#173 March 2015 by Punxsutawney Hometown Magazine

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On the cover: (left to right) Dave Blair, Mary Mack, Anne Blair, and Karen Knopick Photo by Courtney Katherine Photography

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William Wilson Blair, the late owner of London’s Chocolates, gained local fame for his delicious knee-high chocolate rabbits. (submitted photo)

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This photo from David’s teenage years shows how he (left) and his mother worked side-byside at their business, London’s Chocolates. (submitted photo)

Decades later, the mom and son duo still have the special knack for making delicious chocolate candies. (Photo by Courtney Katherine Photography)

Time to Make the Chocolate:

A Local Family Carries on a Candy-Making Tradition

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By Jennifer Skarbek Smith for Hometown magazine wice a year the garage below the home of John and Karen (Blair) Knopick on Logan Street in Punxsutawney is magically transformed into a candy-making workshop. It is here where Karen, her siblings David Blair and Mary Mack, and their mother, Marianne “Anne” (London) Blair, spend countless hours nostalgically recreating the delicious recipes for chocolates that were perfected by generations of her family. The family members acquired their mastery of the sweet craft from the years that they owned and operated London’s Chocolates just outside of Big Run. According to Anne, she can trace the family’s fascination with confections back to her grandfather, Edward Blair London, who had a candy shop 25 miles below Pittsburgh in the small town of Leetsdale. “My grandpa made candy in his basement,” said Anne. “He had a storefront in his home and also did some wholesaling.” Anne recalls as a child making the trip from Punxsutawney to visit her grandfather’s business, London’s Candies, and being impressed by her grandpa’s profes-

Contributing Writers S. Thomas Curry Shirley Sharp Mary Ellen Pollock-Raneri Jennifer Skarbek Smith Editor James Lauffer Art Director Melissa Salsgiver Graphic Artists Melissa Salsgiver Nicole McGee All material submitted becomes the property of Punxsutawney Hometown magazine.

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2 – Punxsutawney Hometown – March 2015 - Issue #173

sional and rigid style. “He was very precise. When you wanted a pound, you got a pound,” Anne remarked about her grandfather, who, she said, was always decked out in a shirt and tie no matter what task he was conquering. Like so many others who had settled in the Punxsutawney area in the early 20th century, Anne’s father, Edward W. London, labored in the rough conditions of the coal mines, so that he could financially support his family. Therefore, he was both hopeful and willing when he was given the opportunity to apprentice under his father learning the ropes of the candy business. So, in 1946, Anne’s family relocated to Leetsdale, and her relationship with chocolate formally commenced. Anne said that she, her brother, and her sister would work in the evening with their dad and grandfather making the candy’s cream centers and then hand-dipping those centers into melted chocolate. “We would individually wrap each piece of candy,” Anne said, “and then pack them into boxes.”

Anne’s family stayed on at her grandparents for two years, and, once young Edward had become a talented candy maker in his own right, he decided to embark on a personal venture apart from his father by opening his own candy manufacturing facility. To do so, he moved his wife, Martha, and

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their three children back to Punxsutawney to establish a business and a legacy, borrowing from his father the designation “London’s Candies.” Anne’s father built a small block building above Big Run where he could produce his wares in the back and sell them to the public in a quaint store at the front of the structure. In addition, her fa- Continued on page 4

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Two Well-Learned Lessons

By Mary Ellen Pollock-Raneri for Hometown magazine loved Bell Township Elementary School! We always celebrated every holiday in some special way. I can still recall Halloween contests for the best costume and Christmas parties on the afternoon of the last day of school before winter vacation. And, how could I forget decorating a shoebox that was used to collect little Valentine cards? We wove Easter baskets out of strips of colored paper in the spring and we drew finger turkeys in November. Best of all, as a student there in the ’60s, I was lucky to have experienced several of the greatest teachers a kid could have had: Mr. Lowry, Mrs. Elder, Mrs. Wadding, and my third-grade teacher, Miss Krider. Yes, my education in the little country school was unforgettable, and I’ll definitely always remember Saint Patrick’s Day in 1964 – the day I learned two important lessons. On the morning of March 17th, my class toiled with our colored paper as we constructed our unique third-grade project: the Saint Patrick’s Day hat. This distinctive chapeau was pointy on the top; it was green; and we spelled out our names on the side in glitter. It was a spectacular creation that no other class in the entire school had the privilege of creating or wearing. We got to wear them all day in class, to the restroom, in the hall, and in lunch. Lunch was the best part, because that’s where the other students from grades one to six admired our cool March 17th creations, and I was sure that my hat stood out as the very coolest. About 11:30 a.m., Miss Krider marched all her little seasonally green chicks up the long dimly lit hallway to the chrome cafeteria counter that sat at the opposite end of the school. There, friendly, hair-netted lunch ladies dressed in pristine white uniforms dolled out big globs of the school’s spaghetti – giant, round mounds of noodles that clung to each other, glued together by a red sauce with tiny dots of ground meat.

We also got two slices of white bread, peaches in syrup, and a carton of white milk to balance our Italian fare. The meal was always my favorite, and I looked forward to loading up my tray for the noon repast. Proud of my green creation, I wore my Irish bonnet to this spaghetti luncheon, and I jauntily pushed my paper hat to one side with a cocky exaggerated air. Then, tray in hand, I strutted into the cafeteria past the first grade, straight past the second grade, and onward toward the third-grade table. I was absolutely positive that all the little kids were in awe of my hat. Just to make sure they all got a chance to see my amazing creation, I took the long way to my table and paraded the length of the secondgrade tables. Delirious with pride, my hands practically shook from all the excitement. What could be better? I got to show off my new Irish cap and was ready to eat my favorite cafeteria meal. My lunch tray was filled to the brim with a large dollop of steamy spaghetti and my hat fit perfectly on my head. I could hardly wait to dig in. Life was good. I have to admit that vanity and excitement overwhelmed me; while I worked my way around the cafeteria, I was confident that my Irish fedora looked picture-perfect. As I passed the second-grade table, I lingered for a moment to balance my lunch tray, and, at the same time, I tried to readjust my little green Saint Patrick’s cap that had slightly slipped from its former, flawless position on my head. Suddenly, it happened: the most embarrassing event that would mortify any kid, or adult, for that matter. Right there, in front of the teachers, in front of the lunch ladies, in front of every student in grades one to six, and probably in front of the spirit of Saint Patrick, himself – Boom! Crash! I dropped my tray on the cold, pea-green tile floor as I struggled with my holiday topper. Strands of spaghetti sailed everywhere. Tiny flecks of meat sauce splattered on the institutional gray walls and on me. Worst of all, my new hat lay in a pile of pasta. I crouched in front of the unfortunate mess and stared at the pink mush that clung to the chrome of the institutional table legs. My cheeks burned a bright red and I didn’t

Mary Ellen regards the campus of Bell Township Elementary School – built in 1959 – as a wonderful place to have experienced the foundations of her education. (photo courtesy of the Punxsutawney Area School District)

