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Yahoo
29-03-2025
- Automotive
- Yahoo
Panorama of life in eastern Pine Grove
PINE GROVE — Paging through a new photographic history, Lucille Brinich came across an image of the Washington Twp. farm where she grew up. It was a photo of an old barn on the property being dismantled in 2002, and it rekindled memories for Brinich, who still lives on part of the property along Route 443. 'We used to have cattle and horses, and stored hay and straw on the upper floor,'' recalled Brinich, a school bus driver in the Blue Mountain school district. Brinich's reaction underscored the reason Dean H. Klinger compiled 'A Photo History of East Pine Grove' — to chronicle the roots of the area's culture for present and future generations. An omnibus 600-page hardcover with 1,500 color and black-and-white photos, the book is a people's history. Almost all of the photos were contributed by Pine Grove area families, who gave permission to have them reproduced. The photos contain inscriptions, and most are dated. Klinger's third photo history, it focuses largely on the area from Pine Grove borough east toward Freidensburg along Route 443. 'A Photo History of West Pine Grove,' was published in 2019. And 'Pine Grove Borough Historical Pictures' was published in 2024. The three Pine Grove historical photo books by Dean Klinger shown Wednesday, March 26, 2025. (MATTHEW PERSCHALL/MULTIMEDIA EDITOR) Owner of Klinger Auto Parts & Recycling, he became a historian by circumstance. Over the counter in his salvage yard, Klinger would discuss the history of the largely farming area around Pine Grove with customers. They'd bring in old photos for him, and the collection kept growing. At the suggestion of customers, he decided to work on the first book about 10 years ago. Klinger has a large collection of railroad photos from around the Pine Grove area, and people are urging him to compile them into his fourth book. Any thought of the improbability of a junkyard dealer becoming a historian is quickly extinguished during a tour of the property. A veritable time capsule, the rusting remnants of once proud Packards, Studebakers and Kaisers rest in an automotive graveyard of cars from the 1950s and earlier. An old gas pump with numerals stuck at 25-cents a gallon conjures memories of a bygone era following the end of World War II. Mine cars resurrected from the depths of mines in Schuylkill's western coal fields mingle with giant gears that crushed coal in the region's breakers. A mine car sits on tracks at Dean Klinger's Auto Parts & Recycling in Pine Grove, Wednesday, March 26, 2025. (MATTHEW PERSCHALL/MULTIMEDIA EDITOR) And the twin smokestacks of a coal-fired Pennsylvania Power & Light Co. power plant rise in stark contrast to corn fields and a housing development on Hallton Hill in a photo taken around 1954-55. Frozen in time Laid out in color-coded chapters devoted to specific country roads, the book depicts a panorama of life in Pine Grove and Washington Township spanning more than a century. An old stone iron furnace on Rock Road harkens to an era when ore was trucked in from Lebanon County and made into picks and shovels by local craftsmen. A similar stone kiln on Stanhope Road was buried during a road construction project, Klinger said. The author's salvage yard along Bird's Hill Road, which he founded in 1981, is seen as the 'Great Wall of Cars' lining the yard's perimeter. * Dean Klinger flips through his latest photo history book while at Dean Klinger Auto Parts & Recycling in Pine Grove, Wednesday, March 26, 2025. (MATTHEW PERSCHALL/MULTIMEDIA EDITOR) * A page of covered bridges within 'A Photo History of East Pine Grove, Pennsylvania,' Wednesday, March 26, 2025. (MATTHEW PERSCHALL/MULTIMEDIA EDITOR) * A photo from the early 20th century within 'A Photo History of East Pine Grove, Pennsylvania,' Wednesday, March 26, 2025. (MATTHEW PERSCHALL/MULTIMEDIA EDITOR) * A photo of a man heading off to vote in a donkey-drawn carriage within 'A Photo History of East Pine Grove, Pennsylvania,' Wednesday, March 26, 2025. (MATTHEW PERSCHALL/MULTIMEDIA EDITOR) Show Caption 1 of 4 Dean Klinger flips through his latest photo history book while at Dean Klinger Auto Parts & Recycling in Pine Grove, Wednesday, March 26, 2025. (MATTHEW PERSCHALL/MULTIMEDIA EDITOR) Expand Albert Kieny, wearing a top hat, is at the reins of a cart pulled by a donkey named Maggie on his way to vote in Deturksville in 1953. And Zimmerman's covered bridge, one of only two surviving in Schuylkill County, stands as an ode to the region's Pennsylvania Dutch heritage. In calico dresses and bonnets, Della Strouphauer and her daughter, Anna Hummel, tend crops in a field on the family farm circa 1915-1920. Pauline Berger ice skates on Berger's Dam along Route 443 in 1925. And a local farmer proudly displays his steam-powered tractor in 1931. Photos from the 1920s within 'A Photo History of East Pine Grove, Pennsylvania,' Wednesday, March 26, 2025. (MATTHEW PERSCHALL/MULTIMEDIA EDITOR) George 'Dad' Burnam, a former 'cowpuncher' who drove stagecoaches to Dodge City, opened a Sinclair gas station at Miller's Crossroads in 1923. He lived to be 96, and claimed to be the oldest Sinclair station operator in the U.S. The pronunciation of his surname evolved to Burnham over the years, and a road near the former station is now known as Dad Burnham's Road. A tall tale The Crossroads Hotel in Cherryville, north of Pine Grove, was the scene of a tale etched in the region's folklore. A group of miners celebrating at the hotel, the story goes, were shocked sober when smoke rose from the floorboards and filled the bar with the odor of brimstone. The sound of rattling chains announced the arrival of the devil. 'The devil's cloven feet were burned into the saloon floor' a local newspaper reported in 1974, 'and stayed there for a long time.' Beverly Sarge used and the Schuylkill County parcel locator in preparing captions for the photos. 'It was sometimes a challenge to find information,' confided Sarge, a retired secretary. 'At times, I felt like a sleuth.' Beverly Sarge flips through 'A Photo History of East Pine Grove, Pennsylvania' while at Dean Klinger Auto Parts & Recycling in Pine Grove, Wednesday, March 26, 2025. (MATTHEW PERSCHALL/MULTIMEDIA EDITOR) Little Mountain Printing, Myerstown, printed the book, which is priced at $110. Copies of Klinger's previous books are still available. Klinger, who has invested countless hours into compiling the books, donates proceeds from sales to the Pine Grove Historical Society. 'I don't feel right,' he said, 'making a profit on somebody else's photographs.' Information on how to obtain copies of the books is available at 570-345-8778.
