The Bayless Pulp and Paper Mill

George C. Bayless

George C. Bayless, President of the Bayless Pulp & Paper Company, hailed from Binghamton, New York.

He was recruited by Frank Elmer Baldwin, lawyer and bank president, and, other community leaders to build a state-of-the-art paper mill here in Austin, Pennsylvania, which he did  in 1900.  At the same time ten (10) houses were built on north Rukgaber Street for employees.  These houses would be referred to as Bayless Row. The spelling of the street would later be changed to Rugaber.

Initially, the paper mill would employ approximately 200 people and have a monthly payroll of $9000.00.  By 1909 the monthly payroll increased to over $35,000.00 and the population of Austin was over 2900 people.

The Paper Mill was doing so well that a large cement dam was built.  It was constructed poorly and broke on September 30, 1911.  Seventy-eight known individuals lost their lives in the flood of 1911.

Although badly damaged, the Paper Mill did reopen.

Bayless died in 1923 and his son, Stanley, took over as manager of the mill.

In 1940 Bayless realized that the timber needed to make the paper was badly depleted and so he sold the mill.

The smaller dam above the Paper Mill gave way in 1942 causing another major flood damaging the mill and also the community.  However, no one lost their life as a result of this flood.  Nevertheless, the Paper Mill continued to operate until a large fire caused it to cease operations in 1944.

Donation Day

Going into the month of August, I felt certain that we would reach the $100 mark required for a check to be issued, so, I gave a lot of thought as to who should get the donations.

 As the days of August passed, I learned of the Austin Dam Memorial Association targeting their fundraising efforts  to improve the road to The Dam Ruins.  Although improvements had been made to the road prior to The Dam Show, it still needs much more work in order to make it acceptable.

  Also, the E.O. Austin Home/Historical Society is currently working on an outdoor exhibit not only of historical significance, but which will also add to the appearance of One Town Square.

Furthermore, both of these organizations consistently give back to this community.

Thus, I have decided to donate $50.78  each to the Austin Dam Memorial Association and the E.O. Austin Home/Historical Society.

If you too would like to support these two worthy, non-profit organizations, you may send your donation(s) to:

The Austin Dam Memorial Association
5384 State Route 872 North
P.O. Box 136
Austin, PA 16720

And/Or,

The E.O. Austin Historical Society
1 Town Square
P.O. Box 412
Austin, PA 16720

History and Pride Days

This years History and Pride Days have been scheduled for September 27th and 28th.   The Austin History and Pride Days, are an annual event aimed to bring as many community members and organizations together to celebrate Austin today, to recognize Austin's past, to support Austin's future and to simply have community fun. 

So far, this year’s event includes:

Saturday: BBQ and Live Music at the Austin Dam Memorial Park with tours(12-5),  
                Duffee 5K Scholarship Run(morning), 
                E.O. Austin Historical Museum Tours(all day), 
                Flea Market at the Austin Methodist Church(8-1), 
                Bingo at the Austin Firehall (evening).

Sunday:   Austin Methodist Church w/Choir on town square(10:30) &Free Community Luncheon 
               Fall Festival activities from 12-3 on the town square which includes 
              Potter County Farmers Market & Pet Parade
              E.O. Austin Historical Museum Tours and Ice Cream Sundae Social,  
              Tractor Pull, Tractor Parade,
              Vendors, Games & Food
              Austin Dam Memorial Park Welcome Center/Gift Store tours

The History and Pride Committee is seeking more participants.  If an organization would like to sponsor an activity, be a vendor, manage a game or contest, or simply would like to do something special at your own location in the Austin area for the weekend, they encourage and welcome you to do so.

They would like to have as many positive, interesting, and fun activities happening, as possible that weekend.

Vendors space for Sunday Fall Festival is free and can be obtained by contacting Andrea Ebbert with the E.O. Austin Historical Society, (814) 647-8358 or kaayoder@gmail.com.

Special Activities, questions, concerns, suggestions can be sent to Tracie Gordnier ataustindam@yahoo.com or at 814-558-9021.  

There is a need for musician(s) for the dam on Saturday.   If anybody is of interest or may know somebody of interest, please contact The Austin History and Pride Committee.

Austin, Pennsylvania's Connection to Willie Nelson

This month's AARP Magazine contains a What I Know Now article with Willie Nelson who happens to be one of my all-time favorite singers and songwriters. In the article, we learn that Willie is 81 years old and still on the road.  Willie states that the longest he has ever been off the road is one month.   Ironically, one of Willie's greatest hits is entitled On The Road Again.

If you have visited or are familiar with the history of Austin, Pennsylvania, then you know of the 1911 Flood which destroyed the town, and, in which, 78 known people lost their lives.  One of those people was a Willie Nelson, who was a grocer and Democrat Party leader in the community.  Willie was also an outspoken critic of the unsafe manner in which the concrete dam was being built and was often referred to as The Jeremiah of Austin.