Miss Krider – Mary Ellen’s third-grade teacher in 1963-1964 – instilled in her a love of reading that continues to this day. She fondly remembers trips to the little library near her classroom. (photo courtesy of the Bell Township Elementary School library)

want to look up. Ruined, my cherished Saint Patrick’s Day bonnet lay near the slop on the floor; splotches of red sauce stained the greenness of the colored paper. As I hunkered down in front of my spilled tray and soggy cap, I heard a voice from the table beside me. “Pick it up,” directed an anonymous second-grade boy with a little smirk. “Pick it all up with your hands,” he continued. “Come on. Pick it up.” His whole little person seemed amused with me, and the corners of his mouth curled up in a tiny crescent-moon shape. “Pick it up. Come on. Use your hands. Get in there and pick it up,” he persisted, enjoying his new, self-appointed position as cafeteria monitor. I wanted to start crying, but I didn’t – even though every eyeball in the Bell Township cafeteria was staring at me. Mortified at dropping my food, losing my precious cap, and being teased by a younger child, I started to pick up the clumps of

spaghetti, but I never cried. It seemed like the whole event took hours, although I know it was probably only a few seconds of agony that ticked away on the kid clock of shame. Fortunately, my teacher intervened and whispered in my ear, “Let’s call the janitor.” Then she patted me on the head and directed someone to get me a fresh food tray. The touch of her hand seemed to tell me that I wasn’t the only kid who had ever dropped a tray or ever made a mistake; I was grateful for her kindness and felt a little better. Still embarrassed, though, and very sad, I disposed of my ruined paper hat in the big gray trashcan at the end of the cafeteria near the drop-off for dirty dishes. All of my movements were done with deliberation and the upmost dignity, as if I attended an interment ceremony for an honored war hero. Regardless of the occasional spilled trays of childhood, I still had a wonderful education at Bell Township Elementary School! I credit my math skills to Mr. Lowry and my love of reading to Mrs. Elder and Miss Krider. I got a wonderful history foundation in Mrs. Wadding’s class. In addition to basic academics, I also learned two other important lessons as a third grader: pride is one the Seven Deadlies (firsthand instruction on Saint Patrick’s Day 1964); and I also learned not to adjust my hat while carrying a tray of spaghetti and meat sauce. This Saint Patrick’s Day, I plan to go hatless and I’ll stick to Irish stew, Shepherd’s Pie, or ham and cabbage – lest history repeat itself. •••

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Candy-Making Tradition

square footage. That same year, the Londons invested in a Hillard machine to facilitate in the production process. This device Continued from page 2 dramatically improved the manufacture of candy by tempering the chocolate. Another ther would pedal his candy to people device called a melter was essential to the throughout the area after he was finished process. It is basically a double boiler on a with his daily work at the business. stand with an agitator. The family started She explained that when her dad first out its operations with a 100-pound model started the candy business, he only had two but upgraded to a 500-pound melter in employees. Therefore, Anne and her sib1962. These mechanical additions speeded lings would roll up their sleeves during the up production and allowed Wilson to exevenings and weekends to help with the periment with additional flavors. production of chocolates. She said that the Anne said, â&#x20AC;&#x153;My husband added new flaspecial title of â&#x20AC;&#x153;batch makerâ&#x20AC;? was reserved vors all of the time and for her mother who began using different colwas responsible for ors of chocolate.â&#x20AC;? creating the flavorful Although Anne had centers for the candies. grown up around the However, when the candy business it was not holiday rush of Easter until she and her husband and Christmas put were the owners and opercandy orders at an unators that they experienced usually high volume, firsthand the demands of the Londons found it being proprietors. Anne necessary to bring on explained that the time additional employees span between the months and even rely on the of September and May assistance of extended were hectic with candy family members. production, selling, and In regard to the tedelivery. In fact, it was not dious nature of makuncommon for Anne to ing Easter candy Anne work 14-hour days, or, on said, â&#x20AC;&#x153;We had metal occasion, for the couple to rabbit molds that we put in a 36-hour stretch to would fill by hand. be ready in time for a holThe chocolate had to iday. be the right temperaâ&#x20AC;&#x153;We ate, slept, and ture or it would get worked during the busy fudgy.â&#x20AC;? times,â&#x20AC;? Anne added. As Anne and her To keep up with the desiblings grew into As shown in this photo, one step in the adulthood and then production process of fine candy is to be mands of candy producthat the flavored centers are dried tion, the Londons married, their spouses sure before each piece is dipped in a chocoemployed four full-time naturally joined in the late coating. (submitted photo) employees who worked manufacturing and faithfully for them. However, during Easter distribution of the decadent delights. In parand Christmas, Anne and her husband were ticular, Anneâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s husband, William Wilson thankful when aunts, uncles and, cousins Blair, a worker in the Punxsutawney Beef would generously lend a hand in the factory. House, began to help so extensively with Karen, David, and Mary can recall times the business that it spurred him to make a when growing up that their father would be life-changing decision. away from home from early morning until Anne said that when her father was ready the late hours of the night fulfilling his duto close the business in 1956, she and Wilties. son decided to take it off of his hands by David said, â&#x20AC;&#x153;We could go a week and not purchasing it since they had already been see my dad at home.â&#x20AC;? running it for a year. Therefore, the children would have to go â&#x20AC;&#x153;We thought it over and decided we to the business after school to spend time would do it,â&#x20AC;? she said. â&#x20AC;&#x153;We only had $500 with their dad where Anne always had a deto work with.â&#x20AC;? licious hot meal ready for the family. Once Wanting to preserve what was created by there, the kids were overjoyed to help dip London, Anne and Wilson kept his original the chocolates, wrap, package, and label recipes; however, they also added a few candy and tend to other chores â&#x20AC;&#x201C; all part of more delightful flavors, bringing their total the demands and responsibilities of running to six varieties: oriental, cherry, peppermint, a family business. They spent so much time peanut cream clusters, coconut cream clusthere that it was like a second home, espeters, and maple. Not only did the couple excially in peak chocolate season when propand their inventory, but in 1958, they also renovated the building by doubling the - Continued on page 6

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The Weber School on North Jefferson Street

By S. Thomas Curry a structure built in 1903. “It was the last of of Hometown magazine the many railroad properties of the Buffalo, Rochester & Pittsburgh Railway in the early uring the recent Groundhog Day 20th century,” the writer told the group. weekend that was celebrated in Punxsutawney, the writer had the privilege of providing narration during a number of scheduled hayrides that served as short tours of several blocks of downtown Punxsutawney. The hayride tours were brief, but the “wagon” was fully loaded with mostly out-of-town visitors and some locals with their guests. With the riders, bundled for warmth, seated in tight spaces At the corner of North Jefferson Street and Torrence Street is a on haystacks and with gentle building built in 1915, dedicated as the John A. Weber Manual snow falling lightly and Training and Domestic Science School. It is now the Punxsteadily, the tour guide de- sutawney Christian School. The former Weber School has a rich history as one of the earliest “vocational” schools in the Punxscribed historic highlights from sutawney area. (photo by S. Thomas Curry) the pioneer years of the town in the early 19th century to the booming years of the early decades of the 20th century, including the changes that have occurred – some as the result of disastrous fires, some from the effects of “progress and growth,” and some also from the lack of resources due to changing economic conditions. The narrative flipped many times from past to present. The Through funds established in the will of Mrs. Emma Weber, upon moment during the tour when her death in 1913, the Weber School was built on North Jefferthe ride approached North Jef- son Street, near downtown Punxsutawney, even though Mrs. ferson Street, heading west on Weber had wanted the school to be built on Cypress Street near the Punxsutawney playground (now Harmon Field / Park). East Torrence Street from (photo Hometown files) Hampton Avenue, is one exAt North Jefferson Street, looking north ample. Tour guests were told that Hampton toward the railroad tracks, the buildings there Avenue was originally Front Street because would “speak” the history of Punxsutawney’s it fronted Mahoning Creek. “It was renamed growth and change in education. Hampton Avenue in 1985 to honor William The complex of three school buildings, in Hampton for his leadership during the years the memories of many of Punxsutawney’s of the town’s Redevelopment Program in the oldest residents, had changed. With only a 1970s,” the guide added. The tour passed brief stop, visitors to the town were informed three blocks of changes effected by “redevelthat North Jefferson Street for many years opment” after the demolition of older buildcontained the old high school (built in 1907, ings. As the tour moved on, riders were told but later demolished), the Weber school that “Torrence Street was originally named building (built in 1915 and now the PunxFarmer’s Alley by the Rev. David Barclay in sutawney Christian School), and the F.S. his 1821 Plan for Punxsutawney.” Jackson school building (built in 1936-37 and At North Penn Street, attention was dinow Punxsutawney’s Community Center). rected to a majestic building on the corner –

