#146 Holiday 2012 by Punxsutawney Hometown Magazine

On the cover: Students and teachers of Punxsutawney Christian School preparing for the annual Rotary Club Circle of Trees competition — (clockwise) Kerin Mesanko, Lorelei Beichner, Nick Venturini, Deanna Venturini, Cooper Stahlman and Alydia Stahlman

Photo by Courtney Katherine Photography

The Rotary Club's Circle of Trees has been a Punxsutawney Christmas tradition since 2007.

‘Punxsutawney Hometown’ magazine

The Christmas Spirit Hits Punxsutawney

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We are the only Punxsutawney-owned media! Punx’y Proud — Boosting our Hometown! Publishers William C. Anderson, Mary L. Roberts Advertising Mary L. Roberts Tracey Young Contributing Writers Marty Armstrong S. Thomas Curry Shirley Sharp Allie Shields Jennifer Wolfe Art Director Melissa Salsgiver Graphic Artists Melissa Salsgiver Joanna McConnell Nicole McGee All material submitted becomes the property of Punxsutawney Hometown magazine.

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Local Traditions Spread Holiday Cheer By Jennifer Wolfe of Hometown magazine he days after Thanksgiving are busy days for Punxsutawney and area residents. For most, the first thing that comes to mind is shopping. We refer to this day as “Black Friday,” a nod to businesses being “in the black” after the frenzy of shopping ends. Others may think promptly of the Monday after Thanksgiving. Around these parts, it’s commonly known as “the first day of buck,” meaning the first day that rifles are permitted to be used in hunting for a male white tailed deer. In Punxsutawney, we cherish the days after Thanksgiving for other reasons, as well. The kickoff to the holiday season arrives in the form of our town’s annual Home for the Holidays Parade. The parade, started in the early 1990s, has become as much a part of the days following Thanksgiving around Punx’y as turkey leftovers! This November, the parade will precede the magic of the Circle of Trees Light Up Night. Both events will take place on Saturday, November 24, beginning at 6 p.m. The wonder and spectacle of a nighttime parade is a big part of the lure for local residents. This year’s 2012 Home for the Holidays Parade is sponsored by F.O. Eagles #1231 of Punxsutawney. After the parade,

the parade goers will gather in Barclay Square to view the Rotary Club’s Circle of Trees and watch as both the Circle of Trees and the community Christmas tree are lit up for the holidays. In the 1990s, with the beginning tradition of the annual parade, the Rotary Club began to provide and decorate the community tree. “In 2006, the 18-foot tree with the 3D star was lit for the first time, in a ceremony at-

tended by over 1,000 people. That is the tree that is still lit each year during the Circle of Trees Light Up Night,” shared Michelle Stahlman, Rotary Club member and award-winning owner of Simple Elegance by Michelle, a Punxsutawney bridal and tuxedo shop. Stahlman has been active in the community for many years through various organizations ranging from the PASD

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- Continued on page 4

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Around Town

By the staff of Hometown magazine and the chamber of commerce rom the Chamber of Commerce, Community Calendar at Punxsutawney.com, and Hometown magazine, here is a list of events and happenings coming up in our area. • Nutcracker weekend will be held downtown on Friday, Nov. 23 and Saturday, Nov. 24. Christmas Open Houses, including Mistletoe Madness, will be held in participating stores, and a variety of other activities will take place throughout the downtown. Coordinated by PRIDE merchants. • The Nutcracker will be presented by Van Dyke & Company and the Mahoning Valley Ballet at 7 p.m. Friday, Nov. 23 and at 2 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 24 at Punxsutawney Area High School. Ticket information is available by calling (814) 938-8434. • Home for the Holidays Parade & Circle of Trees Light Up Night will be 6 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 24 beginning with the magical nighttime parade this year sponsored by F.O. Eagles #1231 of Punxsutawney. After the parade, visit Rotary Club’s Circle of Trees in Barclay Square and watch as they, along with the community Christmas tree, are lit up for the holidays. • Entertainment and inspiration by Pastor Paul Thompson at 10:30 a.m. Thursday, November 29. Pastor Paul Thompson will entertain and inspire at Mahoning Hills Social Center, 19298 Rt.

119 Highway North, beside Longview Elementary School, near Punxsutawney. There is no charge to come and hear him sing, but if you plan to join us for the noon meal, you must sign up a day ahead of time by calling (724) 286-3099. • iUP Baseball Skills Camp i will be 9 a.m. to noon Saturday, Dec. 1. Ages 7-18 welcome. $30 per person. For more information, visit www.iup.edu/camps, jditch@iup.edu or 724-357-7830. • The Two Lick Valley Social Center, located at 450 Franklin Street, Clymer, is accepting items for their upcoming Christmas Bazaar to be held Dec. 3 through Dec. 31. The Bazaar will be held all month long, 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Monday through Friday, and is open to the public. If you have an item you’d like to donate to the Bazaar, give the center a call at (724) 254-9820 before Dec. 3. • Phil’s Holiday Bash 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Sat., Dec. 8 at Gobblers Knob. Join Punxsutawney Phil and the Inner Circle for a Phil appearance, games, lunch, small gifts, and crafts! It’s free! For children 12 and under. Parents must be present. Children must be pre-registered for this great event by Nov. 26, Number of spaces is limited. • Make-A-wish Light Up a Child’s Life Campaign will be conducted daily 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Dec. 10 through 14. Live broadcast from the Pantall Hotel lobby and locations around town. Call in donations to 814-938-8888. - Continued on page 7

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4 – Hometown Punxsutawney – Holiday 2012 - Issue #146

The First Church of God of Punxsutawney's Living Christmas Tree, pictured above, began 20 years ago to share the true story of Christmas.

Christmas Spirit continued from page 2 cheerleaders, Women’s AGLOW, and serves as both a past member of the Board of Directors, and current Financial Director, at Punxsutawney Christian School. A current Rotary Club member, she was happy to explain the purpose and history behind the circle of Trees. Headed now by Tom Chelgren, the Circle of Trees began in 2007. The circle “symbolizes a wish to encircle the holiday season filled with happy and joyous family togetherness,” Stahlman continued. The Rotary Club provides a theme each year to eligible participants. To qualify for eligibility, participating groups must consist of either local schools, or charitable, nonprofit, or service organizations. The participants work within the theme to assist their organizations by winning various awards. Prizes are given for different categories, such as “Best Daytime Appearance,” “Best Nighttime Appearance,” and “Best Overall Tree.” The theme for this competition is “A Sea-

son of Holidays,” meaning each tree is based on a month, with the decorations celebrating the holidays found within the designated month. Although the trees are lit for the first time at the annual gala, they will remain in place, and will be illuminated nightly, through the beginning of January. In addition to the excitement and crowds, which are prevalent Downtown and in the park the weekend after Thanksgiving, there is another celebration! Nutcracker weekend will be going on downtown from Friday, November 23 through Saturday, November 24. Coordinated by PRIDE merchants, participating stores will host Christmas Open Houses, including Mistletoe Madness, and a variety of other activities that will be happening downtown throughout the Weekend. Nutcracker Weekend coincides, of course, with the Van Dyke & Company and the Mahoning Valley Ballet presentation of The Nutcracker (7 p.m. Friday, November 23 and 2 p.m. Saturday, November 24 at the Punxsutawney Area High School. Contact the Chamber of Commerce at 814-938- Continued on page 6

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Punxsutawney and the State Police

tion. This new force of young men in the area was met with some distrust and criticism. Some people thought the new “rural police” of the state would be taking over local control, or they would be political henchmen to act solely to police the new immigrant people. Through training and discipline, the townspeople gradually accepted the new law officers as a part of the community, and they eventually proved themselves in the area, where violence and lawlessness were rampant for many years. A confrontation in September 1906, between the State Constabulary and criminal elements at the nearby mining town of Florence, led to the first deaths in Pennsylvania State Police history. That incident was also a part of our area history and has been written about many times (see Hometown magazine issues of May 2005 and October 2006).

