The Street Lamp Memorials In Dewart PA

In 1996 the Dewart Community Association sent letters to those with  family connections to Dewart, asking for donations,  for street lamps.  Donors could write  memorials to be placed on plaques on the lamps. Twenty eight lamps were installed down Main and  River streets, in  August of 1996.  Volunteers poured the cement for the bases. 

Ed Truckenmiller was a school teacher in Dewart.  You can read more about him here

http://heathersgen.blogspot.com/2012/01/edward-truckenmiller-1870-1950.html

I've been known to travel great distances to find tombstones, memorials, and various items of significance to our family histories.  So imagine my surprise to find that as I have been sitting on the porch of the Dewart Country Store (formerly Youngs hardware),  I was sitting just a block and a half away from a memorial to Dan's grandfather and great grandfather, that I had no idea existed!  In all my trips through Dewart, several times a week, I had never noticed the plaques on the street lamps, until one of Dan's aunts came to town for a visit and wanted to find it.  

While I was locating the Truckenmiller marker, I walked both sides of the streets and photographed every plaque, as at least one is already unreadable, I wanted to document them for others who may not have been aware they are there.  I wish I had thought to take along a cloth to clean them before I photographed them, and some day I may return to do a better job.  

The Memorials:

There are two lights without plaques, one light with two plaques, and one plaque so rusted that I could not read it. 

 You can view photos of each of the markers here:

https://www.facebook.com/ValleyGirlViews/posts/pfbid0qwe9e8RDYZ7cmpuisr2ibUvMjr3cirmfn6mANyspGyr3ovufkEccn2AjumRc14cyl

In Memory of David Ira & Mary Auker, WM. C, & Maude Sechler.  Donated by the children of WM A, & Martha Auker Sechler

In Loving Memory of Our Beloved Grandmother MILDRED R. Bieber March 1902-May 31 1985 From her grandchildren Diane & Jody

In Memory of Casimir "Pete" Bulchie We miss our "Mr Fix It" and school project helper.  Veris, Crystal, Veris II, Ariel & Aleah Yordy

In loving memory of Franklin & Maude Clark owner, and operator of Clarks Barber Shop

In memory of Bruce, Bertha, and Cleon Crawford.  Purchased by Jean Crawford, Martin & Sharon Anspach and family

In memory of Bruce & Berth Crawford By Clyde & Teeny Crawford, Joe & Ivalene Crawford Smith, Harvey and Mary Crawford & Families

In Memory Of David G. Dewalt, Former Resident of Dewart, by Dennis G Dewalt & Mary Dewalt Macciocca

In loving memory of my husband ROBERT E HILE local business man 1936-1990 By his wife Nor Hile

In memory of her parents George L & Shirley M Houseknecht from Crystal houseknecht Yordy, Veris, Veris II, Ariel & Aleah Yordy

Dedicated to Walter "Jimmy" Huffman his wife and partner Peart by Paul & George Huffman families.

In Loving Memory of Morris & Helen (Auker) Keiser by their daughters Letha, Caroline, Corolla & Maxine

In loving memory of Mr & Mrs William Kulp (parents) Sherman Kulp (brother) lovingly Sterling Kulp (son) Myrtle Yordy (Daughter)

In loving memory of William L. Leiser July 11 1916-December 10 1991

In loving memory of Ruth and Frank Maneval Francis and Milton McClintock by Connie, Vance, Roger

In loving memory of Mr Thomas Morrone.  Presented by Kenneth & Rose Shively

In Memory of Layment (Lamey) Philips Jr.  Jonas S. Young.  Clifford & Irene Phillips.  Joyce Phillips Vanburskirk

In Loving Memory of Mr & Mrs Hurley Remley, Mr & Mrs Walter Gresh.  Presented by Betty Gresh - Lucille Gresh - William Gresh - Barbara Gresh

In Loving Memory of Hurley R & Letitia V Remley.  Walter R & Mildren E Gresh.  From their families Donald R Carol A Lance K Gresh Judith A Hock, Mary Jane Brantingham

In memory of many happy days best grandma and meme ever Sarah Reynolds Riffel 1875-1955 Helen R Kieser 1906-1964 Dick and Barbie K Campbell, Rick - Nancy - Jeannie - Peggy

In loving memory of Woodrow W. Robbins Sr & son John A Robbins

In memory of C.F. Sheffer, founder of Dewart Milk Products Co.  On this side 1901-1946.  Now home of Cabinet Surplus.  From the Yordy Boys

In memory of Kenneth shively in honor of Louise Shively.

