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.

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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.

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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