LET IT RAIN: What in the world was going on in Smethport on July
17-18, 1942? It our information is right, we suspect people were
rounding up pairs of animals in preparation for the
ark.[neWLine]
Jack Brunner of Bradford dropped by recently with a page taken
out of what appears to be a textbook and a table listing “”Some
Extremely Heavy Rainfall Records.””[neWLine]
According to those reports, Smethport logged 30.8 inches of
rainfall in a period spanning four hours and 30 minutes on July 18,
1942. And during a 15-hour period on July 17 and 18, 1942, total
rainfall was a whopping 34.5 inches in Smethport.[neWLine]
In fact, those numbers make a list on a chart of “”greatest
rainfalls ever recorded in short period of time.”” In a list of 10,
Smethport comes in at Number 8 with 30.7 inches in a six-hour
period on July 18.[neWLine]
The year 1942 was not that long ago, and maybe someone over in
Smethport can tell us more…[neWLine][neWLine]
BOB LANIER: Lynda Lore writes from Ridgway: “”As a born and
raised in Bradford native, I enjoy keeping in touch with the flavor
of my hometown. Has much been written about Bob Lanier? I do
remember those SBU games and as a graduate of BAHS of ’66, being
out in Olean after the games. I loved watching Billy
Butler.””[neWLine]
“”Didn’t know basketball that much, but loved the fun and energy
of that era. There was a great watering hole in Olean where all
went afterwards, including the players. Don’t remember the name.
Don’t you know, 30 years later my daughter graduated from SBU. She
loved it there.””[neWLine][neWLine]
THOSE TEAMS: More feedback today on those outstanding Bradford
High football teams of the 1930s:[neWLine]
Melissa Baker writes, “”I spoke with my Dad and he said he
graduated in 1936 and played for Coach Pflug for 3 years – they won
29 straight games, never lost a game.””[neWLine]
“”Two Goodman brothers were playing for Bob Pflug, Hank played
center and his brother Izzy played right tackle.[neWLine]
“”Coach Pflug eventually went on to coach at Brown University.
Hank went on to play for the West Virginia University for four
years and was captain of the football team and went on to play for
the Detroit Lions.[neWLine]
“”After that, Hank was a football coach and history teacher for
a high school team in Knoxville, Tenn.””
