#216 OCT 2018

The Punxsutawney Chamber of Commerce T

On the cover: Punxsutawney Chamber of Commerce officers: Robert Cardamone, president; Shannon Kaza, treasurer; Katie Laska, vice president; Katie Donald, executive committee; Jim Casaday, executive committee.

Missing from photo is Jim Cassidy, secretary.

(Hometown Staff photo)

‘Punxsutawney Hometown’ magazine © Copyright 2018 — All Rights Reserved.

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Punxsy Proud — Boosting our Hometown!

Publisher Mary L. Roberts Advertising Mary L. Roberts Tracey Young Contributing Writers S. Thomas Curry Shirley Sharp Mary Ellen Pollock-Raneri Marty Armstrong Gloria Kerr Editor James Lauffer Art Director Melissa Salsgiver Graphic Artists Melissa Salsgiver Joanna Erzal

A Hub Supporting Local Business and Commerce

By Gloria Kerr On October 23, Women in Business, along to Subway. The price is $25 per person, with for Hometown magazine with S&T Bank, is hosting a private mixer $10 tickets available for designated drivers. for female chamber members.

To promote new member sign-ups, on he Pennsylvania Chamber of Business The Chamber’s annual luncheon takes Tuesday, October 9, the Chamber is sponand Industry, along with Governor Tom place on Thursday, October 25, at the Eagles soring a Membership Mixer at the PunxWolfe, is recognizing October as “Local with a half-hour social beginning at 11:30 sutawney Country Club from 4 to 6 p.m. A Chamber of Commerce Month” for the work a.m. before lunch at noon. At this event, the mixer is simply a friendly gathering with apmore than 200 local chambers do in their Chamber recognizes both the local business petizers and drinks where people can mingle, areas. The Punxsutawney Chamber of Comof the year and a non-profit commumerce is highlighting their vital role in nity service organization. President our community with a number of Cardamone says that U.S. Congressevents aimed at getting more individuman Glenn Thompson has been inals, not just businesses, to join the vited to be the keynote speaker.

Chamber. As Chamber president Thompson is a strong supporter of Robert Cardamone says, “We need matching youth training opportuniyou. It’s not so much that you need us,” ties to local business needs, an issue so that we’re all working toward the that, Cardamone says, is important to same goal: supporting local businesses our area that needs apprenticeships and non-profits and securing new opand workers with skills and experiportunities for growth in the Punxence, not just degrees. sutawney area.

Representative Thompson (R-PA) Both Chamber president Cardamone is co-chair of the bi-partisan Conand vice president Katie Laska present gressional Career and Technical Edthe Chamber of Commerce as the comucation Caucus. A strong proponent munity hub for business growth and of career and vocational training to prosperity, with four other organizaincrease the number of qualified, tions serving as vital spokes or adjuncts skilled laborers in Pennsylvania, he to promote the Chamber’s goals: the sponsored H.R. 2353, the StrengthPunxsutawney Regional Development ening Career and Technical EducaCorporation (PRDC); the Punxsutawney Groundhog Club; the Punx- Punxsutawney Chamber of Commerce officers left to right are Katie tion for the 21st Century Act, a $1.2 Laska, vice president; Shannon Kaza, treasurer; Robert Cardamone, sutawney Borough and surrounding president (seated); Katie Donald, executive committee; Jim Casaday, billion program to make vocational training money available that hasn’t townships; and PRIDE, a non-profit executive committee. (Hometown staff photo) been reauthorized by Congress since organization’s acronym for Punx2006. President Donald Trump signed the get to know other Chamber members, and sutawney Revitalization: Investing, Develbill into law on August 1, 2018. share ideas. Laska stresses that the public is oping, Enhancing.

On November 7, First Commonwealth welcome to attend, and she urges individuUpcoming Events Bank will sponsor an Appreciation Mixer als, as well as businesses, to join the ChamOn Saturday, October 5, in partnership with from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. in its office in the ber. At this free event, participants can the Punxsutawney Groundhog Club, the popPunxsy Plaza, 573 West Mahoning Street. sample an array of appetizers, have an opular Wine Festival will be held at Gobbler’s Coming up on Saturday, November 24, is portunity to win gift baskets, and join the Knob. With two sessions, one from 2 to 5 the Chamber’s Home for the Holidays PaChamber at a reduced rate at a sign-up table. p.m. and a second from 6 to 9 p.m., tickets rade, which it is co-hosting this year with the Co-hosting the event, the Country Club is inare on sale at the Chamber office at 102 W. Punxsutawney Eagles Club. Participants can troducing its new manager Mary Anne Mahoning Street, next to Fairlady and Compre-register by contacting the Chamber ofSpadafora and new chefs Carl Bullers and pany, and at the Groundhog Club office next Rachel Westbrook.

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Front Street and Punxsutawney Renewal Completed

The Mahoning Maid Ice Cream building was one of three buildings razed on North Front Street for the construction of a new S&T Bank on North Front Street. (photo by S. Thomas Curry)

T

By S. Thomas Curry of Hometown magazine he long-range plans for urban renewal in downtown Punxsutawney in the area approaching the East End Bridge at Front Street took longer than anyone involved could have planned.

The process of removing blighted properties, the redevelopment of acres of valuable land, and the movement of traffic has had a major impact on the Punxsutawney landscape.

The physical change in appearance began in the early 1970s. The years of “tear-down and rebuild” followed plans titled Block One and Block Two under federal urban renewal programs. Later, the effort became Community Development projects identified as Phase I and Phase II projects.

The planned improvements for providing new buildings on cleared land was coordinated with other needs that included the improvement of traffic flow in the general area of the redevelopment.

Torrence Alley a Major Street When the Mahoning Towers was being built, land was purchased for the widening of Front Street and a wide-turn lane at East Mahoning Street. The Towers opened in 1978 for new residents. Design plans for a new East End bridge were in a phase of final design for public hearings.

While land was being cleared for development along Front Street, property was also bought to widen Torrence Alley, the road from Front Street to Jefferson Street. Talk about widening the narrow road in the streetscape of Punxsutawney was around

town for about ten years by community planners.