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Continued from page 4 duction was almost round the clock. The kids would repeatedly question their mom if it were time to go home, to which Anne would reply, “Just 15 minutes more.” “Mom would back the station wagon into the garage, and we would put our sleeping bags in the way back so we could relax or take a nap,” David said. The kids continued to assist their parents with the business demands well into their high school years. David even began learning how to maintain the equipment and took over some of the out-of-town deliveries using his dad’s paneled truck. Mary reported that since her parents put in so many hours at the candy shop, she, David, and Karen, as well as their other two siblings, Debbie and William, would man the home front by keeping up with housework and chores. Anne commented about her kids, “They sacrificed a lot growing up. It makes them what they are today; I’m proud of them.” According to the siblings, their favorite part of the candy business was getting the chance to work in the storefront or just stand back and watch the interaction with the customers. This was equally true for the adult members of the family. David said, “Mom and grandma would look forward to seeing the same people who would travel every year to the candy shop from distances such as New York and Ohio.” Mary added that there were also groups of wildlife hunters from Pittsburgh who would call ahead with their orders and pick them up during hunting season. “Dad would always enjoy seeing these people,” she remarked. Despite giving a lot of their free time to help at the family business, Karen, David, and Mary agree that the rewards were well worth it. Besides the personal gains they made from dedicating themselves to helping the business, they were very satisfied in the ability to earn money. “We all had little time cards,” David said. “At the end of the season we each got paid.” The season’s end might have put a halt on candy production; however, the work did not stop in the off-peak months. Anne said that even though the business closed for the summer, there was much to do behind the scenes. She said that from June to August, “we did maintenance, repairs, painting, inventory, and cleaning.” Then, in 1967, the London family’s strength and dedication were truly put to the test. Anne said that a series of events made running the business an even more labor of love. First, both Anne and David were hospitalized for surgery. Once home and recu-

perating, Anne was shocked to find out that her husband was involved in a collision with a tractor-trailer leaving him with major injuries, lucky to have survived. But it is times like these when one can witness the goodness in others; for, Anne was incredibly moved by the manner in which her family and friends pulled together and intervened. “The Lord really blessed us in a lot of ways,” she said. “When one door closed, another one opened.” As the years marched on, the Londons continued to keep their inventory new and exciting. Karen said that they would always be adding new shapes to the line of chocolates like monkeys, dinosaurs, pistols, cupids, bull dogs, and even brides and grooms. In total, the business had over 240 sizes and shapes of candy molds for Easter alone. Most memorable was the five-pound chocolate rabbits that her father produced every spring. “As kids we would always get a fivepound rabbit in our baskets,” David recalled. “We just always thought that Dad made the candy for the Easter bunny.” During this progression with the candy selections, another significant change took place. Coincidentally, because Anne had inherited the trade from her grandfather, she was not the only descendent of Edward B. London who pursued a candy business. She said that a cousin had also opened a candy shop elsewhere and likewise called it “London’s Candies.” Therefore, she and Wilson decided to change the business name to “London’s Chocolates” so that they could establish a distinction separate from her relatives. Not only did this name change set the business apart from the other, but it also emphasized the most important aspect of the shop: the chocolate. According to Mary, her father only used the finest in chocolates with which to make his candy giving it an incredible melt-inyour-mouth quality. This taste, paired with the creamy flavored centers, provided the customers of London’s Chocolates with a unique gastronomic experience and a product that they loved. “When you bit into the candy, it ran down your chin,” Karen described. “That was our trademark.” Sadly, in the 1980s, Wilson’s health declined and Anne and David took over at the shop. Even though David had other professional obligations, as well as his own family to care for (including a daughter he so fittingly named “Candy”), he made himself available to keep the business running. However, in 1989, London’s Chocolates produced the last of its treats when they made the bittersweet decision to call it quits. Not only had the family produced delicious candies over the decades for its customers, they created many heartwarming memories

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A special panoramic view of Punxsutawney in 1915 (to include North Jefferson and North Penn streets) reveals houses and buildings that existed when the Weber memorial school was built. The view includes the Buffalo, Rochester & Pittsburg Railroad building, built in 1903, on North Penn Street. (The F.S. Jackson school building would not be built until 1936-37.) (photo courtesy of Punxsutawney Area Historical & Genealogical Society)

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Visitors learned that a complex of modern school buildings is located “on the hill” to the north of the downtown – the new high school opened in 1959 and a new middle school in 1997. The hayride tour offered little time to unfold the detailed history about the educational experiences that prevailed in that complex of school buildings on North Jefferson Street; however, older residents can share many memories about their “practical arts” experiences in shops and homemaking class in the former Weber school building. The school was named for John A. Weber. Much has been written about the civic contributions he made during his lifetime. These include the following: his success through involvement in Punxsutawney business interests, his active involvement in organizing the town’s first volunteer fire company, his new business building built on the corner of North Findley Street at West Mahoning Street in 1905, and his organization of the Fiftieth Anniversary Club among his prominent male friends. In addition, there is the 43-foot-tall obelisk monument at the top of Circle Hill Cemetery, which was placed there upon his death in 1910. His life is one of the area’s most interesting stories of pride and unselfish giving to a community. In March 1909, Mr. Weber hosted 11 friends at his residence at 314 West Mahoning Street to celebrate the significant occasion of his 50th “birth anniversary.” A year

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and a half later, in December 1910, he died at age 51, leaving his estate to his wife, Emma. A younger son had died in 1906. In December 1911, Mrs. Weber grieved the loss of her remaining son, who died at age 27. With a mother’s love and devotion, she had cared for her invalid son for many years. In the summer of 1913, Emma Weber died. With the earlier deaths of her two sons, there were no lineal descendants for an estate valued at $200,000. Except for household and personal effects and $27,350 bequeathed to friends and family, the bulk of the Weber estate was to be “so applied as to reflect future credit” upon the memory of her husband. Emma Weber’s will expressed her fondness and admiration of her husband: “By his personal efforts, honest and upright business principles and careful management he built up in this community a large confiding patronage to which he was ever grateful. ... he felt that he owed a duty to the general public.” Mrs. Weber’s expressed wish was that the estate be “expended in educational and charitable uses.” With future plans in mind – discussed with her husband in the years before his death – she designated The John A. Weber Fiftieth Anniversary Club of Punxsutawney, incorporated in 1912, as trustees to direct the use of $20,000 “for the erection, completion and equipment of a proper building exclusively adapted and used as and for a manual training and domestic science school for the children of the borough of Punxsutawney.” [Note: According to the U.S. Inflation Calculator website, $1 in 1915 equals $23 in 2015.] - Continued on page 12

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o add a bit of heart-warming humor to this long, cold winter, the Punxsutawney Theatre Arts Guild launches its 40th anniversary season with John Cariani’s popular romantic comedy, “Almost, Maine.” Performances will take place at the Punxsutawney Middle School auditorium at 7:30 p.m. Friday and Saturday, February 27 and 28, followed by a Sunday matinee, March 1 at 2 p.m. The show will continue with two additional performances at 7:30 p.m. Friday and Saturday, March 6 and 7. Tickets will be sold at the door. First performed in 2004 in Portland, Maine, the two-act comedy later had a brief run offBroadway before it was discovered by college, community, and high school theater groups that have made “Almost, Maine” one of the most frequently produced plays in America for the past three years. In 10 short scenes, the play unfolds on a cold, clear, moonless night in the middle of winter. All is not quite what it seems in the remote, mystical town of Almost, Maine. As the northern lights hover in the star-filled sky, the residents of Almost find themselves falling in and out of love in unexpected and often hilarious ways. Knees are bruised. Hearts are broken. But the bruises heal, and the hearts mend – almost – in this delightful mid-winter night’s dream. A 2013 review appearing in the New York