In memory of Wilbert (Jim) and Mary Stahlnecker and Normal and Florence Fogelman

Dedicated to Russell, Nicely, Sterner families by Robert R. N. Sterner

In loving memory of Richard D. Thomas SR 3/18/25-4/28/02.  "One hell of a guy".  From wife Ruth Thomas.  Children: Richard, Susan, Timothy, Thomas

In memory of Pfc John R Thomas killed in action in the service of his country April 1 1945.  Luzon, Philippine Islands

In loving memory of Lewis Donaldson Thomas 1883-1949 and Mary Ellen Reaser Thomas 1891-1977

In memory of Edward & Ward Truckenmiller by the Truckenmiller Family

Courtesty of Watsontown Bank

In memory of Stewart R. Wertman Shool Teacher 1922-1952

In memory of Russell Yordy in honor of Myrtle Yordy from sons Russell Yordy Jr, Roger Yordy, Daughter Sharon Hampton

In memory of Mr & Mrs Ambrose Young, Mr & Mrs Guy Young, Miss Ruby J. Young donated by Guy Young Jr & Doris Moore

Memories Light Up The Town

The Daily Item June 17, 1996

"A community organization is seeking people to donate money to buy street lights in memory of loved ones with ties to Dewart".  

When the lights ;0-on-im- Dewart Street light ceremony planned for Aug. 30 By Karen Blackledge Staff reporter DEWART This town's new street lights will be illuminated for the first time at the end of the month. The lights will be turned on during a ceremony at 7:30 p.m. Aug. 30 in front of the Dewart General Store on Main Street..

Dignitaries are expected to attend, said Ruth, Thomas, wife of Richard Thomas Sr., President of the Dewart Community. Association. ., The association raised money from people who bought the lights in memory of loved ones with ties to Dewart. The 28 lights, on both sides of Main Street, are an old-fashioned style and similar to those in Lewisburg. , A bronze plaque will be placed on each light.

For example, the light in front of the Thomas home is in memory of Richard Thomas' brother, John, who lived in Dewart and was killed during World War II. Ruth Thomas said the plaques should be installed on the lights in time for the ceremony. "We had a practice session with generators, and the lights are magnificent," she . said. The association mailed letters across the United States to families of people who had lived in Dewart and asked them to purchase a light.

The lights will replace five Pennsylvania Power & Light Co. street lights along Main Street. Volunteers installed the concrete bases, pipes for the light wiring and wiring for the lights while Delaware Township constructed new curbs in Dewart. The curbs, which are accessible to the handicapped, were part , of a stormwater drainage improvement project. That work was financed by a Community Development Block Grant.

The township will maintain the lights and pay the electric bill. The trees, between the sidewalk and curbs along Main Street, were removed for the new curbs. New trees will be planted this fall with help from a PP&L grant..

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https://susquehannavalley.blogspot.com/p/history.html

When Houdini Came To Williamsport - To Expose Fake Mediums

"Famous American magician and escape artist, born as Ehrich Weiss, immigrated with his Hungarian Jewish family as a child. He appeared in Williamsport at least twice: in July 1895, as a young circus performer with his new bride and a brand new act called "The Houdinis." and, after he achieved fame, on October 9 1924, when he lectured here at the Pine Steet United Methodist Church (build 1910, destroyed by fire 1977) as part of his campaign against spiritualists, or psychics, who claimed to communicate with the dead [for a fee].

In 1925 Harry Houdini came to Williamsport, not for a show, but to reveal the falseness of another sort of show - Psychics and mediums who claimed to be able to speak with the dead. 

"Never in the whole world, has there been found a genuine medium", declared Harry Houdini, famous magician and mystifier, who appeared last evening in the Pine Street Methodist Church (in Williamsport) in the first of the Ministerial lecture and concert course.  He gave a most convincing address and expose of fraudulent spiritualistic phenomena before a capacity audience" - newspaper article recounting Houdini's lecture in Williamsport.

1925 wasn't Harry's first visit to Williamsport, he had been here in 1895 with the Welsh Brothers Circus.  The Welsh Brothers traveled all over Pennsylvania in 1895, and the "Houdini's Cabinet Trick" was soon a leading attraction. 