In the original plan for Punxsutawney prepared by the Rev. David Barclay, the street was named Farmer’s Alley, and was the northern boundary of the small village of the 1820s. When Clayville was consolidated into Punxsutawney in 1907, Farmer’s Alley was renamed Torrence Alley.

With the increased traffic to and from the new businesses in the Groundhog Plaza, and school bus traffic from the junior high school on North Jefferson Street, the widening of Torrence Alley became a priority. Traffic was two-way only from Front Street to Jefferson Street; the section between North Jefferson

The familiar view of Hampton Avenue, entering Punxsutawney, was the result of the Front Street renewal project completed in the mid-1980s. The street name was changed to Hampton Avenue in 1985 to honor William H Hampton, Jr., for his leadership in community redevelopment. (photos by S. Thomas Curry)

Street and North Findley Street was one-way going east. The redevelopment plan in 1983 was to widen the road into a two-way throughway – Torrence Street from Front Street continuing to Findley Street to connect traffic to Pine Street. That plan was not approved by borough council. Thus, the street was improved only to North Jefferson Street.

The reality of a two-lane thoroughfare connecting to Pine Street didn’t occur until 2011 when the construction of the new ATA Transit Center was planned for North Findley Street after the demolition of many blighted buildings on the east side of the street.

Front Street Opposite the Plaza As Burger King was under construction in

1982, land was cleared from North Penn Street to Front Street for the new Groundhog Plaza. During the construction of the plaza in 1983 PennDOT coordinated the street-widening work in front of the plaza, from the railroad crossing to East Mahoning Street.

After the opening of the Groundhog Plaza in late 1983, attention was given to development of the east side of Front Street opposite the plaza, where several vacant and blighted properties were located.

In January 1984, a front-page headline in the Punxsutawney Spirit announced, “S&T Eyes Front Street Site.” The site was opposite the new Burger King restaurant. The develop-

- Continued on page 6

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History According to the Chamber’s website, “the Chamber of Commerce was originally known as the Business Mens and Merchants Association. This group was organized in 1908 for the purpose of advancing the commercial, industrial, civic and general interests of Punxsutawney. In 1927, it was decided to enlarge the organization and change its name to the ‘Chamber of Commerce.’ Records of this organization were destroyed in the 1936 flood. The present Chamber of Commerce was incorporated in June 1927. The local Chamber of Commerce is affiliated with the Pennsylvania State Chamber of Commerce and the U.S. Chamber of Commerce.”

Current Chamber Board of Directors The daily operation of the Chamber of Commerce is conducted by what president Robert Cardamone calls “a working board.”

Currently the board is searching for a director with an appropriate skill set who will be “the face” of the Chamber representing it in interactions throughout the community. Vice president Katie Laska, along with secretary Jim Cassidy and treasurer Shannon Kaza, has been volunteering at the Chamber office to check mail and e-mail and address pressing business.

The other sixteen current board members are Jim Casaday, Larry Chenoga, Katie Donald, Jessica Church, Harold Elkin, Thomas Lesniewski, Jack Lingenfelter, Sam Martin, Kim Neigh, Mandi Perry, Penny Pifer, Stevette Rosen, Jodi Presloid, Jill Martin-

(“From Our Past,” researched by S. Thomas Curry, features items of interest from past editions of Punxsutawney and area newspapers.)

September 12, 1894 — The Punxsutawney Political Economy Club is flourishing. It is rapidly absorbing all the gray matter of the community, and in a few months will be able to decide any and all of the politco-economic problems that confront the world to-day. The question for discussion Friday evening is whether or not the Government should own and control the railroad and telegraph lines.

The question of “Natural Monopolies” was discussed at the last meeting. The club is growing both in interest and numbers. The discussions are an intellectual tonic, a stimulous [sic] to study and reflection which cannot but be helpful to young men, or old men either, if these things have not ceased to delight them. (Punxsutawney Spirit) September 17, 1868 — TEACHERS WANTED – Three competent teachers are wanted for the schools in Punxsutawney borough. The school will commence on the 1st of November, next. By order of the Board, J.A. Minish, Sec’y. (Punxsutawney Plaindealer) September 21, 1906 — The rainy spell of a week ago gave the cement walk-laying a temporary respite, but the fine weather of this week finds it going with renewed vigor. Another season like the one passing will find board walks on Main street a thing of the past. (Big Run Tribune)

Rend, Dan Smith, and Roger Steele.

The board meets on the second Thursday of each month at 7:45 a.m. in the boardroom of Indiana University of Pennsylvania on Center Street in Punxsutawney. These “working members” attend ribbon cuttings and mixers, they volunteer their time to plan and to work at Chamber-sponsored events, and they network with businesses and non-profits to promote commerce in the area. Cardamone also says the Chamber helps businesses to be aware of government guidelines such as those of the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA), to be informed of changes in regulations, and to know how to secure permits or other resources by steering them to proper channels that are part of the Chamber’s hub.

The Chamber director’s office is located in the back of Punxsutawney Phil’s Official Souvenir Shop at 102 West Mahoning Street.

Mary Ann Jacobson, head clerk at the shop, also fields phone calls for the Chamber while serving a steady stream of customers coming to the shop to buy Phil memorabilia.

The Chamber’s mission is an ambitious one that both Cardamone and Laska call on everyone in the community to support. For instance, the Groundhog Club, which promotes Punxsutawney tourism and commerce 365 days a year, is looking ahead to Groundhog Day on Saturday, February 2, 2019. The town and surrounding area will be hosting thousands of visitors for a popular weekend event. Everyone can be part of this economic bonanza by accommodating visitors over the weekend, being a welcoming groundhog ambassador, and showcasing what Laska calls “the many pluses in our community. “ If interested in joining the Punxsutawney Chamber of Commerce, attend one of its mixers, particularly the one October 9, or call the Chamber’s office: 814-938-7700.

