Awesome Austin Pennsylvania

Thursday, July 18, 2024

The Austin High School, Austin, Pennsylvania Class C Basketball Champions, 1965 - 1966

The 1965 - 1966 North Tier League Champion Austin, Panthers

Austin, Pennsylvania

We hadn't beat Coudersport in 27 years

Austin Upsets High Scoring Sheffield Team

Game played at Port Allegany High Schoo

Austin Lost

Monday, July 8, 2024

Making A Difference In Our Community Jennifer Ludwig-Leightley - Scouting

Left to right: Jennifer, son Nick, Husband Curt Front daughter Elyssa

The small community of Austin, Pennsylvania, has a vibrant Scouting program thanks to the dedication of Scoutmaster Jennifer Ludwig-Leightley with the support and assistance of her husband Curt.

They have just returned from a weekend of camping, hiking, geocaching and Kayaking at the Indian Head Campground in Bloomsburg, Pa.

On June 28, the Scouts were at The Great American Backyard Campout in Hughesville, Pa.

On June 14, then Scouts participated in the Flag Day ceremony held in Port Allegany, Pa.

On May 19, the Scouts celebrated National Police Week by preparing and delivering baked goods to our local Police Barracks in Coudersport, Pa.

May 18th, the Scouts participated in our local Memorial Day Ceremonies.

Other activities our Scouts were involved in:

The Trap Shoot at the Bucktail Rod and Gun Club

Youth Fishing Derby

Earth Day; and

Council Camp in Mayville, NY.

A number of individuals have earned Eagle Sount status here in Austin and daughter Elyssa is well on her way to achieving that status.

We send you a heartfelt thanks for all that you are doing to make Austin a better place to live.

Saturday, June 8, 2024

Subic Bay U.S. Naval Base, Philippines - 1975 - 1977

When I reported for duty at Subic Bay I had come to terms that I was now a career sailor. When I left two (2) years later, I had changed my mind.

We were now a family of 4. Lived in a townhouse on base and hired Angie's younger sister Carmin as our housekeeper.

I was the youngest first class petty officer at the law center and initially assigned as a court reporter.

A second class petty officer assigned to another department recognized me as being a member of the varsity softball team at Norfolk Naval Base and the word spread throughout the command that I was a good ballplayer.

I would play for a short period of time on the Command softball team but quit when problems arose with the new Senior Chief. We were 7 - 0 at the time I quit. I believe the team finished with an 8 - 7 record.

My first year at Subic went very well. I was a good reporter and could type at a good rate of speed with minimal errors and would take the time to carefully proofread my work before submitting the transcript of court-martials for approval.

I would be selected as Legalman of the Quarter and chosen to present the Admiral in Charge of the JAGC with a small token of appreciation, a Zippo lighter with the NLSO command logo, when he visited us at Subic Bay.

Although I was the junior First Class Legalman, I was selected to fill in for a vacant position in the Admiral's office that had previously been filled by a Master Chief Petty Officer. There was a large amount of work waiting for me that the Master Chief had failed to do. I would spend many extra hours of work to get the office up to par. The first order of business was to gather, organize and ship three (3) years of court-martial records to the Navy Personnel Records Center, and, then organize the current records in the appropriate alphabetic system.

I didn't know that my Department Head was aware of the task that I had to undertake to get the office in good working order, but he did. He would later write a special evaluation outlining the tasks that I had performed and called me the best Legalman in the Navy.

To the surprise of everyone, a fellow Legalman Fred Gemler and I would upset the defending Base horseshoe champs and become instant celebrities. Our commanding officer loved to see his command mentioned in the base newspaper:

Another exciting adventure was visiting Diego Garcia as the court reporter for a trial team sent to the island for a number of court-martials waiting to be tried. At the time, Diego Garcia was in the infant stage of becoming a major Naval Base in the Indian Ocean.

I would also attain an Associate Degree in Business from the overseas branch of Los Angeles Community college.

We would visit the prison in Manila once a month delivering supplies to a friend and fellow shipmate who was imprisoned there.

During the second year at Subic I would have problems with the new Senior Chief and decided that I would not stay in the Navy. I volunteered for Recruiting duty with the plan to network within the community I was assigned and get out of the Navy when my tour of duty was completed.

I would receive orders to Naval Recruiting District Buffalo, NY.

Thursday, May 30, 2024

Milestone Timeline in the History of Austin, Pennsylvania: 1856 - 1943

Milestone Timeline of Austin, Pennsylvania 1856 - 1943

1856 - E.O. Austin cut a road through Costello and settled in an area called North Wharton which would later be renamed Austin.

