109 Years Ago

The Muncy Luminary

Thursday, March 24, 1904

Aaron Kline, aged 69 years, who was taken suddenly ill while at work at the Robinson Manufacturing Company plant on Tuesday, died at his home in this place yesterday.

Alfonso Tallman has accepted a position as freight agent at the Reading station, vice Harry Dimm, resigned.

Joseph Shaw has moved his family to Jersey Shore, at which place he has purchased a barber shop.

100 Years Ago

The Muncy Luminary

Thursday, March 27, 1913

On March 24, C apt. John M. Bowman passed away at his home on South Main Street. He was born in Muncy, Dec. 6, 1829, and died from the infirmities of old age.

Miss Delta Kurtz pleasantly entertained at her home on East Water street Thursday evening, in honor of Mrs. S.B. wilt, of Millersburg, and Mrs. Howard Edwards of Panama.

Mrs. Marguerite Watts will leave next week for Allentown, where she will be a nurse in one of the hospitals.

The New Crawford hotel in Williamsport will close its doors to the public at large on Monday morning immediately after breakfast.

75 Years Ago

The Luminary

Thursday, March 24, 1938

Headline: Raft Meets Disaster At Muncy: Huge Log Craft Strikes Pier of Reading R.R. Bridge; One Dead; Searchers Drag River For Six Missing

Dr. C.G. Taylor, Burgess of Montgomery Is Missing; 38 Persons, Most of Whom Were Thrown Into River Were Saved; “Crossed Signals” Blamed

Tragedy stalked on the muddy waters of the Susquehanna River, Sunday noon, tragedy which unfolded before the eyes of thousands of persons a picture of the “Last Raft” hitting a pier of the Reading Railroad bridge at this place, a picture or almost all of the forty-eight persons on the raft swept into the river, struggling for their lives as the current swept them down stream, several of them going to the bottom to be seen no more.

Fire Company Auxiliary Aids Search Party-Muncy is Needed For Expenses of Carrying on Search For Six Bodies

Probably no person or group of persons is more deserving of praise than the Valentine Fenstermaker family, whose home is on the river bank where survivors were rescued from the river.

Two of Miss Martha Taggart’s pupils won prizes at the amateur contest given at the school house on last Thursday evening. Marie Joy Caldwell won first prize with an acrobatic dance. Wanda Lou Hunter also won a prize with her tap dancing.

The fire company was called out shortly after noon on Wednesday to extinguish a grass fire near the Snodgrass home on East Water Street.

Deaths: Mrs. Maggie B. Artley Laird, died in the Muncy Valley Hospital March 18, aged 76 years, 8 months and 18 days; Mrs. Rebecca C. Snyder, 82, died at the home of her daughter, Mrs. Lee Rea, Hughesville, Sunday afternoon following several weeks illness.

Ad: Here’s the Kind of Potatoes I grow with Armour’s-Frey’s Hardware, Muncy

50 Years Ago

The Luminary

March 7, 1963

Mr. and Mrs. Paul Bryfogle are spending several days in New York City.

Arnold Price, chief of police, was moved by ambulance to Muncy Valley hospital following a heart attack.

Linda Wiser, a senior, and daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Winston Wiser, won first place in the second annual citizenship contest and a cash award of $15, while third place went to Miss Bonnie Covert, also a senior, and daughter of Mrs. Harriett Cover. She received $5 in cash.

The Muncy Bank and Trust company this week revealed that its long-range planning and expansion program is in high gear with the purchase of the building at 8-10 North Main Street, adjoining the present bank property.

Scott, Ott, Taylor, Webster, Pentz Win Districts and compete in Regional at Allentown March 9; Few Surprises as Muncy Wins Team Title

Births: Mr. and Mrs. Earl Temple, Muncy, twins, a boy and a girl on Feb. 27. Mother former Dorothy Price; Mr. and Mrs. Dennis Hill, Sr., of Lairdsville, a son, March 3. Mother former Esther Myers; Mr. and Mrs. Ronald Montgomery, Hughesville, a son, March 4. Mother former Louise McClain; S./Sgt. and Mrs. Preston A. Smith, a son, Feb. 28. Mother former Elsie Ellen Johnson, Pennsdale.

Deaths: Nora Berger died at her home of Feb. 27; I Ray Stroup, 76, died March 1; Melvin C. Anderson, 83, born in Muncy, died March 4; Joseph H. Siegfried died at his home on March 4 after a week’s illness. He was 68.

At the Ritz: Rock Hudson and Burl Ives in “The Spiral Road”

Ad: Game Party, Truck Room, Hughesville Vol. Fire Dept.

25 Years Ago

The Luminary

March 2, 1988

30 cents

Jessica Tripp, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Brad Trip, of Muncy, is the winner of the Luminary’s “What’s Wrong With This Picture?”

The engagement was announced of Deborah Tully of California to Ensign Scott A. Diehl of Muncy.

Gary Schwenk, of Muncy, was named “1988 Engineer of the Year” by the Susquehanna Chapter of the PA Society of Professional Engineers

Laurie DeWire, a native of Hughesville, is a member of Re-Creation, a multi-talented musical group of young people who will present an evening concert of sacred music at St. Andrew Lutheran Church, Muncy, on March 6.

Born: Mr. and Mrs. James Sweeting, Jr., Montgomery, a son, Feb. 22. Mother former Michelle Santalucia; Mr. and Mrs. Denny Lewis, Montgomery, a son, Feb. 22. Mother former Carol Heller; Mr. and Mrs. William Myers, Hughesville, a daughter, Feb. 27. Mother former Mary Johnston; Mr. and Mrs. David Braun, Hughesville, a daughter, Feb. 28. Mother former Tammy Seebacher; Mr. and Mrs. Wayne May, Hughesville, a son, Feb. 27. Mother former Susan Bartlow.

Died: Richard Babcock, 50, a Hughesville native, died Feb. 20; Gary Bogenrief, 44, a Hughesville native, died Feb. 29; Clarence Ranck, Jr., 65, of Montgomery, died Feb. 24; Leonard Wertman, 83, Muncy, died Feb. 25; Helen Barlett, 66, a Unityville native, Feb. 23;

At the Ritz: “Couch Trip”

Ad: Water Street Lounge, Muncy

10 years ago

The Luminary

March 5, 2003

35 cents

Since the United States has, over the last several weeks, been at various levels of “alertness” for possible terroristic action, attention has been drawn to the preparedness of local emergency personnel.

A big welcome home was given to National Guard Reservist Wayne Laidecker by his wife Tammy, and children, Logan, and Lauryn, of Muncy. Laidecker served six months active duty in Germany.

Muncy Indians boys basketball team clinched the District 4 championship.

Births: Mr. and Mrs. Ray Snyder, Hughesville, a daughter, Feb. 11. Mother former Lori Schweitkart; Nevada Diehl and Anthony Segraves, Montgomery, a son, Feb. 22; Mr. and Mrs. Justin Bender, Watsontown, a son, Feb. 18. Mother former Annette Derrick; Mr. and Mrs. Marc Maneval, Watsontown, a son, Feb. 14. Mother former Wendy Loreman.

Died: Rodney Shrawder, 52, Watsontown, died Feb. 25; Nancy Torelli, 77, Hughesville, died Feb. 28; Luther Bartlett, 88, formerly of Montgomery, died Feb. 27; Scotty Shoemaker, 54, formerly of Muncy, died Feb. 27; J. Ruth Shook, 98, Muncy, died March 1; Leidy E. Ruth, 86, Hughesville, died Tuesday.