Someone sent me this article, supposedly from Wikipedia. I think it is a hoax.Pic-A-Pac Park
Pic-A-Pac Park, at the corner of Morris and South Centre Streets, is one of the small environmental gem’s in the city of Pottsville and pivotal in the revitalization of Centre Street. While only .11 acres, it is the only free WiFi internet access park in the city. On days when the weather is nice, Pic-A-Pak Park is a popular spot for area workers to eat lunch with carry outs from the nearby Pic-A-Deli while checking their rub-off lottery tickets.
History
The park occupies part of a ridge of unusual rock formations that date back to the Pleistocene era. The metamorphic rocks, of sandstone, magnetite and green kryptonite are the result of geological activity from the much earlier Paleozoic era when man eating dinosaurs roamed Centre Street. These wondrous boulders are visible in the middle of the park.. To those not geologically savvy, the large boulders are sometimes mistaken for concrete refuse.
After the founding of Pottsville in 1811, one of the Pott family accidentally invented the funnel cake on this location while attempting to make a desert for the American Way Fair on the open hearth built originally by dear friend, Necho Allen. Later, the site was the location of the infamous Pottsville draft beer riots of 1863 which resulted from the price of draft beer being raised to a nickel to support the Union cause. Eventually a grand, Queen Anne-style town house was erected at 430 S. Centre St. Some called the building “ a red brick castle.” In the 1880s it was the home to businessman William Lesley Sheafer, whose son Clinton was the model for Whit Hoffman in O’Hara’s “Appointment in Samarra.” In the 1930’s it became the headquarters for the Pennsylvania State Police. It was at this barracks that began the practice of giving every criminal six wallet size photos for every mug shot taken. In 1991 it became the home of the “Pick A Pack” Beverage Take-Out Store until the building burned to the ground in March 2001 during one of Pottsville’s dazzling fires. From the time the last embers were extinguished, the new Pic-A-Pac Park was an instant and spectacular success, immediately attracting tourists from as far away as Mount Carbon. Pic-A-Pac was selected as the name to give the area a more French-like feel. Unlike many other parks, Pic-A-Pac contains no amusements, swing sets, funnel cake stands or any other intrusions on its rusticity. It is a welcome oasis where one can escape the hustle and, even sometimes, the bustle of life in downtown Pottsville.
Pic-A-Pac Park today
Lush landscaping with horticultural elements such as flowering giant ragweed, common milkweed, redroot pigweed, lambsquarters, velvetleaf, and other vegetation can be easily identified.
On Labor Day weekend, the annual Pic-A-Pac Park Summer Animated Film Festival is held, which has made Pottsville synonymous with cartoons. The film festival ranks well below Cannes, Toronto and Sundance in importance. Movies are projected onto the adjoining building wall which acts as a large screen and people of all ages sit on the ground to watch, laugh and point their fingers at the antics of lovable cartoon characters. The film festival began in 2002 with the premiere of “Steamboat Itchy,” the Itchy and Scratchy full feature which drew a crowd of 87. On Labor Day, 2007, the debut of the first Henry Clay claymation film was shown , "Henry Clay vs. the California Raisins" which featured a Gumby-like statesman/orator battling it out with his old nemesis, those california raisins. The claymation film drew a standing ovation from those in attendance.
Pic A Pac Park is also location of the annual reinactment of the 1863 Pottsville Draft Beer Riot which draws a fairly sizable following of enthusiastic participants, aged often between 8 and 94, willing to brave the elements and expend money and resources in their efforts to duplicate the events down to the smallest recorded detail, even yelling out annoyingly, "no beer, no peace."
References
^ America's Most Visited City Parks
California RaisinsPic-A-Pac Park, at the corner of Morris and South Centre Streets, is one of the small environmental gem’s in the city of Pottsville and pivotal in the revitalization of Centre Street. While only .11 acres, it is the only free WiFi internet access park in the city. On days when the weather is nice, Pic-A-Pak Park is a popular spot for area workers to eat lunch with carry outs from the nearby Pic-A-Deli while checking their rub-off lottery tickets.
History
The park occupies part of a ridge of unusual rock formations that date back to the Pleistocene era. The metamorphic rocks, of sandstone, magnetite and green kryptonite are the result of geological activity from the much earlier Paleozoic era when man eating dinosaurs roamed Centre Street. These wondrous boulders are visible in the middle of the park.. To those not geologically savvy, the large boulders are sometimes mistaken for concrete refuse.
After the founding of Pottsville in 1811, one of the Pott family accidentally invented the funnel cake on this location while attempting to make a desert for the American Way Fair on the open hearth built originally by dear friend, Necho Allen. Later, the site was the location of the infamous Pottsville draft beer riots of 1863 which resulted from the price of draft beer being raised to a nickel to support the Union cause. Eventually a grand, Queen Anne-style town house was erected at 430 S. Centre St. Some called the building “ a red brick castle.” In the 1880s it was the home to businessman William Lesley Sheafer, whose son Clinton was the model for Whit Hoffman in O’Hara’s “Appointment in Samarra.” In the 1930’s it became the headquarters for the Pennsylvania State Police. It was at this barracks that began the practice of giving every criminal six wallet size photos for every mug shot taken. In 1991 it became the home of the “Pick A Pack” Beverage Take-Out Store until the building burned to the ground in March 2001 during one of Pottsville’s dazzling fires. From the time the last embers were extinguished, the new Pic-A-Pac Park was an instant and spectacular success, immediately attracting tourists from as far away as Mount Carbon. Pic-A-Pac was selected as the name to give the area a more French-like feel. Unlike many other parks, Pic-A-Pac contains no amusements, swing sets, funnel cake stands or any other intrusions on its rusticity. It is a welcome oasis where one can escape the hustle and, even sometimes, the bustle of life in downtown Pottsville.
Pic-A-Pac Park today
Lush landscaping with horticultural elements such as flowering giant ragweed, common milkweed, redroot pigweed, lambsquarters, velvetleaf, and other vegetation can be easily identified.
On Labor Day weekend, the annual Pic-A-Pac Park Summer Animated Film Festival is held, which has made Pottsville synonymous with cartoons. The film festival ranks well below Cannes, Toronto and Sundance in importance. Movies are projected onto the adjoining building wall which acts as a large screen and people of all ages sit on the ground to watch, laugh and point their fingers at the antics of lovable cartoon characters. The film festival began in 2002 with the premiere of “Steamboat Itchy,” the Itchy and Scratchy full feature which drew a crowd of 87. On Labor Day, 2007, the debut of the first Henry Clay claymation film was shown , "Henry Clay vs. the California Raisins" which featured a Gumby-like statesman/orator battling it out with his old nemesis, those california raisins. The claymation film drew a standing ovation from those in attendance.
Pic A Pac Park is also location of the annual reinactment of the 1863 Pottsville Draft Beer Riot which draws a fairly sizable following of enthusiastic participants, aged often between 8 and 94, willing to brave the elements and expend money and resources in their efforts to duplicate the events down to the smallest recorded detail, even yelling out annoyingly, "no beer, no peace."
References
^ America's Most Visited City Parks
1 comment:
Hilarious! Ione Geier
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