The Dam Show
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The Dam Show 1118 East Second Street Coudersport, PA 16915 814-274-8020 July 18 & 19, 2008 At The Beautiful Austin Dam Memorial Park A Cooperative Effort Of The Potter County Fine Arts Council and the Austin Dam Memorial Association with support of The Potter County Commissioners, The Commonwealth of Pennsylvania Council on the Arts, Pa. Partners in the Arts, The Northern Tier Cultural Alliance and The Dominion Foundation. ABOUT THE DAM SHOW The Dam Show is a cooperative effort of the Austin Dam Memorial Association and Potter County Fine Arts Council. Both groups are We’re Building A all-volunteer organizations. and money is always an issue for both. Community Of Good Health The Dam Association cleared its treasury to improve the road and bring electricity to the dam this year. Charles Cole Memorial Hospital is your community The Art Council’s money goes into the show itself for artist fees and hospital. That means we have the responsibility sound and on-stage lighting. Much of the progress of both organi- to provide you with the healthcare services you zations comes from the energy of volunteers. So we all volunteers! need. We take that special responsibility very DAM SHOW RULES seriously in all that we do – whether it’s recruiting skilled health care providers to meet your primary care or 1) FAMILIES FIRST: The Dam Show has an interesting mix of per- specialty health needs, installing the latest in diagnostic and formers – that’s an annual goal. But an even more important goal is treatment technologies, designing new healthcare services that this is maintained as a festival that is safe and comfortable for families. The legacy of the Dam Show is one of high quality perfor- or taking the time to hold your hand and greet you with a smile. mances on stage and a peaceful, mellow feeling. Festival goers can We’re your friends and neighbors . we’re your community feel relaxed, comfortable and can enjoy the entertainment without hospital. any irritation. The sound system is tweaked in a way that folks can hear the nuances of the music and don’t have to spend time trying MEDICAL SPECIALTIES to figure if the decibel level might exceed recommended limits. Allergy/Immunology • Anesthesiology • Dentistry 2) GOOD TASTE: The Dam Association reserves the right (and has Emergency Medicine • Family Practice • General Surgery never even had to think about using that right) to remove anyone Hospitalist • Internal Medicine • Obstetrics/Gynecology from the property who fails to act in good taste in any way or fails to Oncology/Hematology • Ophthalmology observe the Families First Rule Number 1. Orthopaedics/Sports Medicine • Pathology 3) FOLLOW THE DAM RULES: They include NO CLIMBING ON DAM Pediatrics • Psychiatry • Podiatry • Sleep Disorders RUINS, NO JUMPING OFF DAM ROCKS, NO SWIMMING IN Physical Medicine/Rehabilitation • Radiation Oncology FREEMAN RUN or the little spring-fed ponds around the dam. 4) CHILDREN MUST BE SUPERVISED BY THEIR adults at www.charlescolehospital.com Route 6 East, Coudersport Telephone (814) 274-9300 2 Authorized POTTER COUNTY FINE ARTS COUNCIL MEMBERSHIP Dealer For HEART’S DESIRE Canon Name _____________________________________________________ Gifts & Collectibles To Warm Minolta • HP Your Country Heart Gestetner Street ____________________________________________________ Sales • Service • Supplies NEW LOCATION Community ________________________________________________ Copiers • Fax Machines • Printers Many Vendors • Great Variety 278 Rt. 6 W • Coudersport 27 W. Main St. • Rt. 6 • Galeton State______ Zip _________ e-mail _____________________________ (814) 274-4955 • Toll Free 888-785-3511 814-435-2280 Send completed form to Potter County Fine Arts Council, PO Box 346, Fax (814) 274-4966 Coudersport, PA 16915. ( ) Individual ($10-29) ( ) Family ($30-$74) ( ) Sponsor ($74-$124) ALL TIMES: There may be some break times if children are en- ( ) Benefactor ($125-$499) ( ) Patron & Corporation ($500 plus) gaged in activities like storytelling or art projects – but the watchful eyes of parents are necessary. There is nothing more annoying to our volunteers than having to ask children not to climb on the dam Thank You To Our Patrons ruins or other rules violations while parents sit by passively. 