Letter from Betty F. Victory, Church Historian bvictory@epix.net Dear Friends: Just a brief note to tell you about "ST. GABRIEL'S HOMECOMING" plans thus far. Some of you have already asked and, as time goes by so quickly, I thought I had better tell you about things here. First, the Homecoming Church Service is scheduled for Sunday, July 16, 2000, at 11:00 a.m. We expect the Reverend Joseph W. HESS to assist with the service as he did last year. Light refreshments will be served on the church lawn following the service. Also, the old church bell has been to McShane Foundry in Maryland for restoration, thanks to a grant from the Kaplan Fund secured by Brad COLE. Franklin NEWHART, keeper of the bell, transported the bell both to and from the Foundry in Maryland, brining it back just last week. Franklin and his son have removed two old trees in front of the church in preparation for construction and erecting a proper support for the restored bell. They plan to have everything ready for rededication at the Sunday service. Everything points to a very exciting day! Since some of you told me there was not enough time last year for exchanging genealogy information on Sunday, I have asked permission to use the Sugarloaf School Memorial Building (located about five miles north of St. Gabriel's Church) on SATURDAY AFTERNOON, JULY 15, 2000, FROM 2:00 - 5:00 p.m. There are plenty of long tables there to spread out your papers, notebooks, etc., and there is also an indoor restroom. * As for overnight accommodations near the church, there are: RED POPPY BED & BREAKFAST Rte. 487 north of Benton, PA (570) 925-5823 [near the Mill Race Golf Course, which also has a restaurant] FISHINGCREEK BED & BREAKFAST Village of Central, PA (570) 925-5991 [Also has a Bake Shop & small grocery store] CENTRAL PARK HOTEL Village of Central, PA (570) 925-6650 [Also has a restaurant] JAMISON CITY HOTEL Jamison City, PA (570) 925-5084 [Also has a restaurant] BRASS PELICAN RESTAURANT Elk Grove, PA [Noted for its old-fashioned sour dough buckwheat cakes] ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ NOTE FROM PALE ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ For campers, there are also several campgrounds nearby. See Section after Betty FRITZ's letter. For other information, contact the COLUMBIA-MONTOUR TOURIST PROMOTION AGENCY, INC. at 121 Papermill Road, Bloomsburg, PA 17815; (570) 784-8279. This is located at the Denny's Restaurant just outside of Bloomsburg, near the Bloomsburg University grounds. Also, not far from the church between Cole's Creek & Benton, on the same road as the church and open on Saturdays & Sundays is a small pizza place (across from Ed Cole's Barber Shop) - I believe it's called "Valley Pizza." There are also several very small caf‚-type restaurants and ice cream places in Benton, itself, but I am not familiar with what days and hours they are open. If you bring your own cooler, the lovely Benton Park at the water dam in Benton has rest rooms and many picnic pavilions scattered throughout the trees. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ End PALE Note ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Homecoming, Page 2, Betty Victory: If I recall, some of you stayed in Bloomsburg last year. There are several places to stay just off of Interstate 80 ("I-80"): * At I-80, Exit 34, "Buckhorn," where the Columbia Mall is located - ECONO LODGE 189 Columbia Mall Drive Bloomsburg, PA 17815 (570) 387-0490 bloomsburgeconolodge.com THE INN AT BUCKHORN 5 Buckhorn Road Bloomsburg, PA 17815 (570) 784-5300 Some restaurants near the above: Perkins, Burger King, Wendy's, Cracker Barrel, Western Sizzlin' Steak House, & Kentucky Fried Chicken [Also . . . inside the mall are: McDonald's, Arby's, a pizza place, & Hollywood Brew PALE] * At I-80, Exit 35, "Lightstreet," slightly closer to Bloomsburg - THE INN AT TURKEY HILL 991 Central Road Bloomsburg, PA 17815 (570) 387-1500 www.innatturkeyhill.com [slightly