Union City Events, 1968
Union City Homecoming - 1968
Homecoming was among the major front page news of the Union City Times of September 19, 1968. The Grand Homecoming celebration was scheduled for the weekend of September 20-21, 1968. The eighth annual “happening” for Union City graduates with the Homecoming football game on Friday night and in between were scheduled at least three enjoyable events.
The football game between the Union City Bears and the Cambridge Springs Blue Devils was scheduled for kickoff on Friday night at 8 p.m.
During the half time ceremonies, Union City High School’s band directed by Max Pfaff, was slated to introduce the Homecoming Queen candidates and crown the queen. Candidates for the Homecoming Queen were seniors Sandy Jackson, Joanne Tomcho, and Patti Poux. The junior courts consisted of Carol Bojaczko and Nancy Sorenson and sophomores Sharon Megat and Cheryl Johnson.
The parade was scheduled to line up at 1:00 o’clock Saturday on the avenues and move out at 1:30 south of Second Avenue, north down Main Street and finally disbanding north of the Penn Central Railroad tracks.
Parade entries poured in with at least 50 units already listed and several more expected before the week ended. Floats already scheduled were: Kidettes, 9th, 10th, 11th and 12th grades, Fire Ladies, Class of ’44 Methodist Church, Alumni Association, Seidler’s Paints, Marty’s Garage, Teen-Ettes, Catholic Church, Morton’s Studio, Rebekahs and Odd Fellows, Harris Clothing, American Legion Jr. Auxiliary, Lucille’s Restaurant, and IGA.
Kimmy-Nichols 1968 cars, Museum hearse, Fire Instructions Inc., comedy; Jaycees, comedy; CB Radio car, Lions Club car, Homecoming Queen and court; Livestock Queen, Cambridge Springs fire truck, Elgin-Beaverdam fire truck; Union City fire trucks.
Marching units include the VFW color guard, Kid-Ettes, Totettes, Teen-Ettes, Coleman’s Band, Drake Drillers, Red Raiders, Debbie Debs, Canadettes, Warren Starlettes, Wattsburg High School Band, Union City High School Band, Sundowners Drum and Bugle Corps and American Legionettes.
Parade judges will be Mrs. Alberta Brumagin of Russell, Jack Kamppi of Lake City and Doll Henderson, Norm Troyer, and Art Steves of Union City. Second Assistant Fire Chief Bill Halfast of Corry and two other unconfirmed appointees will judge the fire apparatus.
The banquet will be served at 6:15 p.m. Saturday in the high school cafeteria to all those who have made reservations. Stuffed pork chips will be the feature on the menu. Classes from 1902 to 1925 will be served at the tables while other classes will pass through the cafeteria line.
Immediately after the banquet a program will take place in the auditorium. Former teacher Miss Clara Durbin will speak briefly and parade prize winners will be announced. Engraved silver trays will be presented to the eldest man and women from the oldest graduation class and also one for the person traveling the farthest distance just to attend the homecoming.
The Homecoming celebration will be climaxed by the Homecoming Ball from 9 to 12 Saturday evening. The Supremes from Corry will furnish music for dancing and listening. Tickets are $1.00 per person and no reservation is needed. Non-alumni and friends are cordially invited. The gaily decorated gymnasium will follow the general themes of the parade, “Around the World in 80 Days.” Refreshments will be available.
Katherine Williams wrote in her column Here and There, Union City:
Welcome to Union City High School Alumni…..we hope you will enjoy your stay in Union City and that your visit will be a pleasant one…Congratulations to Coach Wally Mahler and the Union City Highly School football team on winning their first two games….now a win against Cambridge Springs at the homecoming game on Friday night and what more could one ask?,,,let’s have a big turnout at their first home game and show them we appreciate their efforts….
Council Passes Museum Ordinance
A Museum Board to administer the Union City Historical Museum became a reality on Tuesday, September 17, 1968, as the Union City Borough Council passed an ordinance creating a five member board.
According to the Borough Solicitor, there are still a few minor adjustments to be made in the ordinance, but they were insignificant enough to allow Council to pass the ordinance as written.
The ordinance creates a Museum Board of five members appointed by Council to set rules and regulations for the operation of the Museum. One third of the members will be elected for one year, one third for two years, and the remainder for a three year period. These Board members will serve without pay.
The Board will set up its own bylaws and provide its own officers, including a president, vice president, secretary-treasurer and historians. There is also a possibility that the Museum Board will set up a historical society in conjunction with the Museum.
The Museum’s books will be audited at the same time the Borough’s are audited and all monies received by the Museum will be put into the general fund for Council to disperse with in the prescribed manner. The Board will also be required to make an annual report covering all aspects of the Museum’s operation for the preceding year and it will be due by February 1st of every year.
The ordinance also provides for fines for anyone defacing or otherwise harming museum property in any way. Person violating this ordinance will be prosecuted before a Justice of the Peace and fined. If they do extensive damage, they can be prosecuted in a civil suit.
Councilman Harold Maynard brought up the question of the release forms that museum donors are required to sign when they contribute items to the Museum. The Solicitor replied that all rights of property will revert to the Board of Museum Directors, thus relieving Harold Maynard and Norman Merrill of any liability.
Council passed the ordinance unanimously, thus rewarding approximately five years of hard work by the "Museum Group." Members of this group who started the Museum and have worked for its improvement ever since include Harold Maynard, Norman Merrill, Don Brumagin, and Red Arlet.
The Museum group is currently buying the building it's housed in with money raised by individual pledges. At the present rate of payment, it will be paid for in two more years. The Museum Group has also added many new historical items and improvements to the museum.
Watch Your Speed Police Chief Says
People have been driving too fast for road and weather conditions and going too fast in the school zones in the Borough, reports Paul Behan, Police Chief of Union City Borough.
He cites the Vehicle Code of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania which says that a person must regulate his driving speed to the road and weather conditions.
Another part of the Code that he strongly emphasizes is the minimum speeds for school zones.
“There is a speed limit of 15 miles an hour for all vehicle except those restricted by the Vehicle Code to lower maximum speeds, when passing a school building during school recess, or while children are going to or coming from school during opening or closing hours.
“These speed limits are very important,” the Chief states. “Be very careful, the life you save may be your child’s.”
Union City VFW Auxiliary
The Ladies’ Auxiliary of the Volunteer Firemen of Union City met at the City Building on Monday evening, September 9. Mrs. Pat Miller, president, presided at the meeting. Final plans were made for the float, which they will enter in the Homecoming Day Parade, and preliminary plans were made concerning a fall turkey dinner to be served on October 13.
The gift of the evening, furnished by Martha Silka, was awarded to Shirley Seidler, who will furnish the gift at the September 25th meeting.
Following the meeting, refreshments were served by Dorothy Rhodes and Bea McWilliams, to 17 members in attendance. Mary Lou Murphy and Martha Silka will serve refreshments at the next meeting of the auxiliary, on Monday evening, September 2