By Edward Master
I have addressed previously how much I enjoy the PBS program coming out of Pittsburgh on things not with us anymore. My topic may sound as though I am longing for a return to the good ole’ days, but today I feel just the opposite.
My example begins a bit back in time. I was in the eighth grade when the “mansion” caught fire at Parker junior high school (A-C Valley) and burned to the grown. We had no school for a couple of days so the logistics of resuming classes could be reconfigured. My eighth-grade home room became a room in the one-time elementary school, with a long walk, rain or shine, between buildings. Betty Shoup was my homeroom and English teacher; she was a lovely lady. The walk in foul weather between buildings, however, was anything but lovely.
Those days I don’t miss, at all. I don’t recall many snowballs or snowball battles. Wet books and wet hair were plentiful and all were all too common; backpacks in those days didn’t exist. There was maybe the occasional book/brief case, but nothing like today’s modern carriers. Then there was the cold; I don’t like to think about the cold.
The Charles Tritle’s music class on the stage of the gym got moved to the ‘new’ elementary school. Most of the quonset huts are gone now. The garages housing the home ec room and wood shop are long gone, too. But, right now, the lot that was once home to ACV junior high school now provides my home in the form of Parker Personal Care.
A new elementary school came about after the boiler blew and the mansion became toast. Though we students already walked among the buildings to change classes, braving the elements, a much longer stroll was added to and from the original elementary building. I forget exactly where Mr. Tritle’s music classes ended up, but it was better than the old stage. Eventually ACV opened a brand new all-encompassing elementary school in Foxburg.
This site went from Bearcreek Personal Care (via Butler YWCA) to Parker Personal Care (PPC). The PPC is a nonprofit 401C charitable corporation. A nine-member board of directors steers its operation: Dennis (Butch) Alworth, President; Fred Bowser, Vice-President; Carol Bowser, Secretary; Bert (Roberta) Alworth, Beth Gardner, Maxine Milford, Brad Horner, Jack Buzard, and Scott Anderson, Esq. Brandy Grossman is the Home Administrator and oversees the day-to-day operatins and staffing.
In early 2019 the facility was purchased from the Butler YWCA. The facility basically had zero money with a mortgage and note payable owed to the YWCA.
“I was the captain of a sinking ship with no lifeboats,” said Alworth. “And there were rough seas ahead of us.”
Fortunately, through an anonymous donor a donation retired the debt payable to the YWCA. Initial day-to-day ops received from local organizations, businesses, churches, and individuals enabled the facility to be self-sufficient within two months and remains so. Local organizations, businesses, churches, individuals, and Parker City Council have contributed to PPC’s ongoing success. Realized profits are reinvested back into the building and reserves are retained for any unexpected contingencies.
“We take pride in our ability to provide housing for a diverse group of people,” said Brandy Grossman, Director. “PPC, Inc., has a history of providing community service with plans to continue providing not only community service, but also quality care and living arrangements through a foundation of strong leadership and community involvement. Community needs of our population will be the basis of all our programming.”
So, in some ways I’m back to square one. My days on site of the old junior high started just down the hill at the gym. It was on the first day of seventh grade when I first noticed Ned Barger, Penny Master, and Butch Alworth. Butch and I have a bit of a history. Not only did we make it through six years of high school, but we then commuted together to Clarion State College (now Penn West University). Butch eventually went into the banking business, and his banking vocation led him to involvement with Bearcreek.
Butch got involved setting up the board of directors with Parker Personal Care. Fred Bowser was also in our class of 1967 at ACV. Here at PPC I get my meds, three squares a day (and an evening snack if I so desire), new bedding every two weeks, and laundry services. I sold my car, but I have sisters in Emlenton and Eau Claire. So, every so often I go to a medical appointment via their generosity. I also have some life-long friends still in the area. I like to treat for a meal. Here I am and I guess here is where I’ll stay.
I told my wife before our move from Glassoro, NJ, to Indiana, PA, that the world would become smaller with our move nearer to my home area. With the move to Grove City I remarked that the world would become even much smaller; then it was on to Parker. Oddly enough though, other AC alums on the board include Jack Buzard who graduated with my older brother; I played Little League with Beth Gardner’s husband, Mike; and Roberta Alworth was a couple classes after me. Small world indeed