Mifflin County Historical Society

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Anyone have info on these? While our library is busy, I thought I'd ask you... :) #historyisourstory #localhistorymatters

WINDOW SHOPPING IN LEWISTOWN There was a time when pedestrians were transported to another world by merely strolling down Market Street in Lewistown for a little window-shopping. Store and shop windows were portals to the world, where a skillfully designed tableau told a story, nudging the viewer to Come on in look aroundbuy something! We know that the concept of a distinctively dressed shop window was, in general, purely commercial, intended to advertise, promote and u...ltimately sell goods. Window displays of the 1940s might burst with patriotism and encourage window shoppers on the home front to Buy Bonds! Yet, the craft of effectively decorating and arranging products in a store window demanded a bold, artistic flare to seize the potential customer. The ability to bring a design concept sketched on paper to physical reality behind plate glass at street level was no easy task. Donald Don Knorr (1905-1978) of Lewistown possessed that exceptional talent, and then some. Don designed and dressed windows for downtown stores for over three decades. It could easily be said that his windows were legendary. Downtown stores, including Ruben’s, Danks & Company and Joe Katz, utilized Don’s considerable artistic skills to visually communicate with the buying public. Here's a unique story of one of Don's window displays. In 1936, Rubin’s Sporting Goods store window on Market Street made national news. The inspiration behind the sporting-themed display came from Hollywood, motivated by the 1935 RKO biopic, Annie Oakley, starring Barbara Stanwyck and Preston Foster. Don created, what the trades described as an elaborate gun window at Rubins, centered around a life-size movie poster featuring Stanwyck aiming her trusty .22 rifle as the crack shot, Annie Oakley. The window appeared at the Market Street store in conjunction with the Embassy Theatre’s showing of the RKO film. To aid the promotion, Rubin’s arranged team shooting contests among four county shooting clubs at two separate ranges. Shoots were also open to the public. Prizes for the advertised Annie Oakley Shoots were 500 .22 shells for the highest individual score in each match, donated by Rubin’s, plus two passes to each member of the winning teams at each of the two matches, supplied by Harold Cohan of the Embassy Theatre. Next time we'll feature more of Don Knorr's windows, as our stroll along Market Street continues through December. Note: In 2014, a collection of Knorr’s photographs, news clippings, letters and documents was donated to the Mifflin County Historical Society by the Knorr’s nephew and niece, William C. and Mary Ann Stratton of Lewistown. A special thanks goes out to Bill and Mary Ann for that unique gift. This posting, and an article in Common Ground Magazine, "Windows on the World," Winter 2016-17, are based upon that collection.

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THEN & NOW THURSDAY This Thursday kicks off a few weeks of strolling the main streets of downtown Lewistown's business district. Remember when an entire evening could be occupied with just window shopping? Dad angled the car into a parking meter in front of the Courthouse or somewhere around Monument Square, as Mom and the kids hit the stores. How did Dad occupy his time? He sat behind the wheel and did some good old fashioned "people watching." He had plenty on view, as h...undreds of shoppers moved along the sidewalks of Market Street, popping in and out of stores all evening. Woolworth's, the five-n-tens - Murphy's and McCrory's - Montgomery Wards, McMeen & Company, Danks or any one of dozens of other shops and stores drew crowds to town. It's hard to imagine now that businesses great and small relied on decorative windows to lure in customers, but they did. Let's remember that now-gone pastime and do some window shopping! See more

NOTICE OF TEMPORARY CLOSURE Due to an individual at the historic courthouse testing positive for COVID 19, the Mifflin County Historical Society office and library will be closed through Oct 23rd. During that time the building will be deep cleaned. We are taking these steps to keep our volunteers and patrons safe.

As the boys pose for the photographer in 1937, Boyd Aurand, at left, holds the ax as brother Donald holds the turkey at Aurand’s Turkey Farm near Ellen Chapel Church in Ferguson Valley. Their parents, Charles Alvin Aurand and the former Mertie Verdilla Kratzer, operated the turkey farm for decades. Looking northeasterly, Jack's Mountain in the background shows the Reedsville Narrows. - From the Mifflin County Historical Society's 2019 "Picture the Past" Calendar, Aurand Farm photo from the Kepler Studio Collection.

