Children at Play

Visiting my grandparents was something I looked forward to with great anticipation.  Once we arrived, one of the first things I would want to do was to run over to the East Athens school house up the street, and play on the monkey bars.  It was exciting to have a playground so close, and we usually had it to ourselves.  Here is a painting Janice did of the school.

According to neighbor Katherine Burns: 
  "It had only about three or four rooms and may have started as a one room school house. She gave that to the East Athens Community Hall where it hung for many years. It now hangs at the Spalding Memorial Library and Museum in Athens."

In a similar vein is a painting she did of my sisters and me climbing a tree in springtime.  We loved to climb trees as children, but this particular tree did not exist, so the scene was from Janice's imagination.  I particularly liked the way she laid the paint on so thickly that you could actually reach out and feel the blossoms.

Bradford County scenes painted by Mary Wands Campbell

The Pink Chemung

My grandmother had a special love for the Chemung River and painted its sinuous curves many times.

Tozer's Barn

She painted this barn in Plein Air style, on location.  I have a photo of her at work.

She painted local mansions now demolished.

Robert Packer Mansion

Robert Asa Packer was instrumental in the early development of Sayre, PA.  As president of the Northern Division of the Lehigh Railroad, be built this impressive mansion in Sayre.  It was later occupied by the Robert Packer Hospital. 

Sidney Hayden homestead Sayre, PA

Another founder of Sayre, was Sidney Hayden who came from Connecticut.  When he arrived, Sayre was an undeveloped wilderness.  Discovering fine red clay in the area, he set about starting a brickyard, making and selling brick.  Later, he became a builder and contractor.  The pits where he dug for clay became ponds which he beautified by planting water lilies.  He built this impressive home in 1840.   In 1885 he was named Postmaster, and his home served as the Post Office.   The house was razed in 1965 to provide a site for the St. John's Lutheran church.  Katie Replogle provided me with an image of this painting which is in the collection of the Tioga Point Museum in Athens.

This painting of the Towner home on Towner Hill is also in the collection of the Tioga Point Museum.  Thanks again to Katie Replogle.

My grandmother's notes about the Towner family, whose house she painted.

Purple Cow

I believe this to be a scene from East Athens, where my grandmother lived.  Below some local winter scenes.

And one more of these small impressionistic paintings of the area.

Tioga Point

Katie Replogle came through again today, with another painting by my grandmother.  This one of Tioga Point, Athens, painted for a family named Lucy many years ago.  Liz and Chuck Lucy donated the painting to the Spalding Memorial Library.

Tioga Point by Mary Wands Campbell

Tioga Point was the original name of Athens, and the scenic spot has always been dear to my grandparents.  Below a photo taken by my grandfather, Herbert Campbell, from a slightly different angle.

Tioga Point photo by Herbert Campbell

My grandmother was so taken with Tioga Point, she even penned a poem under the nom de plume of Cayenne Pepper, about why Athens should have been named Tioga Point instead of the second-hand name of Athens.

Athens Should be Named Tioga Point
by Cayenne Pepper

Old Athens, in the grandeur of her gracious, golden prime,
Never had a fortune-teller give her warning of the time
When her fame would be all story, and her monument of glory,
Be "forty-leven" namesakes in a far and foreign clime.

One, they tell me, Mother Athens, is in every state but four!
I've held a list in my own fist, that totaled to a score.
There's Athens, Penn., and Athens, Tenn., it is not far to hie
From the one that happens nearest to another.  Here's the
Clearest case of any place, within my ken, of fingers in the pie.

We should honor ancient Athens - but for us, oh how I wish,
We could serve our share honor in some other sort of dish.
Then, who knows but ancient Athens, too, might take it as disgrace,
And change her will, or send a bill, if she should see the place.

For all these other Athenses there may be some excuse,
And for the Romes and Parises, but was there any use
In taking on a borrowed tag right here where there was found
A name on hand (the one they canned) upon this very ground?
By this historic water way, from this same soil it sprung,
In olden days of legend that was told in native tongue.

They cast away, one happy day, their rightful name and more-
Picked a second-handed label that was overworked before.
They sought, tis thought, distinction.  O famed of foolish ways!
They left the balmy frying pan - to blister in the blaze.

Sweet to the sweet, and otherwise, oh could it come to pass!
How I'd like to smite the sinners with the jawbone of an ass.
And had I Samson's mighty strength, I'd not hold back a mite.
I'd pick the most propitious place and swat him good and right
Who took the map upon his lap of this fair spot we see -
And wrote the name of Athens where Tioga Point should be.