•••

October 4, 1899 — Over a hundred houses, all of a substantial quality, and some of the finest structures in town, including the new Methodist Church and the Torrence block, have been built in Punxsutawney this summer, and the work is still in active progress. And what is more gratifying, every one of the numerous dwellings erected were promptly tenanted, and the demand for more houses continues. (Punxsutawney Spirit) [Note: The church is the First Methodist church on the corner of Church Street and West Mahoning Street. The “Torrence block” was a three-story brick building built in 1899 on the south side of West Mahoning Street, between Findley and Gilpin Streets.

Frank’s Star Lunch is in business today in a portion of the building that remains.]

October 12, 1887 — The pumping engine stationed at Clayville for Walston Mines, does more loud puffing than a country newspaper. (Punxsutawney News) October 19, 1894 — Would it not be advisable for our school board to enforce the law in regard to selling cigarettes to boys under 16 years of age? It looks like a waste of money to educate a boy and at the same time have him breathe in poison from the deadly cigarette, for if persisted in, the habit will eventually destroy both body and mind.

(Lindsey Press) [Note: Lindsey Press was the weekly newspaper in Clayville, now Punxsutawney’s west end of town.]

•••

Emergency Medical Care Comes to the Mines

E

By the Coal Memorial Committee for Hometown magazine mergency medical care services as now known in the Punxsutawney area began when coal and coal-related industries, including mines, railroads, and iron smelting,

of access to emergency medical care and basic emergency medical supplies. This lead the Johnson & Johnson Company of New Brunswick, producers of wound care products, including bandages and sutures and baby products, to develop a commercial first aid kit in 1888.

Awareness that immediate, proper care of injuries could save lives prompted the U.S. Army to request assistance from Johnson & Johnson in creating first aid kits for soldiers fighting in the Spanish-American War. The company prepared a small first aid packet, containing antiseptic compresses, bandages, and safety pins, that a soldier could have in his battlefield uniform. If the soldier was injured in the field, a medic could use Representatives of the Rochester & Pittsburg Coal & Iron Company the supplies to help First Aid for the Injured Corps team that participated in the First Na- stanch bleeding, set brotional Mine Safety Demonstration on October 31, 1911 – a demon- ken bones, and administer stration that was observed by President William Howard Taft. After the demonstration the miners marched in a parade that was reviewed lifesaving treatments on by the President. (photo courtesy of the Punxsutawney Area Histor- the spot. ical & Genealogical Society, Inc.) Coal miners also experienced injuries on the job. adapted the military model for caring for the The environment in which the miner worked was fraught with risk factors, including injured in the work place. working in darkness, unFor centuries, medical care in war stable roof conditions, held a low priority. As a result, more gases, including methane soldiers died from disease and infecand carbon monoxide, extion than from battlefield casualties. plosions, fires, and floods.

Medical attention was primitive and often not a high priority for military General A.W. Calloway, suplanners beyond the officer corps. perintendent of the Soldiers were responsible for their Rochester & Pittsburg own care. Sick and injured men had Coal and Iron Company to find their own way home from disMines, spearheaded the development of the First tant battlefields. Nobility and the Aid for the Injured Corps in wealthy often brought their own docthe Punxsutawney area. tors to the battlefield to treat their mal(photo courtesy of the adies. The common soldier died Punxsutawney Area Historical & Genealogical Sowhere he fell. ciety, Inc.) A chance encounter between Robert Wood Johnson, who was touring the In addition to the environment, mining creWest by train in the 1880s, and the chief surgeon of the Denver & Rio Grande Railroad, ated many other situations where accidents could occur. resulted in a new medical care product. JohnIn the early years of industrial mining in the son learned that many railroad workers who were injured on the job died due to the lack - Continued on page 7

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Punxsutawney Hometown – October 2018 - Issue #216 – 5

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THE BEST GIFTS OF ALL Early in the activity of Punxsutawney urban renewal there was planning for a new East End bridge and improvements of widening and curbing on North Front Street. Shown in a 1977 aerial view of the development is the Mahoning Towers under construction (lower right corner) and the East End bridge to be replaced. (photo courtesy of the Punxsutawney Area Historical & Genealogical Society, Inc.)

Front Street Continued from page 3

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The East End Bridge ment of the rest of Front Street began with the Preliminary plans for a new bridge to carry bank’s purchase of three lots for a new fulltraffic across the Mahoning Creek on East service office with expanded drive-up and Mahoning Street, also PA Route 36 South, window service. The new drive-up facility replaced a bank building with two drive-up windows built for S&T in 1976 on East Union Street. The two-story colonial style building on Front Street included new office space and expanded parking at its location where the Mahoning Maid Ice Cream plant was once loThe redevelopment of North Front Street opposite the Groundhog cated near the B&0 rail- Plaza included the demolishing of houses, as seen in this 1984 photo, road tracks. and the widening of North Front Street for the anticipated increase in The Mahoning Maid vehicular traffic. (photo by S. Thomas Curry) ice cream company had been a landmark business since 1924 in part were presented to Punxsutawney community of the old, massive Elk Run Brewery building leaders in July 1975 in the new council chamerected in the early 1900s. The ice cream bers of the Mahoning East Civic Center. The company, with its local brand of Mahoning people listened and discussed ideas before Maid ice cream flavors, is also remembered final designs for the bridge and the intersecby older residents for its novelties of Popsition were presented as a final design. cles, Fudgesicles, Creamsicles, and Dixie It was anticipated that construction funds cups. All its history is in the memories of could be available by late 1977. But, in March older residents who enjoyed the ice treats.

1977, local planners were notified by PenAfter the bank’s construction, more blighted nDOT officials in District 10 that “it will be at dwellings were purchased and demolished. least another five years before money is availThe cleared area made way for another driveable for a new East End Bridge.” thru restaurant in the area. In August 1986, a In early 1980, the good news came. Plans Rax Roast Beef restaurant opened for busifor a new bridge were completed and bidding ness with its popular sandwiches, baked pobegan in late March for construction. tatoes, and salads. Two young men from St. As expected, before a new bridge could be Marys, who also had Rax restaurants in in place, the existing bridge needed to be reDuBois and St. Marys, operated the local - Continued on page 8

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Continued from page 5 Punxsutawney area, the injured or those killed were taken to their homes, where the families were responsible to provide nursing care or make burial arrangements. The mine doctor was notified of injuries and would call at the home to treat the injured and advise the family on proper nursing care.

