Smethport Hubbers Launch My Jersey, Your Impact

Bradford Era – by Sara Eddy Furlong The My Jersey, Your Impact program implemented this year at Smethport High School aims to provide students an opportunity to show teachers just how influential they’ve been. Anna Stewart, Smethport assistant principal and athletic director, explained that Superintendent Brice Benson read an article about the program in use in another district and suggested its implementation in Smethport. Now, each Friday, senior Hubber…

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Winners Walk on Sunshine Following Arts on Island Car Show

Bradford Era – by Mandy Colosimo The island on Hamlin Lake in Smethport can reportedly handle 200 vehicles for the Arts on the Island car show — and organizers never know until lunchtime the day of the event how many will register. On Saturday, the weather was so wonderful, 138 entries took to the island. Entrants are eligible to compete for an award in several categories. Trophies were awarded…

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Civil War Letters Now at McKean County Historical Society

Bradford Era – by Mandy Colosimo A collection of handwritten letters and other documents, dating back to 1856, were discovered in an attic of a home in Washington state have made their way to McKean County. The correspondence consisted of family exchanges between Phillip Griggs Ellithorpe, Philander Doty Ellithorpe and Asa R. Burleson and Oliver Moore during the Civil War. It had been kept at the Cowlitz County Historical…

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30 Years Ago Smethport Football Made History

Bradford Era – by Cory Angell “It was a change you could see coming over three years,” said Bob Parana, former Kane-based WLBI radio announcer. “Near the end of the 1990 season my co-host Barry Morgan and I looked at each other. We thought, there is something special with this team, it’s coming.” It was the start of something special. The Smethport Hubbers began to perform at a high…

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Smethport Hopes for Bounce-Back Year in Tough Region 2

Olean Times Herald – by Sam Wilson Last year marked a turbulent change for the Smethport football team, as it not only had to replace a senior group that led the Hubbers the District 9 Class A championship game, it did so with a new head coach and in a new league. The 2022 season brought an end to a four-year streak of qualifying for the District 9 playoffs….

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McKean County Historical Society’s Fall Bus Tour Filling Fast

Bradford Era – by Mandy Colosimo The McKean County Historical Society fall bus trip takes to the road 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. Sept. 14 and seats are filling fast. The trip will leave Olean, N.Y. and head to its first location in Lockport, N.Y. Once there, it’s anchors away, as the group sets out for a two-hour cruise along the Erie Canal for a historical tour of the…

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Smethport Diner Demolished, Renovation Next

Bradford Era – by Mandy Colosimo The Smethport Diner, former home of the “Hubber-Burger,” on West Main Street, U.S. Route 6, in Smethport, was demolished earlier this month as part of the American Legion Post 108 expansion. Post Commander Courtney Cole knew this phase would be the most challenging one, and the phase that would involve the most community support. To remove the whole front of the diner, was…

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48 in Class of 2023 Graduate from Smethport High

Bradford Era – by Daniella Langianese The 2023 Smethport Area High School held an awards assembly to announce students who won scholarships on Wednesday, as well as their valedictorian Faith Miller and salutatorian Kaylee Swanson. “These two girls were neck and neck all four years, it came down to Mr. Emerson tallying up the final marking period grades before we knew the winner — and even then it was…

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Memorial Day – Reflecting on the High Price of Freedom

Bradford Era – by Mandy Colosimo Across the country, the fallen were honored with military salutes, flyovers, and parades, over the weekend. Smethport held their annual Memorial Day exercises with memorial salutes in East Smethport and Rosehill Cemetery, a parade, and an honored speaker, Rev. Frank Eppley. Decorated Vietnam veteran, who served during the Tet Offensive, Purple Heart recipient and Bronze Star with V for Valor awardee, Eppley delivered…

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Artisan Opens the Barn Doors in East Smethport

Bradford Era – by Mandy Colosimo Way out on East Valley Road in East Smethport, past several pastures of cattle and a few goats, you will find a driveway on the right with a bright red-roofed barn. On the second floor of the barn is where you will find Kent W. Smith of Kent W. Smith Studio working on his next piece of art or artful furniture. Smith has…

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