- Continued on page 8

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Christmas Spirit

Happy Thanksgiving

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8434 for information on tickets.) This performance showcases the balletic talent of our local young men and women, and is not to be missed! Close on the heels of Nutcracker Weekend is Philâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Holiday Bash, happening on the next Saturday, Dec. 8, from 11 a.m. - 1 p.m. at Gobblerâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Knob. Naturally, Punxsutawney Phil and the Inner Circle will put in an appearance. However, there will also be games, lunch, and crafts, as well as small gifts! The best part is that it is free! This event is for children 12 and under only, and parental supervision is required. Children must be pre-registered for this event by November 26th as space is limited. For more information, contact the Punxsutawney Groundhog Club at 814-9387700, ext. 3 or 800-752-PHIL. The Make-A-wish Light Up a Childâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Life Campaign starts on December 10 and continues through the 14. It consists of live broadcasts from the Pantall Hotel lobby and various locations around town. It will take place from 9 a.m. - 4 p.m. daily. The Make-a-Wish Foundation has been granting wishes since 1980, beginning with a 7-year-old leukemia patient who dreamed of being a police officer. With the help of a U.S. Customs officer and the Arizona Department of Public Safety, that little boy was granted his wish, through funding from the Foundation. These days, wishes granted can vary from a pony, to a trip to Disney World, or a meet and greet with superstars like Justin Bieber. In order to further the mission of this tremendous project, you can call in your donations to 814-938-8888. Watch and listen for activities throughout the town. No holiday season would be complete without the ringing bells and bright red kettles of the annual Salvation Army kettle drive (see story inside). In Jefferson County, the Kettle Drive began November 1 and continues through December 31, with local locations including Fezellâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s County Market, and Walmart. Through this program, as well as the Treasures for Children trees, the Salvation Army provides assistance, running the gamut from Christmas dinners, clothing and toys, financial assistance with basic necessities, to seasonal aid. For those not familiar with Treasure for Children trees, they can be found at Walmart and other local businesses, including banks. These trees are covered with tags marked â&#x20AC;&#x153;Boyâ&#x20AC;? or â&#x20AC;&#x153;Girlâ&#x20AC;? and have a short wish list on them, to help needy kids in our town have a joyful Christmas. Volunteers also bring spiritual warmth and love to more than four-and-a-half million Americans during the Thanksgiving and Christmas time periods. This is a way to

seek to preserve Christmas, so that the real meaning of the season is not forgotten. Another tradition that many people look forward to is the local custom of the Living Christmas Tree, sponsored by the First Church of God of Punxsutawney. In keeping with honoring the true reason for the Christmas season, the 20th annual performance of the Living Christmas Tree combines music and drama through the enthralling story of the birth of Jesus. Performances this year will be take place weekends from December 7 through December 16, with a schedule as follows: Fridays at 7 p.m., Saturdays at 4 p.m. and 7 p.m., and Sundays at 4 p.m. Tickets are free, and can be reserved by calling the church at (814)938-6670. If musical performances are what you love most about Christmas, in addition to the FCOG Living Christmas Tree, there is the â&#x20AC;&#x153;Come Let Us worship The kingâ&#x20AC;? Christmas Musical, presented by the Punxâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;y First United Methodist Choir and Orchestra. The musical takes place under the guidance and direction of Doug Temchulla. Deanna Venturini, vocal soloist and church member, has been participating for many seasons. â&#x20AC;&#x153;This is an amazing and spiritually uplifting evening full of live music, including a live orchestra. The choir is made up of members from several local churches,â&#x20AC;? Venturini explained. â&#x20AC;&#x153;This event will definitely fill you with the holiday spirit!â&#x20AC;? If you would like to attend, performances are scheduled for December 14 and 15 at 7 p.m., and December 16 at 10:45 a.m. Contact the Punxsutawney First United Methodist Church at 814-938-7500 for tickets or more information. No matter what it is that you love most about the holiday season, you will find it here, in our hometown. From the wonder of lights, to the generosity of spirit found in helping those less fortunate, to the sheer joy and celebration of the birth of Our Lord and Savior, holiday cheer abounds in our little corner of America! â&#x20AC;˘â&#x20AC;˘â&#x20AC;˘

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Around Town continued from page 3

• Punxsutawney Phil design Contest — The Punxsutawney Groundhog Club is looking for a new Punxsutawney Phil design! Grand Prize is $1,000. What is the GHC looking for? A color cartoon image/design of Phil to fit on 8 by 10inch paper. To be judged on originality and uniqueness. The use of the Top Hat as an accessory is acceptable. Fill out the appropriate form on www.groundhog.org and submit artwork by Dec. 15. • Enjoy a relaxing time Christmas shopping for gifts from Thistle & Pine’s Celtic & Country Collectibles. Enjoy Celtic Christmas Music and decorations, nibble at the refreshments, and enjoy a cup of warm cheer. *10% off your entire purchase helps to make your shopping easier and a bonus is getting your gifts wrapped for free! *(a few exclusions apply) Thistle & Pine is nestled back on a country lane right off Rt. 119, Marion Center - 2 miles south of Rt. 403. Thistle & Pine’s Holiday House is 10 to 5 Saturday, Dec. 15 and 1 to 5, Sunday, Dec. 16. Call 724-397-2442 for details or visit www.thistleandpine.com • Toys for Tots this Holiday Season. FEMCO will be the main drop off site this year for Toys for Tots, in addition to the following locations: Punx’y: Advance Auto Parts; County Market; Dollar General; FEMCO; First Commonwealth Bank; Jefferson County Housing Authority; Pantall Hotel; Play House Daycare; Punx’y Senior Center;

The Spirit; Tractor Supply and Walmart. Reynoldsville: American Legion; Dollar Store; Foundry; Ridgewood Green Brockway: The Brockwayville Depot Sykesville: The Municipal Building and Northwest Savings Bank Brookville: Aces Hardware; Bill’s Bar; Brookville Chevrolet; Brookville YMCA; Buff’s Ice Cream; Christian Bookstore; CSA Toys; Dollar General; Family Dollar; Fox’s Pizza; the Heritage House; Jefferson Manor; Kelly’s Chrysler; Eagles; Matson Insurance; McCabe’s; Means & Lauf; Mike’s Comet; Miller Welding; Plyler’s; Rebecca M. Arthurs Library. Cash donations will be accepted at Toys for Tots Foundation, in care of Community Action, Inc., 105 Grace Way, Punxsutawney, PA 15767. Cash donations will be used to help fill any gaps in gifts, where another gift in a certain category — boy or girl, or certain age group — is needed. The Marines will pitch in to assist in other areas when the funding is needed. Volunteers are also needed to assist with the distribution and set-up. Anyone interested in assisting with that process, call 938-3302 ext. 236. • Punxsutawney.com is maintained by the Chamber of Commerce for the community. Any area business or organization is invited to become a member of the Chamber of Commerce for as little as $75 for the year. For more information, visit Punxsutawney.com/chamber or call 938-7700. To submit an event for the calendar, visit Punxsutawney.com/calendar and fill out the form. • • •

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After Troop D was relocated to Butler in 1911, Punxsutawney was served by a State Police substation. In 1938 Troop C, (bottom left) was established in Punxsutawney with “barracks” in a house at 800 E. Mahoning Street. The house (bottom right) is the present residence of Mr. and Mrs. John Quatroche.