Injuries to Punxsutawney area miners were similar to those in other mining areas as is reflected in this sample of items in the Punxsutawney Spirit: July 15, 1885: Raphael Aiello was killed by a fall of slate in Walston Mine #1. His neck and back were broken, and his body was badly mangled.

September 30, 1885: Evan Morgan, age fourteen, was run over by a car and instantly killed at the Walston Mines.

November 9, 1885: Gottleib Grossman was run over by mine cars and missed work for a while.

November 4, 1895: Peter Nugent was injured when he fell, and a car ran over his arm cutting his thumb and index finger almost entirely off and badly mangling his hand.

November 17, 1907: Joseph Guargenti was injured in a fall of coal. Seven bones were broken, but he is still alive in the Adrian Hospital.

The December 4, 1906, edition of the Punxsutawney Spirit carried an article with a dateline of New York and described the development of a “First Aid to the Injured Corps” in the collieries of the Philadelphia and Reading Coal and Iron Company near Pottsville, Pennsylvania. The corps consisted of miners from each of the collieries who were trained in how to set and splint broken limbs, to induce artificial respiration in cases of suffocation, to quickly stop dangerous bleeding, and to dress burns and bandage wounds. They were also taught methods of evacuation when standard equipment was not available and were provided with specially designed first aid kits.

Four years later, on January 25, 1910, a meeting was convened at the Punxsutawney Y.M.C.A. for the purpose of organizing a similar corps. The meeting was chaired by A.W. Calloway, general superintendent of the Rochester & Pittsburg Coal & Iron Company mines. E.E. Hewitt, superintendent of the Adrian mines was the secretary. Dr. J.M. Shields of Scranton, who had established the First Aid to the Injured Corps in the Anthracite regions, made the presentation.

At the meeting, two men from each of the Rochester & Pittsburg Coal & Iron Company mines were selected to be trained to lead the corps. Other area mines were invited to send men to the training. Their mission was to train one man for every twenty employees at each mine. This would assure that in case of an accident, aid could be rendered at once.

The mining company paid the necessary training expenses, as well as the men’s wages, while they were attending the training and monthly conferences. Completion of the course qualified the men to work in any Red Cross service without losing any time, after they attained certification as corps members.

The first local men trained as members of the original First Aid Corps were: J.E. VanDyke and Samuel Brant, Walston; A. Warden and H.C. Campbell, Adrian; James Pifer and James Anderson, Florence; W.B. Wardrup and John S. White, Eleanora; W. Williams and John Maloney, Rossiter; William Houston and Isaac Jones, Punxsutawney Coal Company; and Messrs. Blose and Hanley, of the Punxsutawney Iron

Works.

Upon completion of the course, each First Aid Corps member was provided with a box of specialized equipment specifically designed for their place of work: in the mines or at the Punxsutawney Iron Works.

With the First Aid Corps on the job in the mines, immediate medical care was available when accidents occurred. However, there was still a need to deal with mine disasters, which often required additional specialized equipment and training.

The railroads, mines, and the Red Cross cooperated to create Mine Rescue Cars. Pullman cars were refitted with the most modern equipment available for use in mine rescue work. Each mine rescue car was provisioned with enough food and supplies for eight weeks, should it be necessary to remain at a mine disaster site for that length of time. The front portion of the car contained the rescue

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apparatus, several Red Cross emergency surgical kits, oxygen tanks, and berths, which were arranged so they could be thrown into instant use as emergency cots. The next portion of the car was fitted with seats, private bath, and lavatories for the crew assigned to the car. At the rear of the car was a compact kitchen where food was prepared for the crew.

Mine Rescue Car #1 visited Punxsutawney on an educational tour on December 2, 1910.

It was on its way to Lansford, Pennsylvania, where it would spend two weeks in the training of employees of the Lehigh Coal and Navigation Company.

Seven mine rescue cars were strategically stationed in Pennsylvania. Mine Rescue Car #7 was stationed at Pittsburgh to serve the western Pennsylvania. In July 1911, Mine Rescue Car #7 was called to the mine explosion at Sykesville in Jefferson County. An ar-

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ticle on the explosion appeared in the Punxsutawney Spirit on July 19, 1911, and provided a description of the work of Mine Rescue Car #7. “The car was standing on the Pennsylvania Railroad Company tracks when the emergency call was received. Immediately they requested a right of way for a special and receive approval to travel over the Low Grade Division, by way of Red Bank and Falls Creek, then transfer to the Buffalo & Susquehanna tracks, and arrived in Sykesville at 5:10 a.m. The trip was made in four hours. At times the train made fortyfour miles an hour, which was exceptional, considering the nature of the road.

Immediately upon arrival, ropes were thrown about the train, and J.C. Roberts, who was in charge, hurried to where the officials were standing and volunteered the services of himself and the crew. There was nothing

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8 – Punxsutawney Hometown – October 2018 - Issue #216

The old East End Bridge that was replaced in 1983 had been in Punxsutawney history since it was built in 1909. At left is a view in 1910 with trolley tracks leading to the trolley barn in East End. The top photo is a view in the 1950s. (photos courtesy of the Punxsutawney Area Historical & Genealogical Society, Inc.)

Front Street Continued from page 6

moved. Work began in May to remove the old steel-arch structure, which had spanned the Mahoning Creek since 1909. With its age and safety concerns, the old “humpback” bridge (as it had been called for years by many residents) had been posted with weight limits. Its use was restricted to passenger vehicles and light trucks.

For some residents it held memories of riding a motorcycle or bicycle up over the beams on a dare. Residents might recall the feeling when approaching the old bridge in their cars as heavy trucks entered the bridge deck. Moments of hesitation and anxiety are a part of the experience remembered by many about entering “the old shaky East End Bridge.”

