Let’s roam west to Don Shearer’s Lincoln-Mercury dealership. It was located on High Street land occupied by Carrolls Hamburgers which acquired Burger King that has operated from that site for the last 55 years.

Donald Shearer (1911-1995) sold his automobile dealership to Dr. Carl Meyer, Jr. (1934-2009) and his spouse, Thomasine. Across the street, Taco Bell opened for business in December of 2024 on land once occupied by the E. D. Myers Garage and later, Hanna International Trucks. The corner building was occupied by Hoy’s Pawn Shop, Sears and Corbin’s Footwear, owned by Robert Simcox. Bob once sold records in my historic Simon Building.

In 1962, Glenn Bell, a burger-joint owner founded Taco Bell and behind this new store, you’ll find Jordan Sheffer’s Central Contracting, Inc. and William A. Gebhart’s Bald Eagle Precision Machine Shop. Bill passed away in December of 2024 and years ago parents, Esther and Harry, operated Gebhardt Service Station on the nearby triangle where you’ll find HUB’s Home Oxygen & Medical Supplies and Brite Laundry Center.

Before constructing its new facility on Spring Street behind the Fairfield Inn & Suites, Geisinger Medical Center operated by the boundary between Lock Haven and Flemington with nearby Dorsett’s Gift Shop.

Headed toward the “alcoholic-dry” community of Flemington (c.1814), you’ll come across the Best Auto Service Center (formally a Singer Sewing Machine location).

Soon you’ll see the location of Arbys, Rita’s Ice and Pizza Hut along with Clinton (bowling) Lanes and Family Practice Center, owned by entrepreneur Paul Mahoney (1950-2021). In addition to a successful business career, Paul loved music, operated Assantes and booked nightly rock and roll bands.

Glance across High Street and you’ll see the famed Unkle Joe’s Woodshed where, for 68 years, shoppers received a free pretzel stick when entering the store. Unkle Joe was actually Joe Anderson (1910-1981), founder of a second Woodshed in Altoona. As a young man, Mr. Anderson engaged me to perform music during his Crestmont lawn parties. The Woodshed will be missed by many.

Head over the crest between the stone cut slopes and you’ll see a building on the left owned by Johnny Jennings. This structure has been the location of Kentucky Fried Chicken, Reading Meats, Sunset Ice Cream, Jenning’s Pizza Mia and most-recently, a convenience store. You’re now in the Flemington “Red Eye” community. Some believe that nickname was derived from red corneas caused by pollution from the nearby paper mill and others believe it stemmed from heavy drinking. But whatever the origin, we know some residents are referred to as the “Red Eyes.”

Watch the next intersection in Flemington at the Huston and High traffic light by the new 7-OHMG Health Food Store. I’ve viewed confidential and exciting development plans for this area. It is before Gallagher’s Floor Covering Store on Canal Street. Castanea residents Dean and Helen Gallagher opened their store in 1959. Today it is a reliable business known as Carpet One, operated by Mike and Nancy Gallagher.

Cross the historic Flemington Iron Bridge and you’ll find the Rick Fultz Body Shop and Smith Car Wash.

Further on is the Rey Arteca Mexican Restaurant (formerly an auto parts store and Joe’s Main Chueng Chinese Restaurant). The Tractor Supply Company occupies the former site of Janet’s Tire and Recapping. Bob Janet’s facility was located before Bi-Lo Supply, Stone House Pizza (now OIP) and the Thompson property.

Soon came Miller’s Chrysler dealership, fka Mor-Car Motors. C. Grant Miller (1933-2023), with sons Bill, Bob and Doug, are dominant forces in the regional auto industry and they operate Bill’s Happy Camper, Miller Brothers Auto Sales and the Central Pennsylvania Auto Auction (c.1987).

It’s fun to peek through the windows of Miller’s private classic car collection on the Mackeyville Road. Pristine old cars from the fifties and sixties fill this large private museum.

Robert Rockey (1926-2010) operated Rockey’s Drive Inn Restaurant and Auto Sales across the Bully from Miller’s showroom. I later leased that showroom (owned by Lee Gilbert) to Blaise Alexander and today, it is a Dollar Tree. You might have witnessed aviation enthusiast Lee piloting his Russian MIG Fighter Jet over Clinton County skies.

One can’t forget Warner’s Big Wrangler Steakhouse. Ellis Warner (1931-2022) operated restaurant locations in Montoursville, State College and Mill Hall, a Rambler, Jeep and Mercury car dealership (with brother Lem) and a host of other businesses. Ellis sold his location to the Helt Funeral Chapel, Inc., adjacent to Variety Buffet.

Off the Bully was G. Henry McCormick’s Camelot Estates Mobile Home Park. Henry McCormick (1917-2002), a business magnate, acquired Lock Haven Broadcasting Corporation (WBPZ) and moved it from my Simon Building to the Widmann offices.

Later it relocated to Sylvin Klewans Shoe Store, sold to John Lipez and then sold to Mark and Jeff Schlesinger. Schlesinger Communications recently purchased the Lock Haven Elks Club and young Noah plans to open the Euphoria Heights Brewing Company at that site.