Professor Gale Largey from Mansfield University grew up in St. Marys, Pennsylvania.  During his youth, he would ride up to Austin with his grandfather to view the dam ruins which still stand today.  When Professor Largey decided to put together a documentary on The Austin Flood, Willie Nelson, the singer from Austin, Texas, was the obvious choice to narrate the documentary.  Gale and a contingent of people from Austin, Pennsylvania, traveled to Austin, Texas, and after a number of meetings spanning a number of days, Willie agreed to do it.  The documentary is named The Austin Disaster, 1911: A Chronicle of Human Character.  A DVD of this entertaining and interesting doucmentary can be purchased at The Austin Dam Gift Shop, E.O. Austin Home/Historical Society, local businesses or by calling 800-577-6798.

Is Austin Still The Town Too Tough To Die

This year has been the most challenging for our community in recent memory.  Businesses have closed and now our bank of fourteen (14) years has also decided to leave.  Rarely has a day went by this past week when I haven't heard a citizen ask, "What's next? The Post Office?  The School?"

As we entered 2014, I asked the citizens of this community for ideas on businesses which could be established here in Austin that provide a "living-wage".  There has been no response.

Our environment is changing rapidly. Facebook, Smart Phones, websites, blogs, routers, Netflix, Internet banking and commerce, and e-harmony dating for godsakes.

The cost of living is skyrocketing. The Endeavor says it will cost parents $241,080 to raise a child and that does not include sending them off to college.  With the cost of living rising, the Economic Policy Institute reports that real hourly wages for the middle class was no higher in 2012 than in 2000.  The Wall Street Journal reports that stagnant wages are a real threat to our prosperity and way of life.  It's no wonder President Obama and others in the know want the minimum wage raised to at least $10.00 an hour.

The Endeavor says that Rural America now accounts for only 16 percent of our nation's population.

The point I am trying to make here is that we must all work together in order to survive. Each and every one of you are good at something.  Can you give an hour or two a week of your time devoted to sharing that special talent with the community?  Is there a project you would like to see completed?  Is there an organization you would like to see formed? Or, can you just give some time helping others complete their mission, e.g., Cub Scouts, Boy Scouts, Pride Committee, Baseball Association, Dam Association, Historical Society, VFW, Ladies Auxiliary, etc. Or, take the big jump and run for the Borough Council or School Board.

In fact, we absolutely, positively, and without a doubt need our young men and women taking leadership positions in our community.  They have stayed abreast of all the technological changes taking place and the different ways of doing things. Their knowledge, skills, abilities and ideas are needed badly in this community if we are to survive and thrive.

Can someone out there form a committee dedicated to economic development here in Austin? How about someone organizing a group dedicated to making Main Street more attractive. Or, maybe promoting cash mob days to support our local businesses? I'm sure you've heard before that no question or idea is stupid.  Well, it's true.

In closing, I ask, do you have the spunk and spirit to turn this ship around?  Is Austin going to remain The Town Too Tough To Die.  It's all up to you.  Please come forward.

The Annual Austin Dam Show Next Weekend

The place to be next weekend is Austin, Pennsylvania, where the Austin Dam Park will host it's Annual Dam Show.  The Dam Show is sponsored by the Potter County Visitor's Association and once again they have put together an extraordinary lineup of musicians and bands.

The Dam Show begins on Friday, August 22, 2014, at 4:00.  The CJMG Band will start a weekend of music you can only find here in the Freeman Run Valley.

Here is the lineup:

4:00          CJMG Band
6:00          Backwoods Experience
8:00          The Woodshed Profits
10:00        The Blind Owl Band

Saturday's entertainment begins with local artist Josh Wolf at noon.  Saturday's lineup is as follows:

Noon:       Josh Wolf, followed by: The New Daze, Mysterytrain, The Dinosaur Truckers, Willie Jack & Northern Light, and Swift Technique.

More information can be found at:  www.damshow.com.

Movie Matinee Scheduled

The E.O. Austin Home/Historical Society has scheduled another movie matinee at the museum for Monday, August 18, 2014, at 1:00 p.m.

The movie classic Anne of Green Gables will be shown.

Kids of all ages are invited to attend.

Free popcorn and soda will be served.

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Parents did you know that the E.O. Austin Home/Historical Society Museum located on Main Street in Austin, Pennsylvania, shows classical movies to children throughout the summer vacation months?  That refreshments, including popcorn, are also provided? That the cost is FREE.

Usually the movies are shown in the early afternoon, but yesterday arrangements were made to show the movie at 10:00 a.m. and the children were shown some of the Laurel and Hardy Comedy Classics. 

After the movie the children watched the old player piano play "The Green, Green, Grass of Home.

Titles of the movies that have been shown are:

• The Song of the South
• I Remember Mama
• Abbot and Costello's "Whose On First"
• Laurel and Hardy's Comedy Classics

Each child was given an E.O. Austin Home/Historical Society wristband as a momento of their visit to the museum.

Adults are also invited to attend.

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Austin, Pennsylvania, is a community of between 600 - 700 people.  It is home to the smallest public school in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania.  Essentially, it is a public school in a private school setting.  Last year our school won a bronze medal for its' academic performance.

We invite those of you looking for a new place to live to think about buying one of our rundown homes, tearing it down, and building something new in its place.

Austin, Pennsylvania is known for having the second worst flood disaster in the Commonwealth, when, in 1911, our dam burst killing 78 known citizens.  The dam ruins still stand.