Dam for Tracie.Indd

The Dam Show 2 0 0 7 AUSTIN DAM MEMORIAL PARK Two Miles North of Austin (Pa) on Route 872 3 BIG DAYS • JULY 20, 21, 22 FRIDAY 6 - 11 P.M. • SATURDAY 2 - 11 P.M. • SUNDAY 2 - 6 P.M. Dedication That published poem was written in defense of men at the time when the women’s liberation movement was just underway. Unfortunately many of her writings were lost on their way to New York City “She taught us about life and where they were to be published as a book. The family remembers pieces about now she has taught us about being a housewife, raising three daughters, grandchildren, changing with age, lo- death and how to face it.” cal history narratives and many pieces of poetry. Vicki Ripple, Daughter But the family has discovered a second gem – a notebook where Dixie faith- fully collected pieces of information. Whenever family members told stories she “She was an inspiration, a spark would promptly record them in her notebook. Among the pieces are memories of and a godsend for helping me the aftermath of the dam breaking told by her Grandmother Thelma Stuckey, a understand the workings of nine-year-old at the time of the disaster. There are stories about encounters with the Dam Association.” panthers and funny stories from six-foot seven-inch Uncle Avery Ripple. Tracie Gordnier, ADMA President Dixie had many interests. And she spent a good deal of time doing research. What she didn’t know she was driven to fi nd. The Internet boosted her ability to Dam Show 2007 is dedicated to the mem- uncover information. ory of Dixie Ripple, a mother, a gifted writer, a She was a painter who favored pastels, at one time owned an antique shop, Dixie Ripple community servant and a founding member of and loved to read. She had worked on the election board and served as an audi- 1941 - 2007 the Austin Dam Memorial Association. She died tor for Portage Township. She was a member and past worthy matron of Mecca at her home in Costello on April 13, 2007 with her family at her side. Chapter #217 Order of Eastern Star of Austin. She was also a former member of Dixie and her husband Bill were among a handful of volunteers who put their the Austin Area School Board. names and checkbooks on the line by signing a bank note for purchase of the One of her most important characteristics was being a caring, good friend dam property from International Paper Company in 1990. They had successfully and confi dante. She was a good listener and someone easy to talk with. Smiles worked to have the heritage property listed on the National Register of Historic came easily to Dixie. People trusted her as someone with whom they could share Places in 1989. In 1992 they launched the Austin Dam Memorial Association as an information and get valuable advice. And she was the contact point for distribut- offi cial, nonprofi t, public corporation. (The other founding members of the Austin ing family information. She will be missed as the person to be counted on to keep Memorial Dam Association included Jack Cooney, Bob Cooney, Mina Cooney, Anita family information fl owing. Owens, Don Young and Howard and Dottie Bajor.) Dixie is survived by her husband and three daughters, Rhonda Valenti and She began life as Dixie Lee Stuckey. The name Dixie Lee had nothing to do Laurel Ripple, both of Austin; Vicki Roberts of South Byron, N.Y., fi ve grandchil- with the south. It was the name of Bing Crosby’s wife. She had a great sense of dren, two brothers, three sisters and many nieces and nephews. humor and was loaded with life! And she loved to play poker. “When I was court- Dixie had accepted an invitation to read her poem about the dam as last ing her,” Bill Ripple said, “I went to her house and there were all six kids and her year’s Dam Show but she was sidelined by her cancer treatments. She and her dad playing penny-ante poker.” husband watched their daughter Vicki read the poem from the main stage, one of Among Dixie’s writings is a poem that the most poignant moments of last year’s Dam Show. carries a message for the community of Aus- In the history of Dixie’s cancer battle, things improved before taking a sharp tin. It speaks to the tragedy of the Austin Dam downturn in the spring of this year. There Disaster of 1911 that killed 78 people. But the was a hope that she would be able to poem also looks to the future through eyes of read her own work at this year’s Dam hope and optimism. CAMPGROUNDS Show. That was not to be. Her poem, “Thank God For