MCC_062222 by Engle Printing & Publishing Co., Inc

Morgantown/Honey Brook townlively.com

JUNE 22, 2022

SERVING THE LOCAL COMMUNITIES SINCE 1954

VOL XXX • NO 20

Look Inside

Elverson To Host Day In The Park BY FRANCINE FULTON

Elverson Day in the Park, featuring children’s games, music and food, will take place on Saturday, June 25, at Livingood Park on South Chestnut Street in Elverson. Events will begin at 5 p.m. and end with a giant firework display at approximately 9 p.m. The rain date is Sunday, June 26.

Elverson Day in the Park is always held on the last Saturday in June, according to Esther Prosser, a member of the Elverson Day Committee. “New this year is that we are selling Elverson T-shirts. There will be child and adult sizes available,” said Prosser. “It’s our way of promoting Elverson.” The T-shirts, available in green and tan, bear Elverson’s nickname, “The Greatest Square Mile.” See Elverson Day p 2

Frank Weaver and his combine

Re-enactment To Depict 50-Year-Old Water Rescue BY FRANCINE FULTON

water rescue that occurred 50 years ago during Hurricane Agnes will be re-enacted during a special event at Historic Poole Forge on Saturday, June 25, at 3 p.m. Dawn Ekdahl, executive director, explained that during the historic flood in 1972, the Conestoga River overflowed its banks, flooding the Poole Forge grounds and eventually taking out the Route 23 bridge. “The re-enactment will tell the story of Maggie (McDowell), the tenant in the West Tenant House,” Eckdahl said, noting that Maggie was saved by climbing onto the combine of a neighbor, Frank Weaver. Weaver will bring his 1967 Massey Ferguson combine to the event, and Ekdahl will play the role of Maggie. A narrator will explain how the story unfolded.

They first situated Maggie in a boat, but it was overturned, dumping her and two firemen into the water. “They managed to get her to a tree and tied her to the tree,” the history stated. “Then they ran a rope from the tree back to the window that they had left from and finally got her back into the house. (Anna) got (Maggie) into dry clothes and covered her with blankets.” W hen Weaver heard about what happened, he drove his combine to rescue the women, who used a series of wooden planks to walk onto the giant tractor. “With several firemen and Maggie on board, we carefully and slowly drove the combine back through the flood waters to the highway to a waiting crowd of relieved neighbors and friends,” Weaver wrote, noting that the firemen, Anna and two dogs were also eventually rescued.

Each year on the summer solstice, the day with the most light, thousands of Alzheimer’s Association supporters worldwide participate in the Longest Day event, which is designed to “fight the darkness” of Alzheimer’s disease through a fundraising activity of participants’ choice.

See Poole Forge pg 5

See Square Dance pg 8

Elverson T-shirts will be sold during Elverson Day in the Park.

Community Invited To Do-Si-Do For A Good Cause

INSIDE THIS ISSUE Community Calendar . . . .3 House Of Worship . . . . . . .5 Twin Valley Celebrates Graduation . . . . . . . . . . . .6 Classifieds . . . . . . . . . . . .9

BY FRANCINE FULTON

IN NEED OF FURNITURE TODAY?

Meet Suzie: Available For Adoption . . .12

scan this code for more local news

Over 100 In Stock ®

Recliners!

WE HAVE IT! Find in-stock loveseats, sofas, recliners, mattresses & more!

1717 West Main St. (2 miles west of Ephrata on Route 322)

717-721-3139

www.martinfurniturepa.com

R085286

EPHRATA EPHRAT EP ATA A PRSRT STD ECRWSS U.S. Postage Paid Engle Printing Co

POSTMASTER: PLEASE DELIVER JUN. 22, 2022

Postal Patron

MCC

“The woman was rescued from the building, which is now my office, so I will be coming out the window and onto the combine as part of the re-enactment,” Ekdahl said, adding, “The combine is not the exact one but very similar. (Weaver) sold the original some years back.” Weaver recorded the story of the rescue in a handwritten document. In the history, he stated, “At Poole Forge, where Route 23 crosses over the Conestoga, is the site of the Poole Forge Mansion. It’s on high ground but the West Tenant House where 80-year-old Maggie McDowell lived - that was on lower ground.” Weaver explained that the water continued to rise, and Maggie and her maid, Anna Martin, retreated to the second floor. Then, the Carnarvon Fire Company was called to save them. “Several firemen waded through chest-deep water, fastening a 1-inch safety rope along the fence posts as they went,” Weaver wrote.

MCC_062222

Articles inside

House Of Worship