The Ligonier Echo from Ligonier, Pennsylvania • 1

0 Since 1888 The Voice of the Ligonier Valley, Pennsylvania ligonier, Westmoreland County, Pennsylvania Wednesday, May 5, 1976 Price Fifteen Cents 88th Year, No. 38 cur-: Demolition to start this week First Service Corporation announced today Its plans to raze Its buildings between Grimm's Pharmacy and Valley Dairy Store on the southeast corner of the Ligonier Diamond. A spokesman for the company stated "The reasons for the clearing were to eliminate fire hazards and to provide for a better appearance for the bicentennial "Any further plans for development of the property are being held In abeyance pending Identification of sufficient occupants to make the development feasible." Mr. Gerry A. Msttern, President of the Ligonier Chamber of Commerce, said, 'The Chamber Is working with First Service Corporation to enhance the appearance of the Diamond." Paul Newman chats with Dave Vale after dinner at the Vale home in Ligonier.

Colorful ceremony Paul Newman in Ligonier! Mason Convocation to liven Ligonier it by Linda Vale As a new reporter for a weekly newspaper I was given my first major assignment, to go to Johnstown and try to get a story from Paul Newman with a local accent since he is renting a home here in the valley for the duration of the picture being filmed at the War Memorial Arena in Johnstown, I wanted something different. I just laughed after hearing that he had denied the local daily papers interviews, but I thought I Immediately after the unveiling of the bell presented to the Valley by the Bicentennial Committee, Margaret Huttenhower of Marker Junior High had the privilege of ringing the bell for the first time. Shown here are, left to right, Rick Hall and Mitsie Hatfield who unveiled the bell and Mimsie Huttenhower. Laurel Group photo Liberty Bell replica dedicated in Ligonier laurel group FOCUS i they must get tired of eating dinner in restaurants all the time invited him to have dinner with my family and me. He accepted, unsure of the date, and I returned to Ligonier very satisfied that he was one of the most unpretentious people I ever had met.

I was really pleased to have gotten to speak with him. Knowing that the home they are renting in Ligonier is close to my own, I was very curious to see how they like the Ligonier area. He told me that although he really thought Ligonier was nice, the picture is very demanding and they haven't been able to spend as much time here as they had wanted to. He found it as a place he could relax and be secluded and hopes that he can spend more time here during the continuation of the picture. Friday was a beautiful day and shooting wasn't to begin until 7p.m.

that evening so Paul, his brother Art, and Mike Ontkean, (from the television series the Rookies) who also co-stars in the movie spent most of the day walking around the countryside. That evening Mr. Newman and Mike Ontkean came to have dinner with my family and me before the shooting of the bus scenes in Ligonier. I really enjoyed talking to them about the movie and though I had learned a lot about it from various people in the area Thursday, over an outdoor dinner Paul sa id that the movie appears to be a vulgar film but there is so much humor in it that the vulgarity seems to be in good taste. After hearing the story, which was written by a Johnstown girl, and meeting the actors, I am anxious to see the movie.

The evening was really pleasant and we enjoyed their company LIGONIER Bands will play, flags will fly and snappy, colorful Shrine units and other Masonic groups will parade when the Grand Lodge of Free and Accepted Masons of Pennsylvania holds its Bicentennial Dedication day at Ligonier on June 26. And at night, there will be a two-hour concert on the Square in the heart of Ligonier by Bob Crosby (younger brother of Bing) and the Bobcats, the group that started in the 1930s and carried the big-band magic into the 70s. The program also includes ceremonies at Fort Ligonier in the afternoon and continuous entertainment in the Square. In case of rain, the proceedings will move into Ligonier school buildings. One of the biggest and most spectacular fireworks displays ever seen in the state will paint the night sky with multicolored pyrotechnics in a blasting finale to the celebration.