"In 1895 I was engaged by the Welsh Brothers' Circus, a circus which traveled almost exclusively through the State of Pennsylvania, and for the services of Mrs. Houdini and myself I received the sum of £4 weekly, railroad fares and board. - Harry Houdini By Harry Houdini The Magician Annual , 1909-1910, published in London

The Williamsport Sun Gazette, July 1st 1895

"By the late 1800’s fairs had been held in two locations in Williamsport; one in the Vallamont section and the other in Memorial Park near the site of Bowman Field Baseball Stadium. "

A Description of the cabinet trick ran in the papers, including this account in the Pottsville Miners Journal - 

Houdini's Cabinet Trick, as described in 

Miners Journal

POTTSVILLE, PENNSYLVANIA

Thursday, June 6, 1895

Houdini went on to become one of the most famous performers of his time, and remains a legend for his magical feats, still today.

Harry  Houdini Begins a Battle With The Spiritualists

In 1913, his mother died.  It was through her death that Houdini  became aware of the spiritualists, and their claims that they could speak with the dead, for a fee.  Outraged by the victimization of the bereaved, Houdini spent the next 13 years in a highly publicized battle with the spiritualists.

"As the world’s greatest trickster and illusionist, Houdini had little patience for anyone who claimed to be in possession of supernatural powers. Beginning in the 1920s, he embarked on a second career as a professional skeptic and debunker of psychics, mind readers, mediums and other “Spiritualists” who purported to be able to contact the deceased. "

 https://www.history.com/news/10-things-you-may-not-know-about-harry-houdini

"In 1923, he took time off from his magic act to travel across the country giving lectures against mediums. His book, A Magician Among the Spirits, would be published the following year. Later in 1923, Houdini joined a panel that was put together by Scientific American Magazine, which offered a reward for any medium that could prove their psychic gifts were genuine. Months after joining the committee, Houdini heard the committee had deadlocked over a medium named Mina Crandon. He immediately set out to debunk Crandon by attending one of her séances, at the end of which he is said to have remarked, "I've got her; all fraud." To prove it, Houdini created a special "fraud preventer" cabinet, a crate with a slanted top with openings for the medium's head and arms. The second séance, this time using the cabinet, was not successful and Crandon did not receive the cash prize."

https://www.thegreatharryhoudini.com/occult.html

Houdini's $10,000 Challenge

His Lecture At the Pine Street Church In Williamsport Pa

October 9, 1925

Williamsport Sun-Gazette

WILLIAMSPORT, PENNSYLVANIA

Monday, October 9, 1944

At the end of his remarks in Williamsport, Houdini mentioned his visit to the city more than 20 years earlier.  One of the Welsh brothers, whom he had performed with here, said that he had never seen any town change as much as Williamsport.  Houdini said that he, too, "felt that the changes which have effected here since his last visit were unusual.  "

Houdini's first visit would have been during the beginning of the lumber boom - by 1925 when he returned, there would have been a new row of mansions, now referred to as Millionaires Row, which had been built between 1860 and 1920.

View the full article here:

http://houdini.org/wiils200.jpeg

At conclusion of Houdini's lecture, which included slides and a variety of simple knot tricks, and other tricks that may have been used by spiritualists.

He then took questions from the audience, and a local man, later identified as Frederick Steck, claimed to be able to speak with the dead.

"It was while he was trying to explain certain phenomena to Williamsport people that an extremely amusing and at the same time ludicrous  attempt was made by a local man, who claims to be in touch with the "spirits" every evening, and it is understood, gives seances in some rooms in Market Square.

When Houdini asked for the man's name, he appeared to dodge the issue and claimed he was really in touch with departed people.  Houdini said he was not, that no person could be, to which the local man replied "Oh I ain't?  Well, you don't know who I am."

Finally the man's name was revealed by himself as Frederick E. Steck, and with Houdini endeavoring to remain his courteous self under extremely trying conditions, a rapid fire of conversation was carried on between the man who has studied magic and spiritualism under the worlds greatest teachers, who has appeared before crowned heads in every country of the globe, and a man who locally claims to be legitimately in conversation with the spirits"

The end of the article is cut off, and I cannot find the original version, but it appears that Houdini reminded the man of his $10,000 challenge, and we know that challenge was never completed by anyone. 