Also located on the old Bully was The Dipsy Doodle Dairy Bar, Dr. William Adams medical office, Crystal Optical, Eisemann Jewelry and the Big N Plaza…along with a string of various retail stores. Nearby was John McCormick’s Interior Designs.

From the Big N (Neisner Brothers) parking lot, one had an unobstructed view of the 300-car Park Drive-In Theatre screen. Attendees hung old heavy speakers on the car window to watch movies at the Drive-In. Opening in 1950, The Park eventually discontinued old Elvis movies in favor of X-rated movies. Thereafter, walking your kids to the Big N became a bit uncomfortable if they were more focused on the nearby giant screen action than the department store! The Assembly of God Church now occupies this land.

Nobody wants to talk about local movie theatre porn, drive-in flicks, downtown Lock Haven strip clubs, hunting camp exotic dancers, motel prostitution rings or the Route 150 massage parlor.

The Big N land now houses Lowes, Sheetz and soon, perhaps a Take 5 oil change shop.

WalMart is located on land that was the former Clintonian Motel, formerly owned by Ralph Vogel (1904-1999) and Frances Vogel. They constructed the Lock Haven Motel for daughter Frannie, and they owned numerous other hostelries, laundries and businesses. The parents had a troubled son, Dennis, who fatally-wounded employees Donald Atwood and Shirley Rechel at the W. T. Grant Store in downtown Lock Haven.

My dad suffered a heart attack and I could no longer teach music students at home. Mrs. Vogel, my kind student, lovingly created a studio in one of her motel rooms where I resumed lessons during my father’s recovery.

Pass The Clintonian and you’d arrive at Dan Reinhold’s gift shop and the exclusive Clinton Country Club managed by Archie and Delores Ayres and Wes Maggs, former owner of (Caprio’s) Dunkle’s Cafe (now Uncle Alberts). I often performed on keyboards in the Club’s plush dining room, appointed with red drapery, linen tablecloths and a well-dressed wait staff (now Haywoods on the Green).

You shouldn’t miss the Millbrook Playhouse located in a 175 year-old barn. This unique venue, leased in 1962 for live plays and shows, is a gem of the county. Acknowledged as the Millbrook Founder, Dan Reinhold was a County Commissioner and master silversmith. If you wish to step into history, pick up the book Millbrook Playhouse 1963-2013 by Kathy Arndt or check out afghans available at the Ross Library, Fallon Hotel, Fox’s Restaurant and Heisey Museum.

The Candor family operated the Whale-O-Wash, now Curt’s (Candor) Smokin’ Ribs. And if you’d cross the Fishing Creek Bridge, you’d have found the Creekside Restaurant, fka Butch and Darla Aungst’s Family Restaurant, Weaver Electric and some other businesses. With over 1,000 stores in seven states, WAWA is scheduled to soon open a convenience store on this site.

Travel further towards Beech Creek and you’d find hair salons, porn movie stores, fireworks outlets, Peters Sporting Goods, weight-loss clinics, Duck’s legendary Blue Chimney Restaurant (now Advanced Family Chiropractic) and Jerry Blanchard’s Miller’s Furniture of Mill Hall. Behind the stores was George H. and Marjorie E. Johnstonbaugh’s Dairy.

On the right was the “Happy Dutchman’s” Renninger Lumber Company (that was severely damaged by fire). Monroe Nevin “Pap” Renninger (1817-1983) had a son, Ernest E. Renninger, (1940-2021) and Ernie’s spouse, Nancy, now operates Calico Creek Feed & Pet, next to the new Sam Stoltzfus Belle Market & Grocery Outlet.

Commerce blossomed all the way to Beech Creek with flower shops, banks, hardware stores, convenience stores, pizza shops, hotels, restaurants and other small businesses too numerous to list.

Mill Hall’s Main Street offered Tom Smith’s Valley Hotel, Bob Raible’s Pharmacy, Charlie Stevenson’s Appliances (now Floating Feathers Brewing Company), the Dean K. Wetzler, Jr. Funeral Home, First National Bank (that I recently sold), Romig’s Furniture (destroyed by fire) and other shops, feed stores, spas, barber shops, metal fabricating companies, sub shops, donut shops, gift shops and restaurants.

One unique business was the nearby Dutch Inn where E. B. Hills served upscale meals. Mr. Hills featured works by Tasha Tudor (1915-2008), renowned for publishing over 100 children’s books.

My memory captured only a few enterprises replaced by giants such as WalMart, Lowes and burger or sub shops. It’s conceivable the community suffered with the exodus of established, traditional and personal service firms and upscale dining menus. Today, foreign imports, substandard service, virtual inventory and low quality goods have negatively impacted the variety, employment and options once available in Clinton County.

It was an honor to know many former business people and their families. That is the Lock Haven allure not found in other towns. Good people…and their pride.

So, ask yourself whether our area is growing, or whether it could be experiencing a subtle downward trend. You decide.

Stephen Poorman is a longtime area resident and business consultant.