Video of the Austin Dam, Austin, Pennsylvania

Denise Butler Owens is our Resident Genealogist here in Austin, Pennsylvania.

March 12, 2016 Genealogy Day

Denise Butler Owens is our Resident Genealogist here in Austin, Pennsylvania.

She is an active member of the E.O. Austin Home/Historical Society. She works at the Museum every Thursday from 4:00 - 7:00 p.m. and every other Saturday from noon until 4:00 p.m. She is noted for giving a very knowledgeable, informative, and entertaining tour of the Museum.  So much so, that many visitors ask for her by name.

Denise has a passion for Genealogy and serves as the Museum Genealogist.  She, and her husband John, have researched  the ancestry and family history of many people with a connection to the Community of Austin. Those genealogies are on file at the E.O. Austin Home/Historical Society.

Denise started researching her own genealogy in 1988 because her grandmother was adopted and she wanted to find her original family. This interest resulted in her love for Genealogy.

She uses Ancestry.com and search engines in conducting her research.  Before computers, she and John would regularly visit The Steele Memorial Library in Elmira, NY, and The Centre County Library in Bellefonte Pa, to conduct their research.

Ayer's Family Maple Sugar Shanty

Located on left-hand side of Route 872 South entering the Borough of Austin, Pennsylvania

Don, Hayden, and Donnie Ayers

Donna and Ron Hostetlar Celebrate 50th Wedding Anniversary

Donna and Ron

Surprise Anniversary Party at Fire Hall given by their children

Matt and Dianne Hostetlar

Scott and Amanda Hostetlar Crumrine

Dakota, Tracy, Brandon, and Scott Hostetlar

Making A Difference: Ronnie "E.O." Ebbert

Ronnie Ebbert graduated from the Coudersport Area School District in 1960.  He met an Austin girl, Priscilla Anne Carr in 1962 and they married on July 13, 1963.

Ronnie is a veteran of the U.S. Armed Forces having served in the Army from July 1960 to June 1966.  He was stationed in Korea and Germany during his time in the military.  Priscilla was able to join him in Germany.

Upon his discharge from the U.S. Army, Ronnie and Priscilla made their home in Austin, Pennsylvania.  He found employment  at the National Fuel Gas Company, Wharton, Pennsylvania.  He was employed at National Fuel from 1967 until his retirement in the year 2000.

Ronnie has always been a civic- and- community service-minded person. He was a driving force behind the formation of The Austin Jaycees in 1968.

Ronnie appears at the far left in the picture

Ronnie was elected President of the local chapter of the Jaycees.  Some of the projects completed by the Jaycees in addition to those pictured below were creating a Christmas Tree Lighting Contest and cutting the brush and trees at the site of the Austin Dam Ruins:

The School Path

The School Path

Built Ice Skating Rink For Community in 1968

Ronnie presenting Senior Citizen Award to Ralph Hernquist

These projects earned the Austin Jaycees the coveted Blue Chip Award by the Pennsylvania State Jaycees:

Ronnie receiving the Award

In 1969 Ronald Dean Ebbert was selected as one of the Outstanding Young Men of America

One day in 1967, while sitting at the breakfast table, Ronnie informed Priscilla that he was going to build a museum in Austin when he retired.  On September 2, 2002, the official groundbreaking for the E.O. Austin Home/Historical Society Museum began.

Ronnie Ebbert removing the first shovel of dirt

Mayor Neil Shepard

Peggy Kelsey

Mark Jeffers and Judy Heft

Staci Frank top, Don Sypien bottom

The dream became a reality and the E.O. Austin Home/Historical Society opened on May 15, 2006.

Here are some pictures taken the day of the official opening:

Honorable John Leete and his wife Georganne

Ronnie with grandson Alex

State Representative Martin Causer

Since that day, the museum has added hundreds of new exhibits, is open five (5) days a week and does not charge for admission.  

Furthermore, each year the E.O. Austin Home/Historical Society, under the direction of Mr. Ebbert, completes a project to enhance the Community of Austin. The trees and tree planters on Main Street, painting the gazebo, the clock in front and to the side of the gazebo,and placing many historical markers throughout the area are just a few examples of Mr. Ebberts efforts to improve our community.

This past year, Ronnie was influential in the Borough of Austin accepting the real estate contract transferring the former Northwest Savings Bank building to Austin and locating the borough offices in the bank building on Turner Street.

Additionally, Mr. Ebbert is an active member of the Austin Dam Memorial Association. He was involved in building the gift shop, remodeling the kitchen, and laying the cement for the stage; and, the E.O. Austin Home/Historical Society funded the monument that appears in front of the Dam Ruins.

  Ronnie Ebbert  will do whatever it takes to get a job done and never let's the word no stop him from completing whatever mission he undertakes. He is a perfect example of the difference one person can make in a community.

Ronald Dean Ebbert

Remembering Russell S. Hofer Jr., Educator, Updated With New Photo

TEACHER, SCHOOL ADMINISTRATOR, AND BASEBALL COACH

Mr. Hofer was the most influential adult, male figure in my life during the late 1950s and 1960s growing up in Austin, Pennsylvania, as my father had passed away when I was five (5) years old of polio.

I first met Mr. Hofer as a seven (7) year old on the Little League Baseball field here in Austin as he would become my Little League Baseball coach.  I would play Little League baseball for him from age 7 through age 12.  He taught me the art and science of baseball.  Many fond memories would be created during that relationship, including those on the road to winning the District Fifteen Little League Baseball Championship in 1962.

Potter-Mckean Little League Baseball All Star Team. Mr. Hofer is the first person on the left in the top row. I'm the second from the right in the top row

Upon entering middle school, Mr. Hofer would become my principal until I graduated in 1967.

Shortly before his death in 2010, I had the opportunity to reunite with him in Winter Haven, Florida. My wife, Angie, and I not only visited his home, but went to lunch with him and his daughter, Karen, who was living with him at the time.

During this visit, I learned that Mr. Hofer grew up in Montoursville, Pennsylvania, attended West Chester State University, Penn State University, and was a veteran of the U.S. Navy.  In fact, he was a member of the West Chester State University Varsity Football Team.

1950 West Chester State University Photo

Mr. Hofer would serve the Austin School District for thirty (30) years. His early years of service would be as a history, health and physical education teacher.  Thereafter, becoming the school principal and in 1968, the school superintendent. He would retire from the Austin Area School District in 1981.

Superintendent Hofer also held leadership positions in the following organizations while living here in Austin, Pennsylvania:

• Executive Board Member of the Pennsylvania Association of School Administrators, 1974 - 1977
• Charles Cole Memorial Hospital Board of Directors, 2nd Vice President
• Potter County American Automobile Association Board of Directors
• United Methodist Church Administrative Board
• Arcana Lodge, F.and A.M, Treasurer and Past Master
• Austin Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW) Post

Below are pictures I have copied from the Austin High School yearbooks, beginning in 1971:

1971, Supervising Principal

1973, Superintendent

1975, Superintendent

1978, Superintendent

1981, Retired

2006 AASD Trip to PNC Park, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

Mark Corey

                                   

Mark Corey is a 1992 graduate of the Austin Area School District, Austin, Pennsylvania.