Times declared: “This is a beautifully structured play, with nifty surprise endings (in the series of vignettes about love) ….” Another Times review described the show as “a whimsical approach to the joys and perils of romance. Magical happenings bloom beneath the snowdrifts.” “John Cariani aims for the heart by way of the funny bone,” wrote a critic for the Star Ledger. Veteran Guild performer, director Kathy S. Dinsmore, has assembled a cast of six seasoned actors to play a variety of characters in the upcoming show. Appearing as the female residents of the small town in Maine will be Debra Dinsmore, Jessica Schidlmeier, and Kathy S. Dinsmore. Portraying the males will be Tim Cooper, Jef Dinsmore, and Seth Evans. Matt Dinsmore, chief technician, and Terry Studebaker, assistant, will oversee the lights, sound, and special effects. Area audiences will soon have the opportunity to find out why Broadway.com says, “The show is utterly endearing … It’s hard not to warm up to ‘Almost, Maine.’ It’s a crowdpleaser.” Anyone who wants more information or details about the local production may contact the director at (814) 938-0378. “Almost, Maine” is presented by special arrangements with Dramatists Play Service, Inc., New York City. •••

Pizza’s Renaissance Man Comes to Town

ony 2:11 states ‘Respect the Craft’. Citizens of Punxsutawney will do just that the next time they look at a pizza. On February 11th, 150 plus persons packed the Fairman Centre auditorium to see Celebrity Chef Tony Gemignani. In the fall of 2014, Gemignani released his latest book, The Pizza Bible. This 300 page book is a comprehensive guide for home cooks to master the world's favorite pizza styles. Gemignani made his stop in Punxsutawney on his way to the North American Pizza and Ice Cream Show in Columbus, Ohio. He also stopped in Altoona, Pittsburgh and Akron, Ohio. The Pizza Bible refers people to the famed Pennsylvania Macaroni Company as a source for authentic Italian foods that can be used in his recipes, so a stop in western PA seemed appropriate. Punxsy Pizza, who is serviced by the Pennsylvania Macaroni Company became involved and brought the demonstration / book signing to Punxsutawney. Scott Anthony, owner of Punxsy Pizza along with the IUP Academy of Culinary Arts, Shadow Vineyard and Winery & the Punxsutawney Chamber of Commerce worked together to

arrange for the event. Mysti Dinger, Student Services coordinator for the Culinary School says, “The IUP Academy of Culinary Arts was happy to part of such a great event with Chef Tony Gemignani. The students loved learning more about the art of pizza from someone so talented. The students told me that they will never think about pizza the same way again. I would like to thank Chef Jackie Price and all of our student volunteers. The program would not have been the success that it was without all of their help." Dinger arranged for student volunteers to prepare and serve Chef Gemignani’s creations. While Dinger oversaw the logistical part of the program, Chef Price oversaw the kitchen. Price said, “Chef Tony Gemignani provided an amazing experience for our up & coming future chefs. Our students were very fortunate to witness such fascinating talent. Chef Tony gave the students a chance to see differences in how they may have made pizza in the past. They also got to learn about the difference and benefits of using all fresh / top of the line ingredients and how it affects the overall outcome of the pizza.” Gemignani arrived in Punxsutawney early enough to show the stu- Continued on page 22

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In a hall of the Punxsutawney Area Middle School, framed photos of Mr. and Mrs. John Weber are displayed with a plaque to designate the Weber Hall wing of the building. Trustees of the Weber Club continue to disburse money from Mrs. Weber’s estate to support technology training for Punxsutawney area children. (photos by S. Thomas Curry)

Weber School Continued from page 8 Why a Manual Training School? The story of Punxsutawney’s John A. Weber Manual Training and Domestic Science School in the early years of the 20th century was rooted in a movement for vocational training for students in public schools. Because of the physical disabilities of their two sons, the Webers had become interested in the movement that argued for “practical training” of the hands and eyes, manual dexterity, doing things instead of merely thinking about them, talking about them, and writing about them. For boys, such training could include both wood and metal working; for girls, it could involve developing domestic skills in sewing and cooking. In a September 1907 issue of the Punxsutawney Spirit, Editor W.O. Smith promoted the useful and beneficial training of the “practical arts” in the schools. “Training of the eye and hand, the use of tools, some knowledge of machinery, are sure to be useful some time to every man. Not less important is the education of the girls in what is called domestic science,” he urged. For his readers, he called attention to schools in the Pittsburgh area that had established manual training courses. A few months prior to Mrs. Weber’s death, Punxsutawney’s Superintendent of Schools proposed a commercial course, the first effort of the public school to give training to young people for the purpose of earning a living. Also, for those students “who do not desire preparation for college” and for students who

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“rebel at the work of the present high school courses,” he recommended courses in “domestic science and manual arts.” The superintendent was Frank S. Jackson, who was hired as principal of the high school in 1908. And in 1909, he was named superintendent of the Punxsutawney school district. He remained in that position until his retirement in June 1938, a year following the dedication of the new “annex” building, which was named in his honor. Where Should the School Be Built? Each of the buildings on North Jefferson Street was built during unique periods of Punxsutawney history. The red brick Weber school building, built in 1915, was described as “of considerable architectural beauty.” It was separate from the other school buildings, not only in its physical location, but also for its purpose as a school for training of young students. In June 1914, the Fiftieth Anniversary Club, as trustees, elected a superintendent for Mrs. Weber’s desired school. William M. Powell – experienced in vocational teaching in the Seneca Vocational School at Buffalo, New York, and in his native England – was to direct the construction of a building (or buildings) and establish the school’s curriculum. (A model home for girls to learn “to keep house and to learn the domestic arts” and workshops for boys had been expressed as Mrs. Weber’s wishes.) The will of Mrs. Weber, read in August 1913, stated “buildings or buildings are to be located and erected upon lots Nos. 31, 32 and 33 on the north side of Cypress Street, im- Continued on page 16

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Weber School Continued from page 12

mediately adjacent to the public play grounds in said borough, in the plat of lots of the Punxsutawney Land & Improvement Company.” In 1902, the Punxsutawney Land and Improvement Company bought land along the Mahoning Creek, between Gilpin Street and Penn Street, to fulfill a vision by many for a nice residential area near the downtown business district. On the western end, workers filled in the area, cleared and graded sections, and laid out town lots with streets, cement sidewalks, and “over 200 choice sugar maple shade trees” to make the development a desirable place for “home seekers whose occupation requires them to be in close proximity to their places of business.” In 1911, four acres of the section to the east were donated to the Punxsutawney Playgrounds Association, organized during the public playground movement. Mr. and Mrs. Weber, with other prominent citizens, were owners of the land. That section of Punxsutawney “adjacent to the public play grounds” – land that included new streets of Cypress and Alder and an extension of Gilpin Street south to the creek – was designated by Mrs. Weber as the location of the school. Why Cypress Street? Shortly after Mr. Powell had been hired as superintendent of the new training school and after construction had began, a public debate arose and opinions expressed. The Public Forum column of the Punxsutawney Spirit was the venue for discussion by many in the community. Two members of the John A. Weber Fiftieth Anniversary Club brought suit in Jefferson County Court against other trustees who desired to erect the school on a site that was not designated in Mrs. Weber’s will. The two objected to the majority vote to build elsewhere. They felt Mrs. Weber’s lots were “eminently suitable and that Mrs. Weber’s wishes in the matter should be regarded religiously ....” The ladies involved in the playground movement felt the donor’s site was an ideal one because it would be a quiet, natural environment for the students, because the hillside had orchards, and because “the birds sing, and the creek banks where wild flowers grow are the most inspiring things around Punxsutawney.” Mrs. Weber had also considered the proximity to the playground; it was important to her for the students’ exercise. Furthermore, other citizens noted that schools built in other neighborhoods did not provide for outside play. The counter-argument mentioned that according to Pennsylvania laws, no new public school buildings could be built where a playground is not provided.