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State Police continued from page 5 The Punxsutawney barracks and headquarters of Troop “D” of the State Constabulary (as it was called then) was in an old exhibition building on the former Punxsutawney Fairgrounds off North Findley Street (the sight of the present Pennsylvania National Guard Armory). Little effort was made to improve the men’s quarters except for what the men did for themselves. After five years, Troop D was relocated to Butler (1911). After the troop’s removal from town, three to five men then patrolled the area from other locations of State Police or from a local substation. Over time, and with more and more automobiles traveling on the many improved roads, the State Highway Patrol was formed in 1923 with motorcycles to enforce the vehicle laws. The highway patrol’s duties were specific — patrol the highways and enforce the traffic laws. The State Police were trained in crime detection, suppression of riots and the general enforcement of the laws of the commonwealth.

8 – Hometown Punxsutawney – Holiday 2012 - Issue #146

- Continued on page 14

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Several years later, in 1937, the Pennsylvania Legislature authorized the merger of the State Police and the State Highway Patrol to become the Pennsylvania Motor Police. A detail of the Motor Police functioned from a substation in Punxsutawney located on Front Street (what is now named Hampton Ave). In the new organization, there would be four “squadrons” in the state with 18 troop headquarters. In January 1938, a new history of the State Police in Punx’y began. The headlines of the daily Spirit announced “Motor Police Troop Will Be Brot to Punxs’y.” After several meetings between Motor Police Commissioner P. W. Foote and Pennsylvania Attorney General Charles J. Margiotti (a notable Punxsutawney native), an announcement was made that Punx’y was designated a troop headquarters in the First Squadron, stationeded in Greensburg. The Chamber of Commerce was also credited for its effort to promote Punx’y as a location. Commissioner Foote pointed out “the Groundhog town offered many strategic advantages in addition to proper geographical location with respect to

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We Sincerely Hope That You and Your Family Enjoy a Pleasant Thanksgiving Holiday. It’s Always A Pleasure to Serve You

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Workers at the Brookville Engine House, of the Pittsburg and Shawmut Railroad Company, about 1953. (Photo from the collection of Shirley J. Sharp.)

The Shawmut

Serving the Coal Lands of Jefferson County By S. PriDE for Hometown magazine

“T

he Shawmut” — as it is known to those who lived and worked along the line of the Pittsburgh, Shawmut and Northwestern Railway line, which crossed Jefferson County from Brockwayville through Brookville to Timblin — was developed to transport coal. It connected people in the rural areas of northeast and southwest Jefferson County, providing an economic stimulus, which lasted about 100 years. The Shawmut, unlike the railroads which were built in the earlier years of the coal boom, was, as we would say today, undercapitalized. In spite of its rocky beginning and spending its final years under the guidance of a receiver, the road met with successes in reaching coal lands in Jefferson County. In March of 1892, the Punxsutawney

Spirit reported that a charter was granted by the Pennsylvania Department of State to the Ketner, Elbon and Shawmut Railroad Company. The company would build a twenty-eight mile long railroad connecting the Toby branch of the Erie Railroad with their line at Ketner. The new road made it possible for mines at Brandy Camp, Horton Township, Elk County to transport coal out of the Toby Valley to Erie. Mr. B.E. Cartwright was the president of this new company. On September 20, 1894, George Mellinger, superintendent for the Shawmut Coal Company arrived in Jefferson County and took over the Brock mines at Brockwayville in Snyder Township. The Shawmut, through a lease agreement, assumed control of the mines. The Shawmut had bigger plans and began purchasing options on coal lands along their proposed railroad route through Jefferson County. - Continued on page 12

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he Salvation Army has begun its annual Red Kettle Campaign. Bell ringers with the familiar red kettles will be located at various businesses around Punxsutawney. This is the Salvation Army’s largest fundraiser every year, and helps to provide programs and services throughout the next year. The campaign started at the beginning of November and runs through December. “The people of the Punxsutawney area have always been extremely generous to

“We help those in need to the best of our ability to do so,” said Captain Jache. “Our after-school program serves about 30 youngsters. We help them with their home-

work, give them supper and do some fun activities with them. Our emergency services program provides assistance to disaster victims and provides drinks and snacks to the firefighters and other emergency responders. “We are able to offer help through these services because of the Red Kettle Campaign,” he said. “We want to thank all of our donors in advance. We can help those in need because of the generous donors here.” Anyone wanting more information can contact The Salvation Army at 938-5530 or stop by the Worship and Service Center, 229 W. Mahoning St., Punxsutawney. ••• Hometown magazine is delivered to 100% of Punx’y and area homes!

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us, and we are hoping that continues,” said Captain Keith Jache, commanding officer of the Salvation Army Worship and Service Center in Punxsutawney. “This campaign will fund our programs in 2013.” The Salvation Army offers assistance with emergency food and clothing, rental and utility assistance, after-school programs, summer camp, emergency disaster services, and Sunday worship and Sunday school.

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Warm Thanksgiving Wishes 814-938-4121 • 814-938-4158 (FAX) 81 Hillcrest Drive, Suite 2600, Punxsutawney Office Hours: Weekdays 8-5 A locomotive of the Pittsburg & Shawmut Railroad, about 1953. The major purpose of the line was the transporting of coal. (Photo courtesy of Mary Jane Rowe and in the collection of Shirley J. Sharp.)

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March, 1900 seemed to indicate the needed money had been found. The Vanderbilts of New York were the backers for developcontinued from page 10 ment of an extension of the New York and By 1899, the Shawmut was expanding Shawmut Railroad from Brookville to the operations. B.E. Wellendorf, General ManConemaugh River at Saltsburg, Indiana ager, had a survey completed for a 35- mile County. The paper in its report stated: extension of their St. Marys and South“…diamond drills are now at work testing western Railroad from Halston in Elk the same. Should the test prove satisfactory County. It would travel along the North the sale of the coal rights will at once follow. Should Vanderbilt people fail to buy within the ninety days then their leases will expire, and in that case the Buffalo, Rochester and Pittsburg Railroad Company will secure the land as they now have what is termed ‘cap’ leases.” At stake was twentyfive thousand acres of coal land in Armstrong The Shawmut Local hauling coal from Dora to Brookville. (Photo by and Indiana counties, Stanly W. Short, 1991, from the collection of Shirley Sharp.) which the Heckmans of Gastown near Elderton Fork of the Red Bank Creek to Brookville had secured by options for leases. If all where an Engine House would be estabwent well, these leases would pass into the lished. There the road crossed the Alownership of the Vanderbilts. If the deal legheny Valley Railroad Tracks and was not closed within ninety days, the Bufextended into Knox Township, Jefferson falo, Rochester and Pittsburg Railroad County, where the company owned 7,000 Company would pick up the option. The acres of coal lands. It was expected that Buffalo, Rochester and Pittsburgh Railroad within a few years Knox Township would Company already had plans to extend their be one of the most important coal mining road from Echo to Rural Valley in order to townships in the county. Speculation was reach these coal fields. Evidently the Vanthat the road might ultimately be extended derbilts did not choose to pickup their opacross to Punxsutawney, where it would tions, leaving the Rural Valley coalfields penetrate good coal territory. All the Shawto the Buffalo, Rochester and Pittsburgh mut needed to move forward was money. Railroad Company. An item in the Kittanning Times in - Continued on page 16

