This week in local history: Goats, groceries and games

1976 — Theresa Murphy, of Glenburn was forming a new 4-H club in the area, specializing in goats: The Lackawanna County 4-H Dairy Goat Club. She explained in the Journal article that goats were “enjoying a new popularity as dairy animals and pets.”

“Several of the stereotyped ideas about goat behavior are simply not true, as they do not smell badly unless poorly fed, she said, and are rather fussy eaters,” read the article.

“Far from the popular image of goats munching on tin cans, the goats in the Murphy’s 37-animal herd, she said, refuse hay which has fallen in the dirt.”

1977 — Weis Markets opened its 97th store, a 26,000-square-foot supermarket on Route 6 and 11, claiming to be “one of the most modern in the entire trading area.” The store’s first customer to walk in for the grand opening ceremonies was Mrs. Walter Petrosky, of Clarks Summit, who was greeted with a handshake at the door by Manager William Oyler.

The business, which was located in the area now occupied by Dunkin Donuts, Moe’s, Community Bank, N.A. and the Waffle House, later moved down the road to its current South Abington Township location.

1980 — Baptist Bible College (now Summit University of Pennsylvania) was headed for the National Christian College Athletic Association Division II national finals for the fifth year in a row, following a 54-52 win over Valley Forge Christian that week.

“The Defenders, the only team ever to appear in all five NCAA national tournaments, will be seeded No. 1 and are scheduled to play the first game Friday night, March 7, against either Kentucky Christian or Gulf Coast Christian at the tournament’s Springfield, Mo. site,” read the article. “A win on Friday would mean that BBC will play for the national title at 8:30 p.m. (CST) on Saturday. If the Defenders lose on Friday, they’ll play for third place at 6:30 Saturday.”

In the end, the team came home with a runner-up banner to hang in the gym, according to an article in the next week’s paper.

“That old nemesis of basketball coaches – the personal foul – killed Baptist Bible College’s chances of winning its second consecutive National Christian College Athletic Association Division II championship,” it read.

Young Bruno Murphy feeds goats from a soda bottle in 1976.

https://www.theabingtonjournal.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/02/web1_ABJ-LH-0302-1976.jpg.optimal.jpgYoung Bruno Murphy feeds goats from a soda bottle in 1976. Abington Journal file photos

William Oyler greets Weis Market’s first customer at the Clarks Summit store, Mrs. Walter Petrosky, at the grand opening in 1977.

https://www.theabingtonjournal.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/02/web1_ABJ-LH-0302-1977.jpg.optimal.jpgWilliam Oyler greets Weis Market’s first customer at the Clarks Summit store, Mrs. Walter Petrosky, at the grand opening in 1977. Abington Journal file photos

Baptist Bible College’s Duane Early, number 33, goes up for two points on drive as teammate mark Malin, number 40, makes sure of the score in a 1980 game against Valley Forge Christian.

https://www.theabingtonjournal.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/02/web1_ABJ-LH-0302-1980.jpg.optimal.jpgBaptist Bible College’s Duane Early, number 33, goes up for two points on drive as teammate mark Malin, number 40, makes sure of the score in a 1980 game against Valley Forge Christian. Abington Journal file photos