About 1,400 members of Masonic organizations, plus high school bands, will participate in the parade, first big event of the day, which will step off at 1:30 p.m. Thousands of spectators are expected to converge upon the historic borough in Westmoreland County, site, of Fort Ligonier, a pivotal point in Colonial times. The parade will move through the center of town from east to west, passing a reviewing stand on the Square, in a spectacle lasting about two hours. Traffic will rerouted around the center of Ligonier, and parking lots will be provided for visitors. Shuttle buses will furnish public transportation, and adequate sanitary facilities will be available.

Ligonier's two Methodist Churches and the Presbyterian Church will serve meals throughout the day at nominal fees, and booths on the Square will sell hotdogs, soft drinks and other refreshments. The parade will line up as follows: The fife-drum-and-flag "Spirit of 76" from Syria Temple, Pittsburgh. Uniformed Knights Templar with massed Colors. Rainbow for Girls carrying various flags that have been used in the United States. Washington High School Band, of Washington County, in Colonial dress.

A procession of Grand Lodge elected officers. Past Grand Masters and Stanley Maxwell, Massachusetts Grand Master, all in antique autos. Ligonier High School Band. Masonic lodge officers and participating Masonic bodies, all in Masonic dress. Syria Temple units, including the band, Oriental band, Patrol, Legion of Honor, clowns and the Highlanders (bagpipers) Youth groups DeMolay, Rainbow for Girls and Job's Daughters.

Uniformed units of Jaffa Temple of 'Altoona, The Grotto of Pittsburgh and Tall Cedars. At 4 p.m. bronze replicas of the statue, "Washington at Prayer at Valley Forge," will be presented at Fort Ligonier to the head of the fort and to Massachusetts Grand Master Maxwell. (Continued on page 16) students in the vocational crafts shop of Ligonier Valley High School under the direction of Alan Ludwig. The pesdestal is an octagonal cone shaped stand, which enhances the beauty of the polished bronze bell.

Present for the ceremony, in addition to the committee, and accepting the bell for the Bicentennial Committee were Mayor Chick Cicconi for Ligonier Borough, Clarence Cams, Ligonier Township supervisor for the township; Richard St. Clair for Fairfield Township and Wilbert Neiderhiser for Cook Township. Also on hand were State Senator, W. Louis Coppersmith, and State Legislator Eugene Saloom. During the ceremony, the presentation of a state flag was made to Mrs.

Frances Brant of the Marker Junior High School and her students. The social studies class taught by Mrs. Brant made the suggestion that the flag of the state of Pennsylvania should fly over the schools of the Valley, as well as the U. S. flag.

The first presentation of a state flag was made by Senator Coppersmith to the Marker Jr. High, and flags will be purchased to be flown over all the schools. LIGONIER The one fifth size replica of the Liberty Bell purchased through a fund drive spearheaded by the Ligonier Woman's Club, was dedicated at ceremonies in the Town Hall on Saturday. May 1. It was originally intended to have the dedication on the portico of the Town Hall Auditorium, but inclement weather caused it to be moved indoors.

The auditorium was almost full as local citizens came to see the new bell and to hear its clear sweet tone. The actual unveiling was done by Mitsie Hatfield and Rick Hall, and the first sound was rung by Margaret Huttenhower, all three students at Marker Junior High School. Joseph Duval was master of ceremonies, and gave a short talk about the history of the bell itself and of the dedicated work of rs. John Griffith and Mrs. Lionel Gerard, of the Woman's Club, who headed up the drive for the fund.

The bell is mounted on a walnut stand made from wood taken from Windsor Forest in England, and the entire bell structure is mounted on a pedestal of oak from Ligonier Valley, made by the would try. So, Wednesday I went over to Johnstown but returned without my interview. I felt discouraged but thought it was worth another trip over Thursday. I was introduced to many of the cast and crews involved in lighting and sound by John Campbell, Paul Newman's public relations man. In the morning I was introduced to Paul and his daughter Susan, and they invited me to spend some time with them in their motor home over lunch, just about the only quiet place in the area.

