THAT ICEBOX: That “”icebox”” of Pennsylvania isn’t a euphemism –
it’s the real deal.[neWLine]

John Cleland of Kane called to give us the inside scoop on a
subject we had written about lately, the designation of a McKean
County community as “”the icebox of Pennsylvania.””[neWLine]

We had correctly pinpointed Kane for the title but John tells us
there’s a lot more to the story than that. In fact, he tells us
that this “”icebox”” was a real item and, in fact, still
exists.[neWLine]

Here’s the story: In the 1930s, John Cliff, one-time editor of
the Kane Republican, had a brainstorm to promote Kane as a winter
sports center. The town had miles and miles of cross-country ski
trails, three or four lighted skating rinks, two toboggan runs, one
in James City and a second long course from Kane to the water
works.[neWLine]

There was a downhill ski slope that even had a rope tow, one of
the first – if not the first – in the United States. A Model T or A
gas engine was used to power the tow motor.[neWLine]

The concept was promoted with the use of ski trains from
Kaufmann’s in Pittsburgh. People would arrive by train from
Pittsburgh, get off the train at the rail station, and stay in the
nearby hotel.[neWLine]

On Groundhog Day 1936, the first train arrived from Pittsburgh
and was met by horse-drawn sleighs.[neWLine]

To go along with the concept, Cliff came up with a fictitious
weatherman, “”Charlie Thundercloud,”” who had his weather station
at the water works.[neWLine]

This little station was photographed amid the snowcovered winter
landscape, reproduced onto postcards, and mailed out. This, then,
was the famous “”icebox.””[neWLine]

John tells us he believes the icebox exists to this day, and may
even continue to be an “”official”” weather station.[neWLine]

Apparently, the “”icebox”” idea had taken off and Kane enjoyed
its reputation during the 1930s. Then, there were a couple warm
winters. And with the start of World War II, the promotion
ended.[neWLine]

Cliff had gone to Temple University, worked initially at The Era
and then moved on to Kane where he became the Republican’s editor.
He was also the first “”photojournalist”” in the region and there
is still an extensive photo history of Kane which he
compiled.[neWLine]

We have to admit, this promotion was way ahead of its time.
Today’s tourism promoters perhaps could learn something from John
Cliff.