OH, BRADFORD: We’ve said it over and over again. It seems that all roads lead to Bradford.

We heard a great story from Mike and Martha Madden that we had to share with readers.

“Our son, Fran Madden — BHS ’97, UPB ’02 — was traveling on business in Germany last month. He was on a train traveling from Munich to Stuttgart when the train had mechanical problems. The passengers had to leave the train.

“Not understanding German, he asked a lady for help in understanding the message. Fran booked an Uber to finish the trip, and since she was going to the same place, he asked her if she would like to share it. She inquired where he was from and he said Pennsylvania. She said she had lived there at one time. Fran inquired where in Pennsylvania, and of course she said, “Bradford.” Her name is Elsa Augustenborg. She and her husband, Jay, lived in Foster Hollow when he worked for Schlumberger.”

We know of at least one other former Bradfordian living in Germany, Marc Schuetrum. He still has family in this area, and is a lifelong friend of our own Marcie Schellhammer.

Marc says, “When I tell people I am from Bradford, Pa., a lot don’t know where that is but all I have to do is say, ‘that is the town where they make Zippo lighters’ then they think that is cool.

You can purchase Zippos over here in darn near every kiosk and tobacco shop, lots of gift shops and a fair number of liquor stores.”

A bit more from Marc tomorrow.