TIME TO ROCK: A caption in Tuesday’s edition may have left some
readers to believe that the Era’s Less Fortunate (ELF) is off its
rocker. Well, it is – kind of.

The photo showed members of Pitt-Bradford’s Art Club painting
and decorating a rocking chair, one of a number of rocking chairs
and rocking horses which will be auctioned off to benefit the ELF
Fund.

“Rock Around the Christmas Tree” is the fourth annual auction of
holiday items known as “The Festival of Trees” and will be held
from 5-7 p.m. Thursday, Nov. 17, at the Bradford Club. While this
event solely provides support for the ELF Fund, it is organized and
operated by a special group of volunteers.

The Nov. 17 Festival is sponsored by its corporate ambassador
Northwest Savings Bank and Investment Management and Trust
Services.

ONE MORE: Cheri Campbell writes, “One more tidbit about the
Seven Dials gas station on Interstate Parkway: My mother’s
great-grandfather was John C. Looker (1855-1938) a Crawford County,
Pa., native who moved to the Bradford area in the late 1800s and
eventually became one of the largest independent oil producers in
Pennsylvania before retiring in the late 1920s. (Yes, this is the
same Looker for whom Looker Mountain Trail is named).”

“He invested his considerable profits in real estate, mostly in
the Bradford and Smethport areas. His Bradford holdings included
the Hotel Holley, Mill Street garage and – yes – the Seven Dials
garage.

“He died in 1938, but the property stayed in the possession of
his family until 1946. I have copies of the probate inventories
which specifically mention the Seven Dials station which, although
I grew up in Bradford, I had never heard of until I read the
property inventories.

“By the way, John Looker’s son-in-law, Simon Dennis (my
great-grandfather), owned the City Line filling station on South
Avenue. The John Stromberg someone mentioned as running that
station was, in turn, Simon Dennis’ son-in-law.

“While I’m at it, I do have to mention that John C. Looker grew
up near the farm which John Brown, the abolitionist of Harper’s
Ferry fame, had once lived and operated a tannery on adjacent
property.

“John Looker bought that farm in the late 1920s and was
instrumental in preserving the history of the property. John
Brown’s first wife, Dianthe and a son are buried on the farm
property.”