Another generation might reflect upon it as the old “red, white and blue bridge” after art students at the Punxsutawney Area High School had painted it in 1975 in preparation for the community’s celebration of the U.S. Bicentennial in 1976.

A temporary pedestrian walkway was constructed for use by residents of the east end section when the work on the removal of the old bridge and construction of the new was in progress. Until a footbridge was built downstream from the old bridge, pedestrian traffic was maintained over the old bridge with the erection of barriers to protect pedestrians.

When the old bridge was being cut up into

parts and removed, the Central Fire Company arranged for a temporary fire station for the east end section that had been separated across the Mahoning Creek from the town and the Central Fire Station in the Mahoning East Civic Complex. A pumper truck was placed at Hoffman Diamond Products and a fire plan was developed that used a route across the South Penn Street bridge for major fires in that area.

The bridge closed in early May 1983, and a detour went into effect. Vehicular traffic on PA Route 36 South was detoured via US 119 across to Route 36 at Cloe. Local traffic to the east end was directed over the South Penn Street Bridge. Parking was prohibited on South Penn and State streets and Oakland Avenue throughout the project.

Much of this bridge work was in progress during the construction of Groundhog Plaza.

In the final phase of the bridge replacement, the intersection at Front and East Mahoning Streets was closed to complete the details of curbing, paving, and lining the new lanes for moving traffic.

The new East End Bridge was opened in early November 1983, ready for the grand opening of Groundhog Plaza on November 10, 1983. The bridge’s grand opening was a celebration featuring numerous local and state dignitaries for a ribbon cutting and “a parade of classic cars and other vehicles” led by contractor Palo in his Rolls Royce, as reported in the Punxsutawney Spirit, and remembered by - Continued on page 10

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18 – Punxsutawney Hometown – October 2018 - Issue #216

Front Street

The addition of wider and well-marked lanes in 1983 on North Front Street / Hampton Avenue at the new East End Bridge were an improvement to aid traffic flow as a result of increased business activity in the area. (photos by S. Thomas Curry)

Continued from page 8 those who witnessed the completion of a vast project of urban renewal that spanned many years.

After twenty-five years of speculation and talk and six months of detours, the plan for a new bridge was a reality. The wider, three-lane concrete bridge was as described in the plan.

Going west on the bridge was a turning lane onto North Front Street, a lane straight toward downtown and a lane that moved traffic east across the Mahoning Creek toward the east end section and further on PA Route 36.

North Front Street from the new and improved Torrence Street, moving south toward the bridge intersection, was four lanes – a lane for traffic off the bridge toward the plaza, a left-turn lane across the bridge toward east end, a lane for traffic going straight to South Front Street and East Union Street, and a wider turning lane for traffic moving right onto Mahoning Street.

Traffic on East Mahoning Street entering the intersection at South Penn Street approached three lanes. One lane was for traffic going straight across the bridge or for a right-turn onto South Front Street and the Mahoning East Civic Complex. Another lane for left turns toward the plaza and further on US 119.

A third lane was for the traffic moving west

off the bridge toward downtown or entering from a right turn on North Front Street.

Thirty-five years have passed. Residents are now accustomed to the new bridge, the new traffic patterns, and the new physical environment of new buildings created by changes because of many programs for urban renewal and community development. The many projects brought in millions of dollars of federal and state funds to benefit the community.

After the completion of the bridge in 1983, one more event required completion. That was to recognize and honor the one individual at the local and county level who activated the community toward planning and led the completion of “urban renewal.”

In 1984, Punxsutawney Borough Council renamed North Front Street as Hampton Avenue to honor William H. Hampton, Jr., for his leadership that began in the 1960s. At a testimonial dinner in January 1985, held at the Punxsutawney Country Club, Mr. Hampton was presented the first street sign for Hampton Avenue. From that moment, the former North Front Street from the East End Bridge north to the railroad tracks where sits Burger King and the S&T Bank, would be Hampton Avenue. The name Front Street continues to be applied to that portion going south from the bridge toward Union Street.

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By Marty Armstrong for Hometown magazine ccording to Family Tree Magazine, Family History Month has been celebrated every October since 2001. At the Punxsutawney Area Historical & Genealogical Society, Inc., one could say that it is a year-round celebration. Of course, researchers come because they know the Society has a wide array of resources available to help fill in gaps in family genealogies. There are books, maps, surname files, the Mauk Family database, and plenty of other materials.

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and then suggested that Punxsutawney might be the best place to search. She was correct.

The grandparents were both noted in the Society’s surname files. In the one grandparent’s obituary, the birth mother was named with a married surname. In the other grandparent’s obituary, the birth mother was named, and the surname included a husband’s first name; apparently, she had married, moved far from the area and, perhaps, retired elsewhere. The searcher now had sev-

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Other people come – perhaps they should be called “searchers” – seeking to find something, anything, that will help them locate family members separated by adoption, distance, or time. In a few short months, several such searches have taken place, and when discussing (without names) the unique circumstances with others, many more have come to our volunteers’ attention.

Earlier in the spring, a woman in her early seventies came with the following story. She had only recently learned that she had been adopted. She’s had a happy life; her adoptive parents, now gone, had been loving and supportive. She’d had no clue even though, in retrospect, she did not physically look like other members of her extended adoptive family. An adoptive aunt felt she should be told and was able to find a birth certificate on which was written the birth mother’s name and that of Dr. Lewis B. McCauley who had helped to facilitate the adoption. One would think that with the birth mother’s name, tracking down the details would be easy. Not so. The birth mother’s family had moved away from the area. The searcher no longer lives in the area. She went to the last known city where the birth family had lived and worked with a genealogy volunteer there who did manage to locate some aunts’ names

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eral more questions: Was her birth mother still living? Where might she be now? Are there siblings? The searcher went home and took to the internet. Her birth mother was still living, a telephone number was located, and there are siblings. Unable to wait any longer, she called and determined that she did have the right person. Her intent was benign; she simply wanted to say she had had a good life and that there were no recriminations. Of course, she hoped for a personal connection with these newly found family members. Not ever having adoptive siblings, she feels somewhat alone now. This story does not have the happiest possible ending, however, as the searcher’s birth mother has never told her subsequent family about this part of her life and does not want to reconnect with it.