1857 - George Turner settled in an area north of the E.O. Austin settlement.

1878 - Post office established at E. O. Austin’s resident named Freeman Run.

1881 - First telephone line in the county was built from Keating Summit to Costello,
providing service to Austin.

1885 - F. H. Goodyear built the Sinnemahoning Valley Railroad from Keating Summit to Austin.

1886 - Two mills, referred to as the big mill and the small mill, were built in Austin by O.S. Garretson. Big mill referred to as The Hemlock Mill. Small mill cut
hardwood.
The mills were located on property previously owned by E. O. Austin and
George Turner, and, thereafter purchased by Garretson.
Railroad extended from Austin to Costello.
The United Lumber Company organized by F.H. Goodyear, president, S.S. Bullis,
general manager, J.J. Newman, secretary in order to control the lumber market
and force up the price of lumber.

1887 - F.H. Goodyear makes his brother C.W. Goodyear as partner till 1900, when it
was reorganized as the Goodyear Corporation
The name of the post office changed to Austin on April 1, 1887.
Austin’s population reported to be 500.
Blaisdell Brothers build kindling wood factory.
Electric light supplied to citizens of Austin by lighting plant put into
operation at the starting of the O.S. Garretson mill.
The Austin Autograph newspaper was established.

1888 - R. J. Gaffney built chemical works factory for the manufacture of wood alcohol.
The borough of Austin was incorporated.
A graded school building was erected by Pinney and Rees for a total cost of $3200
Crystal Hose Company formed. Painter and art teacher Paul Costa became
Austin’s first official fire chief.
First bowling alley built on Turner Street

1889 - First major fire destroyed blacksmith and wagon shop owned by John Hagen.
One man, James Moyer was burned to death.

1890 - The census shows Austin to have a population of 1670 which was the largest

borough in the county.

A.G. Lyman built hardwood mill.

Second major fire. A large part of the town was destroyed, sweeping both sides

of Main Street, burning 43 businesses and a few dwellings.

Third fire, December 1890, burned five stores on Turner Street.

1891 - March fire destroyed F. J. Gerrity boarding house. Three died and three burned

severely.

1893 - The Davidge Manufacturing Company built a hubs and veneering plant.

Railroad completed from Austin to Galeton

Goodyear railroad lines consolidated and called the Buffalo and Susquehanna.

1894 - Gas line laid to Austin from Coudersport over Mina Hill through Odin.

1897 - The most extensive fire swept Railroad, Turner Street and parts of Main Street.

89 families were burned out, two churches, a theater, several stores and

boarding houses were destroyed.

The big hemlock mill becomes the property of the Goodyear Corporation and

Remodeled into a band mill.

St. Augustine’s Catholic Church was built. (Destroyed in flood of 1911, but rebuilt)

1898 - The Austin Republican newspaper was established.

The Austin Hospital was established.

1900 - The Bayless Pulp and Paper Company was erected.

The Bayless Row and Starkweather houses built.

1901 - The Emporium Lumber Company purchases the A.G. Lyman hard wood mill.

New gas line laid to Austin from Roulet over the Lookoff.

Original dam across the valley of Freeman Run built of native stone laid in cement and flanked by earth embankments on both sides for water supply to the

Bayless Pulp and Paper Company

By a vote of 157 to 59 citizens of Austin voted in favor of a borough owned waterworks

1902 - Austin borough fire department becomes incorporated.

The Bank of Austin was built.

1903 - The small hardwood mill burned and was not rebuilt.

1904 - The primary school building burned, but was immediately rebuilt.

1905 - Construction of Austin Municipal Waterworks began after lengthy legal battle

decided by the Supreme Court.

1906 - The Austin Republican newspaper stopped publication.

1907 - Macadam road built from borough line in Austin to Costello.

1909 - Frank E. Baldwin of Austin elected State Senator.

The new Austin dam was built.

E.O. Austin died.

1910 - State took over road from Coudersport to Sinnemahoning via Austin and

Wharton; and, Coudersport to Keating Summit via Austin.

The new Austin dam cracked. A hole was blasted in the top of the dam, near

the top releasing three feet of water and arrested the movement of the dam.

Austin’s population reaches historical high of 2941.

1911 - Big hemlock mill closed in February

The Austin dam broke destroying the community of Austin on September 30, 1911. It remains the second worst dam disaster in the Commonwealth of PA.

The Austin Autograph newspaper ended publication due to the flood.

1912 - Brick road build on Costello Avenue.

1914 - The Emporium Lumber Company Mill was dismantled.

