Garden Spot townlively.com
FEBRUARY 7, 2024
SERVING THE LOCAL COMMUNITIES SINCE 1954
VOL LX • NO 7
Lancaster’s own boxing legend Presentation to focus on “The Lancaster Thunderbolt” BY ANN MEAD ASH
C
o r y Va n B r o o k h o v e n , president of the Lititz Historical Foundation, is known for his writings, including his book on Warwick Township. In 2006, Van Brookhoven was signing copies of his book at an event in Manheim when he met Joe Hauck. Joe’s father, Leo Houck, had been a boxer, known as “The Lancaster Thunderbolt,” who grew up in the Cabbage Hill area. During Leo’s career, which lasted from 1904 to 1926, he was never knocked out. Van Brookhoven and Joe struck up a friendship. “Both having an interest in local history …we would get together for coffee or lunch and talk about Leo,” recalled Van Brookhoven. “These meetings were a gateway for me in learning just how important Leo was in sports history.” Van Brookhoven will share his knowledge of the fighter when
he presents “ T he L ancaster Thunderbolt - The Story of Leo Houck Champion Boxer” at the New Holland Area Historical Society (NHAHS) meeting on Thursday, Feb. 15, at 7 p.m. in the chapel at Garden Spot Village, 433 S. Kinzer Ave., New Holland. Van Brookhoven’s friendship with Joe led him to begin collecting news articles, photographs, and memorabilia related to Leo’s life. “Joe and I spent many hours at LancasterHistory’s archives,” reported Van Brookhoven, noting that the pair looked at countless photos and articles collected by Leo’s brother and boxing historian Johnny. “In 2018, Joe and I met a man named Randy Swope who wanted to write a book on Leo,” Van Brookhoven stated. “We met with Randy on many occasions and provided him with our resources.” When Swope published his book in 2019, Van Brookhoven was surprised to be given an acknowledgement. Known for his knowledge See NHAHS pg 4
Cory Van Brookhoven
Free clothing for all
Tapping into our roots Nate Deen to speak at CrossNet banquet BY ANN MEAD ASH
“We want to push the virtual option,” said Carl Edwards, CrossNet Ministries director of development, of the annual banquet scheduled for Tuesday, March 26, at Shady Maple Banquet Center, 129 Toddy Drive, East Earl. The live event is sold out with nearly 900 guests to be seated at the event, but Edwards encourages those who are interested in hearing Nate Deen and updates on the work of the ministry to host a watch party at their home,
business, or church. “Support a local restaurant by ordering dinner in that night,” stated Edwards, who noted that a guest packet will be provided. “Those who are watching virtually will have all the materials and favors those at the tables (at Shady) have,” he explained. Nate, who was taken in by wellknown Garden Spot High School teacher and drama club founder Stan Deen as a teenager, will share the story that inspired the film “Brave the Dark.” Born Nate Busko, the New Holland native
See Pine Grove Church pg 2 community.
See CrossNet Ministries pg 2
sale ends FEB 10
football frenzy and
R103655
(( )) 20 24 NEW FLOORS martinsflooring.com 717.445.7799
SAVE STOREWIDE ON HARDWOOD, CARPET LUXURY VINYL, TILE & WINDOW TREATMENTS*
UP TO
As Pine Grove Church prepares for its seventh clothing giveaway, Jaiden Brandt, associate pastor of ministries, reflected on the origins of the event. “This started with two mothers who attend church here,” he recalled, adding that one was a mother of four and the other a mother of six. “They had a lot of clothing to pass on for reuse, and they opened the great room up and brought clothing for people to exchange.” “It grew and grew,” said Brandt of the event, now called the Pine Grove Clothing Closet, which Pine Grove Church will hold its seventh clothing giveaway for the
POSTMASTER: PLEASE DELIVER FEB. 7, 2024
PRSRT STD ECRWSS U.S. Postage Paid Engle Printing Co
Postal Patron
GDN
BY ANN MEAD ASH
Leo “The Lancaster Thunderbolt” Houck
20 SALE %
OFF
OR ZERO INTEREST IF PAID IN FULL WITHIN 12 MONTHS* * See store for sale details.