Awesome Austin Pennsylvania

Monday, March 25, 2024

The Old Community Building, Austin, Pennsylvania

Photo of the old Community Building from the Doris VanWhy Fowler Collection

Austin High School's First Girls' Basketball Team

Sunday, March 24, 2024

YN2 Fowler Reports To ComFive Law Center, Norfork, Virginia

Norfolk is the largest Naval Base in the USA.

The ComFive Law Center was located in the same building as the Commander of the Fifth Naval District on the 2nd floor.

I would initially be assigned to the court reporting pool.

I am pictured in 2nd row, 2nd person from the left, wearing a mustache.

Command Logo

Old Uniform. Hair does not conform to military standards.

I would be eligible for the E-6 exam at the five (5) year point in the USN.

Wearing winter uniform with the LN1/paygrade E-6 patch.

As soon as I made LN1. I would also report to the Claims Office for training and experience.

When the Chief Petty Officer retired in the Legal Assistance Office, I was assigned to take his place.

The Norfolk Legal Assistance Office was the largest in the USN. I had a minority working for me and that would be a plus noted in my performance evaluation.

Reenlisting for orders to Subic Bay Naval Base in the Philippines. Summer uniform.

Austin High School Maple Sweetheart Candidates

YN2 Mike Fowler Leaves Sangley Point, RP For Naval Legalman School In Newport, RI

I can vividly remember the sadness I felt at leaving the Philippines. I knew that I would never again experience the happiness I enjoyed there.

I had requested and was granted training as a Legalman, a new rating that the Navy had created.

The training would be held at Naval Base Newport, RI. Newport was a beautiful place to be for 8 weeks during the months of September and October.

Various topics were covered, but the focus was on becoming a Court Reporter using a closed microphone reporting machine.

I was able to dictate verbatim a court hearing at the 225 words per minute requirement and transcribe the recorded material with 3 or less words per minute.

I was sworn in as a Certified Court Reporter.

The Navy issued orders for me to report to Naval Base Norfolk, Virginia/

Saturday, March 16, 2024

Barta Wold WWI Nurse From Austin, Pennsylvania

Barta Wold - A Woman Of Accomplishment

Hagbarta (Barta) Johanna Wold

At the age of eighty (80) Barta had the foresight to put in writing her family accomplishments which are contained in a notebook on file at the E.O. Austin Home/Historical Society, One Town Square, Austin, Pennsylvania. The information provided here is only a small parcel taken from that information.

Barta was born in Norway and came to Austin in 1890 to join her father who had immigrated to the United States in 1889 finding work at the Goodyear Lumber Company. Barta writes the following:

"Hagbarta (Barta) Johanna Wold. 1888- Single. Valedictorian of High School class in Austin, 1907. At 13 years of age, was teaching a class in Citizenship for Swedish men. Also played organ in Swedish Mission Church on Turner Street. Received a scholarship for Lycoming College (Dickinson Seminary) Williamsport with A.B. in Classics. Member Sigma Alpha Sorority. Taught 1909-1912 in Austin. One year at Wilson College, Chambersburg, Pa. to study French, German, Latin & History. Due to 1911 flood in Austin, unable to finish at Wilson; entered the Nurses Training School, University of Penna. at Phila., Pa. Charge of Health Program at Drexel Institute, and was one of the first school nurses in Phila. Resigned from Drexel to serve in France with Base Hospital #20 from U. of P. W.W.I. left Base #20 for service on Hospital Train #56. After mustering out in New York, accepted a position with the War Community Chest for 18 months to head a pilot project, working with miners and their families in Jefferson and Indiana Counties, Pa. Program included: classes in citizenship, cooking and sewing and home nursing; Laid foundation for school nursing in Jefferson County. Supervisor of Instruction at the Post Graduate Hospital N.Y. City. 24 years as Executive Secretary with the Lycoming Co. Tuberculosis Society; for nine years State Health Chairman for the Pa. Congress P.T.A.; President, Williamsport Civic Club; Lycoming County Federation of Women's Club; member St. Pauls Lutheran Church, member of Altar Committee and President of W.S.C.S.; member of Alumni Board, Lycoming College. Also took a horseback trip with friend, Dorothy Wallard, from Schenectady, N.Y. to Austin. Retired 1955. After retirement returned to Austin; supervised M.Y.F. at the Methodist Church and President W.S.C.S.; President Vets Auxiliary; member American Legion. Wrote "Nurse Goes to War":, "Austin Pa.,The Hemlock City", compiled booklet for the Diamond Jubilee of Austin Methodist Church, compiled "First Eighty Years in U.S.A". Owns the old homestead and lives there with her dog, Spinkey. Age 82 years in 1970."

Barta in uniform

The Honored Guests included a multitude of local, county and state officials including Mr. Bernard Cooney, Mr. Russell Hofer, and Frances Bennett from Austin.

Barta passed away in 1984 and is buried at Forest Hill Cemetery, Austin, Potter County, Pennsylvania.

A search of the internet will reveal many more fascinating information on this wonderful woman, including her being the first to file for naturalization in Potter County on December 24, 1909.

As a result of Barta penning "Austin, Pennsylvania, The Hemlock City 1890-1910" we are aware of early events in the development of Potter County.

