Emlenton

Eye on Emlenton

Emlenton School News

For some alums it was a busy weekend. On Friday, June 12, 2009, 13 member of the Class of '54, with guests a total of 19, met at Crawford Center Auditorium at 3 p.m. for a tour of their old school before settling into the Pumping Jack Museum. At 5 o'clock they moved across the hall to a buffet dinner in a room of the Oil Rig Depot. Afterward members of the 55-year-class individually updated the others as to their lives presently. Some of these accounts were quite humorous and the mood festive until they retired to the front school steps for pictures and parting hugs. Most of this class planned to attend the Emlenton Alumni Banquet on Saturday night and so even this parting was not a particularly serious occasion.

The Emlenton Alumni Association Banquet commenced in Clintonville Firehall with a social hour between 5 and 6 p.m. During this time, Julie Powell of the Valley Echo took some photos of small groups of people chatting, which will be posted on that web site. The invocation was given by Richard Carr of Emlenton and dinner was served. Following dessert, the scholarships were announced. Chelsea Cummins of Emlenton received the $1000 award, but was unable to attend. Ryan Ashbaugh, the winner of the $750 award, was present to accept.

Nancy Kingsley of The Pumping Jack Museum was given time to ask the audience for their schoolday memories for PJM's newsletter or, possibly, a booklet. She also spoke of a coming attraction. On Sunday, September 13th, at 2 p.m. in The Crawford Center Auditorium, the Museum will host the widely acclaimed Abraham Lincoln impersonator, James (Jim) Getty.

During the business meeting of the Banquet, the same officers were duly reelected or, quoting 1st Vice-President Ron Boyer, "recycled." In 2010, Ron will be President of the Association; Jim Kingsley, 1st Vice; Gary Kingsley, 2nd; and Bill Whitehill will remain the hardworking Secretary-Treasurer.

President Gary Kingsley then introduced the five-year classes, preceded by a few words from Paul Dreibelbis, most assuredly the hardiest of Emlenton alumni, from the Class of '26. Three graduates from AC-Valley Class of '59 were honored last. The official event ended, but visiting continued for some time. As attendees left the building, they were given handouts from The Pumping Jack Museum and The Valley Echo.

A Big Thank You!

We would like to thank Dave Wilfong and Rick Cornelius for all their hard work in getting the Pool opened up for the kids of our community. These two men worked around the clock on Memorial Day Weekend so the pool would open up on time. The Emlenton pool was closed last summer because of the water problem. The pool was desperately missed last summer. Those in the community with children can attest to that. We are lucky to have a community pool as they are becoming more rare these days. Please support the pool this summer. Take some time and spend an afternoon at the Emlenton Pool or check out some of their morning and evening classes. Nothing cures a hot summer afternoon better than a dip in the pool.

A Call for Help

by Julie Powell

It always amazes me when someone is in need in our small community the out pour of help is overwhelming. I am asking you to check out this website about a young girl that lives in Parker.

Please check out Addison's Story at

www.addisongrace2009.giving.officelive.com/default.aspx

Bucktail Soldier Tells Whopping Good Tales

by Cathy Powell

On June 7, Sunday afternoon the people of the Emlenton area were treated to an enjoyable program sponsored by The Pumping Jack Museum which featured Dennis Murray portraying a Bucktail Soldier from the Civil War era. While in the character of a soldier, Mr. Murray traced the movements of the Bucktail Regiment during the Civil War starting in Harrisburg, heading south through Maryland , Virginia, Washington D.C. and ending at the battle of Gettysburg. At this time the regiment was so decimated that the remaining 17% of the regiment was sent home. This historical account was interspersed with amusing Paul Bunyon- like tales of Elk County where Dennis lived up to his self proclaimed name as Elk County’s #1 liar.

Although Dennis now lives in Weedville , PA, he grew up locally on a farm in the Big Bend Area near Emlenton. He currently teaches at the St Mary’s Middle School. He is also a federal and PA licensed blaster and pyrotechnician with Fire Art Corporation Of Clearfield. In that capacity, from 2004 through 2008 he was the crew chief for special effects at Gettysburg’s annual battle re-enactments.

For 25 years Mr. Murray has made presentations as historical blacksmith and “liar” at enactment events in various PA State Parks and community events.

