NEED HELP: The McKean County Historical Society is attempting to
expand and update its wildlife exhibit, and is looking for your
help.

Specifically, the society needs animal mounts which residents
are willing to donate or lend to the museum located in the old
County Jail in Smethport.

The project is being under taken to better educate the county
about the diverse wildlife found in the region.

RUBE WADDELL: More today about Bradford’s own talented (but a
bit crazy) baseball player, Rube Waddell.

John Cummiskey writes: “Your well-written column on Rube Waddell
was very good. I read many a good item by Mike Royko, the
Polish-Ukranian that tended bar in his parents’ tavern from the age
of 14. That ‘gin-filled bathtub with the three drunken trout’ I
never bought.

“Rube, in not showing up in 1905 Series after an arm injury, had
no chance to show his skills against the great Christy Mathewson.
And in that 1905 Series, Christy sure had everything – he twirled a
record three complete game shutouts against the Philadelphia
Athletics for the John McGraw N.Y. Giants (St. Bonaventure
tie-in).

“They say Rube was born on Jackson Avenue. I’ve also heard he
loved to visit St. Marys, Pa., and drink beer and dine on
sauerkraut and meat available.

“Lastly, in death there has to be some dignity. Rube had settled
in a small Kentucky town in retirement. Early in 1912, Waddell
developed tuberculosis after working shoulder-deep in icy water to
help save a Kentucky town during a flood.

“Rube died April 1, 1914. In 1946, he entered the Hall of Fame.
The above statement I quote the book ‘The Hall of Fame Players
Cooperstown’ – author, Dan Chabot.”

D-DAY THANKS: Barney Snyder liked our reprint of FDR’s D-Day
prayer. He writes, “So many people died on D-Day and after. My
father-in-law was a tank driver and was in the Battle of the Bulge.
It is a very moving prayer and we should put it in our bring up
file for every June 6. Those of us who were alive when D-Day took
place are understandably most affected by your remembering to print
it.”

TODAY’S QUOTE: “A man should never be ashamed to admit he has
been in the wrong, which is but saying, in other words, that he is
wiser today than he was yesterday,” said Alexander Pope, British
poet, 1727.