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State Police continued from page 8

troops already established.” (January 28, 1938, Punxsutawney Spirit). As soon as proper facilities for housing could be found, the troop of about 50 men would move in. Fifteen men would serve in the new Punxsutawney headquarters while the others would be assigned to area substations. Captain Arthur J. Oldham, with 15 years experience with the State Police prior to its consolidation with the Motor Patrol, was assigned as commander of the new Troop “C” in Punxsutawney. He would make his residence on Greenwood Avenue. Major Jacob Mauk, a native of Sprankle Mills and commander of Troop A in Greensburg, inspected a number of prospective quarters for the troop. A house on East Mahoning Street at the corner of Greenwood Avenue was selected for the new quarters of Troop “C.” Until it was renovated and improvements made, a small detail of seven men would be assigned. The house was the former home of W. A. Bowers that was built around 1910. Bowers was a coal and lumber operator on a large scale in the Punxsutawney area. With a down payment of $1,050, the Chamber of Commerce purchased the 19room house from a local realtor and the remaining $9,400 cost was paid over time. Local businessmen raised the down payment from donations. Included in the arrangement were improvements that included garages that would house eight cars, and the installation of showers and lockers in the basement. The work would be done before August 1 for the complete troop to be housed. A slight delay in completing plumbing and electrical work, and to finish the eight-stall garage on the east side of the house, meant the full quota of troops were not quartered until August 15, 1938. Duties for the new Troop “C” would cover Jefferson, Clearfield, Elk, McKean and Clarion counties. Most of the troopers would be quartered at substations in the counties. Three clerical workers were also employed at the East Mahoning Street headquarters with the 15 members who were housed there permanently. The headquarters of Troop “C” in Punx-

sutawney would introduce the into community new families, among them the Rassavages, Steiners, Falgers, Dussias, McCanns, and Gibbons. One of the first campaigns of the Pennsylvania Motor Police from the East Mahoning Street location was the effort to rid the area of what was called “The Jungle.” In August 1939, the borough, with the state enforcement unit, acted to clean out the wooded section at the end of Greenwood Ave. and along the rail line of the Pennsylvania Railroad in the east end of town (along what is now part of the Mahoning Shadow Rails-to-Trails). The site had been identified as a “camp,” a hangout of panhandlers, hoboes, beggars and drifters. The first raid resulted in the confiscation of cans of “canned heat” and the arrest of four “out-of-towners” from Butler County. The men were sentenced to 30-day jail terms in the county jail in Brookville. Burgess, W. C. Tibby, declared that visitors to the “camp” will find their rest “something more than uncomfortable from this day forth.” [Note: “canned heat” in this incident was not the little Sterno cooking fuel used for fondues, buffets and chafing dishes. Following the Great Depression, according to research, “canned heat” was slang for an alcoholic drink used in hobo camps, when the Sterno was squeezed through cheesecloth or a sock. Liquid that was squeezed out was often mixed with fruit juice for a drink that was also called “Jungle Juice.”] The name of the Pennsylvania Motor Police was changed to Pennsylvania State Police in 1943. In 1947, the East Mahoning Street barracks of the State Police was purchased by the state, to be followed by repairs and additions to the barracks, and the possibility of buying needed ground nearby for expansion. Headlines in February 1950 excited the local residents again regarding the future of Troop “C” in Punxsutawney. It announced “State Will Build Police Barracks Here.” A proposed $350,000 building would be built on a site west of the National Guard Armory on North Findley Street (where the first “State Police” were quartered in 1905). That moment in time is a newer history of the State Police and will be fresh in the memory of many older readers, leaving another chapter to be told in a future issue. •••

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falo, N.Y. Their main customers were the Grand Trunk, the Wabash Railroad and the Buffalo Water Works. The rest of their coal was shipped to New England markets. Although the company had managed to find financial backers, they were still in need of significant amounts of money to continue development. In December 1902, representatives of the company attended special session of Jefferson County Court which met to approve a bond issue by the Pittsburg, Shawmut & Northern Railroad and the Brock Coal and Coke Company. The bond issue would provide the money to help complete the road across Jefferson County, known as the Brockway and Mahoning Line, which was leased to the Pittsburg, Shawmut & Northern Railroad. Early in 1903, the Shawmut Mining Company was notifying the owners of several thousand acres of coal lands they had under options that they planned to take up the lands under the terms of their leases. The land owners, primarily in Knox, Beaver and Rose Townships near Stanton, were pleased to see their deferred expectations were about to be realized. They had another 2,000 acres near Pansy, in Beaver Township which they had maintained by paying one dollar per year to keep their leases renewed. These were very desirable coal lands and a rival company representing the Goodyears of the Northwestern Mining Exchange, was also in the vicinity working to secure options on coal lands adjacent to those under lease by the Shawmut Company. The land owners were asking higher prices for their mineral rights. Competition and demand for higher prices was due in part to the fact that the Shawmut Company had tested the land and found that six feet of accessible coal existed in the area. The Pittsburg, Shawmut and Northern Railway Company pushed forward and had their roadbed surveyed to Beaver township and was planning to make their first mine opening on lands purchased from Andrew Geist, on Big Sandy Creek, a short distance west of Worthville. They were suddenly stopped in July 1903, when Patrick Cashman and Lee P. Snyder, of St. Marys, filed a petition for a writ of quo warranto against the Pittsburg, Shawmut and Northern Railway Company for the annulment of its stock and bonds, amounting to $45,000,000. The Shawmut immediately ceased all work until the case was heard and a decision rendered. On February 28, 1904, Pennsylvania Attorney General Carson filed an opinion re-

continued from page 12 The next mention of the Shawmut was in the November 28, 1900 issue of the Punxsutawney Spirit, which reprinted the following article from the Brookville Republican. “Major John Byrne, President of the Pittsburg, Shawmut & Northern Railway was in Brookville yesterday and closed out a number of options held by him on coal lands in Knox township. The lands purchased amounted in the aggregate to 497 acres, for which $28,524 was paid as follows: B.W. Reitz, 100 acres, $5,000; R.W. and M.W. Reitz, 97 acres $5,355; Levi Swab, 81 acres in fee, $6,075; J.S. Kitchen, 41 acres, $2,050; J.D. Harriger, 96 acres, $5,424; J.S. and D.S. Harriger, 82 acres, $4,640. This is a pretty sure indication that the coal of Knox township is to be developed which will add further to the material prosperity and population of Jefferson county.” From this article it appears that a new company was formed to take charge of the railroad and had found resources to begin development. By May 28, 1902 the Pittsburg, Shawmut and Northern Railway Company, according to the Bolivar, N.Y. Breeze, was moving ahead on construction. They were prepared to build 40 miles of new line, which would connect their Pennsylvania and New York divisions. They had stockpiled supplies including new 85-pound steel rails, 150,000 ties, fishplates, bolts and other needed materials. They had completed the surveys, and expended thousands of dollars on preliminary work. The company contract was with the Interior Construction & Improvement Company of Detroit, Michigan, to manage the building of the roadway. Sub-contracts were to be let as soon as the plans and specifications were ready and work begun. They planned to have trains running from Cool Spring, Jefferson County, Pennsylvania to Wayland New York, by Christmas. Their longer-range plans by the end of 1903 were to extend the line from Lake Ontario to Pittsburg where a connection with the Wabash could be made. General Thomas Hubbard, of New York, a director of the Wabash, was named as one of the financial backers of the Shawmut Line. He was in charge of the surveys. When completed the line would be 250 miles long. The Shawmut owned 30,000 acres of coal lands in Pennsylvania and had options on another 20,000 acres. Their mines were producing and shipping 4,000 tons of coal a day, most of which was shipped to Buf-

- Continued on page 22

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And so the holiday season begins — but how you eat is up to you By Lavinia rodriguez Tampa Bay Times ith Thanksgiving practically here, the holiday season is off and running. With it comes all the goodies that we so desire and that we so fear will make us overindulge. But with a little planning, the food conflicts that can drain the joy from the holidays can be a thing of the past. We can use a wealth of solid research about why it’s so much better to control portions instead of falling for the same old failing dieting tactics. There are researchers who devote their careers to studying what makes us eat more and what helps us push away from the buffet. Food-psychology laboratories produce information of particular interest to the food industry, which wants us to eat their products in abundance. But there’s no reason we can’t use this information to gain insight into how we tend to respond to different eating situations so we can better manage portions — and weight.