The Historical Marker On Pine Street

Harry Houdini

(1874-1926)

Famous American magician and escape artist, born as Ehrich Weiss, immigrated with his Hungarian Jewish family as a child.  He appeared in Williamsport at least twice: in  July 1895, as a young circus performer with his new bride and a brand new act called "The Houdinis." and, after he achieved fame, on October 9 1924, when he lectured here at the Pine Steet United Methodist Church (build 1910, destroyed by fire 1977) as part of his campaign against spritualists, or psychics, who claimed to communicate with the dead.

Dorothy Dietrich and Dick Brookz of the Houdini Museum in Scranton Pa currently have the only building in the world dedicated to Houdini.  2016

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Find More Stories & History Of Williamsport Here:

https://susquehannavalley.blogspot.com/2020/09/williamsport-pennsylvania.html

And More Stories & History From Local Towns, Here:

https://susquehannavalley.blogspot.com/p/history.html

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Read More

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Magic wasn't Houdini's only talent. He founded his own film company, The Film Development Corporation, and starred in several productions. He was also an accomplished aviator who made one of the first aerial flights in Australia. He even taught American soldiers how to escape sinking ships and get out of ropes or handcuffs in case they were captured by the enemy during World War I.

Arthur Conan Doyle and Harry Houdini were friends, until they came to disagree on spiritualism.  Doyle was desperate to believe the spiritualists were real, and able to contact his son.  Houdini was intent on proving them false, although he also wished to hear from his dead mother.

https://www.theguardian.com/stage/2015/aug/10/houdini-and-conan-doyle-impossible-edinburgh-festival

Houdini's Greatest Trick: Debunking Medium Mina Crandon
http://mentalfloss.com/article/53424/houdinis-greatest-trick-debunking-medium-mina-crandon

Near the Historical Marker, which was placed in 2016, you can visit the City Grand Hotel, where there is a Houdini themed room, which you can see here:

http://www.cityhallgrandhotel.com/thehoudiniroom

The City Grand Hotel is in the old City Hall building.

Ten Things You May Not Have Known About Harry Houdini

https://www.history.com/news/10-things-you-may-not-know-about-harry-houdini

Read more about Houdini's visits to Williamsport, and a museum dedicated to him in Williamsport, here: http://houdini.org/houdinisinwilliamsportPA.html

Viewing Sunbury Through Retro-Spective

The Retro-Spective App, created by two Sunbury business owners, is a gps based history app that  allows you to overlay historical photos over the current day view.  

• The Retro-Spective App For Android 
• The Retro-Spective App For Apple

Open the app, and choose map to see the Retro-Spective locations nearby.

Currently there are locations in Sunbury, Elysburg, and Shamokin, in addition to a walking tour of Sunbury, 5th Avenue in New York, and Tampere Finland.  The app developers, who also own Wake & Wire Coffee in Subury, hope to expand and add more locations.

To unlock a location, you must physically be at that location.  Once there, click on the pin, and it will unlock the augmented reality view.  

 Once you unlock the location, the app will tell you exactly where to stand to have the same view as the historical photo.

 

Once in location, the app gives you a variety of options.  You can save the snapshot, share the photo, read the history, and more!

"Also featuring a 'Run/Drive' mode for when you can't look through your phone, but still want to know about all the locations in your path. Just turn it on, go for a run or drive and the app will speak the historical information when you're in range of a location!"

Another view of Market Street in Sunbury.

There are currently 16 Retro-Spective locations in Sunbury, including the Hotel Edison, Hotel Shikellamy, Sunbury Converting Works, Edison Avenue, Market Street, the Northumberland County Courthouse, the trolley, Rice's Department Store, Big Boy and Smith's and Woodring Station.

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https://susquehannavalley.blogspot.com/2019/04/sights-to-see.html

https://susquehannavalley.blogspot.com/p/history.html

Where To Find The Fall Festivals

This is the festival list I use each year, to remind me to check for the current years dates

Find a list, by date, of local events, here:

https://susquehannavalley.blogspot.com/2020/02/things-to-do-this-week-end.html

Visiting The Flight 93 Memorial in Shanksville Pa

Two and a half hours to our southwest, on September 11 2001, Passengers on board Flight 93 thwarted hijackers who intended to crash the plane into a building in Washington DC.  Instead, the plane crashed in this field, killing everyone on-board, but undoubtedly saving the lives many others by keeping the flight from its intended destination.

The History

On September 11 2001, Flight 93 from Newark to San Francisco was schedule to depart at 8:00 am, at approximately the same time as the other three planes that would be hijacked later that morning.   Heavy morning air traffic delayed the take off, and when flight 93 left the ground at 8:42am, well behind schedule.

