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Sarge Wright remembers when trains made their way around Smethport.

In fact, he remembers it so well that he re-created the train lines from memory. It’s all there, on a platform in Wright’s Smethport home.

The layout on the 4′x9’ platform shows Smethport from the Marvin Creek Bridge on U.S. Route 6 east to almost the site of the present Veterans of Foreign Wars post on Water Street. From there, the train heads from Water to Willow streets and includes the tracks of the Pittsburgh, Shawmut and Northern Railroad from the late nineteenth century until it ceased operations on April 1, 1947.  Read more »

Charles Cole Memorial Hospital announced its official clinical affiliation with Hamot Medical Center which will enhance local healthcare in the region, including Smethport.

The partnership will allow expanded opportunities for Charles Cole such as trauma/emergency services, regional transportation, homecare/durable medical equipment, after hours pharmacy coverage, education and peer relationships, professional recruitment/retention, and medical office joint ventures. Patients will retain choice for tertiary care and local control of CCMH will not be affected.

CCMH has had a long-standing affiliation with Hamot through the availability of Hamot-affiliated cardiologists, neurologists, and most recently through the inception of telemedicine which allows patients to see a specialists from a tertiary center close to home.

CCMH’s board of directors explored options over the past year and found Hamot to be a logical choice due to their successful working relationship and similar philosophies and missions.

“We are very confident that Hamot offers demonstrated advantages and is an excellent partner for our hospital,” said Ed Pitchford, CCMH president and chief executive officer. “This affiliation presents an opportunity for us through access to additional capabilities and expertise and to develop a tightly integrated network to boost quality and coordinate services, where it makes sense. We can also reduce costs for our organizations and those seeking care with us, all the while making sure patients get what they need, when they need it.”

“This is an important day for our community and our hospital. We have joined forces with a very successful and forward thinking healthcare organization. We are excited about the possibilities this affiliation will provide our area residents, employees and physicians. The Hamot affiliation strengthens our hospital’s ability to reach out to residents with quality health care throughout northcentral Pennsylvania. A regional approach such as this can benefit our local community by offering a broad range of services while creating added efficiencies in the delivery of health care,” said Charles Updegraff, CCMH board chairman.

Hamot Chief Operating Officer Jim Fiorenzo believes the strength of this affiliation is built upon a shared vision. “There are numerous external forces affecting the delivery of healthcare today but by forming closer relationships like this affiliation between Hamot and CCMH, we can deliver on our commitment to provide excellent patient care and create new solutions for the delivery of healthcare in Northwest Pennsylvania.”

“That’s why our organization is working with Hamot, a much larger organization with an excellent reputation that will offer us services that we otherwise might not be able to have. Charles Cole is an economic base for the community and it is essential that we are able to continue to grow by keeping as much care in the region as possible. This area needs to have a full-service, primary care hospital that is dedicated to excellent, patient-centered care and that is a mutual goal of the leadership of both Charles Cole and Hamot,” Pitchford said.

Hamot has been recognized by numerous national organizations including US News and World Report and Thomson Reuters for outstanding quality and clinical excellence in a wide range of services including cardiac, orthopaedics, neurology, urology and critical care medicine.

Charles Cole Memorial Hospital is a full service, comprehensive health system based in Coudersport with service throughout north central Pennsylvania. In addition to the hospital’s main campus in Coudersport, CCMH provides primary health care, including wellness and physical therapy, to surrounding communities, including Smethport.

For additional information on the hospital’s services and medical providers, visit www.charlescolehospital.com.

Devin Dewyer could probably be described as a typical 14-year-old kid, with soft-spoken, halting comments about his guitar playing cloaked with an almost painful shyness.

When that same young man cranks up his electric guitar and begins playing a beautiful, complex Steve Vai riff, the shy teen is replaced by a confident musician who takes his audience on a ride they hadn’t expected.

A resident of Smethport, Pa., Devin, has been turning the heads of many in the Twin Tiers community with skills in playing that often comes after years of lessons and practice. His story is unique given the fact that he only began playing guitar two years ago after purchasing an instrument with his birthday money.  Read more »

The bridge on U.S. Route 6 over Potato Creek in the Borough of Smethport will now become the POW/MIA Memorial Bridge to honor the more than 1,100 veterans from Pennsylvania who are listed as prisoners of war or missing in action. Nationwide, there are more than 93,000.

Under a new law authored by Rep. Martin Causer (R-Turtlepoint) much-deserved recognition is provided to area veterans by naming the bridge in their honor.

“Naming a bridge or highway after a veteran or group of veterans is a great way to remember their contributions as well as the contributions of every soldier, sailor, airman and marine who have sacrificed much for our community and our country,” Causer said.  

“Every time a driver uses that bridge or drives that roadway, they are reminded of the brave men and women who work to protect our safety and our freedoms,” he said.

In addition to Potato Creek, the new law makes other designations in the area.

The bridge on U.S. Route 6 over the Allegheny River in Liberty Township, McKean County becomes the Lt. Colonel Richard J. Berrettini Memorial Bridge. Berrettini, a Port Allegany High School nurse, died in January 2008 from injuries he suffered in Afghanistan while serving with the Pennsylvania Army National Guard.