Some research findings: — Out of sight, out of mind: The more visible food is (like the candy dish on the coffee table or your co-worker’s desk), the more likely we are to eat it. No problem if it’s food you don’t like, but if you love chocolate and have to stare at a bowl full of holiday M&M’s, you’ll probably surrender. The trick here is to make tempting goodies less visible. Using covered, opaque dishes for candy, and open dishes to display fresh fruit, will encourage the healthier choice. Also, try keeping nutritious foods in front of the fridge or cupboard while putting the ones you want to control in the back. — Size matters: The bigger the package, container or plate you’re eating from, the more you’re likely to eat. The brain seems to be looking for signals to mark the end of eating. Something about seeing an empty plate, bowl or bag helps us feel satisfied whether the container is large or small. That’s why using smaller plates is so effec-

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Happy Thanksgiving from

JeFFerSon CounTy rePuBLiCAn PArTy

JOE SCARNATI - SENATOR SAM SMITH - REPRESENTATIvE PAUL CORBIN - COMMISSIONER JIM MCINTYRE - COMMISSIONER BERNARD SNYDER - CORONER JEFF BURKETT - DISTRICT ATTORNEy DIANE MAIHLE KIEHL - REGISTER & RECORDER CARL GOTWALD, SR. - SHERIFF JIM “MOON” VANSTEENBERG - TREASuRER MAXINE ZIMMERMAN - COuNTy AuDITOR ROGER RICHARDS - COuNTy AuDITOR MABEL DUNKLE - JuRy COMMISSIONER PaID For by JeFFerson County rePublICan Party troy J. HarPer esq. - CHaIrMan

Hometown Punxsutawney – Holiday 2012 - Issue #146 – 21

It’S tHaNkSgIvINg

Have a Harvest of Warm Wishes and let It Be Filled With thoughtful Memories

• Developers and producers of natural gas

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May You Have Abundant Blessings this Holiday Season.

aging aging seRViCes seRViCes,, inC. inC.

wii - open acoustic Jam sessions - nutrition education - games Bowling at groundhog Lanes (Call the center for details) Computer Class with internet access - Health & wellness speakers

PaRties - tRiPs - Fun

Fitness CLass

Fun & gaMes

(No Breakfast Dec. 24th or Dec. 31st)

Thursday, Dec. 18th at 11 a.m. Jen from Mulberry Square will visit & amuse us with games once again. Thursday, Dec. 27th at 11 a.m. Kim from Hillsdale Nursing & Rehab will visit and lead us in Bingo.

FRee BLood PRessuRe sCReenings

CHRistMas CeLeBRation

FREE every Wednesday at 1 p.m. Instructor Carole Zicha. Join us as Carole leads us through our “Exercise For the Mind & Body.”

BReaKFast Mondays from 9:30 - 11 a.m. Wed., Dec. 5 by Home Nursing, 9:30-11 a.m. Tues., Dec. 11 by Home Health, 10 a.m. Wed., Dec. 12 by Indiana Regional Medical Center, 10 a.m. - 12 Noon

inFo aBout PResCRiPtions

Thursday, Dec. 13th at 11 a.m. Pharmacist Nickolas Kernich will speak to us Thursday, Dec. 13th at 11 am about prescriptions. Plan to attend, and bring questions!

Holiday Season Begins continued from previous page

tive. So, when going to that big holiday buffet, put your entree on the salad plate. — Serve and step away: During party situations, whenever possible, serve yourself reasonable portions and then step far away from the rest of the food. The less you look at food, the more likely you will be to feel satisfied with what you served yourself. Case in point: Me. Engrossed in conversation with a chocolatier at a party, I didn’t step away from the serving trays filled with exquisite chocolates. Result: I ate more than I would have if I had invited my conversation partner to have a seat in another room. — Slow down: It’s takes about 20 minutes for your brain to receive all the physiological signals that you’ve eaten enough. So the faster you eat, the more you’ll eat. What’s the hurry anyway? There are few things we will do as often in our lives as eat, so let’s sit back, take a deep breath and enjoy. The more you let your body get the full enjoyment out of what you’re eating, the sooner it will say, “OK, that was good, but I’m done.” These are only a few research-based tips that you can incorporate into your holiday eating. Use your creativity to come up with others and practice them as you enjoy not just the food, but the people and the surroundings. Consider the alternative — getting overly preoccupied with weight, food and dieting. When has that ever worked? It’s the gentle, positive, consistent approaches that make for the best results. (Lavinia Rodriguez, Ph.D., is a Tampa,

Thurs., Dec. 20th - 11 a.m.

aFteR CHRistMas sHoPPing

fusing the petition. This enabled the Shawmut to immediately begin construction of the uncompleted portions of its lines. Late in 1905 a positive report on the progress of the Shawmut line was reported in the Brockway Record. The Company was finally, in early 1906, able begin large scale operations in Knox Township, Jefferson County where they opened several new mines. (Editor’s Note: The resources used in the preparation of this article are available the Punxsutawney Memorial Library, The Punxsutawney Spirit at accesspadr.org, the Reynoldsville Public Library and the Punxsutawney Area Historical and Genealogical Society. This article has been prepared by PRIDE – Punxsutawney Revitalization: Investing, Developing, Enhancing. PRIDE is a nonprofit organization which brings together residents, business people, community leaders and civic organizations, to improve the business districts in Punxsutawney. Contributions to support the develop a Coal Memorial and Welcome Center for the Punxsutawney Area may be made to PRIDE, P.O. Box 298, Punxsutawney, PA 15767) •••

AQuA tHerAPY, reHABilitAtiOn, OutPAtient reHABilitAtiOn, DeMentiA and AlzHeiMer’S CAre, WOunD CAre, SHOrt-terM reSPite StAYS and HOSPiCe CAre.

Wed., Dec. 26th Sign up in advance! Only so many spots are available to go see the Blue Spruce lights and go shopping

new YeaR’s CeLeBRation

Happy Thanksgiving

Shawmut continued from page 16

Visit DuBois Continuum of Care Community and you’ll find a complete range of lifestyles and services such as

Don’t sit home alone! Come & Enjoy!

Mon., Dec. 31st Join us for a daytime celebration and ring in the new year with friends, food and fun!