Yahoo
28-03-2025
- General
- Yahoo
Bright Bridges Ministry amps up fight against homelessness, addiction
When Richards Memorial United Methodist Church moved to its current location off T Street in 1923, folks would come to services in their Sunday best, arriving in the popular automobiles of the day, from "Tin Lizzies" − a widely used term to describe the Ford Model T− to early Chryslers and Studebakers. By 1970, Richards Memorial UMC had 1,250 members and a huge church complex with a sanctuary and numerous additions for offices, classrooms, a nursery, children's areas, a chapel area, lounge areas and more. Every Sunday, the parking lot was full. Today? "If you come on Sunday, you won't see a lot of cars parked out front of our church," said church member Cheryl Hinnen. "The people who attend here are homeless people and people from the neighborhood who talk or ride their bikes. There are people who will ride their motorized vehicles for blocks to get here." Yes, church attendance has suffered in recent decades with demographic shifts and neighborhood changes. But the Brownsville church's mission has never been more vital or impactful than today, as its Bright Bridge Ministries has made it its mission to care for, feed and shelter those who are damaged, in need of help, in need of direction or maybe just a meal. As homelessness continues to hamper souls and city, ministries such as Bright Bridge and others are vital in the community. Hinnen is the Bright Bridge Ministries assistant director. "This church has been here for generations,'' Hinnen said. "But now, I tell people all the time to come see what's going on here now, because it's a beautiful thing." In 2007, the nonprofit, faith-based ministry was formed and began a community food program and other social programs. Bright Bridge Ministries began transforming the once-bustling church office spaces and numerous rooms into a haven for those seeking help and change. Bright Bridge Ministries opened its His Place shelter in 2017, which houses men who are homeless and often suffering from substance abuse problems. The shelter closed in 2020 because of safety concerns and was repaired and upgraded, reopening in 2022. Bright Bridge also offers much more than a men's shelter, including a food ministry program from 10 a.m. to noon every Monday through Friday that is open to the public. Each weekday volunteers prepare hot meals for men, women and children who sit and eat in the Bright Bridge cafeteria. (On the day we visited, volunteers were serving up goulash, roasted potatoes, salad, croissants and pie to folks who were under a canopy outside Bright Bridge Ministries while it rained, waiting for the kitchen to open. A few carried backpacks and sleeping bags along with them, while one had a shopping cart filled with possessions.) But many of the rooms that formerly served the church in other capacities are now converted into shelter space, with some emergency shelter available as well as beds for men who are part of Bright Bridge recovery programs. Currently, there are 50 beds at Bright Bridge. But soon, renovations will begin on another wing at the old church, largely unused, that will give Bright Bridge Ministries another 40 beds for men in need. On April 1, Bright Bridge Ministries hosts a "Bridge to Tomorrow" kickoff event to announce and talk about the project. The event begins at 12:30 p.m. at Bright Bridge Ministries, 2600 W. Strong St., which intersects T Street. Renovation costs are expected to be between $1.25 million and $1.5 million. Bright Bridge Ministries has secured $500,000, and is hoping to raise another $250,000 by May 1, which would be doubled with matching funds. The event will feature tours and a short graduation ceremony for men who have graduated from the ministry's Fresh Start Culinary Program, which teaches program residents cooking skills and techniques. "We're going to be able to house at least 40 more men on top of the 40 men that already sleep here every night in our transitional home shelter,'' said Rev. Ashlee Mosley Brown, pastor of Richards Memorial UMC and Bright Bridge Ministries executive director. "Since around 2006, we really have dedicated ourselves to helping our neighbors and have become more of a social service agency, even though we're still a church." Brown said that while the His Place shelter is for men only, all other Bright Bridge Ministries' programs and services are open to all. Other Bright Bridge Ministries programs include: Hygiene Ministry program where hygiene products are distributed Adult literacy program Yoga and meditation classes Finance classes Like skills, covering topics such as addiction, diabetes and healthy eating Workforce development All these programs are free and open to the public. Bright Bridges Ministries is not a drugs and alcohol treatment facility, but does host meetings for various recovery groups such as Alcoholics Anonymous, Narcotics Anonymous, Grace Recovery Group and more. Men who stay in the shelter are referred by another agency or sometimes come off the street. They are assigned a case worker who starts crafting an individualized action plan. Some of the men are in the Level 1 shelter, where five to six men share a room, with each getting an individual bed in the partitioned