The Dam That Could Not Break by Marie Kathern Nuschke

Marie Kathern Brisbois Nuschke was born August 16, 1892 in Austin, Pennsylvania, the child of Delphis and Catherine Mitchell Brisbois.  They lived on School Street for awhile and later moved to Costello Avenue.

She graduated from Austin High School.  There were three (3) in her class.  Marie attended Williamsport Commercial College and later worked for Sykes Department Store, the Louis Nuschke Hardware Store and the Bayless Pulp and Paper Company. 

She married Walter Louis Nuschke on June 14, 1920.

Marie passed away Sunday, January 1, 1967.  She had authoried "The Dam That Could Not Break, an account of the Austin flood of 1911, and several other articles in Pennsylvania History, the quarterly journal of the Pennsylvania Historical Association.

At the time of the flood she was employed in the Louis Nuschke Furniture Store on Austin's Main Street and was one of many people who climbed up the mountain path on the east end of the street where she was an eye-witness to the entire destruction of Austin.

This book is also for sale at the E.O. Austin Home/Historical Society.  Their phone number is (814)647-8358.

Potter Leader-Enterprise Article on NWSB "Gift" to Austin

Kathy Brooks is the Potter Leader Correspondent for the Borough of Austin and the Austin Area.  She resides in Austin, Pennsylvania, and was present for the Austin Borough Council Meeting on the evening of February 3, 2015.

Here is what she wrote:

Austin Borough Council recently accepted this former Northwest Savings Bank building as a gift with a clause stating it cannot house another financial institution.

The Potter Leader-Enterprise is located at 6 West Second Street in Coudersport, Pennsylvania. Their address is P.O. Box 29, Coudersport, PA 16915-0029.  Their phone number is 814-274-8044.

Willie Nelson Narrates The Austin Disaster, 1911

Willie Nelson, Austin, Pennsylvania

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. Willie and his wife lost their lives in the flood.

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 documentary can be purchased at The Austin Dam Gift Shop, E.O. Austin Home/Historical Society, by mail calling the museum at (814)647-8358, or, at local businesses here in Austin, Pennsylvania.

Willie Nelson, Austin, Texas

Two Heroines Who Saved Many Lives on September 30, 1911, Austin, Pennsylvania

A Book Every Austinite Should Own: 1911 The Austin Flood by Paul W. Heimel

Paul W. Heimel

This book can be purchased by stopping by the E.O. Austin Home/Historical Society Museum, One Town Square, Main Street, Austin, Pennsylvania 16720.

Or, calling 814-647-8358.

Mailing address is: P.O. Box 412

Cost is $16.95 plus shipping.

AASD 1998 Welcomes Seventh Foreign Exchange Student

E.O. Austin Home/Historical Musuem

If you like looking at Old-Time pictures, or, historical exhibits in general, then you must come visit The E.O. Austin Home/Historical Museum on Main Street here in Austin, Pennsylvania.

I advise that you allow two (2) days for the visit.  One day to browse around the museum looking at all the Exhibits on display; and, the second day to view the hundreds of photographs the museum has on hand detailing Austin's History from the late 1800s to present.

You will be able to see Austin develop into a boomtown, becoming the largest community in Potter County.

View the aftermath of fires and two (2) major floods.  The flood of 1911 being the second worst in the history of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, second only to the one experienced by Johnstown.

And, experience the creation of the E.O. Austin Home/Historical Museum from start to finish.

Personally, I am impressed with the informational and educational tour given by Denise "The Story- Teller" Owens.  Denise is knowledgeable about various and sundry details regarding Austin and the people who made an imprint in Austin's History.  So, do yourself a favor and call before you visit to ascertain when Denise is working.

Again, there are hundreds of old photographs like the one's above at the museum.