On the Road Again.. Circus Folk and Clark Gable by Melody Sherosky emitributing writer II ti dri west from Erie on Route 2(1, past Eric's Halley dealership, and past rreandand, and then past the kidding with the novelty taxicab sticking Out its side, you will eventually hit Girard. It takes less than half an hour if you dri \c on Interstate 90, but for a lc \\ minutes longer you can get the experience of (hiving out into the country, roadside vegetable stands and all, in order to reach this fascinating destination just 25 miles from Behrend. I heard from a few people that Girard was a circus town a long time ago and my mother mentioned that the Girard Dinor served some decent enough pie. So, I Nentu rcd ont into the country again in search of some good local food and stories. It was the first time, honestly, that I drove through Girard and actually intended to stop. You know vhcn you are arriving in Girard since, like many small towns, every place is named after the town: Girard Li\ern, Girard Beer, Girard Dinoi, etc. The main street, which is also Route .)_ll, is lined with locally owned ,hops like - The Barefooted Lady' and - The What-Not Shop. - But I was 11111WIV from the drive and THE Daily Commuter Puzzle Edited by Wayne Robert Williams ACROSS 1 Irritating one 5 Replace a ;topper 11 Spent wood 4 DranlatiA HenfrJy 15 Put behind bars 16 Pi follower 17 Pronounce indistinctly 18 Thespians' pseudonyms 20 Tidal situation 22 Letters for 1051 23 Bangkok man 24 San _ _, Texas 26 French pronoun 27 Ripped 28 Applying paint crudely 30 "Das Lied von der Erde" composer 32 European volcano 33 Carbonated water 36 Essentials 37 Auto race courses 40 Higher of two 43 Leave text as is 44 Plenty 48 Mate of a very showy bird 50 Endurance 52 Delhi dress 53 Hole maker 56 Leveled 57 Jogging pace 58 Luau dish 59 Spouse 60 Presley hit 63 McKinley and Cantor 66 PGA peg 67 First-born 68 Stubborn beast 69 Asner and McMahon 70 Shoots wide 71 Fencer's sword DOWN 1 Network of "Nova" the Dinor was calling my name. You may not be aware that Northwest Pennsylvania is one of the only places in the United States that An artist's rendition of Dan Rice spells dinor with an "o", but it is true. Other than spelling, the Dinor was the perfect model of most small town dinors, tiny cereal boxes, homemade pies, a counter of regulars and unusual local specials like sweet potato pancakes and deep-fried 2 Snakelike fish 3 Hand-held shocker 4 Triples 5 Reply 6 Way in: abbr. 7 Con-man's tricks 8 First ship on the moon 9 Generation based bias 10 Ex-QB Dawson 11 Sleeve opening 12 Did some wool gathering? 13 Stocking merchants 19 Simultaneously 21 MacGraw of "Love Story" 24 Lemon drink 25 A Cole 29 Takes off 31 Even one 34 Banned insecticide 35 Inspires reverence 38 Cursor starter? 39 Tries 40 Most of New York? 41 Formed beads 42 Conditional releases 45 In a row 46 Smallest bill 47 Little bit tst.:l • :"‘ Friday, September 28, 2001 French toast. Unfortunately, I had missed most of the available breakfast foods by an hour or so and had to settle for a cheese and mushroom omelet. It was no deep fried French toast, but the omelet was huge and packed with mushrooms. While I weighed my pie choices, I struck up a conversation with a man named George who looked like he'd been around at the Girard Dinor longer than most of the waitresses. He and the waitress were, course, on a first name basis and she had even started him a new pot of coffee when he came in. I asked George if he could tell me anything interesting about Girard, and of course, he could. George explained that Girard's circus history, which I later read up on, started with Dan Rice, "The most famous clown of the 19th Century" according to a sign near Girard's downtown area. Though he was not born in Girard, Rice had his circus's winter quarters in Girard from 1852- 1875, with elephants and dancing pigs alike. According to the one website I found on Rice, he even taught an elephant to walk the tightrope. Rice knew Abraham Lincoln, and was often called Lincoln's court TMSPuzzles@aol.com 49 City in Italia 51 Ms. Gardner 54 Tiger on the tee? 55 Preferences 61 Skirt edge 62 Play for a fool ' 64 Pub preference 65 Get the picture !i„„:..,,,,., ..4-,i. , , , ,, , .• :: Ai" c , , i :..... :K .: : ..,..,:..., ..4;l'..iia .'......iiiii, in Girard jester. lie was also the model for the well-known character "Uncle Sam'' who appeared, most notably. on war posters in the tsdrly 1900 S. According. to ( leorge, Clark Gable also visited Girard quite often, since he dated a girl irony I:.ric in the 19605. What's more, Gable was often seen pulling up in front of the old Girard Grocery, where he would wait in the car while his girlfriend ran in for bananas. No, I'm not joking. George told me that ('lark Gable particularly liked Girard Grocery bananas. lie saw Gable himself, he said. I also found out that Jay Silverhcels, better known as Tonto of Lone Ranger Paine, is buried in Girard, but it was not as exciting as hearing about ('lark (lable's bananas or the clown that Uncle Sam was supposed to look like. After some incredible homemade apple-blueberry pie (heavenly), I thanked George and left the diner to wander the friendly streets of Girard. I looked at the What-Not Shop's antiques, sat in front of the Borough Hall and looked at the statues of deer and dancing women, and I looked into the windows of the old-fashioned pharmacy. Satisfied with the food and stories, I got into my car and drove hack past the corn fields. past the "pick your own tomatoes . " signs. past Stoves n' Such. to Eric where things suddenly seemed much less interesting. Until next time... (Directions to (,irard front liehrend: Take 1-90 W to ()Id exit 3, North on Route I X to Route 21) OR take Station Road North to Buffalo Road West, Buffalo Road turns into Route 20 and eventually leads to Girard). DITHERED TWITS The strength of a nation lies within her people. CAPTAIN RIBMAN CAPTAIN WHY DO , e , GET GRI mit at. PAUL Theatre Tri On Sunday, Oct. 14, the Theatre Depart ment will be matriculating to the Shaw Fes tival which is located in Niagra-on-the- Lake, Ontario, to see "The Mystery of Edwin Drood." Wild and high-spirited fun fill this mu sic hall comedy which is based on the last unfinished Charles Dickens novel of the same name. This is a murder-mystery-musical com edy with a real twist. Since Dickens didn't finish the story, the Shaw Festival company of actors finishes it for him-with help from you, the audi ence, as you vote on several possible varia tions in the plot. Tickets are $36 and transportation is in cluded. Anyone wanting to go must also have their passport or birth certificate for border crossing. To make reservations or for further in formation contact Mr. Elliot at X 6279 or 145 Academic. SORRY, I DIDN'T REAUZE YOU WERE TAUCIN ASOLIT YOUR PARENTS. MAYBE THEY HAD THEIR HEARTS SET ON HAVING A GIRL? The Behrend Beacon Weekly Funnies BY BILI Page 11 The
Significant historical Pennsylvania newspapers