Haleeka Club

 

Haleeka Park Manor

Near Trout Run, Lycoming County Pa

A 1947 issue of Now & Then tells us "Haleeka was named for a Delaware Indian Chief who, it is alleged, in 1769 traded Great Island to a William Dunn for a rifle and a keg of whiskey."

In 1949, the Daily Gazette and Bulletin reported that the Haleeka Inn, on Lycoming Creek Road north of Cogan Station, was sold by B.E. Richards and his wife of this city to George T. Leamon, a hotel man from Jersey Shore.

The article further reports the Haleeka Inn was built in 1903 as a health sanitarium by local physicians, and was operated "as such for several years".

  It was later acquired by a group of Williamsporters and became the Haleeka Club.

The Haleeka Club was popular for outings.

A sampling includes 

In 1905, the Haleeka Country club donated the use of its grounds for the Lycoming County Bar Association banquet.  A special Northern Central train was run for the event.

In 1909, 33 "lads of the Industrial Home are being given a treat today.  Taken to Haleeka for Feast and Fun."

"We [Lycoming DAR] celebrate Flag Day by an annual outing This year Mrs. Melick Foresman entertained the chapter delightfully at Haleeka a favorite country club house nine miles north of Williamsport. The weather was ideal and the afternoon was charming in every particular. Some of the Daughters strolled through the grounds to the sparkling rippling Lycoming creek; some played bridge and others more curious tried to peer into the future by having their palms read by Miss Edna Stewart in her usual happy manner. Delicious refreshments were served on the long broad piazza under the shadows of the national emblem whose natal day we were celebrating" - The American Monthly Magazine  1910

In 1937, the Gazette and Bulletin reported that 75 employees, directors, and their families attended the annual outing of the Lycoming Dairy Farms at the Haleeka Inn.  Activities included Baseball, Quits,  and other games.  Dinner was served "in charge of Mrs. Margaret Manley"

A 1912 article in the Williamsport Sun mentioned that G.H. Drumm "what has charge of the house and grounds at Haleeka" had in his possession a seat from one of the first passenger coaches run on the Northern Central railroad.  "As railroad people did not appear to want the broken seats, they were gradually made use of by the people of the neighborhood.  The seat is in excellent state of preservation and while it has not as much spring as the seats of the cars of the present day it is yet very restful and many of the visitors to the Haleeka use it."  The same article went on to say:

"Haleeka as now known, was first the residence and office of Dr. Sallada, about fifty years ago.  The location, on Lycoming Creek between Cogan Station and Crescent, was chosen with special thought as to its healthfulness, and from it's beginning has been in the hands of various physicians.  

Dr. Detweiler was associated with and succeeded Dr Sallada.

Afterwards Drs J. F. Fleming and Howell, and other physicians occupied it as a specialty hospital.  

It is now [1912] owned in association by twenty-four prominent families of this section, who spend a portion of their time, principally in the summer, there.  Dr H.G. McCormick is president; H C Bubb Secretary and treasurer, and H. M. Foresman, chairman of the house committee of the association."

In May of 1932, the Haleeka Country Club was discontinued.  The property was purchased by Blanchard Richards.  the 1932 article in the Grit lists the members of the club at the time of transfer.  Among the names listed were Crooks, Decker, Hough, Lamade, Hays, Mosser, Sprout, Searns..  and others.

  When B.E. Richards purchased the club he turned it into tourist lodging. When   Leamon purchased it in 1949, he intended to continue with it in the tourist business.

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B. E. Richards - Blanchard Edward Richards was born in 1889.  He married Martha Janke.  In the 1950 census his occupation was given as proprietor in real estate office.

Powy's Amusement Park

 

Powy's Amusement Park

Carson Brothers Powy's Park

Wolfe's Inn Powy's Park

On our Sunday drive last month, one of the sights we stopped to see is the location of Powy's Amusement Park, near Trout Run.

Questions:

Was it ever actually an amusement park? There was a playground, merry go round (carousel? If so, what happened to that?), swings.. but was it truly an amusement park? (Charter for an Amusement Park issued in 1923)

Was the building destroyed in the 72 flood? Some say yes, that it was rebuilt after the flood? The current building looks very similar in design to the old photos.