THEN & NOW THURSDAY - October 1, 2020 1958- 2014, Lewistown High School In November 1917 the new modern High School building in Lewistown Borough was opened on Green Avenue and ready to greet students, according to news reports at the time. It served as an emergency hospital during the Flu Pandemic of 1918. Before this the high school was housed in the former Wayne Street School where the Mifflin County Courthouse is today. The Lewistown Junior High School building was ere...Continue reading

DON'T MISS THEN & NOW THURSDAY, TOMORROW AT 4 PM! We'll continue a look at schools then and now. Check out this MC Schools Menu from 1989, Mifflin County's Bicentennial. Ah, school lunches! Also check out this week's County Observer for my column "History is Our Story" on the Rural Schools of Mifflin County. - Forest Fisher

Goose Day Celebration kicks off tomorrow! This local holiday has been here for generations. Don't believe me? Check out Forest Fisher's videos on the Juniata River Valley YouTube channel. And if you think Goose Day is only about eating the lucky bird, go to the link below and find the 14 page list of activities, online videos, drinks, and more.... #gooseday2020 #sogoose #believe #notgreasy

THEN & NOW THURSDAY - September 17, 2020 1960s - 2014, Chief Logan High School In 1953, Burnham - Derry - Decatur Joint School District adopted Chief Logan Joint Schools as the official name for the district in honor of noted American Indian, Logan the Mingo Chief. ... By 1957 the proposed Chief Logan Joint High School building was under construction on a 28 acre site in a former wheat field near Highland Park. Construction costs came in at just over 2 million dollars and additional equipment and fees brought the cost per pupil in at almost $1700. Capacity was 1,281, with an auditorium to seat 850. The building opened for the 58-59 school year, holding open house for the general public October 16, 17, 18, 1958. The first yearbook of CLJHS was the 1959 Legend while the last yearbook was 1988 before the school building transitioned to Indian Valley High School. Its next life began as Mifflin County Junior High School, undergoing a seventeen million dollar renovation in 2014 to be completed by 2015. BONUS: THE 3 Rs, "Reading, 'Riting & 'Rithmetic" Mifflin County once had over 100 rural, one or two room schools. The last of these were in the Chief Logan Joint School District when they closed the same year the high school opened. The iconic Little Red Schoolhouse of the 19th century is reflected in the images of Hoopes School, a structure on the National Register of Historic Places. Clifford G. Walters of Reedsville acquired the building following its closure in 1958, and rescued it for future generations. The application for the National Register states, in part: The Hoopes School was built circa 1873 and served the surrounding farms as well as the village of Maitland. Architecturally the school is an excellent example of a central Pennsylvania one room schoolhouse... The one room schoolhouse represents the standard educational facility for rural America throughout the history of education in this country until consolidation made them obsolete in the 1940’s and 50’s. At the time the Hoopes School closed, it was among the last of Mifflin County’s rural, one and two room schools. Hoopes, as well as schools at Vira and Maitland, all in Derry Township, were in the future attendance area for the then new Chief Logan High School. Lewistown Sentinel articles reported on the closures at the time Chief Logan opened for the 1958-59 school year. - From "More Mifflin County, Then & Now," written and edited by Forest K. Fisher, modern photos by Nathaniel Thierwechter published by the Mifflin County Historical Society, 2014.

THEN & NOW THURSDAY - September 10, 2020 1963- 2014, Kishacoquillas Jr-Sr High School The jointure of four high schools - Armagh, Brown, Union and Menno townships - resulted in Kishacoquillas Junior Senior High School, shown here in its final form in 1963. ... First, a jointure of Armagh and Brown Township School Districts happened in 1950, although the classes of 1951 and 1952 graduated from Burnham High School. A new building was constructed at Gardenview, graduating its first class in 1953. Armagh-Brown operated from 1951 to 1957, until Menno and Union Township School Districts jointed to form the Kishacoquillas School System. The architectural drawing for the junior high wing was featured on the 1962 yearbook. This consolidation brought students from all of the Kishacoquillas Valley to this location on what was once the farm fields of Samuel Taylor. Kish High School operated until 1988. The building’s next life was as Indian Valley Middle School, along with Lewistown Middle and Strodes Mills Middle. After Mifflin County became a one high school district, Indian Valley Elementary and Intermediate School formed in the building for grades K-3 and 4-5. A multi-million dollar renovation was finished in 2014. ELEMENTARY SCHOOL BONUS: The former 1897 Reedsville Elementary School was closed in 1962, and students began the next year in the newly finished Brown Township Elementary School, next to Kish High School. The new building was designed by architect John L. Haughwout, whose Lewistown firm also designed Armagh Township Elementary School in Milroy. Brown Elementary was constructed at a cost of $337,000 or about $837 per student. The school was closed in 2011, fixtures and equipment eventually auctioned off and the building and grounds offered for sale. Former classrooms became medical consulting rooms when the Mount Nittany Physicians Group from Centre County opened a branch clinic in 2013. Following extensive renovations for the opening, additional patient services are planned. Photographer’s Comment: Another place from my childhood, I vividly recall learning to swim here around the age of 3. I also vividly recall how cold the water was! - From "More Mifflin County, Then & Now," written and edited by Forest K. Fisher, modern photos by Nathaniel Thierwechter published by the Mifflin County Historical Society, 2014. NEXT THURSDAY: September 17, 2020 1960-2014, Chief Logan Joint High School will be featured. And look for an elementary school BONUS as we continue a September look at Mifflin County schools.