We talked about his two cars which he raced in the New England States and the Poconos. After noticing pictures of the cars, his family, and the film he is making. After lunch I watched his afternoon make-up applied. I found him to be an extremely pleasant and agreeable friend unlike the description I had been given. I really enjoyed the visit with them and knowing Ligonier firemen plan fund drive Ligonier to host two AFS students f)tw Sranon LiGonid? VoLunuit? ffou Co.

forth FairfieJU vi -fc "tYW 2, I'fonicr, P. Date 4 4 his 18th birthday on August 19 this year. His father is dead and his mother, Michie Kawabata, is the head of the family. Shiunichi has two brothers and two sisters and he is the youngest of the family. One of his sisters is married.

His oldest brother works in the government of the prefecture of which Nagasaki is the political and economic center. His second oldest brother works at the Toyota AutomobileCompany. The sister who is not married works at the Mitsubishi Electric Co. Their father, who used to work as a counselor of the youngsters in the prefectural government, died three years ago. They are a close knit family, love one another very much.

Shiunichi is a good basketball player, and loves to keep animals. He is fond of reading, and plans to go to college to study economics. LIGONIER Announcement has been made of the two students who will be guests of Ligonier during the coming school year, on the American Field Service exchange scholarship plan. The Thomas Schneider family of Four Wile Run Road will have as their new wother Jaime Uribe from Colombia; md the James Huttenhower family of Vo Mile Run Road will host Shiunichi lawabata from Nagasaki, Japan. Jaime will have as his American rother, Greg Schneider, and James luttenhower will be host brother to hiunichi.

Jaime Uribe is 17 years old, having een born on April 29, 1959. His home is Bogota, Colombia, which is the capital city. His father, Jaime Uribe is a civil engineer, in business for himself. Young Jaime has six brothers and three sisters. He hopes to be a civil engineer and work with his father.

His hobbies, like those of the rest of his family are reading and music. He is fond of sports and proficient in them In his city the school year starts in January and ends in November. He is anxious to learn something about our changing seasons. Although he is used to life in a big city, he feels he will enjoy a town the size of Ligonier. Shiunichi Ka wabata is 17 and will reach "zizzwmigz topi 22" 4 li: 1 IS i Details of a massive and energetic fund drive by members of the Ligonier Borough Volunteer Fire Department, aimed at gathering approximately in order to build a new fire station and purchase a fire truck, were announced Tuesday.

During a press conference at the current fire station, details of the drive were made public for the first time by officials of the department including the Rev. William Oesterlin, President, and Chief Donald (Jake) Burns. Rev. Oesterlin revealed that Richard Camp has been named chairman of the fund-raising committee. Camp also was in attendance at the news conference.

According to the officials, all of the money needed to finance the endeavor will come from citizens served by the department, both in Ligonier Borough and in certain areas of Ligonier Township where Ligonier firemen have responsibility of first response during an emergency. This includes La ughlintown and all areas south of Route 30 to Cook Township, and Route 30 east to the top of the mountain. Rev. Oesterlin explained the proposed one-story, Colonial-oriented, fire station will be located on a parcel of land purchased earlier by the department and located at the corner of Fairfield Street and Bank Alley. The tract, adjacent to the Dairy Delite currently is utilized as a parking lot by firemen and is located directly across Fairfield Street from the current fire station.

Rev. Oesterlin stressed the fact the new building will contain "absolutely no frills." He explained, "Every effort has been made to cut costs because we know funds for construction have to come from donations by citizens." The station will cost approximately $125,000 with the remaining $75,000 in anticipated donations going toward the purchase of a fire engine. The new building, according to Chief Burns, will house six emergency vehicles and will have three bays or doors. The 60x80 ft. structure will contain an office for radio equipment and dispatcher, a work area, storage room, an area for equipment storage and hose cleaning units.