Many favored the Cypress Street location because walking the short distance to that site would be beneficial exercise for students at the Jefferson Street school building, who would participate in the vocational training. One citizen wrote in the People’s Forum of September 10, 1914: “The greatest reason of all why the Weber school should be built on the Cypress street site is the fact that Mrs. Weber selected that site. She corresponded with officials of the best pre-vocational training school in the world – Girard College – asking their advice. She gave the matter long and careful thought. Out of the goodness of her heart she made this gift to Punxsutawney’s children.” Why North Jefferson Street? To the trustees who favored a lot on North Jefferson Street, Mrs. Weber’s property at Cypress Street and near the playground along the Mahoning Creek was “unsanitary, inaccessible and undesirable.” The low-lying land was frequently flooded – “on average of once a year [it] is submerged in from one to four feet of water,” they argued. Because of that, foundations would have to be built higher. And with the surrounding land flooded, how could students approach the school? The men argued that it was a half-mile distance from the nearest schoolhouse, through “uninviting alleys and a street largely grown up with elders and thorns.” They proposed a more practical site near “the education center of the town” where the new high school building, erected in 1907, was located. The privately operated manual training school could then work in conjunction with the public school. At one school, students would earn credits in academic education; in the other school, “things would be made and results visible.” The trustees claimed that if the school were close to the downtown, “strangers may find the school without employing a guide.” Those who opposed the selection of North Jefferson Street offered a counter-claim: It was located in a congested, business part of town. It was a “stone’s throw” from the Buffalo, Rochester & Pittsburg Railroad, and the Reese Planing Mill was nearby (later to be People’s Planing Mill), as was a livery stable. In addition, a wholesale liquor store and a large bar were “within speaking distance.” The town’s jail and fire house were also located within a few hundred feet. Above all, it was said that “the alley nearby is a favorite promenade of many old drunks while walking off their ‘jags.’” The Court’s Decision The Jefferson County Court ruled in favor of the trustees who selected the North Jefferson Street site. “That the large majority of the children intended by Mrs. Weber to be benefited by a course in manual training or domestic science would come from the seventh and eighth grades of the public school, and inasmuch as they are required to attend that school until they have attained the age of 16 years, and upwards, if they attend the High - Continued on page 18

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By PRIDE for Hometown magazine t was a small item in the October 15, 1897, edition of the Lindsey Press: “Once more the Punx’y Spirit predicts that work on the extension of the Buf-

This section of the 1892 Clayville Grade Map shows the Buffalo, Rochester & Pittsburg and Station, the Electric Railroad (Trolley), and the P. & N.W. railroad. (map courtesy of the Punxsutawney Area Historical & Genealogical Society)

direction of Mr. Jones was in the Dayton vicinity making a very careful survey, following the Pine Creek route. It was thought, although not confirmed, that the surveys were being conducted for the Buffalo, Rochester & Pittsburg Railroad. The survey showed the proposed railroad running near the property of D.W. Lawson and passing close to the Dayton Methodist Episcopal burying ground, where the old church used to stand. This survey appeared to be more complete than previous surveys, leading to the belief that a new railroad would be built in the near future. Mr. Jones, the director of the corps, was described as a gentleman who was careful in his conversation. He on one occasion did speak about the project, and his comment was reported in the Dayton News: “He ventured this remark, saying THINKS IT SHouLD BE LINDSEy

On this section of the 1895 Fowler Map of Lindsey, Jefferson County, Pennsylvania, one can see the Buffalo, Rochester & Pittsburg Station at the foot of Sycamore Street and next to the McKean Harl Planning Mill. At this time the BR&P Railroad ran below Lindsey, then along Sawmill Run to Walston. The Pennsylvania and North West Railroad ran along the west side of Mahoning Creek, crossing it near where the Punxsutawney Sewer Plant is located today. (map courtesy of the Punxsutawney Historical & Genealogical Society)

falo, Rochester & Pittsburg Railroad Company from this place to Pittsburg will be begun within six weeks. And once more we hope they are right.” This item summed up the month’s hope for an expansion of the coal industry as rumors and the reports of activities along Mahoning Creek and all the way to Butler and Mosgrove seemed to imply. In June 1897, it had been reported that for 10 days a corps of engineers under the

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Mr. Editor: I was pleased to find in your last issue a word concerning the name of this town. You would oblige me, as well as inform others, why this place was called Clayville, and when. Also whence came the name Lindsey, and when first called so? I presume that our town should be known by one name. Which should have the preference? Clayville or Lindsey. I would name Lindsey. Yours, —M.H.J. We do not know why the town was called Clayville, but we presume it was because of the vast amount of clay to be found here suitable for making brick of. The borough was organized in 1862 or thereabouts. After naming the borough Clayville it was found to be impossible to give the post office the same name on account of there being a Claysville in this state, hence the name Lindsey. —from the Lindsey Press, March 3, 1899

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that a fair price for right of way had very much to do with completing the plans for the road on the Mahoning and Pine Creek survey. Railroad companies, as he said, disposed to be liberal and compensate for all land used and damages sustained, but to ask and expect exorbitant prices for right of way is a decided detriment to our best interests, from a railroad point of view, as there are many localities offering special inducements to attract capitalists.”

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Continued from page 6 that they took with them as they closed the doors. “We had a lot of interesting and fun times,” David said. Although Wilson passed away in 1996, and the white block building that once graced the side of Route 119 was torn down in 2003, the Londons have often thought back on their days as candy makers. It was during one of these instances in 2009, as David, Mary and Karen relaxed at his backyard pool, that they had an idea. “Mom had made candy that Christmas,” Karen said. “So as we talked, we had the brilliant idea to recreate the chocolate in my garage.” The three didn’t waste any time with their plans. They called upon the help of Anne, as well as Marilyn Nickel, Melanie Nicholson and Lisa Powell – local members of the family – and set up operations in Karen’s garage with the assistance of her husband, John. In an effort to closely reproduce the original candy made by their father, Karen and her siblings dug out the chocolate machine that was salvaged from the business, as well as the marble slabs used for dipping and the racks where the candies are put to dry. Karen reported, “The first year we made 54 pounds of peanut butter candy. We mix centers up on a Sunday and dip on Friday. It’s quite a production.” Due to the fact that the candy-making process is very time consuming and tedious, the family members only schedule two sessions for the year: Thanksgiving and Easter. Their initial attempts fared inconsistent sizes and shapes; but, with practice and tweaking, the chocolates turned out amazing. David, Mary, and Anne agree that Karen deserves credit for the success. They said, “Karen is the mastermind; she gets all of the chocolate and ingredients and schedules the dates.” Each member of the family has his or her favorite flavor, and many requests are submitted. As the Londons carry on the new tradition year after year, their batch size continues to increase. During their last gathering, the group made 32 batches for tasting, enjoying, and even sharing as gifts to friends and neighbors. As they make the candy they laugh and reminisce believing that the patriarch of the family is smiling down on them. It is more than cocoa beans, sugar and cream. It is joy, togetherness, and love. Dave summed it up best by saying: “That’s why we do this; it’s all about family.” •••