Hello History Buffs! Who generously offered us old Sentinel photos? I recall a post about that but none of the details. Let me know if it was you, please! - Jenny

THEN & NOW THURSDAY - September 3, 2020 1970- 2014, McVeytown-Oliver Joint High School, later Rothrock High School, McVeytown, PA This high school was located at 2 Johns Street in McVeytown Borough. The original building was constructed in 1927 at a cost of approximately $55,000, with four classroom and a gymnasium-auditorium. Five additional rooms were added in 1936 when the schools of Oliver Township closed and merged with McVeytown to from the McVeytown-Oliver Joint High... School (MOJHS), with a yearbook called The Blue & Gold. In 1938, Bratton Township built a six room elementary school that overlooked Mattawana. Its high school students were sent to other districts, most to MOJHS. In 1962, Bratton, Oliver and McVeytown merged forming Rothrock High School in this building, named for McVeytown native Joseph T. Rothrock, Pennsylvania’s first commissioner of forestry in 1895. Rothrock served as one of four high school campus locations during the one-county Penn Highlands era (1970-73) along with Chief Logan, Kishacoquillas, and Lewistown-Granville. In 1978, Rothrock became part of Lewistown Area High School and the building was eventually sold. In 2014, Rothrock School Apartments occupies the location. - From "More Mifflin County, Then & Now," written and edited by Forest K. Fisher, modern photos by Nathaniel Thierwechter published by the Mifflin County Historical Society, 2014. (pages 20-21) NEXT THURSDAY: We'll move across the county to Brown Township and glimpse a former high school that combined four schools in one. Kishacoquillas Jr-Sr High School next Thursday, September 10, 2020.

A BELATED THEN & NOW THURSDAY - August 27, 2020 1940s & 2012 Last in our look at some of Mifflin County’s fire companies, let’s glimpse two Lewistown companies founded in the 1850s, Henderson Fire Company No. 1 and Fame Fire Engine Company No. 2. Fame Fire Company was one of Mifflin County’s original fire companies formed in 1850 in the borough of Lewistown. Fame and Henderson Fire Company, formed in 1853, covered Lewistown Borough and surrounding communities. In 1896, Fame... Fire Company records show that the assets of the organization were $28.00. The company purchased an American LaFrance 500 gallon steam fire engine and a new hose cart at a cost of $39.00. All these were pulled to the fire scene by firemen. In 1938 a 1000-gallon capacity Ahren-Fox pumper was purchased with all necessary equipment at a cost of $15,000.00. In 1923, Fame first started transporting patients in a donated hearse, increasing its ambulance capacity over time. In January of 1994, Fame Emergency Medical Service moved out of the fire station and into it’s new and current building at 701 Valley Street. The Fame building at 108 Valley Street is now closed. Henderson organized in December 1853 as Henderson Hose, Hook and Ladder Company, named for it founder, Dr. Joseph Henderson. He was a regimental commander in the War of 1812 and Mifflin County’s member of Congress from 1832 -1836. The fire house was located at 22 W. Third Street. In 1898 a hand cart was purchased and two years later the fire house was equipped with a fire bell, which previously hung in the bell tower of the historic courthouse, according to the Company’s history in the 1940 program of the Firemen’s Association State Convention held in Lewistown. Fire fighting services formerly of Fame and Henderson merged to form United Fire Company at the Third Street location. From Mifflin County Then & Now, by Forest K. Fisher, with modern photos by Nathaniel Thierwechter, published by The Mifflin County Historical Society, 2013, pages 116-117. NEXT THURSDAY, September 3, 2020: Students will head back to school in some manner, shape or form this year, given the unknowns of COVID. Regardless, let's take a glance back at some Mifflin County Schools from bygone days during the month of September. We'll begin up McVeytown way on Thursday.

