Brownsville Time Capsule
Brownsville Time Capsule looks back over the years through the archives of the Brownsville Telegraph. 25 Years Ago – August 1980
Visitors will soon be flocking to the mountains of Fayette County to see the newest tourist attraction in this area. So says State Senator J. William Lincoln (D-Fayette), whose bill to appropriate $200,000 for start-up costs for the Great Meadow Amphitheater in Farmington has been signed by Gov. Dick Thornburgh.
“The amphitheater will generate a great deal of tourism, not only in Fayette, but in surrounding counties as well,” Lincoln said. “It will also provide Fayette with a cultural attraction of the same or better caliber as that enjoyed by other parts of the state.”
Conceived in 1969, the amphitheater is expected to attract 40,000 people this year and infuse the local economy with $2 million in tourism dollars. The first production will be “Young Washington.”
The Brownsville Little League All-Stars staged a Frank Merriwell finish to bounce the McKeesport Little League All-Stars, 15-10, in Little League sectional tournament action. Cheered on by a large following from Brownville, the local all-stars did the impossible on the North Braddock diamond.
Trailing 10-3 going into the final inning, the Brownsville boys refused to quit. By the time the third out was recorded in the top of the inning, 12 runners had crossed the plate, and Manager Tony Iacconi’s boys had moved into a 15-10 lead. The stunned McKeesport team was unable to respond in the bottom of the inning, allowing victorious Brownsville to advance another notch in the state tournament.
Among the many heroes for Brownsville were T.J. Kravits, Eric Hanula, Vince DellaPenna, Salvin Wallace, Randy Covington, Mike Conte, Mike Mammarella, Emil Stinger and John Sheehan.
45 Years Ago – August 1960
Construction of the Full Gospel Church of Deliverance in Hiller has been completed. The church was founded as an interdenominational organization in 1953 by the Rev. Aratha M. Robinson. In 1957, the foundation was built and was used for church and Sunday school services. On June 26, 1960, the auditorium was finished. Church services are now held in the auditorium, and the downstairs is used for Sunday school.
The caddy house at the Brownsville-Luzerne Community Park golf range was looted and considerable equipment carted away. Owner Max J. Williams, who is also president of Brownsville Borough Council, said that Frank Orbash, park caretaker, reported the robbery to him.
Orbash found the door to the caddy house open while making his rounds of the park. A preliminary check revealed that thieves had taken a power mower, washing machine, an undetermined number of golf balls and golf clubs, $50 worth of tools, a radio and a clock.
Gus Brickner was heartbroken today over his second failure to swim the English Channel. Brickner, a Charleroi steelworker, was pulled out of the channel at 5:10 p.m. after almost 15 hours of battling treacherous currents. Brickner was within a half-mile of reaching his goal at Dover, England, when leg cramps and exhaustion forced him to give up.
The 48-year-old grandfather was accompanied on his trip by the French fishing boat Rolande-Sonia, an old standby for channel swimmers. Brickner’s first attempt to swim the channel in 1957 ended when he incurred a cramp after 10 1/2 hours in the water.
Jim Markley allowed only three hits as Sons of Italy trimmed Rotary, 11-3, in local Pony League playoff action. It was the second playoff victory for Manager Tony Sluger’s Sons of Italy, who were led by the hitting of David Sluger, Gary Brezovsky, Gerald Meese and Jackie Duvall. Bill Ashford and George Staples worked on the mound for Rotary.
60 Years Ago – August 1945
President Truman, in a statement released through the White House, startled the world with the announcement of the invention, perfection, and use of the first atomic bombs against Japan. The “atomic” bomb was perfected in the United States at a cost of $2 billion with the pooled knowledge of British and American scientists. By agreement between President Roosevelt and Prime Minister Churchill, all experiments were conducted in the United States, where scientists and material were available and at a safe distance from potential enemies.
J. Roy Davis, 61, prominent Brownsville contractor and school director, has died at his 501 Pearl St. home after a long illness. Davis was a general contractor in this area for the past 31 years until ill health forced his retirement. He was serving his second term as a member of Brownsville Borough School Board and was a member of the old South Brownsville Board of Directors at the time of consolidation.
Davis is survived by his wife, Sarah Hiller Davis; and four children: Mrs. Wilbur D. Johnson of Brownsville, Mrs. C.K. Geary of Ambler, Mrs. James F. Van Riper of Pittsburgh, and Mr. Paul J. Davis of Brownsville.
After spending nearly two years in Europe, most of it in the combat zone, former Brownsville band director T/Sgt. Paul E. Carson arrived in Brownsville Sunday evening to spend most of the remaining three weeks of his 30-day furlough before reassignment. He had hardly heaved a sigh of relief when he developed abdominal pains, a doctor was summoned, and he was rushed to the hospital for an emergency appendectomy. He is reported to be recovering today.
The New Club All-Stars downed Betty’s Lunch of Uniontown, 8-3, in an exhibition softball game at the Woodward Plan stadium. “Woggie” Johns was the big hero in the contest, hurling five-hit ball and blasting two home runs. “Weaser” Marghella, “Red” Simpson and Ed Black connected for two hits apiece in the game.
Glenn Tunney may be contacted at 724-785-3201 or by writing to 6068 National Pike East, Grindstone, PA 15442. Comments may also be sent to Pete Skirchak, Brownsville Editor, Herald-Standard, Box 570, Brownsville, PA 15417, or by e-mail to begin pskirchak@heraldstandard.com pskirchak@heraldstandard.com end
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