- Last Updated on Thursday, 27 October 2016 18:17
Courtney, Pennsylvania may have once been a small dot on some maps, but its residents came out in full force to celebrate the first reunion of this tiny hamlet on the Monongahela River.
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| Judy, Pat and Pete Donina traveled the farthest |
Anyone with a Courtney connection, past or present, was invited. The event, held on Friday, September 9, 2016 attracted seventy attendees, the eldest being 92. They enjoyed a delicious buffet and excellent service at Hill’s Restaurant in New Eagle.
The highlight of the evening was sharing childhood memories of growing up in a small town. It was a simpler time when children got together to play baseball, went sledding, played hide and seek, and had picnics at the river. Women in the community enjoyed their monthly card parties. Halloween was a very special time, even though children had to walk miles for their treats. Everyone remembered Fran Ferro's candied apples.
Attendees came from as far as California, Florida, New Jersey, Virginia and Ohio. Each family received a book of stories collected over the past year and a directory of names. Judy Donina Wolfe from Huntington Beach, CA ,who lived in Courtney from 1948-1970, organized the event.
Local Valley historians Terry Necciai, Laura M. Magone and Charles Talbert also attended.
Courtney is now part of the borough of New Eagle. It may have lost its original name, but it will always be Courtney to those who grew up there, some for their entire lives. The town has a Facebook group - “We’re From Courtney” - where many old photos, stories and reunion photos are posted.