room. There is no charge for those in Level 1 housing, but those who show progress and are able to find a job and save some money, are moved to Level 2, where there is a $400 a month fee, which includes shelter, food and program costs. Many of the men who make it to Level 2 have jobs and are able to pay the monthly fee and save money as well. "This place changed me and has given me the tools to survive in this world as a man," said Shaun Abram, 54, a Level 2 resident fighting drug and alcohol addiction who has been in the For Him shelter for about three months. "I had burned all my bridges and addiction had taken over my life. It took it over completely, but this place has helped me realize my priorities." He's found work but plans to stay in the program and at the shelter "for as long as it takes." In 2024, 364 men were housed in the His Place shelter, with 113 landing jobs during their stay, and 62 men moving into stable housing. While at the shelter, men are urged to volunteer and work in various capacities at Bright Bridge Ministries, including landscaping and kitchen work. After 20 hours of volunteer work, they are allowed to choose a bicycle from a collection of donated bikes at Bright Bridge Ministries, a bike they are allowed to keep. Shelter manager James Donaldson said the men earn confidence as they clean up their lives while at the shelter. He knows their pain and struggle. "I'm actually formerly homeless," Donaldson said, standing outside in a back patio area where men are allowed to smoke. "I'm a recovering drug addict and lived out of my car until I could get my act together and get back on my feet. That was almost 11 years ago." Level 2 shelter resident Juan Lopez, 55, has been at His Place since October. He soon landed a job at a commercial laundry place where they provide laundry service to hospitals and other large institutions. He's saving money and hoping to leave soon. "I'm here because I want to be here, not because anyone forced me to be here,'' he said. "You come because you want to get better. They teach you to respect yourself, because if you don't have respect for yourself, you can't give respect to others." He's having success in his battle against addiction, and when I noticed his awesome Air Jordans and a few other pair of nice shoes in his semi-private room, he said that wouldn't have been possible before. "Not with my addiction," he said. "It takes over you." Bright Bridges Ministries also has a residential home for those who make it to Level 3, who are on the verge of leaving. "They stay for as long as it takes," Brown said. "We tell them to make sure they're ready and just don't run out. We ask them if they have enough savings to handle that, and when they're ready and eager and able, then it's time." Hinnen said she hopes potential community partners would see the benefit of the Bright Bridge Ministries "Bright Bridge to Tomorrow" project. "I believe adding shelter beds in our community is a win for everyone,'' she said. "We have homeless people living on the streets now because we don't have a bed open. It's a win because we have people who have been able to find meaningful employment while here, and who have a bed and are finding stability. We have had families torn apart from addiction that have been able to find recovery, and so many times that leads to reconciliation for families. We think this is a project that the entire community can get behind." For more information and ways to help, go to This article originally appeared on Pensacola News Journal: Bright Bridges Ministry fights homelessness, addiction at shelter.
Yahoo
01-03-2025
- Automotive
- Yahoo
Studebaker Museum is accepting vehicle applications for Concours d'Elegance at Copshaholm
SOUTH BEND — The Studebaker National Museum is accepting vehicle applications through March 15 for the seventh annual Concours d'Elegance at Copshaholm, co-presented by LaVine Restorations & The JBS Collection. The event celebrates automotive design, engineering and culture. The 2025 classes are: ■ Inspired Greatness: Rolls-Royce automobiles of all years ■ Step Out With Mercury: Mercury automobiles of all years ■ American Splendor: Open-bodied Full Classics ■ European Luxury: Full Classic European automobiles ■ Studebaker Sedans: Closed-bodied four-door Studebakers of all years ■ Kickin' Brass: Brass-era automobiles ■ The Roaring '20s: - An open class for popular-priced 1920-1929 automobiles ■ Carrozeria Ghia: Ghia-bodied automobiles ■ Think Small: '60s Compacts ■ Think Smaller: Microcars ■ The Silent Knights: Knight sleeve-valve engined automobiles Awards will be presented in all classes, as well as Best of Show and other special awards of distinction. The Concours at Copshaholm's Chief Judge is automotive scholar and historian Matt Short. Judging will be French Traditional. The awards ceremony will be narrated by automotive historian and raconteur Bill Rothermel. The Concours takes place from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday, July 12 at Copshaholm, 808 W. Washington St. The deadline to apply is March 15. For more information or to submit your car for consideration, visit This article originally appeared on South Bend Tribune: Vehicle applications open for 2025 Concours d'Elegance at Copshaholm