more up-scale than some motels; Restaurant; Reservations required; Denny's Restaurant is also nearby with the COLUMBIA-MONTOUR TOURIST AGENCY on the same premises] * At I-80, Exit 36 S, on Rte. 11 [Route 11 is the business/fast food strip between Bloomsburg & Berwick] - BUDGET HOST - PATRIOT INN Route 11, South Bloomsburg, PA 17815 (570) 387-1776; 1-800-873-1180 [Restaurant on-premises - "Captain Jack's;" also close to many fast food restaurants] * Route 11, just south of Bloomsburg - TENNYTOWN MOTEL Route 11/New Berwick Highway (570) 784-1812 [very small, but smack in the middle of all sorts of fast foods, Wal-Mart, Grocery Stores, etc. - PALE] * In the town of Bloomsburg, PA - MAGEE'S HOTEL ON MAIN STREET 20 West Main Street Bloomsburg, PA 17815 (570) 784-3200] [Historic hotel with coffee shop, outside dining, & restaurant] You may be interested to know that the WALLER METHODIST CHURCH, Waller, PA, is having their annual Church Festival on Saturday evening, July 15, 2000, beginning at 4:00 p.m. I think some of you were there last year and also visited the Waller Cemetery. Regarding St. Gabriel's Cemetery, Brad COLE has arranged to have some much-needed restoration work done on the Old Section directly behind the church. St. Gabriel's congregation has approved putting in a deep well pump with an outside faucet so that there will be water available for the cement work. That's all for now - - see you in July. Please pass this info along to anyone interested. ~~~~~~~~~~~~ END LETTER ~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Additional info from PALE: If you plan to stay in the area for a while and are bringing your family along, you may want to check with the Columbia-Montour County Tourist Agency for local activities - - 121 Papermill Road, Bloomsburg, PA 17815; (570) 784-8279. This is located at the Denny's Restaurant just outside of Bloomsburg, near the Bloomsburg University grounds. Please note that I am putting this information here for your convenience, I am neither connected with nor do I personally endorse any of the following; I have not been to all of these places, so I cannot personally vouch for all of them. PLEASE DO NOT CONTACT ME FOR ADDITIONAL INFO ON THE FOLLOWING; this is all I know!!! CAMPING: * The closest is located at the MILL RACE GOLF & CAMPING RESORT just down the road from the church. R.R. 2, Box 81B, Benton, PA 17814; (570) 925-2686 / (570) 925-2040. * GRASSMERE PARK CAMPGROUND, Fred & Jane HESS, RR 2, Box 170-AA, Benton, PA 17814; (570) 925-6655. "Recreational campground, tents, campers, cottages, fishing & reunions. A family run business for 79 years." * ACORN ACRES CAMPGROUND RR 3, Box 113, Benton, PA 17814; (570) 925-2526. "Campground with full hook-ups, trailers or tent sites. Campers and trailers for rent. Camp store, snack bar, arcade, basketball & volley ball courts, stocked fishing ponds." * DEIHL'S CAMPING RESORT RR 4, Box 318, Bloomsburg, PA 17815; (570) 683-5212. "Full-service campground with an excellent view." * INDIAN HEAD CAMPGROUND 340 Reading Street, Bloomsburg, PA 17815; (570) 784-6150. "Shady, grassy, level sites; river and creek access; near I-80." * KNOEBELS CAMPGROUND PO Box 317, Elysburg, PA 17824. (570) 672-9555. "550 sites adjacent to PA's largest free admission amusement park." [SEE ALSO BELOW] * TURNER'S HIGH VIEW CAMPING AREA RR 4, Box 92, Bloomsburg, PA 17815; (570) 784-6940. "Come share our magnificent view, beautiful campsites, peaceful and quiet, reasonable rates." * RICKETTS GLEN STATE PARK RR 2, Box 130, Benton, PA 17814; (570) 477-5675; 1-888-PA PARKS AMUSEMENTS: * Both kids and adults love KNOEBELS GROVE which is a short driving time from the Bloomsburg area. Admission & Parking are FREE - - you only pay for ride tickets. And yes, the "K" is pronounced . . . as in "Kan OH bulls." As of May 20, 2000, they are open daily 11:00 a.m. to 10:00 p.m. Pets leashed and under control are allowed on the grounds. Many, many food stands are in