School.” With the cooperation of public school Superintendent F.S. Jackson, Weber School Superintendent William Powell said that his school would correlate the training courses with subjects taught in the nearby high school. The “J. A. Weber Club,” as it became to be called, completed arrangements for the purchase of property that had been owned by T.M. Kurtz. Residential houses were moved east to North Penn Street, except one. That house was moved to the back of the lot where the school would be built. It was repaired and used for the residence of Superintendent Powell. Construction for the $20,000 Weber Memorial School began in the spring of 1915 and was completed for that year’s fall school term. An estimated 1,000 people attended the formal dedication on September 17, 1915, and toured the beautiful, functional building. Two floors fronted North Jefferson Street for the teaching of “domestic sciences,” and a one-story section – containing the mechanical drawing room and the workshops for wood and metal work – was along Torrence Street to the east. In 1923, at age 38, Superintendent Powell, who drew the plans for the school, supervised its construction, and served as the boys’ manual training instructor, died suddenly at his Jefferson Street home. Located between the Weber Memorial School and the F.S. Jackson building, the Powell house later become the Weber House, where young ladies received training in housekeeping, with cooking and sewing skills developed in Practical Arts classes. The house was torn down in the mid-1960s. When built in 1915, the John A. Weber Manual Training and Domestic Science School was “one giant-step forward for mankind” in the Punxsutawney area. A month after its opening Superintendent F.S. Jackson stated that “the completion of the Weber Memorial School has opened to our pupils a new and interesting field of work.” The Weber Club today continues its role as trustees to disburse available monies to the school district, but now to support the technology wing of the Punxsutawney Area Middle School. That wing is named Weber Hall. After a century, it is estimated the Weber Foundation has made available over $1,000,000 to benefit young people in the area school district. •••

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Plans were submitted to the United States engineer at Pittsburg for a bridge at Mosgrove that would be 50 feet high and Continued from page 17 span a 400-foot channel across the AlAnother indicator of the pending de- legheny River near the mouth of Pine velopment of the new railroad was a re- Creek, about five miles above Kittanning and five miles below the mouth of the Mahoning Creek. Contracts for work along the road began to be issued in February. Hans Olson, of Punxsutawney was engaged to use his diamond drilling machine on Simpson Hill, where he drilled two holes over the proposed A view of the extension of the Buffalo, Rochester and Pitts- tunnel. The purpose of drilling burg Railway from Spruce Hill â&#x20AC;&#x201C; the trestle in the foreground was to determine the kind of is over the Pennsylvania and North West Railroad, and the one in the middle of the picture is over the Buffalo, rock they would have to contend Rochester and Pittsburg Railroad to Walston. (photo cour- with when driving the proposed tesy of the Punxsutawney Area Historical & Genealogical tunnel through the hill. Hans Society) Olson completed the work by port that Charles F. Burnham, of DuBois, early March 1898. was in the vicinity taking up right-of-way options, many of which had been taken two years earlier but had expired. In September 1897, the Brookville Democrat reported that â&#x20AC;&#x153;The stations on the new railroad between Punxsutawney and Butler are as follows, beginning at the east end: Lindsey, Horatio, Valier, Hamilton, North Point, Goodville, Dayton, Echo, Oscar, Pine Furnace, Mosgrove, Montgomery, Cowansville, Craigsville, Fenelton, Lucasville, Wadsworth and Butler.â&#x20AC;? And in October of that year the Indiana Gazette noted that â&#x20AC;&#x153;the Buffalo, Rochester & Pittsburg Railroad was buying rights of way along their entire system and that the rights through Indiana County were confirmed and about half of them had been purchased outright.â&#x20AC;? The ownership of the new railroad was made somewhat clearer when the stock holders of the Jefferson & Allegheny and Allegheny & Western railroad companies met at Ridgway and voted to consolidate the two companies. The right-of-way agreements for the extension of the Buffalo, Rochester & Pittsburg Railroad from Lindsey west had been made under these Bridges on the first mile of the Buffalo, company names. With this consolidation, Rochester & Pittsburg Railroad extension were completed in 1899. From top to bottom: the the work on the Buffalo, Rochester & bridge over the Pennsylvania and North West Pittsburg Railroad extension would begin Railroad Track, the bridge over Mahoning in the early spring of 1898 Creek, the bridge over the Walston Track of the The Press followed the development of BR&P Railroad, and the bridge over West Mahoning Street (formerly Main Street, Clayville). the railroad and reported on activities. (photos by Shirley J. Sharp) The school directors of West Mahoning Township, Indiana County, and the agents of the Buffalo, Rochester & Pittsburg Alex E. Patton, of Curwensville, reRailroad Company agreed that the Loop ceived a contract for building 12 miles of School building, which was on the right the road between the south side of of way, would be moved to another loca- Clayville (now West End Punxsutawney) tion when the school term expired. - Continued on page 26

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Day of Dance is a series of events held by Penn Highlands Healthcare in DuBois, Brookville, St. Marys, and Clearfield. Many physicians will be available during the events and local instructors will provide introductions to various forms of dance. Dottie Redden, Dr. Sandeep Bansal (pulmonologist), and Janet Mehok of The Lung Center of Penn Highlands DuBois can explain the many advanced pulmonary treatments and tests that they perform in their office. (submitted photo)

Penn Highlands Healthcare Schedules Day of Dance Events

United States. t’s time for the Day of Dance! The hospiThis year celebrates the 11th Annual Natals of Penn Highlands Healthcare have tional Day of Dance, the biggest dance party set dates to bring this event to locations in for better health in the United States. The DuBois, Brookville, Clearfield, and St. event is a day of dance demonstrations, as well Marys. Admission is free, and all events will as a time to provide information and screenbe held from 10 a.m. to noon. Locations and ings to promote dates are as folbetter health. lows: The Done in a fun DuBois Mall, way, attendees DuBois, Saturand participants day, February 28; may not even Brookville know they are Y M C A , learning! Brookville, SatDay of Dance urday, March 7; was started to Sacred Heart promote heart Community health and exerCenter, St. cise. Heart disMarys, Saturday, ease is the March 14; and number one Expo I Building, killer of women Clearfield, Saturand men in the day, March 28. Instructor Rachael Carns and her students from Jamie All are wel- Washell’s School of Dance in Smithmill, Clearfield County, U.S. Annually, about 600,000 come to these show off several yoga techniques. (submitted photo) people die of free events – men heart disease in the United States – approxiand women, young and not-so-young. Day of mately one in four deaths. Every year, about Dance is a national program coordinated by 715,000 Americans have a heart attack. Of the Spirit of Women Hospital Network. The these, 525,000 are first heart attacks, and events are held in 70 communities and attended by more than 70,000 people across the - Continued on page 24

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22 – Punxsutawney Hometown – March 2015 - Issue #173

Snowdrops – which bear the scientific name Galanthus – congregate in the winter snow, waiting patiently for the spring that is definitely on the way. (Submitted photo)

may also hear the sound of owls hooting late at night, signaling the beginning of the mating season. Look closely and you may see the start of life on witch hazels and winter jasmines. And soon, the Lenten Rose, snowdrops, and hardy cyclamens could start to show their flowers. Finally, remember those ladybugs that were around last fall? Well, the ones that survived the winter somewhere in your house are starting to awaken. You’ll find them crawling on your walls and windows. So, until the

Pizza’s Renaissance Man Continued from page 10 dents exactly how to ‘Respect the Craft’. They prepared the Cal Italia and the New Yorker recipes from the Pizza Bible. The students baked over 70 pizzas and fed the entire crowd. While some students cooked, others served the food and beverages to the audience. “The CalItalia was excellent and paired perfectly with our Cayuga white wine, “said Doug Mankovich of Shadow Vineyard and Winery. It proved to be not only an educational evening but a dining experience for all. Gemignani resides in San Francisco with his wife and son. Currently he owns four restaurant concepts with a total of eight locations

