HARRISVILLE —

The men and women of the Harrisville Fire Company received a surprise at their recent meeting.

Curt Esman lives in Barkeyville. For a time he operated an antiques and furniture refinishing business in Harrisville. Curt suffers from service-related handicaps, but that doesn't keep him from keeping busy.

He came to the meeting and presented to the men and women a beautifully framed "Firefighter's Prayer."

A second copy was presented to be placed at the Borough building with Harrisville High School and other historical items. The background is flame, with the silhouette of a firefighter and the poem in the foreground.

The poem reads:

When I am called to duty, God

Wherever flames may race,

Give me the strength to save some life

Whatever be its age.

Help me embrace a little child

Before it is too late,

Or save some older person

From the horror of that fate.

Enable me to be alert

And hear the weakest shout,

And quickly and efficiently

To put the fire out.

I want to fill my calling

And to give the best in me,

To guard my every neighbor

And protect his property.

And if according to your fate

I have to lose my life,

Please bless with your protecting hand

My children and my wife.

-- Author unknown

On behalf of our community, thank you, Curt Esman. The two beautiful plaques will be given places of honor at both places, and your gift will be remembered for many years yet to come.

We recently received another item for our little "museum" at the borough building.

Tara Pizor donated an invitation to a Harrisville High School commencement ceremony for Rachel Reynolds, Class of 1914! The envelope is addressed to Mr. and Mrs. J. M. Dight of Grove City. It even still has its 2-cent stamp.

Tara told me that this invitation was saved by her grandmother, Adeline Drennen, who lived to be over 100. The invitation was addressed to Adelaide's parents, Tara's great-grandparents.

Thank you, Tara. The invitation will be displayed at the borough building with other high school items.

Harrisville Community Band

The Harrisville Community Band has been practicing diligently, preparing for their fall concert. Please mark your calendar now to come to the fire hall for an evening of music on Nov. 11.

HUMC news

Harrisville United Methodist Church has begun a "Sunday Fellowship" activity. Parents are invited to bring their children to Youth Group and Kids Club, then to stay and enjoy the fellowship with other parents while exploring the Bible together. The first meeting for the parents was Oct. 2.

Food pantry statistics

We have just received Feed My Sheep Food Cupboard statistics for the September. Charlotte Byers, the pantry's secretary, advises that 14 new families came to the pantry for the first time.

A total of 168 families were served. That number includes 238 adults and 174 children. For November, as the holidays approach, items suggested for donations are cake mixes and frostings, and sweet bread mixes.

Calendar of events

Month of October: Pastor Appreciation Month. Say "thank you" to your pastor.

Oct. 16: Gospel concert at Harrisville United Methodist Church, 7 p.m. Enjoy your favorite music by Sound Witness.

Oct. 16: HUMC Youth Group Corn Maze, 6 p.m.

Oct. 30: Fall Party Dress-up.

Nov. 11: Harrisville Community Band Concert, 7 p.m. at the fire hall.

This week in history

Oct. 12: Columbus arrived with expedition in the present-day Bahamas, 1492.

Oct. 13: A naval force was established by the Continental Congress when it authorized construction of two warships, increasing the number to four on Oct. 30, 1775.   

Oct. 14: Theodore Roosevelt was shot from a distance of 6 feet and wounded while leaving a hotel in Milwaukee while campaigning. The bullet struck a bulky manuscript, and then entered his chest, 1912.

Oct. 15: The Edison Electric Light Company was founded at 65 Fifth Ave., New York.

Oct. 16: John Brown seized the Federal Armory at Harpers Ferry, Va. (now West Virginia,) 1859.

Oct. 17: Columbus sighted the isle of San Salvador, 1492.

Oct. 18: The Maryland--Pennsylvania boundary, the Mason-Dixon line, was finalized, 1767.

Thought for the week

"Sooner or later we all discover that the important moments in life are not the advertised ones, not the birthdays, the graduations, the weddingsÉ The real milestones come to the door of memory unannounced, stray dogs that amble in, sniff around a bit and simply never leave. Our lives are measured by these." -- Susan B. Anthony

Call Emmy Lou Holtz with Harrisville area news at 724-735-2600. Published Oct. 12, 2011 in Allied News. Pick up a copy at 201-A Erie St., Grove City.