Fla., psychologist and expert in weight management. She is the author of “Mind Over Fat Matters: Psychological Barriers to Weight Management.” She can be reached through her website, FatMatters.com.) (Distributed by Scripps Howard News Service www.shns.com) •••

VillAGe VieW inDePenDent liVinG

DuBOiS VillAGe PerSOnAl CAre

DuBOiS nurSinG HOMe & COntinuuM CrOSSinG

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DCCCI subscribes to a nondiscrimination policy.

www.duboisccci.com 22 – Hometown Punxsutawney – Holiday 2012 - Issue #146

A Not-for-Profit Community

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Items on display in one of two Scandinavian rooms. (Photos by Shirley Sharp)

Punxsutawney’s Family Tree Part i

By Marty Armstrong for Hometown magazine s you may have heard through the grapevine or in some of our advertising, the Historical Society is decorating for the holidays this year with a special theme: “Punxsutawney’s Family Tree.” In the Bennis House, each area has been designated the temporary home for items from the different (mostly European) countries from which our families came with a special emphasis on the Boomtown Era of 100 or so years ago. Each room has a lead decorator or two who are assembling items the Society already has in its collection, items they are personally lending for the occasion and items others may wish to add. For each of the heritage spaces – British Isles, Germany / Switzerland, Austria / Hungary, Scandinavia, Eastern Europe, Italy / Sicily and France / Belgium (as well as Native America) – we are including clothing and other textiles, art, artifacts, china, pictures, letters, recipes, etc. At the moment, we

STroehMann bakery outlet Thrift Store • Bread • rolls • cakes • candy • chips • Drink Mix • Much More great Buys! super values every day

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are short on Irish (not Scots-Irish) items and French items. We have more space available if we come across things that don’t match up with the rooms designated so far. Holiday traditions will be - Continued on page 33

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Phone: 724-465-5684 • Fax: 724-465-9893 Hometown Punxsutawney – Holiday 2012 - Issue #146 – 23

Fairlady & Company reminiscent of early 1900s

The region’s Largest gift emporium (Editor’s Note: ‘From Our Past,’ researched by S. Thomas Curry, features items of interest from past editions of Punxsutawney and area newspapers.) November 5, 1890 — Work has already begun on the Mahoning Valley Railroad, a new line which is projected to run from Punxsutawney to Clearfield. Mr. J. A. Haskill, ex-General Manager of the Rochester and Pittsburg Coal & Iron Company, is president of the new line. The company is building the line for the first two miles from Punxsutawney to the new mines at Stanley, this county, which are now being opened by Mr. Adrian Iselin, Jr. They will be extended from the mines next year to Clearfield. Connection will be made with the Buffalo, Rochester & Pittsburg, (BR&P) and Pennsylvania and Northwestern (P&NW) at this place. (Punxsutawney News)

By PriDE for Hometown magazine n the northwest corner of West Mahoning and Findley Streets is a landmark building steeped in Punxsutawney history. It has been the hub of the retail enterprise in our town since its earliest years. The first occupant on the corner was Christ Miller, who built his house and operated a store for early settlers. Later, John A. Weber operated a clothing store on the site for many years. He replaced the older building, with the modern three-story facility, providing office space for professionals, including doctors, lawyers

November 11, 1885 — The corn husks are very thick this year, and from this sign a hard winter is predicted by the “oldest inhabitants.” (Valley News) November 12, 1868 — Some persons have a perfect mania for going out of town for that which they can buy at home, as though any article coming from a distance was better than the same at home. This is decidedly wrong, and detrimental to the place in which you live. Do not persuade yourself that you are doing right by making money here and spending it elsewhere. If everyone pursued this policy, where would be the business enterprise of our town in a few years? (Punxsutawney Plaindealer) November 23, 1882 — The engineers of the Rochester and Pittsburgh railroad were in this place last week. They surveyed another line from the main road to the coal mines north of town, crossing the creek at Spruce hill, opposite Clayville, and running up Saw-mill run. (Punxsutawney Spirit) december 3, 1889 — We notice some of our boys skating on Sunday as though they have a right to profane God’s holy day in any sport that suits them. We always delight in boy’s pleasures if they be at the proper time and of the proper kind, but to see boys playing on the ice on Sunday looks as if the morals of our town are not up to the requirements even of common sense. (Punxsutawney News) •••

Hometown Magazine... online all the time... www.punxsutawneymagazine.com

unique glass is a major attraction at Fairlady & Company. upper left, glass balls to brighten any home; upper right, a glowing glass pumpkin makes an enchanting addition to any décor, and, bottom, the glow of fine crystal reflects warm lights in any dining room.

and coal operators. Edgar Swartz, a tailor turned retailer, purchased the property and he, then later his son Ted Swartz, continued to operate the clothing store and offer office space until the 1970s. The building then was used by a variety of businesses until 2005, when it was purchased by Beverly Fairman. Fairman was seeking a place for a retail business featuring antiques and quality-gift merchandise. When the building came up for sale, she immediately took action to purchase it with the idea of a restoration of the store facility. Today, as customers step into Fairlady & Company, the store now occupying the premises, they find an ambience reminiscent of the early 1900s. The restored, original tin ceiling, the natural lighting, and the storeroom stocked with a comprehensive display of unique, one of a kind gift items immediately gives customers a sense of welcome. Fairlady & Company has become the largest gift emporium in the region. “You would have to travel to Pittsburgh or State College to find a comparable collection in one store,” said Fairman. “We display our merchandise on antiques, which adds to the ambience.” “I find this a challenging business when trying to bring gift items that are current and

24 – Hometown Punxsutawney – Holiday 2012 - Issue #146

doors, which provide nice light, airy space up-to-date for the value conscientious, pracfor the four Punxsutawney businesses octical, savvy customer,” stated Fairman. “We cupying the space. The second floor will be pride ourselves in having things that are currenovated making more space for more rently being shown in the latest magazines, inspirational things that touch the soul through their beauty, the type the receiver of the gift will use and enjoy for a long time.” Fairlady & Company works to stimulate business for local entrepreneurs by accepting items including jewelry, art and photography, and hand made items on consignment. “In this way, we encourage the development of local talent while bringing interesting, unique, quality items to the public,” said Fairman. Currently Fairlady & Company has items from 80 artisans available for sale, 65 of whom are local. Fairlady and Company features the unusual, the one of a kind, and the special item you have been seeking. Clockwise from top left: unique gift items inThe goal of Fairlady cluding Santas, Nutcrackers, Chefs, pictures with interesting features, and a & Company is to give cradle full of toys to tempt everyone. our customers good business in downtown Punxsutawney.” value for their money and to treat each cusWhen asked what advice she would give tomer as a valued guest. to new retail businesses considering openBeverly Fairman lived and worked in New ing in downtown Punxsutawney, Fairman York City and Miami prior to returning, and replied, “Finding a niche and building a gives the power of our town as one of her customer base takes good planning and reasons for opening and operating her busitime. You have to work hard and you have ness in Punxsutawney. “Those of us who have lived elsewhere know and value the safe, clean, family-friendly atmosphere of Punxsutawney. The groundhog has made Punxsutawney a destination for people from all over the country and all over the world,” commented Fairman. “Our guest book reflects the diversity of people, who come to town and visit our store. We Office space for businesses is located on the second and third floor of have worked very hard to 100 West Mahoning Street, the building occupied by Fairlady & Comcreate a niche for Fairlady pany is modern and up-to-date. Beverly Fairman has had the space reto take advantage of the natural light designed by the original & Company, which suc- modeled architect. The space provides excellent facilities for professionals and orcessfully attracts a variety ganizations seeking to locate to downtown Punxsutawney. Hallways feaof customers.” ture tile flooring and office spaces feature wood flooring. Although Fairlady & to be prepared for it to take time. I have Company is the centerpiece, it is not the found you have to reach out to customers only economic generator in the building. in the broader area, not focus solely on Recently, Fairman has restored the third Punxsutawney. Ours is a regional economy, floor, adding an elevator. and people shop where quality and value “I am impressed with the original archiare major part of their consideration. Oftect’s design with regard to light,” refering good value, quality merchandise marked Fairman. “The third floor close to home is a great benefit to your cusrestoration is nearly complete. We have tomers.” kept many of the original features of the ••• building, including the transoms over the

dining room now open to the public

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PUNxSUTawNEy arEa mUSEUm

Historical and Genealogical Society, inc. EVENTS

Bennis House 401 W. Mahoning St.