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ASSORTED NOTES

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Bands that played there included:
Hybrid Ice, Uriah Heap, The Barron Mountain Boys, Louise Mandrell

Softball fields/games were held there - including state tournaments. In the 1970s Powy's Park was Williamsports Home field for softball.

In the 1950's/60's, there was a candy & tobacco store in the front, ice cream, etc. In the back was a restaurant and bar.

Shuffleboard.

Carson Brothers - Harvey & Leon.

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TIME LINE

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1923 Charter issued: Powy's Amusement Park, Newberry, $10,00; Charles R. Lose of Newberry. - Department Reports of Pennsylvania
Volume 9, Part 3 1923

1923, October - "A state charter was issued to the Powy's Amusement Park Company. The Incorporators are Charles R. Lose, David Lupton, and Howard R.B. Jones. Authorized capitol, $10,000

1925 - Powy's Park, with 8 acres of land, for sale. Building and stock equipment.

(Same place?) 1926 August - The tourist Inn And Gas Station of the late W.B. Yeager on State Highway at Powy's Pa for sale. This 12 room home, Hot cold water, new bathroom, too close estate must be sold.

In 1932 the 16 foot bar was smashed (destroyed) and the bar was padlocked for one year. Owner was Bert L. Breen

1937 sheriff's sale - "with the improvements thereon, consisting of a small frame cabin and large stucco block building used as a store room, dance floor and dwelling place, and known as the Powys amusement park building"

1938

1948 - Wolfe's Inn - Found mention of it as Wolfe's Inn from 1948 to 1962.  (Use those dates as "at least from" - just a general idea of years - not exact start and end dates)  

In a 1948 article by Shoemaker on an Alpine Club hike (I know.  But sometimes there are some facts in his stories too) he mentioned Wolfe's Inn at Powy's with the comment: "An interesting feature, the landlord [William Wolfe] was a son of late W. Howard Wolfe, whose priceless stories of the olden days often appeared in the column, and the landlord's wife a daughter of the compilers old friend Oscar Buckingham, of English Centre, noted for his knowledge of lumbering days."

1957 - Donkey basketball under the lights at powy's park

Softball Under The Lights

At Powy's Park

First In Area

1972

In 1981, retired U.S. Marshal John Buck of Orangeville was being charged with theft of electric panels from Powy's, in 1976. According to the article in the Berwick newspaper: "Hanlon had argued that the commonwealth has no right to bring charged against the former marshal, because the amusement park was under the jurisdiction of the marshal's service and that Buck was performing official business for the federal government"

The Amusement park was apparently under the marshal service, because Zerby, the former owner, had defaulted on a federal small business administration loan.

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Carson Brothers Grocery Store

1300 Scott Street, Williamsport

In the 1940s, the Carson farm in Powy's had a lot of cabbage.  In 1945 there were numerous advertisements for "1,000 tons of cabbage" for sale at Powy's Park.

1976 Bicentennial Celebrations In The Valley, Town By Town

1976 - The Nation's Bicentennial Year

In The North Central Susquehanna Valley  Region of Pennsylvania

And in The Nation As A Whole

An Index 

In 1976 the United States Of America celebrated it's Bicentennial - The 200 year anniversary of the signing of the Declaration Of Independence.  This page is meant to be an index of photos, stories, and videos from our local towns celebrations that year, in addition to  articles on the American Freedom Train, The Wagon Train, Dress Patterns, the origin of Legionnaires disease, and more.

See the Commemorative Program from the American Freedom Train Here	See the rest of the article from the Legion Magazine here	The Wagon Train
How The Bicentennial "Created"  Legionnaires Disease	The 1976 American  Freedom Train	The Bicentennial Bell

"FOR SEVERAL years it looked as if the Bicentennial celebration would be some kind of a flop. Many ridiculed the early federal planners as they groped and struggled—and failed to come up with One Great Big Show, like the great Centennial Exposition in Philadelphia in 1876.

