‘SWEET TOWN’: A family of African-Americans growing up in
Smethport in the early 1900s would certainly have interesting
insights, and such is the case in “Smethport Memories” written by
two of the three daughters in the family.

Gladys Gaskin Reed and Emma Gaskin Bright wrote the family
history in 2003. 

“The education we received in Smethport prepared us very well
for college and life. We missed out on African-American history and
African-American literature and art, but we took courses in those
areas.

“The Methodist church played an important part in our lives. Our
mother’s father was a founder of the Trinity African Methodist
Church in Baltimore. With that background, Mother had us involved
in church and church activities. We recall when the pastor was the
Rev. Leonard Peale, brother of the Rev. Norman Vincent Peale. We
also remember the beautiful soprano voice of Mrs. Flossie Bouton in
the choir.

“When we think of happy moments in Smethport, we remember hiking
to the stone quarry, sledding and skiing from Hill Street across
King Street, and across Main Street. Dr. Livermore headed a group
which stopped traffic on the streets for our safety. We remember
the town’s only policeman, Mr. Mike O’Brien, the father of Mrs.
Elmer Quirk, our next-door neighbor.

“We recall fun times at the movie matinees in the summer, band
concerts on the courthouse lawn and plays and musicals at the
Lyceum. And, of course, we remember the McKean County Fair.

“Main Street offered much shopping pleasure. We remember Miss
Gabriel’s dress shop, Fry’s Dry Goods store, lessons from Mrs.
Esther Burdick and Mrs. Eleanore Richards Anderson and Carlsons’
shoe store and Chadwick’s jewelry store to name a few. We enjoyed
the soda fountain at Ostrander’s drug store where Alfred Sturdivant
created the ‘Tubber.’ After the big fire, Alfred open the first
diner.

“Most of all, we remember our Dad’s barbershop. Before the fire
of 1933, Dad had three barber chairs. Two were saved. With these
and some tools, his cash register and clock that were rescued, Dad
was able to relocate in the Specht building through the kindness of
Miss Specht. Dad’s skill as a barber and his fine shop received
recognition in the state ‘Barber Journal.’

“To put it in Dad’s words, ‘Smethport is the sweetest little
town this side of heaven.’ ”