Approximately 50 people were in attendance at the Crawford Center auditorium for this Pumping Jack Museum Sponsored Event. In light of this year being Abraham Lincolns 200 birth year the museum will sponsor a program featuring Jim Getty Portraying Abraham Lincoln on September 13^th at 2:00 p.m. at the Crawford Center Auditorium. . Mr. Getty has portrayed Lincoln in movies and in Gettysburg. This up coming event should not be missed.

Mineral Springs Producing Oil Once Again in Emlenton

The oldest oil well in the world that can still produce crude oil at it’s original depth is located at Mineral Springs Park in Emlenton. The Crawford #3 Well was drilled in 1867 by Eben and Sam Crawford to the original depth of 891 ft. Both of these men were instrumental in the growth of the Oil business in the region, in fact Sam was the father of H.J. Crawford who became the first Chairman of Quaker State Oil Refining Corporation.

The well was repaired late last year and the Emlenton Borough was thrilled that after a long time of in-operation the well was still in great shape. The Borough is planning to build a historic structure around the oil well and the crude oil gathering tank was painted by Eric Dye. The gathering tank was painted to look like a Quaker State oil can.

Would you like to own crude oil from the Crawford #3? The Pumping Jack Museum is planning on selling 8oz bottles of crude oil as souvenirs. When they go on sale we will post it on The Valley Echo.

The Mayor Speaks..

by Dick Carr

Emlenton Area Churches

New Zion E.C. Church

Pastor Charles Campbell

1195 Airport Rd.

724-867-6611

Sunday School 9:45

Worship: 10:45

Chapel on the Hill

Pastor Christopher Clark

Youth Pastor- Carrie Maurio

6202 Emlenton/Clintonville Rd.

724-867-6771

Sunday Worship- 8:30am- Traditional

10:30am} Contemperary

Kid's Church

6:30pm- Prayer Service

Sunday School- 9:45a.m.-10:30

Adult Ministry

Kid Ministry } Wednesday 7pm-8:30

Youth Group

Emlenton Presbyterian Church (USA)

Pastor Lori Danielson

Main St.

724-867-2470

Sunday School 9:30am

Sunday Worship- 10:30

Lighthouse Church of the Nazarene

Old Emlenton Mill Main Street

Co Pastors- Bob Darr and Sam Stebbins

Sunday School- 9:30am

Sunday Worship-10:45am

6:00pm

Tuesday Children Craft and Teen Hangout-6:30pm-8:30pm

(Come play Pool, Pingpong, Air hockey, and electronic Basketball with us)

Emlenton United Methodist Church

Pastor James Kimmel

Sunday Worship: 11:00am

Sunday School 10:00 am

724-867-6744

St. Michael the Archangel Roman Catholic Church

Msgr. Jan Olowin

809 Chestnut Street

724-867-2422

Mass: 5:00pm Saturday Evening

Fellowship Baptist Church

Pastor Mark Carpenter
3727 Oneida Valley Road
One mile south of I-80, Exit #42
Phone: 724-867-5911

Service Times:
Sunday School - 10am
Sunday Worship - 11am
Sunday Evening - 6:30pm
Wednesday Bible Study - 6:30pm
Teens For Christ
Master Clubs (4 years old through 6th grade)
www.fellowshipofemlenton.com

Weather

Emlenton, PA
Updated Saturday, July 31, 2010 6:55 PM

Cloudy

70°F

High: 78°F
Low: 57°F
Wind: 8 mph
Humidity: 78%

MSN Weather

Data provided by iMap

Emlenton Happenings

Council Report-

June Meeting Highlights

There were 5 bids for the Catch Basin Project-which is a project to replace broken or old street drainage boxes with Pen dot approved bicycle safe drainage boxes. Bid was awarded to Davis Holling and Excavating.
Police Report- Officer Jim Harrah demonstrated K-9 Officer Axel abilities to the borough council.
Maintenance Department for the Month of May

Power washed
Hill Street
entrance and the entrance to the Crawford Center.
Picked- up 19 loads of Brush. Monday thru Friday- This service is provided for residents of the Emlenton Borough to remove brush and lawn debris. Residents must place their brush or lawn debris in plastic bag(s) or container and leave it on the curb of their property.