Still, our searcher is grateful to have found what she did with the aid of Society volunteers.

Her husband, too, had virtually no information about one of his grandmothers and asked for help. It turns out that, apparently, this grandmother’s mother had died early, and the grandmother was raised by a neighboring family. She had not much family information to share with her children or grandchildren.

This grandmother was in the Society’s surname files and appears to be connected to some family Bible entries also in the file.

This is going to take some intensive internet research to put the facts together, but already he knows where the grandmother grew up and can identify the neighboring family with which she lived.

Another searcher who had always known he was adopted came seeking information about his birth mother. He cares for his adoptive mother who now has significant memory loss and is similarly feeling somewhat alone. A search of yearbooks did not find much that was helpful during his first visit, but he hopes to find more later.

In discussing these situations – again without names – the subject of DNA testing comes up. Persons who do the test and agree to share the results with the genealogy website find relatives they did not know they had or relatives that were known to exist, but no - Continued on page 21

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Many descendants of early settlers Jacob and Susannah Walters Mauk lie in the Old Ebenezer Cemetery In Ringgold Township. (photo courtesy of FindAGrave.com)

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20 – Punxsutawney Hometown – October 2018 - Issue #216

By the staff of Hometown magazine rom the staff of Hometown magazine and the Community Calendar at Punxsutawney.com, here is a list of events coming up in our area: n The Hometown Steeler Football contest winner for the September 16 game was Nate Hankinson of Punxsutawney.

Nate guessed the total points to be 39. The final score was Steelers 37 - Chiefs 42. Nate has chosen Pizza Town to redeem his $20 gift certificate. See page 23 of this issue to play and enter to win this the next contest. n Sept. 26: See You at the Pole Day. n Sept. 29: River Road Pottery Fall Artist Show, 10 a.m., in Worthville. n Sept. 29: Racer’s Flea Market, 8 a.m. to 2 p.m., at Hummingbird Speedway, Reynoldsville. n Sept. 29: Fire Tower Historical Tour, 1 to 3 p.m., at Cook Forest Fire Tower. n Sept. 29-Oct. 7: Autumn Leaf Festival in Clarion. n Oct. 1-3: Books & Stuff Indoor Yard Sale, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., at Punxsy Memorial Library. All sales by donation. n Oct. 1: Free Sign Language Class, 7 to 8:30 p.m., at Grace UM Church in Sykesville. 5-week class, call 894-2784 & leave message to register. n Oct. 2: First Tuesday Community Meal, 5 p.m., at Punxsy Presbyterian Church. Free & open to the public. n Oct. 5 & 6: Free Clothing Days at Grange’s Helping Hands, at Grange Church of God. Friday, noon to 4 p.m., & Saturday, 9 a.m. to noon. n Oct. 5-6: Applefest at Mahaffey Camp. Call 277-5544 or go to www.mahaffeycamp.com for information. n Oct. 5, 6 & 7: Smicksburg Fall Festival. Go to www.smicksburg.net for information. n Oct. 5: PAHS Homecoming Queen’s Court, during the football game at night. n Oct. 6: Ornament workshop, 9 a.m.,

by Punxsutawney Area Historical & Genealogical Society, at Bennis House. $5 fee.

Call 938-2555 to register. n Oct. 6: Radio Harvest Auction, 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., benefits the Salvation Army. n Oct. 6: Pizza & Prevention, by Punxsy Pizza. Benefits the Punxsy Area Fire Department. n Oct. 6: Girl Scout Junior Program Energize for Energy, 10 a.m. to noon, at Punxsy Weather Discovery Center. $7 per person. Register by Oct. 2 at 938-1000 or info@weatherdiscovery.org. n Oct. 6: Wine Festival, 2 p.m., at Gobbler’s Knob. Tickets required.

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by We Care Pregnancy Center. n Oct. 8: Columbus Day. Some businesses may be closed. n Oct. 8: Blood Drive, 12:30 to 6 p.m., at First Church of God. Benefits American Red Cross. n Oct. 12: Community Dinner, 5 p.m., at First United Methodist Church. Free & open to the public. n Oct. 13: Ornament Workshop, 9 a.m., at Bennis House. $5 fee. Call PAHGS at 938-2555 to register. n Oct. 13: OktoberFest lunch, 11 a.m. to 2 p.m., at First English Lutheran Church. n Oct. 14: Punxsy Citizens Band Concert, 3 p.m., at First English Lutheran Church. Free & open to the public. n Oct. 14: Clergy Appreciation Day. Show your appreciation with a gift from one of Hometown’s advertisers. n Oct. 15: Coping with Loss Support Group, 7 p.m., at First Church of God, Punxsy. n Oct. 16: Blood Drive, 12:30 to 6 p.m., at SSCD Church. Benefits American Red Cross. n Oct. 18, 19 & 20: Coolspring Power Museum Fall Exposition & Swap Meet.

For more information, go to www.coolspringpowermuseum.org. n Oct. 20: The Punxsutawney Christian School benefit concert. Crossover will perform at 6:30 at the First Church of God in Punxsutawney. Doors open at 5:30. Tickets: $5 each - available in advance or at the door. Please call the PCS office at 9382295. All are welcome to join us for an evening of Gospel music and fellowship! n Oct. 20: Ornament Workshop, 9 a.m., at Bennis House. $5 fee. Call 938-2555 to register. n Oct. 20: Boy Scout Electricity Merit Badge program, 9 a.m. to noon, at Weather Discovery Center. $10 fee, call 938-1000 or email info@weatherdiscovry.org. Register

by Oct. 15. n Oct. 20 & 21: Potter’s Tour, various locations around Smicksburg. Go to www.smicksburg.net for more information. n Oct. 24: PAHS Powderpuff football game, 6:30 p.m., at the stadium. Girls’ game that benefits charity. n Oct. 27: Ornament Workshop, 9 a.m., at Bennis House, $5 fee. Call 938-2555 to register. n Oct. 27: Phil’s Trick or Trot 5k Run, 10 a.m. to noon, at Gobbler’s Knob. n Oct. 27: Halloween Fest, noon to 6 p.m., at Barclay Square. n Punxsutawney Theatre Arts Guild, Inc. annual Koeze nuts and chocolates fund raiser. The sale of these distinctive gifts come in a variety of prices for boxes, decorative glass containers, gift baskets and packages. For a brochure or more information, phone 938-6928 or 938-0378. Deadline is October 30. n Oct. 31: Halloween! n Oct. 31: Punxsutawney Borough Halloween parade, 6 p.m.., downtown, with trick or treating after.

