BIG BIRD: Bob Funk of Smethport writes Monday: “”My wife and I
were driving back from camp about one mile south on Route 46 from
the Betula crossroads when along the roadside a large-bodied bird
with a white fantail, huge wingspan, and large white head flew from
a dead deer carcass. Right away we both looked at each other and
said, ‘that’s a bald eagle.'[neWLine]

“”We turned around and went back and, sure enough, sitting in a
tree not far off the roadside was this beautiful adult bald
eagle.””[neWLine]

Could this be the same bald eagle other readers have reported in
the vicinity?[neWLine][neWLine]

CLEAN MACHINE: “”The Last Word in Vacuum”” was the motto
imprinted on the front of a contraption that looked more like a
farm implement than a vacuum cleaner.[neWLine]

Nevertheless, the Leasure vacuum cleaner of 1900 was apparently
the Swiffer of its day. And it was manufactured right here in
Bradford.[neWLine]

According to an article in the March 8, 1907, Era, only six of
these cleaners were manufactured at the turn of the century by S.
Holbrook of Bradford. Even 50 years ago, they were considered
museum pieces that doubled as “”curios.””[neWLine]

The article notes that Holbrook’s factory was located at the
site of the Hanley Park tennis courts in the 1950s. (Now, it’s the
skateboard park.)[neWLine]

“”The company found itself in financial trouble after only six
vacuum cleaners had been completed and soon went into bankruptcy,””
the article said.[neWLine]

At least one was still able to clean rugs back in 1957. Mrs.
Ronald Young of Bolivar Drive became the new owner of one of the
six contraptions while combing through the old Murray homestead at
the corner of West Washington and North Center streets. The house
was being torn down to make way for a gas station.[neWLine]

“”My original intention was to find some old oil lamps or other
antique pieces that would be suitable for my youngsters who belong
to the 4-H Club to convert into lamps,”” Mrs. Young was quoted as
saying. “”We had considered making the cleaner into a lamp, but
since we have discovered what a collector’s item it is, we will
keep it as a showpiece.””[neWLine]

The story notes that the antique cleaner predated the days of
electric sweepers and instead operated by a bellows that was
“”activated by the manpower used in pushing the device back and
forth.””