Honeywell and Mactec are finishing up their remediation. Shell Oil and URS are still working with the Borough and ATC (the borough’s environmental group)
Jim Holden is putting in a boat launch in the lower portion of Honeywell property.
A Gazebo will be placed in the picnic area by the boat launch on
River Street
. Jim Holden received a DCNR grant to make this possible. The Gazebo will be installed by Mid Atlantic Youth and the Borough Maintenance by the end of June.
Pool is up and running. The pool has been power washed and the borough replaced toilet seats in all the bathrooms.

Station 55 Squawk Box

Having moved back to Emlenton after fifty five years too frequently have I heard the fire siren lately. It brings back many memories especially running down the hall at high school and across the street to the firehouse.

One such memory was in the winter of early 1948 just after 10 PM.

I had just retired to my bedroom and the siren sounded. As I ran down the stairs and out the front door while putting my boots on and my jacket in my arms my Dad yelled out I had better have a warm jacket as it was eighteen below. I ran down Hill Street toward the firehouse but the engine was coming toward me. As it turned left at H J Crawford's resident I jumped on the tailgate. The fire was a small oil well fire at the Sloan residence. Two of the guys grabbed the large CO2 extinguishers off the back of the truck and opened the valves only to discover they had frozen up on us. We had to use picks and shovels to dig up the frozen ground and put on the fire. Fortunetly that worked. Upon returning to the fire house we decided to play some cards by the stove before going home in the frigid night air. Suddenly after about thiry minutes the extinguishers thawed out and with the valves still open they sprayed all over the room and both trucks. It took us the next couple of hours cleaning up. We had to remove all the hose from both trucks, hose them off and hang them in the tower. Both trucks had to be cleaned and the next day we had to reload the hose. We found out later that we were really lucky someone had neglected to shut the valves. In Oil City they had an extinquisher freeze up and the valve closed. It exploded and went through the rear window of the truck.

How many remember in 1947 when Ritchey Run upper hillside caught on fire. It was the day after Thanksgiving around ten thirty in the morning. The pine needles on the ground were so thick that when we put out one area and moved on it would rekindle. We were fighting it with Indians (water carriers with hoses) on our backs. The fire was stubborn and non ending. We had volunteers bring us sandwiches and drinks up to the top of the hill. The fire went on and on. Finally about two thirty in the morning on Tuesday (approximately 85 hours later) it started to rain. There were cheers all over the hillside. It was a good rain that accomplished what we had been trying to do for days.

These were two of the different fires that year. Of course the most remembered fire in that time period was on a Saturday evening when

Emil Long's Furniture burned down. Many of us old timers remember that one.

Story by Dan Brooks

We are interested in any stories or news about Emlenton VFD if you would like them posted email us @ thevalleyecho@yahoo.com.

Civic Club Chatter-

Pumping Jack Museum-

Don't Miss...

Jim Getty as Abe Lincoln

When: September 13 at 2pm

Where: Crawford Center.

Upcoming Events-

Local Filmmaker Returns: Venango Digital Film Festival Kickoff

Emlenton, PA (July 15th): Venango Digital Film Association (VDFA) presents its second run-up program to the 2009 Venango Digital Film Festival. This event will host professional filmmaker Daniele Wilmouth.

The screening is open to the public at the Crawford Center Auditorium, Emlenton, PA, from 7 to 9 p.m. on August 2^nd, 2009.

Daniele Wilmouth is the featured filmmaker for this year’s festival run-up program. She is a prolific experimental and documentary filmmaker and a faculty member at The School of the Art Institute of Chicago and Columbia College. Wilmouth will discuss her work and answer questions about her creative process and filmmaking experiences. One of her up-coming films was shot in Venango county featuring long-time local residents in Emlenton. Wilmouth is from Pittsburgh.

This is the second 2009 Venango Digital Film Festival kickoff event and is the ideal opportunity to get direct information about the contest, meet a professional filmmaker, exchange ideas, and learn about local history. The VDFA promotes local history and culture by encouraging regional filmmakers and learning opportunities for all.

The Crawford Center is located at 511 Hill Street, Emlenton, PA. The screening is free to the public. Donations are welcome. For more information call 814.671.1550.

Additional information and submission/entry forms can be found on the Venango Digital Film Festival web site www.venangofilmfest.org.

The Valley Echo

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