- Continued on page 22

Family Searchers Continued from page 19

one had a name or location to look.

In the first instance, someone who might be a previously unknown second cousin came to light. This person is thought to be a descendant of a family member who had found herself in a difficult situation years ago and was essentially shunned by her family.

In the second instance, another young woman found herself in a difficult situation, and her family members helped to facilitate a non-local adoption. No one knew the child’s ultimate name or locale. Recently, the child – now an adult who knew herself to have been adopted and who has had a happy family life – had her DNA tested and shared it with the website. A person from the birth family had done the same. As a result, the matchup was made known, and the birth family held a family reunion event to welcome the “missing” child into the family.

Finally, the descendants of Jacob and Susannah Walters Mauk, who meet regularly each year to share genealogical information, research ancestors who served in the Civil War, and help care for the Old Ebenezer Cemetery off Route 536 where many of the Mauk family members are buried have now begun to do the DNA test to identify relationships and other family members. This group held its annual reunion in late August.

One of the activities was a day-long open discussion meeting about all these items.

Don Sigwalt, who has taken over additions to the Mauk Family database initially carried out by JoAnn Mottern Shively, now deceased, provided some information about what he feels to be the relative value of DNA testing. There are four major firms that provide testing; costs vary but there are frequent discount periods. He says that they are very useful for genealogical purposes. Results can be uploaded to a website called GenSearch.com, which will provide matches and email addresses. However, he believes the determination of percentage of this or that ancestry touted in media advertisements leaves much to be desired. The same person undergoing two different tests can have wide-ranging differences of as much as fifty to sixty percentage points, negating the value of both. Sigwalt believes the fault lies in the algorithms used, which have not really been fine tuned. As he reiterates, the genealogy aspect is good: he has been able to find another line previously not part of the database. More expensive Y-DNA testing for determining male lines The Y chromosome, like the patrilineal surname, passes down virtually unchanged from father to son, and mitochondrial DNA testing, which works with female lines, can be very helpful with specifics. The fact that mitochondrial DNA is maternally inherited enables genealogical researchers to trace maternal lineage far back in time. The mitochondrial testing, for example, was used by the White family to document an early female ancestor of native heritage. A resident of New York State, Sigwalt provides updates to the extended data base begun by JoAnn Shively which can be accessed at the Society.

Sigwalt also presented at the reunion discussion meeting a list he has compiled of Mauk descendants who served during World War I. Among them is John Norris Lingenfelter, well-known local educator, who is buried at the Old Ebenezer Cemetery. His name does appear in the Punxsutawney Centennial 1849-1949: 100 Years of Progress under the name John M. Lingenfelter.

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John Norris Lingenfelter (1897-1977), son of Harris R. and Myrtle Geer Lingenfelter, and grandson of John Ulry and Eve Mauk Lingenfelter, was 21 and single when he registered for the draft in 1917. His draft registration describes him as being of medium height and build, with brown hair and eyes.

His service compensation record states that he served from August 30, 1918, to July 7, 1919, and that he went overseas with the AEF in October of 1918, serving in Company G8th Training Battalion, and was discharged as a

John N. Lingenfelter (1897-2007) was a descendant of Jacob and Susanna Walters Mauk and a veteran of World War I. Lingenfelter had a forty-eight-year career teaching in the rural one- and two-room schools in the townships surrounding his home near Sprankle Mills and, later, at Mapleview School in the consolidated Punxsutawney Area School District. The photograph accompanied Lingenfelter’s obituary. (photo courtesy of the Punxsutawney Area Historical & Genealogical Society, Inc.)

corporal. His obituary notes that he became a charter member of the American Legion while still in France when that organization was first formed.

Lingenfelter (second cousin of William Nathaniel Lingenfelter (profiled in Hometown issue 214) was born in Sprankle Mills. His father, Harris Lingenfelter, was a noted farmer and fur dealer and his grandfather, John Ulry Lingenfelter, was an early settler in the area.

At the time of John’s enlistment his employer is noted as being A.H. Lingenfelter. “Andy” Lingenfelter had farming and lumbering operations nearby and was John’s uncle.

Following WWi, John N. came back to his parents’ home and is described in 1920 census records as a teacher, a profession he continued the remainder of his working life, teaching in various local township one-room schools. it was during the years that followed that Punxsutawney and its surrounding townships consolidated as the Punxsutawney Area School District. Consolidation meant the closing of the rural schools and the bussing of township students to one of the many newly-built modern elementary schools. The final district schools were closed in 1960 with the completion of Mapleview School in Grange. Townships sending their students to Mapleview included Perry, Porter, Ringgold, and Oliver. Teachers from those schools were themselves absorbed into the modern elementary schools or the Punxsutawney Area Junior High School located in three buildings on North Jefferson Street.

John N. Lingenfelter, with his many years of experience in education, ultimately became a head teacher at Mapleview. The Punxsutawney Area Historical & Genealogical Society, inc. has the Bible from which Lingenfelter read ten verses at the opening of each school day.

