Two (2) World War II Veterans Reside in Austin

Tomorrow being Veteran's Day, it is a must that we recognize two (2) of our citizens who served in the Armed Forces during World War II.  They are Bart Greeley and Clark Lerch.

Barton Greeley

Clark Lerch

Let Us Never Forget.

A YOUNG STUDENT THAT REALLY DOES CARE

Alexia Nichols

Just wanted to send these two photos along to you to show you that the youth of Austin really care about our local history. Shown here is Alexia Nichols doing  more than her share of volunteer work for the E.O. Austin Home / Hist. Society. 

Alexia visits the museum as often as she can and is more than willing to do whatever is needed. She does everything from Genealogy, welcoming visitors and  cleaning where ever needed

 She also has taken on the task of inviting Austin School's 5th, 6th and 7th grade classes to the museum to view one of the many classic movies we have on hand . She has already sent notice to the school to get the word out. At the movie she will serve pop corn and beverages to all who attend at no charge.

Alexia Nichol

  Alexia is not the only student that is interested and involved in our rich local history. Recently we have had several classes visit the museum. They all seem to take a special interest in the one room school displays as well as ringing  the old one room Cowley Hill school bell now on display in front of the museum. 

 The museum recently has had donated by Shirley Leete, the bell from the Keating Summit School. The society hopes to have that bell on display early next spring. 

  The E.O. Austin Home / Hist. Society wants to extend a special thanks to Alexia and all our students for their interest in their home town area history! 

Submitted by:

Ron Ebbert, Director

E.O. Austin Home/Historical Society

Volunteers Clean Up Brownlee Cemetery

This past summer Paul Bennett, Angie Fowler, Cassie Fowler, Mike Fowler, and Tracy Orlowski volunteered a couple of days and cleaned up the neglected Brownlee Cemetery in Costello, Pennsylvania.

Pictured below are Paul Bennett, Cassie Fowler, and Tracy Orlowski resetting a headstone.

Volunteers are recognized and appreciated in Austin, Pennsylvania.

The Five (5) Can Challenge

Kaylee Brooks of Austin has put together “The 5 Can Challenge” to challenge residents of the Austin Community to purchase and donate non-perishable items for

five weeks (November 10 through December 13).  Kaylee noted it’s simple and easy to do. Every week when you go to the grocery

store, purchase one or more items; collect them each week and then drop items off at one of the donation boxes located at Northwest

Savings Bank in Austin, Austin Post Office or Austin Area School. Items can be dropped off weekly or at the end of the five weeks.

Soups, vegetables, gravy, beans, jelly, peanut butter, spaghetti, noodles, macaroni, sauces, pancake mix, syrup, cereal, sugar,  tuna, canned

meats, ketchup, mustard, salad dressing, stuffing, rice, brownie mixes, fruit snacks, granola bars, bottled water, bottled juices, tea, and

coffee are some of the non-perishable foods that are being collected.  At the end of the program, all items will be donated to the Austin

Food Pantry.

As a volunteer in her community and past volunteer at Cole Memorial Hospital, Kaylee knows the holidays can be a time of sadness for many.

Kaylee hopes to change this for some by collecting food items to help these families put food on their table especially during the holidays.

Kaylee says “many people take for granted the meals on their tables while many people go without. We take it for granted that our refrigerators

will hold an abundance of fresh fruit and vegetables, that if we run out, we can buy more. That isn’t always the case.” “It makes me feel good

to be able to put a smile on the faces of people who do not have the basic necessities of life, such as food and water.”

Kaylee is a Senior at the Austin Area School, a Junior Member of the Austin Volunteer Fire Company and a Certified Nursing Assistant at Cole

Memorial Hospital. She is the daughter of Bruce & Kathy Brooks. Her future plans are to attend Mercyhurst University-The North East Campus

for the Occupational Therapy Assistant Program so she will be able to continue helping others. In her spare times, she enjoys four wheeling,

playing softball, volleyball, and basketball and spending time with her family and friends.

"Every day of your life is a page of your history." - Arabian Proverb

Non-Skid Safety Tape Applied to School Path Bridge

During the brush clearing on the school path, a number of citizens mentioned how slippery the bridge was during the winter months.  So, we have purchased and applied two (2) inch wide, 3M Safety Walk Outdoor Tread Non-Skid Tape to the bridge.  Hopefully, this will provide some traction when walking across the bridge this winter.  If not, let me know. Suggestions are encouraged.

Pictured below is my wife and best friend, Angie:

Community Service Recognition - Fred "Joe" Fowler

Fred "Joe" Fowler has overseen the project of painting the School Path Bridge which crosses the Freeman Run Creek and connects to the Austin Area School District property.

He was responsible for the entire project, from clearing the brush around the bridge in preparation for the painting, to finding an individual willing to perform the job, acting as a working supervisor and assisting in the completion of the project, which included brushing and sandblasting the rust on the bridge, and, painting the bridge.

Although, the School Path Initiative paid the wages for the one employee, Joe did not charge for his time spent on the project, which encompassed all day Saturday, Sunday, and part of Monday.

Thank you very much Joe for seeing this project through from start to finish and donating your time for a very worthwhile cause.

Community Service Recognition - Jamie Buzzard McFall

Jamie Buzzard McFall

Although Jamie does not reside in Austin, she is an active, dedicated member of the E.O. Austin Home/Historical Society serving as the Museum Curator.  She works every Monday afternoon at the museum located at One Town Square, performs research, attends meetings, participates in museum functions, such as, The Annual History and Pride Days, and, prepared the latest E.O. Austin Home/Historical Society newsletter.  She is, indeed, the museum's Girl Friday.