5) REALIZE that THE park IS A WORK IN PROGRESS: We Kightlinger Motors Costello General Store are charged with maintaining the park as a heritage property and Fox’s Pizza The Bike Shop preserving the property as a study site. Part of the reservation in aggressively moving rocks and landscaping is tied to this concept. Hair To Please At Mountain Valley We are attempting to move deliberately and thoughtfully as we work Coudersport Florist Olivett’s Market to make improvements at the park. So – watch out for uneven ter- Erway’s Market rain! Emporium 6) TRASH: We are all volunteers and hope that everyone visiting All In Coudersport the park acts as a volunteer to help keep the grounds picked up and free from trash. TRASH IN FIRE RINGS has been a pain. HELP! 7) ENJOY YOUR VISIT to THE DAM: Give us suggestions, tell AUSTIN DAM MEMORIAL ASSOCIATION MEMBERSHIP others and come back soon. You can e-mail messages to austin- [email protected] or through the website: www.damshow.com. Name _____________________________________________________ Street ____________________________________________________ COACH STOP INN Glassmire & Shaffer Community ________________________________________________ Motel • Restaurant • Lounge Law Offices, P.C. State________ Zip ___________ Phone _______________________ 12 Mi. W.of Wellsboro on Rt. 6 Five East Third Street e-mail ____________________________________________________ (570) 724-5361 • 1-800-829-4130 Coudersport, PA 16915 Send completed form along with $5.00 membership dues to The Austin Dam Memorial Association, PO Box 495, Austin, PA 16720. Close To The Pa. Grand Canyon Phone 814-274-7292 & Pine Creek Rail Trail Fax 814-274-0855 26 3 FREE GRASS UNION History OF AUSTIN DAM Born at the turn of the century, Free Grass Union has spun its blend of old Austin was one of the boom towns of the region’s 1890-1910 lumber era. As timey mountain music with bluegrass, New England dance tunes, blues songs, the old growth trees were vanishing, the Freeman Run valley still had immense and much more. The band is comprised of Kim Humphrey on guitar, harmon- tracts of pulpwood. Industrialist George Bayless arrived from Binghamton, N.Y., ica, autoharp, dobro, banjo, and vocals; award-winning mandolinist Greg But- to build a paper mill. ler, who also plays guitar and Freeman Run sings; and David Nelinson couldn’t supply on guitar, mandolin, and vo- the steady flow cals. Free Grass Union has of water needed opened for David Grisman, to power the Ricky Skaggs and many mill, so Bayless in more bluegrass legends. 1909 contracted The band has a busy festival for the construc- schedule stretching into Oc- tion of a huge tober. “The band’s sincere concrete dam. It respect for the roots of blue- stretched nearly grass and its joy in perform- 550 feet across ing is infectious,” said one the valley, stood 50 feet high, and held approximately 250 million gallons of reviewer. “Free Grass Union has never played a gig that didn’t leave its listen- water at a depth of 40 feet. ers yearning for more.” 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 THOMAS E. would probably be no more than a few inches. FICKINGER FUNERAL HOME, LTD “A Life Celebration Home” 210 N. East Street Coudersport, Pa. 16915 (814) 274-8888 David S. Powell – Supervisor The dam gave way on the afternoon of Sept. 30, 1911, releasing a torrent that www.lifecelebration.com claimed upwards of 80 lives and nearly wiped out the town. After the flood, many families moved out. Others persevered and rebuilt the community. 4 25 REDHEADED STEPCHILD THE E.O. AUSTIN HOME & HISTORICAL MUSEUM A favorite of previous Dam Shows, Kathryn Koch and David Nanni – the duo The E. O. Austin Home and Historical Museum is a visible symbol of perse- known as Redheaded Stepchild – returns in 2008. For more than a decade verance and hometown pride. It’s also an important storehouse of memories, now, Kathryn and David have maintained a strong reputation as a live act while preserved for future generations. selling thousands of recordings. Now based in Nashville, Redheaded Stepchild Perhaps it was inevitable that the wealth of Freeman Run Valley history col- spends most of its time lected and recorded by so many would one day come together under one roof. on the road. Built around Still, the colossal task required a true community effort. Kathryn’s fiery vocals – reminding some of Janis Seeds were planted in March 2001 when a group of local citizens with a keen Joplin -- and the lyrical interest in the region’s past gathered to form a local historical society. And and melodic sensibilities where better to showcase the many photos, artifacts and memories of the past that both artists share, the than in the home of the town’s founding father, Edward O. Austin? songs are steeped in tradi- Austin’s original home had been gone for years, but the local leaders had an tion, yet intensely original. extensive collection of photos and written descriptions. They set their sights on You’ll hear a wide palette building a replica of the structure, right down to the fancy scrollwork and spa- of acoustic sounds, in- cious porch, and making it headquarters for the new Austin Historical Society. cluding Koch’s stellar har- The E. O. Austin Home and Historical Museum is the jewel of downtown Aus- monica and saxophone tin, built on the community square, just a stone’s throw from the lot where the playing and Nanni’s driving guitar style.