MORE NAMES: Wayne Caskey of State College can shed some light on
that inquiry about the nicknames of area high school athletic
teams.

He writes, “McKean County had 10 high schools, if I recall
correctly, when I graduated from Port Allegany High School in 1940
– Bradford, St. Bernard, Kane, Ludlow, Mount Jewett, Hazel Hurst,
Smethport, Eldred, Otto Township and Port Allegany.

“Athletic names were Bradford Owls, St. Bernard Ramblers, Kane
Wolves, Ludlow Wildcats, Mount Jewett Magicians, Smethport Hubbers,
Eldred Oilers, Otto Township Terrors and Port Allegany
Alligators.

“I don’t recall the name for the Hazel Hurst team which later
joined the Smethport School District.

“Nor do I recall athletic names at Duke Center and Rixford. Each
had a high school until joining to form Otto Township about 1935.
But I’ll bet Duke Center was called Dukes.

“Eldred, Mount Jewett and Hazel Hurt had six-man football teams
at the time. Until the late 1930s, Eldred had regular 11-man teams
that played tough schedules. It joined Otto Township to become
Otto-Eldred in the 1950s.

“Port Allegany teams were Tigers until the mid-1930s when Johnny
Nelson was sports editor of The Bradford Era.

“Johnny was widely read and admired as the Era’s best-ever
sports writer and editor.

“He is credited with naming Bradford High School the Owls since
Bradford played its football games on Friday nights. Since
Smethport was the county seat and hub, he named Smethport High
School the Hubbers.

“The sound-alike ‘Port Allegany Alligators’ apparently appealed
to him. The name caught on, and PAHS teams ceased to be Tigers. I
like to tell people that PAHS teams are named for the real live
alligators in the Allegheny River on the edge of town.

“If Johnny was responsible for any other school athletic names,
I’d like to know.

“By the way, some time before World War II, Olean High School
teams were called Hilltoppers, then changed to Huskies.

“In Potter County at that time, Roulette played inter-scholastic
basketball, but I don’t know their team name. Roulette in the 1950s
joined Port Allegany School District.

“Not far away is Renovo, which in the 1950s built a new school a
few miles out in the country. Thus, Renovo High School Railroaders
became Bucktail High School Bucks.

“I’m interested in what your other readers might add to the
topic of former schools and their team names.”