HOT TIMES: Mike Crawford of Bradford adds his thoughts on a
couple recent RTS subjects:
“Speaking of 100 degree temps, I know this would not be
considered official, but last year on 8-2-06 my wife and I were out
Stickney camping listening to Cool 100 when they announced that the
temp on Main Street was 104 degrees.
“At that point the Mrs. and I took some cans of carbonated
barley soup (beer) and our folding chairs and spent the rest of the
afternoon sitting in the crick.
“Also on the issue of mountain lions, can’t honestly say I have
seen one but then I can’t honestly say I haven’t. Just know I saw
something out of the ordinary on the flats before Larabee Y.
Besides why would the native Americans call them the ‘ghost of the
woods’ if they were easy to see!”
BLIMP NOTES: Brandon Abbott of Port Allegany fills in some
background about the Goodyear blimp: “According to Goodyear’s Blimp
website, three plants exist today, including one in Akron, Ohio.
The PR airships took to the skies in the mid-20s, when Goodyear
launched the ‘Pilgrim.'”
“The Navy utilized the blimp during World War II, and until
1962. Four pilots are among the staff which operate each blimp. The
Ohio-based blimp, the Spirit of Goodyear, was ‘born’ in early 2000
and christened by Dr. Sally Ride. A Goodyear blimp is not limited
to the United States, as mentioned on their website. Visits north
and south of the border may also be taken.
“The Goodyear Blimp normally flies at about 1,000-1,500 feet,
with a maximum flying height of just under one mile, due to
atmospheric changes. Nothing is readily available on Goodyear’s
flight schedule and a possible trip to Watkins Glen.”
THAT STORM: Jerry Kleisath of Preble, N.Y., passes along some
intriguing information about that horrendous rain storm that
happened in July 1942 in McKean County. The storm not only washed
out the bridge on Route 6 in Port Allegany but flooded a bank – as
in financial institution – in Eldred.
“My aunt worked there and brought coins home to clean them and
take them back,” he writes. “Everyone was trusted then.”
Dick Bova of Port Allegany, who lived in Duke Center during that
storm, figures about 20 inches of rain fell the first two hours.
“There were no raindrops, just water falling out of the sky,” he
said.