1916 - The lumber industry in Potter County, including Austin was nearly distinct.

1920 - The Austin Community Building was erected.

1924 - The Bank of Austin becomes a national bank.

1925 - The first hard road connecting Austin with the world outside was built to Keating Summit.

1930 - Hard road to Coudersport from Austin finished. Referred to as the Baldwin Highway after Senator Frank E. Baldwin.

The Austin Hospital building was torn down.

1933 - The Bayless Company is bankrupt.

1941 - They Bayless Company is sold at public auction. Purchased by Veta Mines

Corporation who opens the plant under the name of the Williamson Pulp and

Paper Company.

1942 - Flood of 1942 seriously damages The Williamson Pulp and Paper Company

forcing it to close.

1943 - The Pulp and Paper Company was destroyed by fire.

Events and dates were gathered from the following publications:

History of Potter County by Victor Beebe
1911 The Austin Flood by Paul W. Heimel
Community Growth in Freeman Run by Marie Kathern Nuschke
Industry Comes to Freeman Run by Marine Kathern Nuschke
Austin Centennial 1888 - 1988 by Austin Centennial Committee

Sunday, May 19, 2024

Memorial Day Weekend Activities at Sinnemahoning State Park

Sinnemahoning State Park invites you to celebrate Memorial Day Weekend at the park this year. Below is the program lineup for next weekend. Of note is the return of Pontoon Tours on Stevenson Reservoir! Additionally, the programs poster is attached to this email.

Friday, May 24^th, 2024

7:00 P.M.- 8:00 P.M. –Campground Movie: Charlie & the Curious Otters– Bring the family to the Campground amphitheater and join a park educator for a Friday night showing of the PBS Nature special “Charlie & the Curious Otters

Meets at: Campground Amphitheater

Saturday, May 25^th, 2024

10:00 A.M.-12:00 P.M -Kayak Nature Tour- Take a relaxing paddle out on the lake in search of wildlife and peaceful morning recreation! Borrow the park’s kayaks and equipment or bring your own. Open to participants age 10 to adult. Group size is limited. Pre-registration is required.

To Register: https://events.dcnr.pa.gov/event/kayak-nature-tour

Meets at: Lake Day Use Area

Saturday, May 25^th, 2024

2:00 P.M.-4:00 P.M -Ride the Rail Trail- Enjoy a guided ride through the park on the Lowlands Trail. Bring your own bike or check out one of the park’s loaner bikes. A park educator will lead the trip. Pre-Registration is Required if you plan to use one of the park's bikes.

Meets at: The Wildlife Center

Sunday, May 26th, 2024

9:00 A.M.-11:00 A.M -Breeding Bird Walk- Learn about the ongoing Pennsylvania Bird Atlas project and spend the morning looking for and documenting breeding birds with a park educator.

Meets at: The Wildlife Center

Sunday, May 26th, 2024

1:30 P.M.-3:30 P.M -Kid’s Craft: Otter Mask - Join a park educator to learn more about River Otters and make an Otter mask!

Meets at: The Wildlife Center Classroom

Monday, May 27th, 2024

Pontoon Tours of the Stevenson Reservoir- Join park staff for a fun and informative 1-hour tour, as we cruise the shoreline of the George B. Stevenson Reservoir in search of wildlife. Group size is limited. To reserve a seat, please pre-register. Pre-registration is not required but is strongly recommended. There is no fee for regular Sunday interpretive pontoon boat tours, but DONATIONS ARE REQUESTED.

Meets at: Lake Day Use Area

Pontoon Tour Times

9:00 A.M.-10:00 A.M.

10:30 A.M.-11:30 A.M.

12:00 P.M.-1:00 P.M.

# # #

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If you need an accommodation to participate in park activities due to a

Disability, please contact the Pennsylvania Bureau of State Parks at 888-

PA-PARKS (voice) 888-537-7294 (TTY) 717-558-2711 (local or international TTY) 800-654-5984 (AT&T Relay Service).

Hope to see you at the park!

Matt Schenck | Environmental Education Specialist
PA Department of Conservation and Natural Resources
Bureau of State Parks | Sinnemahoning State Park

4843 Park Dr | Austin, PA 16720
Phone: 814.647.8401

www.dcnr.state.pa.us / www.visitPAparks.com

Monday, May 13, 2024

Nancy Glover Making A Difference In Austin, Pennsylvania

May is Military Appreciation Month.

Memorial Day is during the month of May.

Nancy Glover is the most Patriotic person I know here in Austin, Pennsylvania. So, it's a must that Nancy be recognized during the month of May for her service to the Veteran Community.