Austin Area School District is the Smallest in Commonwealth of Pennsylvania

October 13, 2016

There are currently 500 "brick and mortar" public school districts in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania.

The Austin Area School District is the smallest with a Pre-K through grade 12 student population of 197.  All housed in one (1) building.

The communities of Austin, Conrad, Costello, Wharton, Odin and Keating Summit comprise the Austin Area School District.

The pictures below were taken on Monday, October 10, 2016:

The Austin Area School District is at the forefront of STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics) education in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania.

The Churches of Austin, Pennsylvania, October 12, 2016

Austin Free Methodist Church. Located on Costello Avenue. Pastor Roger Laktash, Sunday Service at 9:30 A.M.

United Methodist Church, Turner Street, Pastor Steven Small. Sunday Service at 9:45 A.M.

Saint Augustine's Catholic Church, Turner Street, Father Joe Dougherty. Masses on Thursday at 9:00 A. M. and Saturday at 4:30 P.M. 

Main Street, Austin, Pennsylvania, October 10, 2016

Main Street View From Ruth Street

Big Mike's Dairy Dine and Convenience Store

Goodwin's Garage

Masonic Building - Post Office on left - Just Another Simple Blessing Thrift Store on Right

E.O. Austin Home/Historical Society Museum

Fire Department

The Old Bank Building

Perry Enterprises consisting of a beer distributorship, convenience store, hunting and fishing store and much more.  Fondly referred to as Paul-Mart.

Bub's Crosby's Storage Far Left, Harry Long's Cafe in Middle, and Laundromat on Right. Cafe and Laundromat not open for business.

Cooney's Hardware Store - Not Open For Business

Cock-Eyed Cricket Tavern

West Main Street Salon

St. Augustine To Remain Secondary Mission Church With St. Bibiana

On September 22, 2016, Father Joe Dougherty of St. Augustine Church, Austin, Pennsylvania, received word that the proposed changes in the Pastoral Planning Process announced on April 13, 2016, had been withdrawn and that St. Augustine would remain a Secondary Mission Church aligned with St. Bibiana, Galeton.

On April 13, 2016, the Pastoral Planning Process had announced that St. Augustine would no longer be a mission church and would become a "secondary church" of St. Eulalia Parish of Coudersport; but, parishioners would still have access to their original church buildings for weddings, funerals and select liturgies such as their annual feast day. Under this plan, St. Augustine could have possibly been closed.

During a comment period, many parishioners voiced their objection to this change.

Bishop Persico of the Erie Diocese would travel to Austin to conduct mass, bless the new church sign purchased by Stan Swank, and break bread with the parishioners.

He listened to our prayers.

The proposed changes were withdrawn.

Mass at St. Augustine with remain:

• 9:00 A.M. on Thursdays
• 4:30 P.M. on Saturdays

The new sign purchased by Stan Swank in honor of his parents

Flashback! May 1992. "Margaret Sutton" Visits Austin School

The Judy Bolton Society meets in Potter County this weekend.

E.O. Austin Home/Historical Society Fall 2016 Newsletter

Garretson Street, Austin, Pennsylvania

One of the most interesting individuals in the early history of Austin, Pennsylvania, is Oliver S. Garretson.

Prior to becoming a boomtown in the late 1800s, people from Buffalo came to Austin to fish. Mr. Garretson was one of those people. Austin was known as Freeman Run at the time.

He was a wealthy businessman who invested in Austin by building two sawmills and a store here  In her book Industry Comes To Freeman Run, Marie Kathern Nuschke states that the store was the biggest in Potter County at the time.

Marie also states that although he never lived in Austin, his brother's  Cyrus and Issac did, and Mr. Garretson and his family would visit them often.

Garretson Street is named after him.

Garretson Street. View from Main Street/Route 607 looking west

It is believed that Mr. Garretson was born in 1843 and died in 1908.

He founded The Buffalo School Furniture Company in Buffalo, New York and also owned other businesses there.

The picture of Oliver S. Garretson is found on page 17 of Industry Comes To Freeman Run which can be purchased at the E.O. Austin Home/Historical Society Museum. Their telephone number is 814-647-8358.