TALL: Gordon Sherk recalls meeting the tallest man in the world, Henry Hite, when Henry visited Bradford decades ago.

Hite was featured in Tuesday’s column.

“I’m not sure if he frequented the Quality Markets, but I know that he did frequent the Reading supermarket and I did meet him.”

Gordon was a senior in high school working in Reading supermarket at the corner of East Main Street and North Kendall Avenue in 1965.

Gordon noted he worked with a Michael Angello and Janet Redington, who also met Henry.

“I do believe that he was advertising the Wilson Certified Meats at the time,” Gordon agreed.

FREEZING: For those who have been walking outside and wondering if it has ever been this cold, no worries, it definitely has.

On Jan. 22, 1970, freezing temperatures were hitting our area.

“Deep-freeze temperatures and bitter north-northwesterly winds combined Wednesday to give Bradford, McKean County and most of the general area one of their coldest days of the winter,” The Era reported at the time.

There were numerous sub-zero readings reported, and the mercury had dropped to the level of zero Wednesday night.

Minus zero temperatures were also reported throughout Marshburg, Kane, Emporium, Smethport, Little Valley, Olean and Allegany.

“At Bradford Regional Airport, a minus four degrees was recorded overnight and the high reading was plus five degrees. The wind chill factor was listed at minus 40 degrees.”

There were also wind gusts reported as high as around 30 mph throughout the day.

“The Associated Press reported from Pittsburgh that Peoples Natural Gas Co. cut back service to its western Pennsylvania industrial customers Wednesday because it said the cold weather threatened its gas storage balance.”

In 1970, a spokesperson for Peoples, which served 16 counties, stated that service to its 236 customers would have to be cut by 75 percent so that service could be insured to consumers.

This was the first cutback from the company since 1958.

With this, a similar statement was also made for McKean County by Columbia Gas Co.

So, when you wake up in the morning, walk outside, and wonder “has it ever been this cold?,” the answer, is yes.

Just hang in there, everyone, warmer weather — hopefully — will be here soon.