Potter County

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It's been raining most all of today again... and the water in the flood channel is fast and furious as it moves along. Alot of the trees are beginning to lose their leaves... what with the rain and the wind. And tomorrow starts the long weekend featuring the "Falling Leaves Festival" here in Potter County.

I am beginning to fear that I won't get all of the things done that I would like to do... before heading back to Albuquerque. Part of it has been my own procrastination on things (why do I do this?!)... part of it has been due to the way paperwork moves within government systems. I have been inordinately tired this trip... and some days it seems all I can do is get out of bed... muddle through a couple of things... and the next thing you know... it's 2am.

I don't have a deadline (per se) of when I need to be back in Albuquerque... but I miss my family... and I have a granddaughter due to be born somewhere around the 11th of October. And so... I need to "get it in gear"... and get things done.

One thing I have accomplished on this trip though... is that I have made it a point to go on a drive... even a short one... each and every day. Because of these drives... I have really enjoyed the changing of the seasons... and the beauty of nature that is all around us. Even on rainy days such as today... I was able to get photos that will continue to remind me of the wonders of nature... and the beauty to be had in the everyday.


*photos by Elaine A. Russell

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(photos by Elaine A. Russell)

One of the most prominent buildings in town is the Courthouse. Coudersport happens to be the county seat for Potter County, and so lots of proceedings take place inside it's fine walls. It was built in 1851-53 by contractor William Bell of Warren and carpenter Eli Rees, at a cost of about $17,000. And it was listed in the National Register of Historic Places in the 1970's.


"Alterations were made in 1888-89, including relocation of the courtroom from the first floor to the second. Contractor was Home Hall of Olean, N.Y., who also built the Coudersport Consistory.
During the winter of 1933-45, through the Civil Works Administration, Potter County was able to renovate the courthouse. The basement was excavated for establishment of additional office space. Concrete footing was placed under the old walls. The entire interior and exterior were repainted and modern conveniences were added.
A cupola clock keeps time for the town. It was a gift of Henry Hatch Dent.
A courthouse bell was donated by the Hon. Timothy Ives.
Atop the clock tower is a statue of justice."



The original statue is one of only 5 statues of Lady Justice where she is depicted with her eyes wide open. The statue was ordered from Humphrey and Jones of Jamestown, NY; and was placed atop the courthouse on October 25, 1888. She stands 12 feet tall, and is carved in a Greco-Roman neoclassical style. "The statue was carved from a block of wood and overlaid with handcrafted zinc panels by a process of 'tin knocking', which the hammering of the metal into the carved sections of a tree trunk." She is overlaid with gold plating ... and is adorned with an olive branch crown.

The original statue now takes an honored position inside; and a few years ago a replica was cast and placed atop of the building where she once stood. This new replica will withstand the weather much better than the original, who had a grand restoration about 10yrs ago.


Amongst the relics found during her restoration, was an antique pin... which was later reproduced and sold to help fund the restoration of the statue. The photos here, depict the original statue and the general architecture of the building.



For more info look at these links:

Living Places info...
Visit Potter County website
Coudersport Info on Wiki
and more quotes and info from this site here

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On main street here in Coudersport, is the Potter County Historical Society. I believe the building itself was one of the few to survive the massive fire of 1880... when most of the town's buildings were completely burned down. Later, I am told it was a school.... and when I was a kid... it was the library.
Now... it is the Historical Society... and it houses a wonderful collection of books, dishes, war memorabilia, local made furniture and glass, and so much more. There is a significant library in the one section of the building... that is available to the public for genealogical research. The volunteers that work there are incredibly knowledgeable... it is amazing, really. The curator is Mr. Robert Currin, who, when I went to school... was my 7th grade history teacher. He later became the principal of the high school. Since "retiring"... he has devoted his extensive talents and time to the betterment of the town and county by organizing and expanding all that is the Historical Society today. (link to the Potter County Historical Society website: here)



Last summer.... through the efforts of several townsfolk ( including Robert Leete -- who graduated a year before me in school)... discovered and restored the Mann Fountain.
The Mann Memorial fountain was originally erected in 1903, in front of the Mann House, at the site of what is now the Post Office. After restoration, it was installed and dedicated in front of the Historical Society.


When I was a kid... I really didn't like studying history all that much. However, I started visiting older people in town at a young age... and did some cleaning, errands and such for them on a weekly basis. Because alot of the people I visited were quite elderly, they would recount to me many stories of what life was like when they were younger. Through them... history became a living and interesting thing... not something in dusty books where I had to memorize meaningless dates and places.
Over the years.... I have continued to study various subjects on my own... and I have tried to pass on a thirst for learning to my kids.
~~~

Tonight... much to my amazement... my dad was discharged from the hospital. I do not think he is ready to be home. I was more than a little frustrated by several personnel at the hospital... who called the house no less than 5 times today... saying he was discharged... no he wasn't .... well... maybe he would be.... if the doctor comes in... etc. It was insane.
He was discharged at 8:30pm.
Just last night, he was still taking IV morphine for pain control... and I don't see how he is going to be OK without it. After all... it's not like the cause of pain.. or the extent of the pain has miraculously changed or gone away.
But home he is. And I know that he is very glad to be home....so that is fine...and we will figure it all out.
~~~
And in other news... I have managed to hurt my back. I have herniated discs in my lower back about 4 times in the past... and it feels as if I have done it again. I was trying to clean and organize some things around the house... including moving a desk to my parent's bedroom so that my father wouldn't have to navigate going to the basement to work on things.
It is very painful... but it was more than worth it to see how happy my dad was when he got home and saw that he now has a little office area in the bedroom...


*all photos by Elaine A. Russell

news from Potter County



photos by Elaine A. Russell

I think that I have been here about 10 days now --- not including travel time.
It has rained every single day. Today.. it has been an all day affair.
I mention this because Sabrina is spoiled by the lack of rain in ABQ, and doesn't think she can go outside if it is wet... she just doesn't like to get her paws wet I guess. She has been "holding it" all day.. and I think she is going to have to give up pretty soon.

The birds don't mind the rain. So far today we have seen robins, cardinals, finches, swallows, an evening grossbeak, an indigo bunting, a rose breasted grossbeak, some nuthatches, and lots of hummingbirds. We certainly don't get this kind of variety in ABQ.

We just fed some crackers to some wild ducks that came into the yard.. they were stunning. There were 3 female mallards.. and one had some gorgeous blue markings on her feathers. I took some photos, but I don't have much of a zoom lens, so none of them are very close. Someday I will have a better camera and lenses. Someday.

In other news.. I have been helping my dad gather and wrap tons of change he had stashed about the house. Not sure what he was saving it all for... but we made an impressive deposit into his checking account. We also cashed in some bonds he had. In the next few days, he wants me to help him shop for a new microwave and a new dishwasher for the house. They have lived in this house for about 10yrs, and have never had a dishwasher, and the microwave died awhile ago.. so I guess it's about time.
I am also going to be helping him look for a new car... that is... a second hand car in good shape. Their current car is about 10yrs old, and was recently hit by another driver; so he wants to trade it in.
Today we went and bought a brand new mattress, boxspring, and frame set for my brother.

So -- doing a few errands.

Tonight I am going to head on down to the Hotel Crittenden, where both my neice and my nephew are playing pool. They will actually be playing against each other in differnt leagues... so I will have to root for both somehow. Should be fun.