It is organized by a committee of hardworking, community-minded volunteers.

The Groundhog Club and Picnic

The members of the Punxsutawney Groundhog Club have but one purpose: to preserve and promote the interest of their town by making known that the Groundhog residing on Gobbler’s Knob is the only authentic and reliable weather prognosticator in the world. Few would dispute Punx’y’s claim as the Weather Capital of the World. While magic and myth play a large part in the story of Punx’y Phil, the Groundhog Club’s history is accurately recorded and supported through documentation. Proudly promoted as the longestrunning small-town celebration in America, the Punxsutawney Groundhog Club continues to host the legendary picnic each autumn on Gobbler’s Knob.

The picnic has been observed for over one hundred years and, as tradition dictates, is the Groundhog Club’s official yearly meeting. The club invites all to become one of Punx’y Phil’s faithful followers by purchasing a ticket to the day-long outing, which honors the only true Weather Prophet. On this occasion, Punx’y Phil is given immortality through his annual dose of Groundhog Punch, which, with every swallow, adds seven years of longevity, therefore ensuring the legend will never die. The picnic is held on the second Saturday of each September at Gobbler’s Knob. 15

Century Phil in the Present each year our community opens its

Little did those first groundhog hunters envision how their autumn outing would lead to the recognition the community receives today. Clymer Freas put his pen to paper over a century ago to relay a beguiling yarn in an effort to gain exposure for the community he loved. His goal was realized beyond anyone’s expectations. Punxsutawney has a groundhog that is known by his first name. The world eagerly awaits his appearance each February 2. Tens of thousands of fans and scores of cameramen trek to Gobbler’s Knob in the early morning hours to watch him exit his tree stump.

And doors and invites the world to the party. We Punxsutawneyites will continue to accommodate our guests and will expand the Groundhog Tale as far as the legend takes us. After all, when you have the greatest small-town story in the world, everyone will listen. “It’s about fun,” Pennsylvania Governor Ed Rendell said while visiting Punx’y on Groundhog Day, 2003. “It’s important to have fun and laugh amongst yourselves. There may be no place better in this country when it comes to having fun and laughing at yourselves than in Punxsutawney.”

Our Little Town

Groundhog history is made up of all the little stories about our town and its residents that have been passed on for over a span of three centuries. Punxsutawney Phil is a symbol of community pride. The Groundhog represents hundreds of caring residents who are committed to making Punxsutawney the right place to live and raise children. Through the years, as the scores of spirit ed citizens, who did their part in furthering the legend of the Groundhog, have come and gone, our spokesperson — ‘er spokesrodent — lives on and continues to tell the world about his pleasant little town. It was at the Groundhog Banquet in 1992, during the excitement of the upcoming movie, that I realized those in attendance had differing versions about

how Groundhog Day originated and evolved. I figured, with the coming of the movie, it was time to sort it all out. After nine months of searching around town — in the archives of the second floor of the old Spirit building, through the top floor of the historical society, within abandoned filing cabinets, and from end-to-end in the musty basements and dusty attics of many Punx’y homes — all that I found was published. I learned — through it all — that the record of Punxsutawney Phil is a true story of a modest community made up of warm-hearted people who grasped on to a “celebration by reason of a peculiar product” and made it their own. What a big little story it is. “Happy Groundhog Day.” — B.A.

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