the park with shaded benches and tables. Parking in the grass under the trees is available for RVs and vehicles with pets, and picnic pavilions & campgrounds [SEE ABOVE] are on-site (but definitely call ahead for campground reservations!). Knoebels was voted by an international group to have some of the best Roller Coaster rides! Free entertainment at the bandshell. Don't miss the antique carousel! They also have an Olympic-sized public pool, their own special-sized open scenic train (accommodates both adults and children), and a small stream with fish running through the park. Call Park Office (570) 672-2572; Camp Office (570) 672- 9555; or 1-800-487-4386 for more information. * ALLEY OOP'S STABLES advertises "Country Trail Riding at its best in scenic Pennsylvania. Contact ALLEY OOP'S STABLES, R.R. 4, Box 307, Bloomsburg, PA 17815; (570) 458-5992. * THE BENTON AREA RODEO ASSOCIATION, PO Box 288, Benton, PA 17814 - - had several events in 1999. The High School Rodeo Association Finals Rodeo was held June 11th & 12th, 1999. The Annual Frontier Days Celebration & American Professional Rodeo Association Championship Rodeo & the Bill-A-Rama was held July 13 - 18, 1999. The Annual Pennsylvania High School Rodeo Association Rodeo was held September 11 & 12, 1999. "Championship rodeo, bull-a-rama, fireworks, entertainment, food, business and crafts, primitive camping." Numbers for more information as listed on the 1999 pamphlet were: (570) 458-5131 or (570) 925-6536 for answering machine. Their website is listed as www.valleyoutlook.com OR, contact the Columbia-Montour Tourist Agency at (570) 784-8279 [see above]. * BLOOMSBURG THEATRE ENSEMBLE, 226 Center Street, Bloomsburg, PA 17815; (570) 784-8181. "Celebrating 21 years of live, professional theater in downtown Bloomsburg." * PIONEER TUNNEL COAL MINE, 19th & Oak Streets, Ashland, PA 17921; (570) 875-3850. "Tour a real anthracite coal mine and take a ride on an old-fashioned steam locomotive." www.easternpa.com/pioneertunnel * NUMIDIA RACEWAY, Rte. 42, Numidia, PA 17858; Track: (570) 799-0480; Office: (717) 834-9291 [sic]. "1/4 Mile drag racing. You too can feel the rush of excitement and the thrust of acceleration in your personal street car." * ANTIQUES - - too many to list! Contact the Columbia-Montour Tourist Agency and ask local people. * The BLOOMSBURG FAIR is held every year during the end of September/beginning of October. Also holds other events throughout the year. For exact dates & events, contact the * BLOOMSBURG FAIR ASSOCIATION, P.O. Box 479, Bloomsburg, PA 17815; (570) 784- 4949. "25th largest fair in the United States." OTHER SPECIAL EVENTS IN AREA: * Contact the COLUMBIA-MONTOUR COUNTY TOURIST AGENCY for other local activities - - 121 Papermill Road, Bloomsburg, PA 17815; (570) 784-8279, including Danville Iron Heritage Festival; Berwick, Bloomsburg, & Danville street fairs; Covered Bridge & Arts Festival; Christmas Boulevard in Berwick; First Night Bloomsburg (New Year's); etc. RESEARCHING IN AREA: * Columbia County Historical Society, 225 Market Street, PO Box 360, Bloomsburg, PA. "Open Tuesday and Friday 9 a.m. to 3 p.m., Thursday 9 a.m. to 7:30 p.m., Saturday 9 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Closed Wednesday. For information, call 784-1600 or after hours 759-2968." * Berwick Historical Society, 102 East Second Street, Berwick, PA. "Open Tuesday and Wednesday from 2 to 4:30 p.m. and Saturday from 1 to 4 p.m. or by appointment. For more information, call William Golder at 387-0350." * Montour County Historical Society, Bloom and Mill Streets, Danville, PA. "For appointment call Ernie Bower at 275-0228 or Dorothy Hackenberg at 275-2953." * Bloomsburg University, offices at 400 East Second Street, Bloomsburg, PA 17815. Census and old newspapers on microfilm. Students have first use of available machines. Open some hours Saturdays and Sundays - - varies according to time of year. Call for hours (570) 389-4043. *** END ***