November 20: Program Preserving Boomtown Coal & Coke History

1-4 p.m. thurs. - sun.

HomE for THE HolidayS: Special New Exhibits from Schmick Heritage Center (Seating) from Jefferson County History Center (Journeys) december 14, 15 & 16: Christmas open House: Punxsutawney's family Tree & Ethnic Heritage displays

lattimer House 400 W. Mahoning St.

mUCH To SEE aNd do dUriNG oUr rEGUlar oPEN HoUrS

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10 a.m. to 4 p.m. thursday & saturday 1-4 p.m. Fri. & sun.

Bonn Bonn Sparkle Event Nov. 27th thru Dec. 3rd

Saturday, Nov. 24th Pick a discount day. Closing at 5 pm for the parade

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Buy 2 Hoodies get $5 off

Trollbead Trunk Show Dec. 6th thru Dec. 9th

100 West Mahoning St., Punxsutawney • 814-938-1255

Holiday Hours: Mon.,Tues.,Wed., 10 to 6; Thurs., Fri., Sat., 10 to 7 Sunday 1 to 5; Closed Thanksgiving Day

www.fairladycompany.com

Punxsutawney Area Community Center • Movies weekly at the Jackson theater • Fitness Center & Gym • Gymnastics, Fitness Classes, Cycling, Dance, Aerobics 220 N. Jefferson St. • Facility Rentals for Meetings or Parties 938-1008

Merry Christmas

Hometown Punxsutawney – Holiday 2012 - Issue #146 – 25

Happy THanKSgiving! SCREEN PRINT• EMBROIDERY PROMOTIONAL PRODUCTS 109 Main St., Big Run

1-800-527-2066 • 814-427-2066 www.standardpennant.com

ingham & Sons Automotive Services

Serving the area since 1976

Imported & Domestic Cars Repaired 22368 Rt. 119 Formerly Kelly Auto Sales, Indiana Hill

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James “Moon” VanSteenberg Jefferson County Treasurer

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Dr. Bill Wise, VMD Dr. Ben Wise, VMD 3460 rt. 410 Troutville rd.

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We now have covered screened topsoil!

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Spectacular ‘nutcracker’ returns to Kick off Holiday Season By Terry A. Fye Erin Achille, Elizabeth Depp-Hutchinson, for Hometown magazine Ella Glabicki, Sara Johnston, Elizabeth he 2012 holiday season officially gets Keller, Laura Keller, Alanna Reitz, Dustin underway in this area at 7 p.m. FriJewell, Bill Depp-Hutchinson, Holly Bodaday Nov. 23 and 2 p.m. Saturday and Sutton, Trevor Runco, Kevin Behm, Gene Nov. 24th when Van Dyke and ComRoberts, Ron Ploucha, Agnes NG, John pany and the Mahoning Valley Ballet presAchille and Nancy Jones. ent the perennial favorite, “The Nutcracker,” on the stage of Punxsutawney Area High School. Directed by Joan E. Van Dyke, the elaborate production features more than 80 dancers performing to the music of Tchaikovsky. The performers, ranging from preschoolers to senior citizens, come from Punxsutawney, Clearfield, Clarion, DuBois, Brookville, Indiana, and the surrounding area. Commenting on the show, Joan E. Van Dyke, artistic director and choreographer, noted that “The Nutcracker has become a holiday tradition around the world, especially in America and Canada. Tchaikovsky’s unforgettable music and the story itself combine all the elements of beauty and fantasy. When you add the gracefulness of the dancers and the impact of special effects and lighting, there are so many things to please the audience. People can see the show several times and still pick up details they had never noticed before.” Brimming over with familiar to r.) Sarah Johnston (Dew Drop); Erin Achille (Sugar Plum); characters, the ballet revolves (l. Elizabeth Depp-Hutchinson (Snow Queen); Laura Keller (Spanaround Clara, a young girl who re- ish) (Photo by Tracey Young) ceives the gift of an enchanted nutcracker. Soon, the stage is filled with “The Nutcracker involves a great deal of mechanical dolls, marching toy soldiers, work on the part of many dedicated people battling mice led by King Phillipe, and the both on stage and behind the scenes,” said Sugar Plum Fairy, as well as Mother Ginger Van Dyke. “Yet, when the performers hear and all her youngsters. the audience’s reaction and see the sparkle Adding to the spectacle and the fun are in the eyes of the children who attend, all angels, parrots, a Christmas tree that magthe time and the effort are worth it.” ically grows, the Snow Queen, and the colTicket information is available by calling orfully clad residents of the Land of (814) 938-8434. Proceeds benefit the Sweets. James Merritt Van Dyke Scholarship Principal characters and dancers include Award. •••

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• 40 year Lynx • 20 Colors • 25 yr. Bare galvalume great Service with Next day Pick-Up CONTRACTORS WELCOME

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~ Newly Remodeled office ~ 106 w. Mahoning st. • 938-4210 Accepting new pAtients Photos courtesy of the Groundhog Club.

new Addition to gobbler’s Knob!

By Allie Shields of Hometown magazine he Groundhog Club has been working on improving the atmosphere at Gobbler’s Knob. A new archway will be added to the entrance of the Knob and is set to debut for Groundhog Day 2013! The overall process began in fall 2011,

Dobson laid the footer, and is doing the block work. With the help of these architects, the Groundhog Club helped collaborate to develop a design of an arch. Although this was a cohesive process, there were quite a number of factors to consider with the use of Gobbler’s Knob publically, and how it is used on Groundhog Day itself. Not only

in late September and early October, with the actual brick and mortar portion of the project. In cooperation for the project, the design of the arch came from the master plan with the judgments of Michael Mohney, MRM Designs and Hughes Engineering. D.E. Limited removed the piping and dug the footer, while Charlie

was that under contemplation, but also how the community can be a part of this process, as well. The Club is conducting an Arch Entrance Sponsorship Pledge, where members of the community can donate money, and can have their own special connection with the

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938-3444 SHop HourS: tues. & thurs. 10-5, Wed. 10-7 & Fri. 10-3, Sat. by appt. Walk-ins welcome Wed.-Fri.

- Continued on page 32

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J.r. resources, L.P. Developers and Producers of natural gas P.o. Box 188 • ringgold, PA 15770 814-365-5821 • Fax 814-365-2186 Hometown Punxsutawney – Holiday 2012 - Issue #146 – 27

McDonald’s gift Cards make great stocking stuffers! McDonald’s gift Cards are reloadable in the amounts of $5, 10, 25 or $50 and come in great holiday designs

Carmalt Farm from Calwell’s Atlas of Jefferson County published in 1878.

Or slip one in a card for: Teacher, Fraternity Brother or Sorority Sister, Postal Worker, Delivery Person, Relatives, Minister, Coach, Teammate, Scout Leader, Friends

gift Certificates Also Available

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May your table be bountiful during this thanksgiving Holiday!