The Hemlock City can be purchased at the E.O. Austin Home/Historical Society museum or calling Ronnie Ebbert at (814)647-8358

The Dam That Could Not Break

Learn more about this fascinating community dubbed "The Town Too Tough to Die" by purchasing the following books, publications and media available at the E.O. Austin Home/Historical Society Museum located on Main Street in Austin.

Read about Marie Kathern Nuschke

Commentary by Paul W Bennett Former Austin Resident

School Path Initiative By Paul W. Bennett

For decades school students from Austin have used a paved walk way joining the Main Street to the Austin Area School Building. Known as the School Path, it provided students with an alternative walk way that is far safer than walking the narrow sidewalk along Costello Avenue/Rte 872. At one time it had been lighted by 10 light fixtures so that students participating in after school activities could use the path during the evening. But vandalism had left the path darkened for years during an extended period of time during the school year.

Councilman Bernard “Mike” Fowler decided that something needed to be done to replace the lighting so the students would once again have the safety of the lighted path to the school. On Sept 21, 2013, after obtaining an estimate to replace the lighting from Austin resident Huggy Rotello, Mike launched the School Path Initiative by internet on Go Fund Me. The initiative set a goal of $2000 to replace the lighting and ask for voluntary contributions from individuals and organizations alike.

While the initial goal to have the lighting in place by mid-fall fell short, it was not due to a lack of effort. Fowler pressed on by updating the fund drive on a regular basis and keep donors and potential donors well informed. His efforts were rewarded by 59 donations and doubling the goal which included a $1000 from the Potter County Commissioner, $500 from Northwest Savings Bank, $210.00 from the Austin Area School District Faculty and Staff.

The path is also used by local residents in the course of daily activities or who engage in walking for some form of physical exercise. Fowler was aware of that and having walked the path realized the serenity and potential beauty that could be found along the way. However, the path was overgrown with brush and offered cover for vandals to destroy the lighting once again.

Whether Fowler caught wind of a six year old biker telling his grandfather that the path needed to be “cleaned up” is unknown, but he was determined to see the path restored. Once again he demonstrated strong leadership by starting to clear the brush. He was joined in his efforts by his wife Angie and long time friends Ed Corey and Paul Bennett. Soon other members of the community joined in - Don Ayers, Donnie Ayers and Bill Brewer - just to name a few. The cut brush was removed by Borough workers and lighting installation has been completed with a deficiency planned for correction. Many thanks to all that have made this project such a success.

Futuristic plans for a fitness trail to be incorporated along the path have been suggested and are in the preliminary stages. One person can and has made a difference in the community of Austin because he chose to “walk the walk” instead of “talk the talk.”

Willie Nelson Narrates The Austin Disaster, 1911

Austin, Pennsylvania's Connection to Willie Nelson

This month's AARP Magazine contains a What I Know Now article with Willie Nelson who happens to be one of my all-time favorite singers and songwriters. In the article, we learn that Willie is 81 years old and still on the road. Willie states that the longest he has ever been off the road is one month. Ironically, one of Willie's greatest hits is entitled On The Road Again.

If you have visited or are familiar with the history of Austin, Pennsylvania, then you know of the 1911 Flood which destroyed the town, and, in which, 78 known people lost their lives. One of those people was a Willie Nelson, who was a grocer and Democrat Party leader in the community. Willie was also an outspoken critic of the unsafe manner in which the concrete dam was being built and was often referred to as The Jeremiah of Austin.

Professor Gale Largey from Mansfield University grew up in St. Marys, Pennsylvania. During his youth, he would ride up to Austin with his grandfather to view the dam ruins which still stand today. When Professor Largey decided to put together a documentary on The Austin Flood, Willie Nelson, the singer from Austin, Texas, was the obvious choice to narrate the documentary. Gale and a contingent of people from Austin, Pennsylvania, traveled to Austin, Texas, and after a number of meetings spanning a number of days, Willie agreed to do it. The documentary is named The Austin Disaster, 1911: A Chronicle of Human Character. A DVD of this entertaining and interesting docmentary can be purchased at The Austin Dam Gift Shop, E.O. Austin Home/Historical Society, local businesses or by calling 800-577-6798.

George C Bayless and The Bayless Pulp and Paper Company Austin Pennsylvania

The Bayless Pulp and Paper Mill

George C. Bayless

George C. Bayless, President of the Bayless Pulp & Paper Company, hailed from Binghamton, New York.

He was recruited by Frank Elmer Baldwin, lawyer and bank president, and, other community leaders to build a state-of-the-art paper mill here in Austin, Pennsylvania, which he did in 1900. At the same time ten (10) houses were built on north Rukgaber Street for employees. These houses would be referred to as Bayless Row. The spelling of the street would later be changed to Rugaber.

Initially, the paper mill would employ approximately 200 people and have a monthly payroll of $9000.00. By 1909 the monthly payroll increased to over $35,000.00 and the population of Austin was over 2900 people.

The Paper Mill was doing so well that a large cement dam was built. It was constructed poorly and broke on September 30, 1911. Seventy-eight known individuals lost their lives in the flood of 1911.

Although badly damaged, the Paper Mill did reopen.

Bayless died in 1923 and his son, Stanley, took over as manager of the mill.

In 1940 Bayless realized that the timber needed to make the paper was badly depleted and so he sold the mill.

The smaller dam above the Paper Mill gave way in 1942 causing another major flood damaging the mill and also the community. However, no one lost their life as a result of this flood. Nevertheless, the Paper Mill continued to operate until a large fire caused it to cease operations in 1944.