THEN & NOW THURSDAY - August 20, 2020 1924 & 2012 Brooklyn Hose Company No. 3, 218 S. Main Street, Lewistown The Brooklyn Hose Company was organized April 12, 1897 in a shoemaker’s shop in Lewistown’s Sixth Ward by two shoemakers George Temple and John Morrison. A hand-drawn cart was the company’s first fire-fighting apparatus purchased by the Borough. In 1924 a new 1000-gallon pumper cost $13,688. Almost $9,000 was borrowed and paid off in two years.... This building is on the former Brannon property on South Main Street, purchased by Brooklyn in 1927 for $10,000.00. An architectural firm of Hodge & Hill of Philadelphia drew up the plans and supervised construction, which cost $39,670.00. Structures on either side were purchased over time allowing for expansion at what is 218 South Main in 2012. A tough little fire company mascot, King, came to the Brooklyn in 1916. King was featured on a real photo postcard, part of a series illustrating aspects of the fire company. He served as mascot for many years and died at age 19. Photographer’s Comments: The firemen at the Brooklyn Fire Company were nice enough to pull out a couple of trucks to help replicate the original photo. From Mifflin County Then & Now, by Forest K. Fisher, with modern photos by Nathaniel Thierwechter, published by The Mifflin County Historical Society, 2013, pages 118-119. NEXT THURSDAY, August 27, 2020: Last in our look at some of Mifflin County’s fire companies, let’s glimpse two Lewistown companies founded in the 1850s, Henderson Fire Company No. 1 and Fame Fire Engine Company No. 2.

THEN & NOW THURSDAY - August 13, 2020 1940 & 2013 Yeagertown Fire Company Yeagertown’s fire company is located on Main Street today, but in 1935 the fire house was situated on Second Street, built with lumber donated by J. O. Yeager, according to the town’s 1992 Sesquicentennial book Yeagertown, Pennsylvania - Past & Present. In the early 1940s, the publication noted, the firehouse was established at its present location. The company’s venerable first engine, the Blue ...Goose, (at a cost of $3,070.00) and shown in both old photos, replaced a hand-pulled hose cart. During a two-day event in July 1935, the town welcomed the new 1936 truck. In the 1940 Pennsylvania Fireman’s Convention held in Mifflin County, the fire company noted that it played a prominent part in the town’s civic and public activities. In 1951 a two-bay engine room was added, then a $40,000.00 engine room was built in 1971, with additional renovations in 1973 and 1975. Although this series is not all inclusive of every fire company in Mifflin County, the old images and modern views give a flavor of the diverse companies and loyalty of the volunteer fireman that man these essential community institutions. Volunteer fire companies are a Mifflin County tradition. Even in these uncertain times, volunteers are called out at all hours of the day and night. Fire fighting keeps no regular schedule. Please support your local volunteer fire companies. From More Mifflin County Then & Now, by Forest K. Fisher, with modern photos by Nathaniel Thierwechter, published by the Mifflin County Historical Society, 2014, page 69. NEXT THURSDAY, August 20, 2020: Continuing the salute to the spirit of area volunteers in firefighting, let’s visit the company with a mascot named King. This plucky little canine companion served the Brooklyn Hose Company for 19 years!

THEN & NOW THURSDAY - August 6, 2020 1940 & 2013 Belleville Fire Company With the Central District Firemen’s Convention originally scheduled to come to Mifflin County during August, we’ll highlight some historic images from the Then & Now photo archives into August. Although not all inclusive of every fire company in the county, the old images and modern views give a flavor of the diverse companies and loyalty of the volunteer fireman that man these essential community in...stitutions. It isn’t the individual. Nor the company as a whole. But the everlasting teamwork of every bloomin’ soul. So concluded Samuel L. Burke, Chairman of the Belleville Fire Company Building Committee in his dedicatory remarks delivered at the April 28, 1933 dedication of the Belleville Community and Fire Hall, shown in the then image taken about 1940. The fire company was organized in 1920 by concerned Belleville businessmen desiring to establish a company of volunteers to combat the chance of devastating fires in the Big Valley community. Celebrating its 100th anniversary in 2020, the first truck purchased a century ago, a 1920 International pumper at the astonishing cost of $6,775.00. It served the company until replaced by the 1938 Ward LaFrance. As was the patriotic thing to do, the International was sold for scrap during the Second World War. A somewhat scorched front page of the January 27, 1938 edition of The Belleville Times announces the acquisition of the new fire truck. The framed newspaper hangs in the fire company’s meeting room in the East Main Street Station. The color photograph shows the Ward LaFrance in a funeral procession for 75 year fireman G. W. Carson, the Last Call was March 22, 1996. The refurbished Ward LaFrance is presently (in 2014) at Six Mile Run Fire Company, Bedford, PA. The Belleville Fire Company is presently located at 4231 East Main Street along busy Route 655. Check out their Facebook page, celebrating 100 years since its founding in 1920. A very special "Thank you!" goes out to John Chester for sharing memorabilia and artifacts from the Belleville Fire Company’s history. From More Mifflin County Then & Now, by Forest K. Fisher, with modern photos by Nathaniel Thierwechter, published by the Mifflin County Historical Society, 2014, pages 40-41. NEXT THURSDAY, August 13: Continuing the salute to the spirit of area volunteers in firefighting, let’s visit the home of the Blue Goose, the Yeagertown Fire Company.