The bridge on U.S. Route 6/Main Street over the Allegheny River in Coudersport Borough becomes the Potter County World War II Veterans Memorial Bridge.

A 1.4-mile section or State Route 120 in the Borough of Emporium becomes the General Joseph T. McNarney Memorial Boulevard. McNarney was born in Emporium and later became Commanding General of the U.S. Army in Europe and Military Governor of the U.S. Occupation Zone in Germany during World War II.

The legislation directs the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation to post and maintain signs displaying the names of the bridges and roadway. The law is effective in 60 days.

Speaking at the Smethport Fire Department’s annual appreciation dinner Saturday night, state Rep. Martin Causer, R-Turtlepoint, told about state efforts to help volunteer fire departments and emergency services cope with recruiting volunteers and fundraising.

A former emergency medical technician and part-time policeman in Port Allegany, Causer said that he took his interest in emergency services to the state House, where he serves on the Committee on Veterans Affairs and Emergency Preparedness, which considers bills pertaining to emergency management and fire and ambulance services.  Read more »

Smethport Web – by Nathan Muller

Troop 1/501 of Smethport, Pennsylvania celebrated the 100th birthday of the Boy Scouts of America at an open house held Wednesday at St. Luke’s Episcopal Church from 6:00 pm to 7:30 pm.

The event featured exhibits chronicling the long history of the Boy Scouts in Smethport and their many accomplishments spanning a century.

Caroline Miller, Editor of the Smethport Gazette, represented Mayor Ross Porter, delivering a statement on his behalf for the Borough.

Porter noted that in 1911 Dr. J. V. McAlpin organized the first Boy Scout troop in Smethport, making it one of the nation’s very first Scouting towns.

The scouts met in the basement of the McKean County Jail. The original troop consisted of twelve boys and Scoutmaster McAlpin.

In 1913, the Smethport troop was officially registered with the national Boy Scouts of America. With the exception of a few brief breaks, Smethport has continued its long and deep involvement in the national Scouting movement.

Next year will be the local Troop’s 100th birthday. Plans are already being discussed to make it a memorable event.

The official proclamation was read by Phil Kennedy, who was aided by Smethport Sam’s handlers, Katie James and Taylor Swift. The event, organized by Phillis Barnhart, drew about 40 people and included lunch.

Pam Dailey, right, presents Mindy Bickford of Smethport with handmade baby quilts. Dailey makes the quilts in memory of her daughter who passed away in 2004 and gives them to a baby girl born closest to her daughter’s birthday, January 16, at Charles Cole Memorial Hospital.

This is the first year that a baby girl has been born on that day. When Dailey found out the baby girl, Shya, had a twin brother, David, she made a second blanket and was able to present them in person.

On Saturday, January 30th, hundreds of wrestlers from Pennsylvania, New York, Ohio and West Virginia will converge at Smethport Area High School for the third annual Battle for the Belt Tournament, joining local teams from such communities as Port Allegany, Cameron County, St. Mary’s, Bradford, Kane, Shinglehouse, and Sheffield.

The tournament originated with the Smethport Jr. Wrestling Club, which has over 50 kids in the program. Head coach Cory McKeirnan, along with his volunteer coaching staff, teach more than just wrestling moves. The kids learn self confidence, responsibility and discipline, while forming lasting friendships.

Three years ago the club took a leap into a new direction by creating a “Battle For the Belt” Tournament in which the winners from each bracket receive a leather championship belt. Those who place 2nd, 3rd, and 4th receive custom designed medals as awards.

There will be 1st to 4th place team trophies, starting at 3 feet tall. Along with these awards, there will be a 3-1/2 foot trophy for the fastest pin of the day donated by the family of Harold Bell.

The tournament starts at 9:00 am Saturday morning and runs through mid-afternoon. This event is a must-see for anyone who has any interest in wrestling or has ever participated in the Jr. Wrestling program. Of course, the event is open to the public. Admission is $3.00 for adults and $2.00 for students.

Over 300 wrestlers are confirmed for the tournament. The cut off is 450. Over 2,000 people are expected to attend this event.

J.I. Tees will be selling shirts with a custom design with all the participants’ names screen printed on the back. There will be other vendors at the event as well.

This tournament would not be possible without the help of the following sponsors:

T.R. Weaver Trucking
Duffy Inc.
McKeirnan’s Buses and Towing
Spittler Well Service
Crosby Legion
Crosby Sons of the American Legion
Holden Oil
V.F.W. Post 2497
V.F.W. Club 2497
Smethport Collision
Northern Tier Inc.
Rexel
James Hart Construction
C. Moses Excavating
Lents Garage
Hamlin Bank and Trust Company
Lakeside Tire and Auto
Steve and Amy Bell
Timberghost Taxidermy
James K. Angell
Priority Care Ambulance
Herrs Chips
H&S Pet Animal Hospital - Dr. Dave Rumsey
Northwest Savings Bank
PV Paving
Farmers Valley Inn