The Memory Maker

snow melts and the grass shows again, focus on the small things that assure us that while it might not be just around the corner, spring is definitely on the way. And while you’re waiting for spring, bring the family into the Punxsutawney Weather Discovery Center to burn off some energy and have some fun! Coming up on Friday, February 27, is the center’s Almost Overnighter. So pack up the kids with their sleeping bags and pillows and bring them on over! From 6 p.m. to 9 p.m., we’ll tell stories in our story tent, look at the night sky in our theater, learn fire safety from special guest, Smokey Bear, enjoy campfire treats around our “campfire,” and lots more! The cost is $10 per child, and the program is ideal for children in grades kindergarten through six. To pre-register, please call 938-1000 or send an e-mail to info@weatherdiscovery.org. On March 14 – one week before the official start of spring – we’re planning a Spring Fling Fun Day! Come on in for fun and games of all sorts. No need to pre-register – regular admission of $5 per person includes the games and a spring-like snack from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Adults are welcome too! If you’d like to stay up-to-date with what’s happening at the Weather Discovery Center, visit either our website (www.weatherdiscovery.org) or our Facebook page (www.facebook.com/weatherdiscovery) to sign up for our e-newsletter! Or, you can call us with your e-mail address, and we’ll add you to our list. Marlene Lellock is the director of the Punxsutawney Weather Discovery Center. ••• throughout California and Nevada. Three new locations are scheduled to open by spring 2015. Venturing to the weather capitol of the world was something new to this innovative chef. “Being in Punxsy was an amazing experience. The entire town made me feel like family. Punxsy felt like the heart & soul of America. A true hometown feel that’s captured and resonates form the people. I felt at home & it was great. Punxsy is an amazing little town with so much life. Meeting the Mayor, Punxsy Phil and the people was a highlight in my career and will forever be an amazing memory,” said Gemignani. A limited number of signed copies of the Pizza Bible are available at Bee’s Books in downtown Punxsutawney. •••

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t’s that time of year again – get out your sneakers and get ready to support the Arc of Jefferson and Clearfield Counties / Camp Friendship! The 36th annual Run or Walk for Someone Special is scheduled for Sunday, April 12. There is a $10 participation fee for adults. (Children and youth 18 years of age and younger may participate for free.) Participants who pre-register and collect donations of $20 or more will receive a T-shirt. If a participant registers on the day of the event, donations of $25 or more will garner a T-shirt. To pre-register, please visit the event’s website (www.firstgiving.com/thearcofjeffersoncounty/36th-annual-runwalk-forsomeone-special). Pre-registration must be completed by midnight Friday, April 10. Pre-registration can also be accomplished by completing the walk-or-run form and mailing it – by Saturday, April 4 – to Sarah Walker, 1023 Sunset Lake Road, Rockton, PA 15856. For those not pre-registering, please bring the registration form to the checkin station on the day of the event along with the money collected. Registration begins at the Sykesville Town Hall at 1:30 p.m., and the race begins at 3 p.m. Participants have the option to run or

walk two miles or to run five miles. Trophies and ribbons will be awarded to finishers in a variety of age groups for both the two-mile and five-mile distances. During the event, games, food, prizes, and a silent auction will be available at the Town Hall. Prizes will be given to the top money collectors! Organizers would like to thank all the local businesses that contribute donations, and all the volunteers who help make this event possible. They encourage everyone to please come out and participate. Registration / collection forms – attached to the Run or Walk poster – will soon be available in many local businesses. The forms can also be printed from the website www.jcarc.org. For forms and additional information, please contact Erin Cameron at (814) 952-0490 or Bill Cuba Jr. at 591-6800, or by sending an e-mail to run_walk@yahoo.com. In addition, the third annual Zumbathon will be held from 9 a.m. to 11 a.m. on Saturday, April 11. There is a $10 registration fee. T-shirts will also be available for purchase at the Zumbathon! All monies raised at this event are used to provide children and adults with disabilities – from Jefferson and Clearfield Counties – with summer camp, Autism Camp, and support for other programs ran throughout the year. •••

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(Editor’s Note: “From Our Past,” researched by S. Thomas Curry, features items of interest from past editions of Punxsutawney and area newspapers.) January 16, 1886 — Two Walston women who quarreled and called each other names, have gone to law about it. The trial will come off before ’Squire Bell on the 18th. It is said they have a choice variety of epithets to swear to, and the bloods look forward to the trial as a great treat. If the ladies will get angry and use naughty language, they ought to confine it to their own back porches, and not bring it before the public. Many very trifling offences [sic] become rather grave by being mouthed by the public. (Punxsutawney Spirit) February 24, 1870 — DOING A GOOD BUSINESS. – the venders of ale, lager beer and whiskey in town, during the past few days. Rather quarrelsome “spirits,” too, by the way. (Punxsutawney Plaindealer)

Penn Highlands

March 3, 1908 — Frank J. Hopper, of Austin, Texas, is visiting friends and relatives in and about Punxsutawney. Mr. Hopper left this vicinity thirty years ago. He came up on the night flyer from Pittsburg and when he left the train here he was in a fix. It was only after questioning a policeman that he could convince himself that this was the little backwoods joint he left thirty years ago. [Note: From 1891 to 1912 Pittsburgh was spelled without the “h.”] (Punxsutawney Spirit) March 22, 1905 — The town council is being criticised [sic] considerably for having permitted J.A. Weber, the clothier, to erect a temporary structure on Market Space to enable him to make a $40,000 improvement to the town. We think the council did exactly what it should have done under the circumstances, as it shows a disposition to encourage improvement. Why should not the council help business men out of difficulties such as Mr. Weber was laboring under? [Note: The $40,000 improvement by Mr. Weber was the construction of his new three-story brick building at the corner of West Mahoning and North Findley streets, now the building of Fairlady & Company. The “Market Space” was the former open plaza space fronting the park on East Mahoning Street.] (Punxsutawney Spirit) •••

ing the Day of Dance event, dance demonstrations are given for people to watch, and sometimes to participate in mini-lessons. Continued from page 21 Dancing provides a wide range of physical and mental benefits. Dancing on a regular 190,000 are suffered by those who have albasis can help with weight maintenance or weight loss, with decreasing your blood pressure, and with managing cholesterol. Dancing also makes a person feel more energetic, in addition to decreasing depression, increasing coordination and muscle strength, and making dancers feel more positive. Because exercise is also good for many of the body’s other health systems, representatives from many other service lines will be at Day of Sandy Stom, a nurse practitioner at Penn Highlands Brookville, leads a large group of Zumba enthusiasts in a Zumbathon at an Dance to share health information. earlier Day of Dance event in DuBois. (submitted photo) For more information about any of the Day of Dance events, please ready had a heart attack, according to the Cencontact the Women’s Health Center of Penn ters for Disease Control. Highlands Healthcare at (814) 371-WOMN Dancing is fun and a healthy way to stay fit (9666). for people of all ages, shapes, and sizes. Dur•••

24 – Punxsutawney Hometown – March 2015 - Issue #173

Around Town

Birth Announcement

Sydney nicole McGee Proud big brothers Brett and Ian McGee are thrilled to announce the arrival of their new baby sister, Sydney Nicole. She was born at Penn Highlands DuBois on January 18, 2015, at 7:07 a.m., weighing 6 pounds, 9 ounces and measuring 19.25 inches. Sydney is the daughter of Hometown graphic artist Nicole McGee and her husband, Ryan McGee, the granddaughter of Brian and Beth Hetrick of Brookville and Shirley McGee of Rossiter, and the great-granddaughter of Dick and Mary Lou Hetrick of Summerville.