As of right now, however, one can be delighted not only with the way the Bi-centennial is starting to come off, but also because there Is not One Great Big Show, People everywhere are putting on their own 200th Anniversary celebrations. Local, state and federal arms of government are sponsoring separate projects and helping to coordinate them with private Bicentennial events. By now, everyone has sensed this. What is not so obvious is the enormous extent of it.

The celebration isn't as visible as One Great Big Show, but it is already far bigger than any Exposition could be, while it also lacks most of the evils, follies, parasites, distractions, disturbances, cheap hoopla and huckstering of One Great Big Show. ..."- American Legion Magazine, September 1975

Bicentennial Costumes

The Liberty Tree Carvings E.E. Landon of Montoursville

In 1975, Lorne Greene, best known for his role on the TV show “Bonanza,” came to Northumberland to record documentary on the history of Pennsylvania. Produced locally, the music and cast were from Northumberland and Snyder Counties. See more here

The Clinton County  Bicentennial Raft

Watsontown - Where the Official Bicentennial Bricks Were Made

Williamsport's Bicentennial  Fire Truck

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Bicentennial Photo Albums

 By Town

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(In Progress)

	Sunbury  Bicentennial Photos	Watsontown Bicentennial Photos

A Video of the Festivities in Williamsport, 1976

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LOCAL NEWSPAPERS

BICENTENNIAL EDITIONS

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Danville News

Sunbury Daily Item

The Williamsport Grit

Excerpts From The Mifflinburg Telegraph

Spirit Of 76 Section Shamokin High School Yearbook

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ADDITIONAL 

Bicentennial Notes 

BY TOWN

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Milton Pa

The Bicentennial In Milton Pa

The Milton Bicentennial committee agreed to hold a festival July 26-31.  It was to be held at the center street playground and have a "carnival atmosphere".

Other events included:

 - Bicentennial Banquet at the Masonic Temple

- Sights and Sonds Of America concert by the agape Singers at the High school

-A Bicentennial Band Concert at the Senior High school

A grove of trees, to be known as the Presidential Grove, was to be planted, with one tree for every President, and every tree properly marked.  The trees were to be planted along a walkway along Limestone Run.

A bicentennial plate was designed, with the boroughs sesquicentennial seal (Straub's mill at the mouth of Limestone Run) the date 1817, 1776-1976 depicting the 200th anniversary of the US, and the phrase "In God We Trust"

The committee had a headquarters at Bound Avenue and Broadway.

Legion received medal for contribution towards bell in Freedom Train

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Shamokin, Pa

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Display in the window of Shuman's Travel Agency

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Sunbury, Pa

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In 1976, Scooby Doo arrived by Helicopter, as part of Youth Day during the bicentennial celebration.  Edward Helfrick was the pilot.

The American Bicentennial In Sunbury Pa, 1976

Tom Diehl was the chairman of the Sunbury Area Spirit of '76 Bicentennial Committee

There was a Bicentennial Store located at 15A N. 3r street.

Four different balls were held on July 3rd, at the Edison Inn, The Sunbury Social Club, American Legion Post 201, and the Elks Club.  They were scheduled from 9pm to 1am, and approximately 650 people attended.  

On July 4th there were sky diving exhibitions, and fireworks, at Shikellamy stadium.  The fireworks were delayed due to difficulties in grounding the display - they went off at 10:30pm and lasted for an hour and a half.

Other Bicentennial Activities in Sunbury Included:

Talent Show

Bicentennial Carnival on Market Street

Spirit of 76 Boat Regatta

Dutch Fair Days At Market House

Square Dance on Market Street

The Parade was held

It formed at the Rescue Hose Co, Packer Street and Edison avenue, and traveled two miles - South To Reagan, East on Regan to Second, South on Second to Market, east on Market to 10th.

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Watsontown Pa

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White Deer, Pa

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Lumberjack Competition at White Deer Park

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Williamsport, PA

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The American Freedom Train stopped in Williamsport in 1976

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Pennsylvania's Official Bicentennial Plate was designed by an artist from Hegins Pa - George Malick.

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Tired Of The Word Bicentennial

Letter to The Editor, Daily Item