Wooly Willy Wonderdaze Officially Underway
June 23, 2011
Smethport Web – by Nathan Muller
The third annual Wooly Willy Wonderdaze festival got underway Thursday evening in Smethport, Pennsylvania with an opening ceremony on the steps of the McKean County Courthouse. The event was hosted by local resident Jeff Andrulonis, president and CEO of Colonial Radio Group.
The ceremony featured acclaimed toy inventor Jim Herzog, whose creation, Wooly Willy, is now known worldwide. During the event Herzog graciously modeled a sample from the new line of high quality “Wooly Willy Wear” shirts and caps, which will be on sale during the festival. Read more
New Scholarship Established for Smethport Students
June 10, 2011
A new scholarship has been established with the Smethport Area School District Foundation to benefit Smethport students interested in pursuing careers in education.
The Stephen and Beckie Herzog Memorial Scholarship will be awarded annually to a graduating senior at Smethport Area High School who plans to prepare for a teaching career. Read more
Mayor Ross Porter Welcomes Matthew de Smeth on Visit to Smethport
June 4, 2011
Smethport Web — by Nathan Muller
Matthew de Smeth, 22, a descendant of the Dutch financial family after which Smethport is named, is visiting the Borough this week.
A student studying civil engineering at North Carolina State University in Raleigh, Matthew lives in Australia, where his father moved in the 1950s after working at a rubber plantation in “Belgian” Congo.
While on a trip to Toronto, Matthew decided to rent a car in Buffalo to drive to Smethport. While here, he visited the McKean County Historical Society and Hamlin Bank, among other places, and met with Mayor Ross Porter and Jovanna Porter at their Mansion District Inn B&B. He brought copies of the family crest, family tree, and a photo of today’s de Smeths.
Matthew said nothing remains of the financial empire built by Raymond and Theodore de Smeth in the early 1800s. The family sold their holdings and pursued positions in the Dutch Royal Court. Several family members held the title of baron. There were two castles in the de Smeth family, but both were destroyed during World War II. The ruins of one is used by a youth organization for special events and parties.
Matthew said he would send a narrated slide presentation about the de Smeth family, so stay tuned for a follow up story right here on Smethport, PA’s Online News Magazine.
Smethport Designated as a ‘Preserve America’ Community
May 20, 2011
Smethport was honored recently with a letter from Mrs. Michelle Obama, First Lady of the United States, designating the Borough as one of the nation’s newest ‘Preserve America’ Communities.
“President Obama and I want to congratulate all of the Preserve America Communities and thank them for their commitment to protecting and strengthening America’s cultural and natural heritage,” Mrs. Obama said.
Mayor Ross Porter received the letter and will receive a certificate of designation signed by Mrs. Obama announcing that Smethport is now a Preserve America Community. Communities designated through the program receive national recognition for their accomplishments in preserving our special places and telling the nation’s story. Read more
Request Your Free Tree Now
February 3, 2011
Smethport Web — by Jovanna Porter
Would you like a new tree planted in front of your property?
Borough residents can request a new tree, at no cost, by completing a short application and returning it to the Borough office. Applications can be downloaded and printed or picked up at the office. Read more
Smethport at a Crossroads — State of the Borough
January 4, 2011
Smethport Web — by Nathan Muller
At the Borough Council meeting Monday night, Mayor Ross Porter delivered a State of the Borough message. “We are at a crossroads for Smethport’s viability as a vibrant community,” he said. “We are facing a bleak time of crisis in Smethport.”
According to Porter, things started going downhill with the partial collapse of nearby Kinzua Bridge, a key area tourist attraction, followed by local closings of the Christmas Store, The Cottage House Restaurant and Lindgren’s Variety Store. Read more
Smethport Landmark Destroyed By Fire
December 17, 2010
Smethport Web — by Les Jordan, Jr.
Multiple sirens sounded in Smethport around 2:00 a.m. Friday morning as the Smethport fire Department was dispatched to a fire at the Cottage House Restaurant on Fulton Street.
When the firefighters arrived a few minutes later, fire and smoke were showing out of the back of the building and quickly spread out of control into a full structure fire.
A brisk wind pushed the fire deep into the structure, one of Smethport’s landmarks, which was once a popular destination as the Fulton House years ago.
According to fire policeman and Smethport council President, Greg Rounsville, smoke was already showing from the building when he looked out of a window at his home a few seconds after the siren sounded.
It only took about a half an hour for the building to be fully engulfed, explained Rounsville.
Several area fire departments responded with mutual aid on the scene. They included: Port Allegany; Eldred Borough, Roulette for stand-by at Smethport, Norwich Twp., and aerial trucks from Kane and Emporium.
The popular restaurant had sat idle for several months. According to Rounsville, the Pennsylvania State Fire Marshall was in route to the scene to investigate the cause of the fire.
Christmas Light-Up Night in Smethport
November 27, 2010
Smethport Web
Friday evening, the Smethport Area Chamber of Commerce sponsored “Christmas Light-Up Night in Smethport”.
The event featured a tree lighting at the corner of Main & Union Streets to kick off the Christmas Season. After Chamber president Nathan Muller read the Borough Proclamation on behalf of Mayor Ross Porter, a chorale and instrument ensemble from the Smethport High School braved the sub-freezing temperature to treat guests to a medley of Christmas songs.
Santa and Mrs. Claus attended the event and passed out Wooly Willy gifts for the children.
Graham Nannen and his family graciously donated the use of their tree for “Christmas Light-Up Night in Smethport”.
Special thanks go to Borough electrician Charlie Jones who labored with Don Gamet in the cold and rain to install the tree lights earlier this week.
Smethport Bike Race Raises over $6000 for Smethport Volunteer Fire Department Fire Police
October 15, 2010
Smethport Web
The record shattering 2010 Wheel Around the Hub Cycling Race held in Smethport September 18th was a giant community effort involving dozens of volunteers and numerous local and regional businesses, industries and individuals.
The race was organized by the Wheel Race Committee, a special committee of the Smethport Fire Department as a special fund raiser for the Smethport Fire Police, a division of the fire department. Over $6000 was raised for the volunteer Fire Police to purchase new digital radios and equipment. Read more
Record Shattered in Smethport’s ‘Wheel Around the Hub’ Bicycle Race
September 19, 2010
Smethport Web — by Nathan Muller
Against the backdrop of sunny skies and dry streets, the top five cyclists in the men’s 53-mile ‘Wheel Around the Hub’ Bicycle Race in Smethport, Pennsylvania posted record-setting performances on Saturday.
In the final seconds of the race down Main Street, Adam Farabaugh, 21, from Owego, New York, edged out David Novak, 17, from Tunkhannock, Pennsylvania, for an exciting 1st Place win.
View the exciting finish in real time …
Farabaugh took the cash prize of $300, plus the Gold Watch and medallion. Only tenths of a second separated Farabaugh and Novak, who took the 2nd Place medallion. Read more
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