WINTER ROYALTY: 2015 PAHS Winter Queen Ivy Phillips with her escort Brandon Blose. (Photo by Jennifer Roberts)

By the staff of Hometown magazine and the Chamber of Commerce rom the staff of Hometown magazine and the Chamber of Commerce and the Community Calendar at Punxsutawney.com, here is a list of events and happenings coming up in our area: n Ervin Coblentz of Punxsutawney won the Hometown Super Bowl Contest. The score of the Patriots versus Seahawks game was 28-24, and Mr. Coblentz guessed the perfect total score of 52. He chose to redeem his gift certificate at Punxsy Pizza Hut. n Feb. 27 & 28: Punxsutawney Theatre Arts Guild presents the romantic comedy, â&#x20AC;&#x153;Almost, Maine,â&#x20AC;? at 7:30 p.m. at the Punxsutawney Area Middle School auditorium. Additional performances will be at 2 p.m. March 1 and at 7:30 p.m. March 6 & 7. Tickets will be sold at the door. For information, call 938-0378. n Feb. 28: Spaghetti Dinner, 4 to 6 p.m., at The Salvation Army, to benefit programs and services to help those in need, $6 per person. n March 3: First Tuesday Community Meal, at Punxsy Presbyterian Church, 5 to 7 p.m. Free & open to the public. n March 6 & 20: Dynamic Singles Dance, 9 p.m. to midnight on the first and third Fridays of each month at the Fraternal Order of Eagles, 420 Philadelphia St., Indiana. DJ Larry on March 6; DJ Kaos on March 20. For more information, call Bonnie (724) 464-7236 or Martha (724) 8404983. n March 8: Daylight Savings Time begins. Turn your clocks an hour ahead.

n March 14: Bowl for Kidsâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; Sake, at Groundhog Lanes, for Big Brothers Big Sisters, 4 to 6 p.m. Call 1-877-776-1636 or visit www.BBBS-JEM.org for information. n March 17: St. Patrickâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Day! Wear some green! n March 19: Blood Drive, 10 a.m. to 3:30 p.m., Punxsutawney Area Hospital, sponsored by American Red Cross. n March 20: First Day of Spring! n March 24: Blood Drive, 1 to 6:30 p.m., American Legion, Reynoldsville, American Red Cross. n March 25: Blood Drive, 1:30 to 7 p.m., Salem Lutheran Church, Smicksburg, American Red Cross. n March 29: Palm Sunday. n April 5: Easter. n April 25: Believe Dream Pray Neon 5K Run / Walk benefit for Thalia White Carol. Registration begins at 6 p.m. The race begins at 7:30 p.m.; no entries will be

accepted after this time. The event course is the Mahoning Shadow Rails to Trails in Punxsy (behind the ballfields). Registration for individual runners is $20 before March 31 and $25 after that date. Runners who register before March 31 receive a T-shirt. Registration for individual or family walkers is $15. Walkers can purchase a T-shirt at the event. For a registration form or additional information, contact Billie Blose (814) 952-9996 or Sarah Kasanicky (724) 681-3904. n SSCD Fish Dinners. Lenten fish dinners will be served at SS Cosmas & Damian on the first six Fridays of Lent from 4 to 7 p.m. in Wienker Hall, beginning on Feb. 20. The meal includes your choice of batter-fried cod, baked haddock, or salmon cakes. It also includes two sides, cole slaw, a beverage, and dessert. Cost: $10 for adults; $5 for kids 12 and younger. Eat in or take out! Please join us every Friday in Lent for a great meal â&#x20AC;&#x201C; once youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ve tried one, we know youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ll be back. SSCD needs and appreciates your support. â&#x20AC;˘â&#x20AC;˘â&#x20AC;˘

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26 – Punxsutawney Hometown – March 2015 - Issue #173

Continued from page 20 and Perrysville (now Valier). The heavy and expensive work, including a large cut to be made through the point of the hill on the South Side, a cut at the west side of the Simpson farm where the railroad crosses the divide, and a long tunnel through the hill below Sportsburg. Snyder Brothers of Curwensville received the contract for completing the stonework needed along the line. Shanty towns were built along the line of the road to house the workers. The contract for building the first mile of the extension – beginning at Clayville, extending across the Mahoning Creek, and connecting with the work being completed by Patton – was awarded to Duer Brothers, of Bethlehem, Pennsylvania. This mile of the new railroad was considered to be a very expensive section. It would require a large force of men for a long time. There was a great deal of speculation, on the part of the public, about how the company would get the railroad across the creek and over the Pennsylvania and North Western Railroad tracks. Many speculated that the track would need to be raised all the way back to Punxsutawney in order for it to cross Main Street (now West Mahoning Street) in Clayville at a height of about 14 feet. The Lindsey Press in its July 8, 1898, issue gave an update on the progress of the railroad. Snyder Brothers were about to complete the stonework for the bridge over Main Street at the Buffalo, Rochester & Pittsburg Railroad Station. They were having immense stones hauled in from the country to use in building the railroad piers for the big railroad bridge across Mahoning Creek and the Pennsylvania and North West Railroad tracks. Derricks were used to handle the rock, making the work more efficient and progress more apparent. With all this progress, the Press opined: “Pretty soon we will have an elevated railroad through Lindsey. This seems big but we think it will increase the danger of fire from passing engines.” “Our Station Discontinued” was the headline in the Lindsey Press on August 5, 1898: “Lindsey Station on the Buffalo, Rochester & Pittsburg Railroad is a thing of the past. For some time the location of the station has been a matter of conjecture as the old location was directly in the way of the new overhead track. It was not expected, however, that the company would discontinue the station entirely, as it was a condition of certain right of way contracts made by the company when they first built here that they should maintain a station in this borough. However this may be, it is a fact that business at Lindsey sta-

Bernard P.

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Snyder

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Elevated Railroad

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tion has been suspended for the present.” Work on the new railroad continued to progress. Master carpenter D.J. Carson and assistant engineer D.S. Watkins of DuBois, representing the Buffalo, Rochester & Pittsburg Railroad, started building the 900-foot-long trestle from the Main Street crossing to where the new road would cross the Walston tracks. And, the stone masons were preparing the abutments, so they would be able to install the bridge over the 190-foot span across Main Street when the iron arrived. Then there was a delay in receiving the iron, making it necessary to construct a temporary trestle so that construction trains could pass over the span in order to keep the work going. Arrangements were made to lease a steam shovel from Walston to remove fill from Spruce Hill. The fill was loaded into cars which were hauled across the bridge by a dinkey engine. The plan was to take enough earth from the hill to create a raised bed track from the creek to the bridge crossing Main Street. The iron for the bridges spanning Main Street, the Walston Track, and Mahoning Creek arrived in late February 1899, and the work proceeded rapidly. Rails were laid on the new road as far as Good Bridge, about a mile and a half from Dayton, and trains began running between Lindsey and Dayton. When the railroad was almost completed in August 1899, the Lindsey Press encouraged the citizens of Lindsey and Punxsutawney to pitch in and put forth every effort, financially, physically, and intellectually, to make a town of Punxsutawney: “What we need is something to employ people. There is plenty of room here for a town as large as New York.” This railroad, completed 116 years ago, is still used to transport coal from the Punxsutawney area to distant markets, even though Punxsutawney is not a town as large as the Big Apple. (Editor’s Note: The resources used in the preparation of this article are available at the Punxsutawney Memorial Library and the Punxsutawney Area Historical & Genealogical Society This article has been prepared by PRIDE – Punxsutawney Revitalization: Investing, Developing, Enhancing. PRIDE is a nonprofit organization that brings together residents, business people, community leaders and civic organizations, to improve the business districts in Punxsutawney. Forms for ordering memorial tiles for the proposed Coal Memorial for the Punxsutawney area are available at the Punxsutawney Area Historical Society and online at punxsycoal.org. Comments on this article may be directed to PRIDE, P.O. Box 298, Punxsutawney, PA 15767.) •••

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“Your Hometown Furniture Store” 28 – Punxsutawney Hometown – March 2015 - Issue #173