"While once built the building will become the legal property of the borough, no tax money will be involved in paying for it. "Rev. Oesterlin explained, "That's why we're counting so heavily on the good people of the Valley to support this important endeavor." Camp reported the drive will be the only one conducted by the department this year. "We're even canceling the annual coin card distribution and collection in the hope citizens will give the amount they normally place in the coin card plus additional dollars in order to build the new station and purchase another truck." Jaime Uribe Videotape to be shot in Ligonier LIGONIER Ligonier will once again be featured in the movies, this time on videotape as the pilot film for a proposed new series being produced by Fred Rogers. Family Communications, Inc.

the producers of the children's TV series MISTER ROGERS NEIGHBORHOOD, will be in Ligonier May 8 through 14 to film scenes for their new series, tentatively titled "Old Ligonier has been selected because of its proximity to Pittsburgh, its charming atmosphere, and close cooperation with the residents and the Chamber of Commerce. Family Communications, from the beginning planning stages of this project, has worked closely with Joseph Duval of the Ligonier Valley Chamberof Commerce to arrange for the various taping sites. Family Communications, Inc. plans to videotape at several different sites around Ligonier as well as at the stores of selected merchants. Other parts of the program will be taped in Los Angeles, Massachusetts, Florida, Arkansas and Pittsburgh.

If the pilot film is successful, OLD FRIENDS will become a national television series in 1977. Camp stressed the decision for the fund drive was not a "spur of the moment" thing. "Initial plans were laid out in July of 1973 and the tract of land was purchased in June of 1974 at a cost of $16,000," Camp told newsmen. At that time, architect Samuel T. Redwine was hired to design the attractive building.

"As you can imagine, the fire department has already expended a good deal of money ($21,500) in preparing everything for this drive," Camp said. The "no frills" station will not even include a social room for firemen. "The current structure has such a room and it will be utilized," Chief Burns elaborated, "As a matter of fact the current building will be used for storage of equipment and fire-fighting supplies so you can see it won't go to waste." The obvious question of why a new station is necessary was answered by Chief Bums. "There's no way to enlarge the present fire hall, according to inspectors, and we can't add on to the rear of the building because there wouldn't be enough room to get the trucks in and out," he said. The chief went on to elaborate about the over-crowded conditions at the present fire hall.

"There's only a limited storage area, hardly any work facilities and we don't even have enough room to keep all our equipment we have to Currently, Ligonier Borough property owners enjoy the best fire insurance rating available. And, that means low insurance premiums. "But, that rate could go up," Chief Burns warned, "if our equipment becomes obsolete." The department hopes to replace a 1952 LaFrance truck which is obsolete. "Thirty-nine per cent of your insurance rating is based on the equipment the fire department has available," Chief Burns said. "We would not be coming to the public asking for this sum of money unless it was absolutely necessary," Rev.

Oesterlin stressed, "But, it is necessary in order to maintain properly active and efficient fire department, We are responding to more and more alarms each year and to protect life and property we absolutely must have competently trained volunteers and the best equipment and facilities available. If there were some other way of accomplishing this, it would have been done. But, the only way to raise the money is to go directly to the public we serve. We sincerely hope they will respond." Camp gave some details concerning the actual methods which will be employed to carry out the fund drive. Those details, along with names of various committee chairmen, will be announced in the near future.

rent garage space to keep generators and other equipment in," he elaborated. "The truck space is not largeenough and it's farced us to buy trucks to fit the doors anri space trucks that just don't serve our ever-increasing needs and demar-Hs." Other problems include the fact trucks must be set outside to wash hose after a fire or drill and in extreme cold weather the water in the trucks can freeze up and put a truck out of service until the pumps, lines and tank can be thawed out. There is not enough room to roll dry hose inside the building and there's not enough room for additional hose dryers. The department presently can dry only 500 ft. of hose in 24 hours and one truck alone carries 1,500 ft.

of hose. Also, there simply isn't enough room for firemen to dress during an emergency or store their vital equipment necessary for fighting fires. Probably one of the most important problems is that the current fire trucks are becoming obsolete and new units won't fit into the current building. "We can't buy equipment needed to fight fires in Ligonier because we can't fit it into the building and that's a terrible shame," Rev. Oesterlin said.

Since the hall can't accommodate standard sized fire trucks, any truck purchased must be customized and that sends its cost skyrocketing. i Shiunichi Kawabata.