Colleen Townsend Continued from page 6 in town, the surprise announcement by Miss Townsend that she was quitting Hollywood money for a new career in Christian service, and the West Virginia feud made the world take notice about Punxsutawney. In the midst of it all, local organizers continued planning for Miss Townsend’s visit by providing daily announcements of events and special honors for her. West Mahoning would be named “Townsend Boulevard” for her weekend visit. She would be presented a “Key to the City.” The Punxsutawney Groundhog Club would name her “Miss Weather Prophet of 1950” and present her with a plaster statue of Punxsutawney’s groundhog that had become a popular souvenir item during Punxsutawney’s Centennial celebration in 1949. The young Colleen would leave her Los Angeles home in sunny California on Groundhog Day for a flight to Pittsburgh where she would do two radio broadcasts and a press reception. With 20th CenturyFox and Warner Brothers representatives, she would be driven to Punxsutawney the morning of February 4. She was met on Route 119 at the PA Route 210 intersection by a group of members of the State Police and Battery B of the Pennsylvania National Guard for a motorized escort into town in a jeep. Waiting her was a parade through town in a new Cadillac and a whirlwind of activity and appearances. There was the large group of newsmen, print photographers and movie cameras at the press conference at the Hotel Punxsutawney; the luncheons and dinners at the Country Club, the appearances at the Alpine and Jefferson Theatres where the “When Willie Comes Marching Home” movie was to be given simultaneously, its first showing, and the ceremonies to present her the town’s special honors. With the premiere of the movie behind her, Sunday February 5 would be her most important day of the 2-day visit. It would be the invitation by Rev. Humke of Punxsutawney’s First Presbyterian Church that would provide her two appearances before Punxsutawney people at the church on Union Street and South Findley Street, a 9:30 a.m. service followed by the regular 11 a.m. service. In those moments, she gave more details about her decision to walk away from a life as a movie starlit and begin a new career. She began to appear in movies in 1944, signed a contract with 20th Century-Fox in
1947, and was carefully being groomed and packaged to be a “star” as the subject of a cover story for LIFE magazine in 1948. At the same time she was also active in church work and became convicted to transform people’s lives (especially young people) “through Christ.” And it was not a sudden decision, she admitted. Some news people, who were in Punxsutawney for the weekend, were asking an interesting question. Considering that Colleen Townsend wasn’t going to renew her contract with 20th Century-Fox, why was the movie-world making so much to do about her appearance in the little town of Punxsutawney and in the Presbyterian Church. Wasn’t she going to be “past history” to the Hollywood crowd? Days later, an obvious answer was offered by the editor of Punxsutawney Spirit: “At this moment Hollywood is suffering from an over blight of illicit romances ... and what better antidote than a clean, sweet youngster of the Colleen Townsend type prepared to leave the glamour and glitter of movie stardom for more serious things.” (Anyone remember Rita Hayworth, Ingrid Bergman and Roberto Rossellini then?) After her Punxsutawney visit Miss Townsend returned to Hollywood and met and married Louis Evans. She and her husband left Hollywood to become students at a California seminary. The couple returned to Hollywood with the Rev. Evans as pastor of the First Presbyterian Church there. When she became associated with Billy Graham she was billed as Colleen Evans when she appeared in films for Graham’s evangelistic association. She has authored many books. Rev. Dr. Evans died in October 2008. Colleen Townsend Evans, the former actress, a pastor’s wife and author, celebrated her 82nd birthday in December 2010. The movie cameras rolled and the camera lights flashed to cover the action and tell her story around the world. It was a busy weekend. Among those of the news corps assigned to interview Miss Townsend was the Associated Press writer Elaine Kahn of Pittsburgh. Miss Kahn would later become Mrs. Sam Light. With her husband as president of the Punxsutawney Groundhog Club and her writing skills, the two would become a publicity team to promote Punxsutawney and Groundhog Day in imaginative ways. The Groundhog Day of 1950 and the weekend with Colleen Townsend was a big moment in Punxsutawney history. The media war for Punxsutawney’s authenticity as “Groundhog Town” was beginning and would eventually be won. •••
punxsutawney area community center • Movies weekly at the Jackson Theater • community Fitness center • Gymnastics, Fitness classes, cycling, Dance, aerobics • Facility rentals for Meetings or parties 220 n. Jefferson St. • 938-1008
Amish Quilt & Craft
AUCTION TUESDAY, FEB. 1, 2011 l
6:00 p.m.
Happy Groundhog Day
“One-Stop, On-Line Resource”
• employment services • training resources ` ` • resume assistance • Job search Workshops • Labor market info • applicant screening An equal opportunity employer/program; auxiliary aids and services are available upon request to individual with disabilities
United Methodist Church on 201 Woodland Ave., Punxsutawney
Including Amish Quilts and Crafts from Amish Communities throughout the U.S. individual items can be previewed on day of sale beginning at 5:00 p.m. or online at www.auctionzip.com
A FREE quilt will be given away at end of auction
(a buyers ticket is needed & winner must be present to win)
noah yoder
www.cwds.state.pa.us 602 East Mahoning St., Punx’y Monday-Friday 8 a.m. - 4 p.m.
PA Auctioneer Lic.
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(814) 938-0504
814-427-2243 TERMS: Cash • PA Check Visa, MasterCard, Discover American Express
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We have a full line of monu ments, decorati ve stone s, benches and more!
R.D. Brown Memorials 314 n. Findley street • Punxsutawney • 938-2100
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25 off any temporary container when you mention this ad.
Wishing Everyone Happy Groundhog Day!
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A&L Auto Sales - 923 N. Main St. • 938-6780 The Auto Lender - 925 N. Main St. • 938-3124
www.alautosales.com
Punxsutawney Hometown – February 2011 - Issue #124 – 19