The Beautiful St. Augustine Catholic Church in Austin, Potter County, Pennsylvania

As soon as we entered the church, we noticed the wonderfully pungent smell of fresh flowers. As we got closer to the alter, we could see the beautiful arrangement of various flowers positioned from one side of the alter to the other.

The smell and beauty of the flowers caused me to perk-up and take a more closer look at the beautiful Catholic Church we have right here in our little town.

St. Augustine Catholic Church, Turner Street, Austin, Pennsylvania

Father Joe Dougherty

Angie and I usually sit by this window and I've often wished I knew the history of the The Peter Batau Family.

Bishop Lawrence Persico

Our beloved W. Robert Griffin

Yesterday was the start of Spring Gobbler Hunting Season and there was a large attendance at the 4:30 PM mass. We are genuinely pleased when visitors join us for mass. In fact, we look forward to those special occasions such as hunting and fishing season, or, summer vacations, when the campers return to our area and we get to see them once again.

Note:  Angie and I recently visited America's First Parish founded on September 8, 1565 in Saint Augustine Florida. (see pictures here).

Former Home of Senator Frank Baldwin Austin PA For Sale

For Sale: Victorian style turn of the century 5 bedroom home on over an acre on Turner St in Austin. Once owned by Senator Frank Baldwin in the early 1900s. Roughly 2,500 sq ft of living space with a full-- DRY-- basement. All new windows. New roof. Freshly painted. Inside will need considerable work but when completed will be one of the premier homes in Potter County. Stream in back yard. Was once a pond as well but has filled in some over the years. Could easily be rehabilitated. Call Bob Hooftallen at  814-331-2409 for more info.

Frank Baldwin was a State Senator and the attorney for the Bayless Pulp and Paper Company at the time of the 1911 Austin Dam Disaster.

Bennett, Corey and Fowler Form The Austin Baseball Association in 1986

In the spring of 1986 I became the manager of the Austin Little League Baseball program. The equipment was unsafe to use. The helmets were cracked and the stitching on the baseballs were loose and coming undone. The baseball field needed a lot of work to get it in a playable condition.

I immediately went on a "door knocking campaign" to raise money to buy new equipment and supplies. I was met with overwhelming support by the community. See newspaper article below.

With the help  and support of Paul Bennett and Ed Corey, we were able to get the baseball diamond in satisfactory playing condition.

At this time, the three of us decided to form the Austin Baseball Association.

Note: Paul Bennett and Ed Corey would team up with me again approximately 20 years later to remove the brush from the east side of the school path to the Freeman Run creek which was a monumental task.

Once the baseball season ended in 1986 a major overhaul of the baseball playing field was performed by Ed, Paul, myself, and Paul's brother Richard who owned and operated a construction company. See newspaper article below.

Since 1986, there have been many dedicated individuals who have devoted countless hours in improving upon what Ed, Paul and I started in 1986.

Today, The Austin Baseball Complex is one of the best, if not the best, in this part of rural Pennsylvania. We even have lights so the kid's can play some games at night. On a number of occasions, The Austin Little League Baseball field has been chosen to host Little League Baseball All-Star Championship games.

1986 Austin Little League Baseball team

Major rebuilding of the Little League Baseball field

Picture of Austin Baseball Diamond taken in October 2016

*Article was previously published in The Austin Boro News Blog.

Austin Fire Hall Site of Habitat for Humanity Groundbreaking Ceremony Celebration

March 26, 2017

The Scott Crumrine Family and Members of the Potter County Habitat for Humanity at the site where the new home will be built

                                  

The Fire Hall located on Main Street in Austin, Pennsylvania, hosted the groundbreaking ceremony celebration welcoming Habitat for Humanity to the Community of Austin, Pennsylvania.

Some of the dignitaries attending the ceremony were:

Representing Potter County Habitat for Humanity

• Brian F. Ruane, President
• Dick Myers, Director of Construction
• Wayne Walker, Board Member, grew up in Austin
• Dr. Marilyn Kistner, Secretary/Treasurer
• Buck Jackson, Board Member
• Carol Jackson, Fund Raising Committee
• Ivan Lehman, Board Member
• Barry Hayman, Board Member

Representing Potter County Commissioners:

• Doug Morley, Commissioner

Representing the Austin Borough Council:

• Jimmy Setzer, Mayor
• Jessie Valenti, President
• Amanda Crumrine, Councilwoman
• Bernard "Mike" Fowler, Councilman
• Victoria "Vicki" Setzer, Councilwoman

Representing the United Methodist Church in Austin:

• Pastor Todd Lamer

Pictured are some of the speakers for the event:

Brian F. Ruane, President, Potter County Habitat for Humanity

Dick Meyers, Director of Construction, Potter County Habitat for Humanity

Note: During his presentation Director Meyers sited the outstanding assistance rendered by Austin Borough Secretary/Treasurer Daleen Sinnamond.

Doug Morley, Potter County Commissioner

                     

Jimmy Setzer, Mayor, Borough of Austin

Pastor Todd Lamer, United Methodist Church of Austin

Amanda and Scott Crumrine Giving Thanks

Members of the Austin Borough Government Present at the Time the Pictures Below Were Taken:

Mayor Jimmy Setzer

Amanda Crumrine, Councilwoman

Victoria Setzer, Councilwoman

Bernard "Mike" Fowler, Councilman

Pictures of Attendees:

                             

Members of the Austin Borough Council pray for a long and lasting relationship with the Potter County Habitat for Humanity organization.

Habitat for Humanity Comes to Austin

March 26, 2017

The Potter County Habitat for Humanity organization had a ground breaking ceremony today in Austin, Pennsylvania, for their first home to be built in the Borough of Austin.

The site of  the new home is 37 Thorn Street which is the lot previously occupied by Gus Heneckes.

The home is being built for the Scott and Amanda Crumrine Family

Scott and Amanda in the back. Kyler and Kylie in the front

From left: Dr. Marilyn Kistner, Carol Jackson, Scott and Amanda Crumrine, Brian Ruane, Dick Myers, Wayne "Tink" Walker, and Ivan Lehman
Kyler and Kylie Crumrine in front.

Members of the Potter County Habitat for Humanity who attended the groundbreaking ceremony were:

• Brian F. Ruane, President
• Dick Myers, Director of Construction
• Wayne Walker, Board Member, grew up in Austin
• Dr. Marilyn Kistner, Secretary/Treasurer
• Buck Jackson, Board Member
• Carol Jackson, Fund Raising Committee
• Ivan Lehman, Board Member
• Barry Hayman, Board Member

Dick Myers Habitat for Humanity Director of Construction on left.

Bernard "Mike" Fowler, Austin Borough Council on right.

Councilman Fowler spearheaded the effort to bring Habitat for Humanity to Austin, working with Dick Myers, and, Pastor Steven Small of the Austin United Methodist Church, who is also a member of Habitat for Humanity.

 Bringing Habitat for Humanity to the Borough of Austin was a top priority of Councilman Bernard "Mike" Fowler when he assumed office in 2012. In order to do this, Fowler proposed that the vacant lot where the former home of Gus Heneckes once stood be donated to Habitat for Humanity in order for a new home to be built there.  His first attempt was defeated by Borough Council. However, Fowler did not give up, bringing the motion up again the following year, when it passed.

A empty, borough-owned lot will now consist of a new home, increasing the Borough of Austin's tax base and add an additional water and sewer revenue account.

Bernard "Mike" Fowler

Construction is expected to begin in early April.