Philipsburg Osceola Area High School - Mountaineer Yearbook (Philipsburg, PA)

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Our Community On Parade FRANCE Non-SPALL Or Hman GRA

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Introduction During the summer of 1947 Philipsburg proudly celebrated the one hundred fiftieth anniversary of its founding. lt is, therefore, appropriate for the 1948 Mountaineer to dedicate this issue to those sturdy pioneers by whose courage, perseverance, and industry a firm foundation for civic progress was laid, as well as to those citizens of later days who have continued on in the same tradition to make Philipsburg a town to be proud of. Though Philipsburg must accept the label small town at least, if popula- tion alone is considered, she has an imposing array of firsts to her credit and an enviable record of achievements. ln 1797 Philipsburg was founded by Henry, James, and Hardman Philips, who purchased the land on which it is situated through public auction on the streets of Philadelphia for a price of approximately two cents an acre. Since Hardman Philips wished to develop the community into a manufacturing city, he built not only a dam onthe Moshannon Creek, a foundry, a grist mill, and a saw mill, but also the first screw factory in the United States. ln the year 1878 Philipsburg was the scene of another first -this time in medical history. At that time Dr. J. C. Richards and Dr. John D. McGirk per- formed what was probably the first appendicitis operation. Another impressive distinction which Philipsburg possesses is that of being the first town in the United States to have arc lights in its streets, and in 1881 St. Paul's Episcopal Church of Philipsburg was the first church in the world to be lighted by electricity. Philipsburg is iustly proud of the accomplishments of the long line of civic- minded individuals who are responsible for its development, and the Sesqui- Centennial Celebration, which was held from June 20 to 25, 1947, honored their memory. The activities of the week included community worship, band concerts, parades of many sorts, an historical pageant, fireworks, dances, and many other educational and entertaining features. The students of Philipsburg High School proudly dedicate the 1948 Moun- taineer to commemorate the heritage of the past and themselves to the continued development and progress of Philipsburg. 4

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Dedication T is with a keen sense of appreciation ot your ettorts in our behalt that we, the members ot the class ot Nineteen hun- dred and forty-eight, dedicate our Annual, The Mountaineer, to the townspeople, philanthropic organizations, and service clubs ot Philipsburg. You have shown your interest in our school and its activi- ties by your generous contributions and untiring efforts in our behalf. For this we are grateful. We are indebted to you, also, for our town which you have helped to establish. Its one hundred and titty years of development has been remarkable. We realize this more fully because of the way in which you have so nobly honored the founding fathers of Philipsburg in the recent Sesqui Cen- tennial celebration. lt is our hope that our 1948 Mountaineer will serve as a pleasant reminder ot that recent event and that we will be able to visualize in words and pictures some ot the highlights of that celebration. Again may we say, thank you, and it is our sincere hope that we may continue to work together in the future, not only forthe betterment ot our school but in a broader sense for our community. 6