At 8:46 am hijackers crashed flight 11 into the North Tower of the World Trade Center.
At 9:03 am hijackers crashed flight 175 into the South Tower of the World Trade Center

At 9:17 am, as flight 93 approached Cleveland Ohio, terrorists broke into the cockpit and took control of the plane, turning it southeast towards Washington DC.  The exact target is unknown, but is thought to have been the U.S. Capitol.  Passengers aboard the plane were moved to the back of the plane, where they use service phones to call friends and family members, which is when the passengers learned about the planes crashing into the World Trade Center.


At 9:37 am hijackers crashed flight 77 into the Pentagon

10:07 am – After passengers and crew members aboard the hijacked Flight 93 contact friends and family and learn about the attacks in New York and Washington, they mount an attempt to retake the plane. In response, hijackers deliberately crash the plane into a field in Somerset County, Pennsylvania, killing all 40 passengers and crew aboard.

Because of the actions of the 40 passengers and crew aboard Flight 93, the attack on the U.S. Capitol was thwarted.

Visiting The Flight 93 Memorial

When you arrive at the Flight 93 Memorial in Shanksville, to the right of the parking area is a low building with a display in front.  To the left of the display is a walkway back to what appears to be a large wall, but is in reality the Memorial Visitors Center.  We stopped at the display in front of the restrooms, and listened to a very, very informative talk by one of the National Park Rangers. 

After the talk, we followed the walkway out to the overlook.  The walkway is marked with a time line.  The guides recommend that you walk out and view the grounds from the platform before entering the visitors center, and we followed that recommendation.

From the platform, we turned to walk back into the visitors center.

The museum, or visitors center, is inside this structure that looks like a wall.

 

Inside the building are a variety of informative displays, and memorials.  

A row of phones are installed here, where you can listen to the calls many of the passengers made to their friends and family.

  

 Flight 93 struck the ground at a 40 degree angle almost upside down, hitting right wing and nose first, at a speed of between 563-580 miles per hour. It was carrying approximately 7,000 gallons of Jet A fuel at impact.

There is a viewing area inside the building, allowing you to view the field.  To the far right, at the top, you can see the overlook platform that we walked out on before entering the building.

When exiting the Visitors Center, you can return to the parking lot, or you can follow the 2.3 mile long walking trail, which loops from the center past the crash site.  This walk will take you past the memorial groves, and over a wetlands bridge.  It's a wide, flat, path.

No food, no running, no pets, and no smoking, along this trail.

If you prefer not to walk, you can drive to a second parking area at the Memorial Plaza.  The Memorial Plaza is the quarter-mile northern-boundry to the crash site, which is the final resting place of the passengers and crew.

. This is a self-guided experience. Interpretive panels provide an overview of the story and a cell phone/mobile tour provides for more in-depth exploration. There is a parking area and waterless restrooms. 

Benches and seating areas line the walkway.  There are many spots to sit and reflect here.

There are several spots along the Memorial Plaza designated for items visitors want to leave at the site.

 A view of the crash site, in the summer of 2019.  The debris from the crash was analyzed and cataloged, and after the investigation was concluded, family members decided to have the remains brought back to this spot and buried here.

The Memorial Plaza ends with the Wall of Names, which features forty white polished marble stone bearing the names of the passengers and crew members. 

Looking up from the wall of names, to the overlook and visitors center 

As you leave the park grounds, on your right will be the Tower Of Voices.

The chimes had not yet all been installed when we visited in the summer of 2019, but the description tells us  it is a "ninety-three feet tall musical instrument holding forty wind chimes, representing the forty passengers and crew members. The intent is to create a set of forty tones (voices) that can connote through consonance the serenity and nobility of the site while also through dissonance recalling the event that consecrated the site."

"There are no other chime structures like this in the world. The shape and orientation of the tower are designed to optimize air flow through the tower walls to reach the interior chime chamber. The chime system is designed using music theory to identify a mathematically developed range of frequencies needed to produce a distinct musical note associated with each chime. The applied music theory allows the sound produced by individual chimes to be musically compatible with the sound produced by the other chimes in the tower. The intent is to create a set of forty tones (voices) that can connote through consonance the serenity and nobility of the site while also through dissonance recalling the event that consecrated the site. " https://www.nps.gov/flni/getinvolved/tower-of-voices.htm

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