Todd” helped Store • Bait & Tackle • Fish & Release For Kids Her daughter Laurie, who is an her own family and a grieving community Variety of Camp Sites • Water Hookups English teacher and has both a profes- through the loss of a her young nephew in an Dailly, Weekly & Long Term Rates sional and personal interest in poetry, automobile accident years ago. Potter County • located 6 miles will be reading her mother’s work at the She once claimed fi rst prize in a poetry south of Austin on Route 872 Dam Show as part of a dedication on Fri- day evening. contest held as part of the Potter County Fair. (814) 647-8403 1 2 HISTORY OF AUSTIN DAM Austin was one of the boom towns of the region’s 1890-1910 lumber era. As the old growth trees were vanishing, the Freeman Run valley still had immense tracts of pulpwood. Industrialist George Bayless arrived from Binghamton, N.Y., to build a paper mill. Freeman Run couldn’t supply the steady fl ow of water needed to power the mill, so Bayless in 1909 contracted for the construc- tion of a huge concrete dam. It stretched nearly 550 feet across the valley, stood 50 feet high, and held approximately 250 million gallons of water at a depth of 40 feet. While some townspeople worried that the dam might break, most saw it as a symbol of continued employment and prosperity. They speculated that, even if the dam failed, Austin was far enough downstream that the water’s depth would probably be no more than a few inches. The dam gave way on the afternoon of Sept. 30, 1911, releasing a torrent that claimed upwards of 80 lives and nearly wiped out the town. After the fl ood, many families moved out. Others persevered and rebuilt the community. 3 4 JAKOB’S HOLLOW ABOUT THE DAM SHOW One of the highlights of Dam Show 2006 was the debut of original songs The Dam Show is a cooperative effort of the Austin Dam Memorial Association and Potter based on the 1911 Austin fl ood by the local folk trio, Jakob’s Hollow. Those County Fine Arts Council. Both groups are all-volunteer organizations. Money is always an haunting melodies, based on actual accounts of the tragedy, will return in issue for both. The Dam Association cleared its treasury to improve the road and bring elec- 2007. tricity to the dam this year. Philadelphia recording artist Steve Quelet and Nashville musician Eppie The Art Council’s money goes into the show itself for artist fees and sound and on-stage Bailey didn’t expect to fi nd like-minded collaborators when their paths lighting. Much of the progress of both organizations comes from the energy of volunteers. converged in little Coudersport, Pa. Along came Potter County’s own Judy So we all volunteers! Shunk with her solid stand-up bass sounds and Jakob’s Hollow was born. RULES Steve is a long-time member of the South Jersey and Philadelphia area 1) FAMILIES FIRST: The Dam Show has an interesting mix of performers – that’s an annual songwriting and folk communities, often returning to the area to perform. goal. But an even more important goal is that this is maintained as a festival that is safe and He has recorded with bands in the Baltimore and Philadelphia regions, and comfortable for families. The legacy of the Dam Show is one of high quality performances on stage and a peaceful, mellow feeling where festival goers can feel relaxed, comfortable and released three critically acclaimed CDs as a solo artist. able to enjoy the entertainment without any irritation. The sound system is tweaked in a way Eppie wrote, recorded and performed with her brother around Nashville that folks can hear the nuances of the music and don’t have to spend time trying to fi gure if and still maintains close ties to the area. She also has a long-running the decibel level might exceed recommended limits. partnership with her sister-in-law, Julie Cataldo in Nashville, with their 2) GOOD TASTE: The Dam Association reserves the right (and has never even had to think company Zephyr Arts (creator of the Dam Show logos.) about using that right) to remove anyone from the property who fails to act in good taste in Jakob’s Hollow’s music is gaining notice on a national level, and a recent any way and fails to observe the Families First Rule Number 1. co-write, “Listen To The Angels,” based on Hurricane Katrina and the peo- 3) FOLLOW THE DAM RULES: They include NO CLIMBING ON DAM RUINS, NO JUMP- ple of New Orleans, is gaining airplay on national folk radio stations.

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