Regarding Lingenfelter’s family and personal life, he first married Minnie Evelyn Caylor who died at the age of 23 in - Continued on page 23

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Punxsutawney Hometown – October 2018 - Issue #216 – 21

Emergency Medical

Continued from page 7 they could do at the time. About half past nine a party of the government men, fully equipped with breathing apparatus and oxygen tanks, went into the mine to take samples of gas, in order to make a report later.

One of their party carried a canary bird, arousing no little curiosity on the part of the uninitiated. When they entered the mine, the men did not don their helmets, but had them hanging loose from their shoulders. The bird, it was explained, was much more susceptible to the gas fumes than man, and the minute the tiny bird showed signs of being overcome, the men would put on their breathing apparatus with the tank.

The crew on the car consisted of J.D. Roberts, mining engineer, in charge; W.D.

Roberts, rescue foreman, and Mr. Wilson, engineer in charge at Pittsburgh; George Burrelle, gas expert; W.M. Burke, foreman; C.S. Stevenson, acting foreman; Frank Savage, assistant foreman, and W.M. Roudenbush, first aid man. The car returned to Pittsburgh over the Buffalo, Rochester & Pittsburg railway.”

Today, first responders, including ambulance companies and fire companies, receive training to respond to emergency situations anywhere in the Punxsutawney area. Specialized Mine Rescue Units are strategically placed throughout the area. And, advanced life support is available through medical evacuation to transport individuals in need of specialized emergency care to medical centers in identified cities.

This article has been prepared by the Coal Memorial Committee of the Punxsutawney Area Historical & Genealogical Society, Inc.

Information used in the preparation of this article is available at the Punxsutawney Memorial Library and the Punxsutawney Area Historical & Genealogical Society. Comments on this article may be directed to PAHGS, P.O. Box 286, Punxsutawney, PA 15767. Individuals desiring to honor a coal or coal-related industry worker in 2019 are encouraged to purchase their tile by June 30, 2019. Forms for purchasing a Coal Memorial tile to honor any person who worked in any aspect of the coal industry, including railroads, may be found online at www.punxsyhistory.org or may be picked up at the Lattimer House, 400 West Mahoning Street, Punxsutawney. Forms may also be requested by emailing: punxsyhistory@outlook.com or calling (814) 938-2555.

•••

SPEEDY RECOVERY!

The shortest distance from hospital to home is Christ The King Manor’s Rehab Therapy Unit.

The Short Term Rehab Therapy Unit at Christ The King Manor specializes in making the transition from hospital to home as easy and comfortable as possible. Our therapy department features highly trained physical, occupational and speech therapists to help make your recovery a speedy recovery.

Other amenities include: Private Rooms Mini-Kitchens Private Bathrooms Country Kitchen Separate Dining Facilities Spa

ChristTheKingManor 814-371-3180 Call today for more information and a tour of our Rehab Therapy facilities. w w w. c h r i s t t h e k i n g m a n o r. o r g

22 – Punxsutawney Hometown – October 2018 - Issue #216

1100 West Long Ave • DuBois, Pennsylvania

Hometown Community Continued from page 20

n The Salvation Army is taking applications for its Treasures for Children Christmas assistance program, 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Bring current proof of income & photo ID. Call 938-5530 or visit the Salvation Army Punxsutawney Facebook page for information. n The Salvation Army has a rummage sale every Friday morning from 9 to 11:30 a.m. n If you’d like to volunteer at the Jackson Theater, call the Punxsy Area Community Center at 938-1008. n Jeff Tech offers several Adult Education classes. Visit www.jefftech.info for information on what courses are available and starting dates. n Classic Car Cruise Ins, 5 p.m. Sundays, at Punxsy Advance Auto. n Hunting licenses for the various seasons in Pennsylvania are starting to be available. Visit the PA Game Commission website for more information. n The First English Lutheran Church is holding worship services at 5:30 p.m. Saturdays. n The First United Methodist Church holds a prayer service at 7 p.m. Thursdays.

The Punxsutawney Memorial Library offers several programs, including computer classes, Teen Club, ’Tween Group, Book Club for adults, and activities for children. n The Punxsutawney Area Community Center offers indoor cycling, batting cage, Fifty & Fit, SilverSneakers, AM men’s basketball, Pilates/yoga, and gymnastics. Call 938-1008 for more information.

•••

Mauk Family

Continued from page 21

Mrs. Verna Bell Payne Lingenfelter painted this picture of the John Lingenfelter home on the Hamilton-Markton Road – one of four seasonal pictures of the home done by Mrs. Lingenfelter. It is from the collection of Dr. Michael A. Vancheri. (photo courtesy of the Punxsutawney Area Historical & Genealogical Society, Inc.)

1926. She and an infant son are buried in St. John’s Reformed Cemetery Off Route 536. John and a surviving son lived for a time with John’s parents; he later married Verna Belle Payne. The growing Lingenfelter family lived for many years in the home built by Civil War veteran, Charles Law. A prolific painter, Verna painted many homes, including their own, located on the Hamilton-Markton Road.

That home, she painted in summer, fall, winter, and spring. The fall and winter paintings grace the home now. John is noted in 1926 as being a well-known baseball pitcher and in later life as a singer with the Bish and Lingenfelter quartets. He and his family were members of the Sprankle Mills Barton Chapel.

John Norris Lingenfelter and his wife, Verna, are buried at the Old Ebenezer Cemetery off Route 536 where many of his Mauk connections also lie.

•••

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3. Enter one of the participating advertisers on this page in the space provided to redeem your coupon should you be the contest winner.

4. Clip and forward the coupon to:‘Steelers Football Contest,’ c/o Hometown magazine, 129 Aspen Road, Punxsutawney, PA 15767. PLEASE MARK YOUR TEAM PICK & TOTAL POINTS ON THE OUTSIDE OF THE ENVELOPE.

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6. No purchase necessary to participate. All entries must be original magazine coupon (no photocopies).

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In event two or more contestants tie for closest to the total score, one winner will be randomly selected to win the $20 certificate. Each issue we will give one $20 certificate.

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Punxsutawney Hometown – October 2018 - Issue #216 – 23

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24 – Punxsutawney Hometown – October 2018 - Issue #216