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The good, the Bad... & the unacceptable By Marty Armstrong for Hometown magazine t’s a fact of playground life; bad behavior attracts attention, good, not so much. It continues into adult life where we see repeated over and over the bad behavior of celebrities but hear little about the good things they do. It should not surprise us, then, that the remembered parts of our local history which deal with newcomers or the paths of African-Americans

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The Big Dipper, once called “the Drinking Gourd” in the time of slaves who were escaping northward.

tend to be less than commendable. Some of this knowledge is due to its timing. We simply have no more persons with firsthand knowledge of the tremendous goodness and courage displayed by local residents in pre-Civil War times when giving assistance to runaway slaves journeying north via the Underground Railroad. That information has to be read about, studied and taught using letters and other writings of the time such as newspaper stories about the discovery of safe houses and exhibits dramatizing those times.

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In 2012, the Jefferson County History Center in Brookville prepared an exhibit, the second in a series of exhibits commemorating the Civil War’s 150th anniversary, entitled, “Journeys.” It focused on the experiences of African-Americans in our region. This exhibit, now being readied for display in the Highlands Galleries at the Punxsutawney Area Historical and Genealogical Society’s (PAHGS) Lattimer House on West Mahoning Street, contains displays, exhibits and information portraying the theme for “Journeys.” Some of the bad behaviors are shown and discussed, but as the PAHGS interpretation shows, there is good to be seen. The final stage of the visitor’s experience is the successful completion of a simulated, heartracing journey through the town and countryside to moments and places of safety on the way north. The Carmalt Farm, now the site of the Punxsutawney Country Club, is pictured above from the drawing in Caldwell’s Atlas of Jefferson County. The involvement of the Carmalt Farm as a station on the Underground Railroad is well documented by the remembrances of a Miss Carmalt reprinted in the Punxsutawney Centennial Book of 1949. Other hiding places and safe houses have since been identified, while the route which went through Punxsutawney has been described in accounts of the network which helped many find their way to Canada, following what they called “the Drinking Gourd” in the sky. The PAHGS display details some of the local connections. Also shown is a - Continued on page 32

A Perfect Christmas Gift for the young ones or the young ones at Heart!

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28 – Hometown Punxsutawney – Holiday 2012 - Issue #146

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Wolf hunt to start, despite questions on numbers

By Dennis Anderson Minneapolis Star Tribune

n November, wolves will again be hunted in Minnesota. Not like they were a half-century ago, with strychnine and airplane gunners, but by a smattering of deer hunters toting high hopes and high-powered ammunition into the state’s north woods. Mike Lee will be among them. Last year, some of the buddies he hunts deer with just south of Duluth, Minn., saw a wolf pack run down a doe and kill it. So he applied for a Department of Natural Resources wolf-hunting permit, and beat roughly 1-in-3 odds to win one of 3,600 permits issued by lottery for the deer season. “I was more than happy to take advantage of the opportunity,” said Lee, 40, of Hugo, Minn. But in this most divisive of hunts, which has pitted wolf protectionists nationwide against the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources and many of the state’s sportsmen and women, Lee, like most deer hunters with wolf permits, knows it’s a

long shot he’ll even see a wolf from his deer stand — and a longer shot still he’ll shoot one. That’s because wolves, while at times appearing ubiquitous to northern Minnesota livestock producers, remain widely dispersed over the northern third of the state — only about ﬁve animals per 40 square miles — and because many wolves will “disappear,” experts say, and move only at night when 160,000 deer hunters decamp to the state’s wolf country. “I’ve thought about it a lot,” said DNR wolf specialist Dan Stark of Grand Rapids. “My guess is that about 70 wolves will be taken during deer season, out of a quota of 200.” The number of wolves killed during deer hunting, and the number that fall in a second season that begins Nov. 24 to another 2,400 hunters and trappers, will fuel what is likely to be an ongoing debate about how many wolves inhabit Minnesota. The DNR uses various data, including annual scent post indices, to estimate the

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SANDy'S beverages

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- Continued on next page

GREETINGS

gun SAFeS

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1-888-300-7233 *Certain Restrictions Apply Hometown Punxsutawney – Holiday 2012 - Issue #146 – 29

Double Diamond Deer Ranch

12211 Route 36 Clarington, PA 15828 (3 Miles South of Cook Forest State Park)

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FENToN’S

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Wolf hunt continued from previous page

state’s wolf population at 3,000. But the animals haven’t been fully surveyed for about ﬁve years, and groups arguing against the hunt could be bolstered in their view that fewer wolves roam the state than the DNR believes if hunters and trappers fall short of their combined 400-animal harvest quota. “The DNR talks about how many wolves there are in the state, but they don’t know,” said Maureen Hackett, a Twin Cities psychiatrist who founded the group Howling for Wolves, which opposes the hunt. “If only 90 to 100 cattle were killed by wolves in the state last year, could we really have 3,000 wolves?” Hackett said. “I think the population is exaggerated. And holding this hunt without a recent baseline population of wolves is reckless. The DNR has no idea how many wolves Minnesota has, and no idea how many will be killed in this hunt. Because they don’t, the hunt shouldn’t be held.” The state Supreme Court declined to hear an appeal by Hackett’s group and the Center for Biological Diversity of Tucson, Ariz., asking that the hunt be stopped. But the Humane Society of the United States and the Fund for Animals have notiﬁed the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service that they intend to sue the agency in an attempt to return Minnesota, Wisconsin and Michigan wolves to the Endangered Species List. The states regained wolf management from the federal government in January — a move applauded by Julian Brzoznowski, a retired cattleman living near Orr, Minn., about an hour south of International Falls. Unlike Hackett, Brzoznowski believes far more wolves exist in the state than the DNR says. “I started having trouble with wolves killing my cattle in 1975, shortly after they went on the Endangered Species List,” said

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3814 Mountain Run Road, Penfield • 814-371-7639 30 – Hometown Punxsutawney – Holiday 2012 - Issue #146

‘Here we go, SteelerS’ football conteSt winner In impressive fashion, the Pittsburgh Steelers stormed back from a first-half deficit to beat Eli Manning and his Giants, 24-20. Don Schroeder of Punxsutawney was randomly drawn from the perfect entries to win Hometown magazine’s “Here we go, Steelers” monthly football contest. Don will claim his $25 merchandise prize at the Anchor Inn. You, too, can be a winner. Just clip, complete and return the coupon on our “Here we go, Steelers” contest this issue, and, as always, root for our winning Steelers. •••

FAMily oWNeD SiNCe 1909

Mahoning vaLLey MiLLing Co. 2012 hunting season is something to Look Forward to. stop in and Check out our new Fall inventory and our newly expanded pistol section

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Brzoznowski. “At the time, the DNR said Minnesota had only 400 wolves. But in the ﬁrst month, the government trapped 50 of them off my place alone. That was back when they live-trapped wolves and moved them 25 miles or so away and let them go. “The DNR was wrong about the number of wolves in the state back then, and they’re way off now.” Still, Brzoznowski believes only about 40 wolves will be killed during deer season. “Wolves aren’t going to walk by deer stands,” he said. “They’re too smart for that.” (Contact Dennis Anderson at danderson@startribune.com.) (Distributed by Scripps Howard News Service, www.shns.com.) •••

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• Evolved Habitat mineral attractants, shelled corn, deer mineral blocks, specialty deer munch • Under Armour, rocky Hunting Boots, Georgia (work boots) & Muck Boots • Minnetonka slippers, Moccasins and Boots are now available • Under Armour clothing and accessories • Leupold, Nikon, Bushnell, redfield optics • Full line of crossbows & black rifles

We are the Largest black gun store in the surrounding area www.mahoningvalleymilling.com Mon. - thurs. 8 a.m. - 5 p.m. 57 giLpin st. friday 8 a.m. - 7 p.m. punx’y•938-8850 saturday 8 a.m. - 3 p.m.