When The Presidents Came To Fish In Lycoming County

Future President Herbert Hoover,

Fishing at Ogontz near Salladasburg, May 1928

Jay Cooke's childhood mentor, Chief Ognotz, told him of land along Larry's Creek, where the fishing was superb.  In 1884, Cooke purchased the land.    Throughout the years, many notables stayed at the Lodge, including Theodore Roosevelt, Herbert Hoover, and Kathryn Hepburn.  In later years, Jimmy Carter also came to the area to fish.  

Read more about Jay Cooke and his Ognotz Lodge here.

Herbert Hoover
Secretary of Commerce & Future President Herbert Hoover at the Texas Blockhouse Fish and Game Club,  Waterville Pa, May 16, 1928.

Shown In Photo Above: Front Row - Future President Herbert Hoover, Ira Witt, Wilson Talley
Second Row, L-R Walter G. Lamade,  A. D. Huffman, Herbert Flook, Kenneth Flook, John Allison
Last Row, L-R Ralph Eckenstein, Elmer Edmunds, Dr. John B. Nutt, Lawrence Richey, (Mr Hoovers Secretary, unamed) Abner Everhard, John Siegel

Hoover spent May 14 and 15 as the guest of the Ogontz Fish and Game Preserve, near Salladasburg. On the last day of his visit he motored to Texas Blockhouse, where he fished until noon, after dinner, he motored to the Park Hotel and boarded a sleeper to Washington, D.C. In the November 1928 election he was elected the 31st president of the United States.

 Herbert Hoover Leaving Church

United Methodist Church, Perry County on June 1, 1930, after stopping there to worship after a trip to his fishing camp near Williamsport. The Pennsylvania Highway Patrol formed a guard of honor for Hoover. Hoover was president from 1929 to 1933. 

Hoover Fishing At Ogontz, May 1928

May 1928

 June 5, 1930 - The Miltonian

The Texas Block House was a Fishing Club "north of Salladasburg"

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Theodore Roosevelt

Jacob Metzger, the nephew of Ognotz Lodge's caretaker, and he himself spent many summers helping there. He wrote:

"Theodore Roosevelt Jr. had a taste of kitchen living while a guest at the Lodge. He came there with Jay Cooke III one fall to hunt for a few days. It was soon after World War I and after he had helped organize the American Legion in Paris. He liked it so well he decided to stay with Uncle Louie two or three weeks after the others had gone back home. My uncle told me about it afterward. I was in South Dakota then. He simply insisted that Uncle Louie close the rest of the house, so they lived and ate in the kitchen. T.R. Jr. had thought of entering politics, so he told my uncle. He practiced outing in the kitchen before a mirror, Uncle Louie told me, and he also said he was one of the nicest men he had ever met."

Read The Rest of Jacob Metzgers Descriptions Of Life At Ogontz Lodge Here

Jimmy Carter

This photo is at Spruce Creek (Not Grey Run), but I am told that former President Carter has been fishing in our area twice, on Grey's Run.  Once a local school teacher was his guide.

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Also, not a President, but 

Katharine Heburn

Also Vacationed at Ogontz

Read More About Katharine Hepburn's Visits Here:

https://susquehannavalley.blogspot.com/2020/06/when-kathryn-hepburn-vacationed-here.html

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Find More Local History & Stories Here:

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

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https://amzn.to/2A6nLCw

Danville News, Dec. 1949