Yes, we certainly do have the right to call ourselves “Old”, Old Lycoming Township, that is! On August 22, 1997, “OLT”, as we like to call ourselves, was 212 years old; having been established on August 22, 1785. Do you realize that our country was only nine (9) years old at that time?
Well, we are still here; somewhat smaller than we were originally, but still standing. We have grown up with our country.
Originally, Old Lycoming Township extended to the Susquehanna River and included Newberry and Jaysburg. Today, our boundaries are Daughertys Run Road to the West, Beautys Run Road to the North, Lycoming Creek to the East and Short Street to the South.
One of our major assets is our good residents. OLT has always been blessed with a wide variety of people, most of whom have been exceedingly loyal to their township. We are also blessed with natural beauty. Lycoming Creek, known by the Indians as LeganiHanne, winds its way along our border, flowing next to the glorious hills and occasionally crossing the valley here and there. The Indian name for Lycoming was mispronounced by the early settlers and eventually became Lycoming instead of Legani. Hanne, of course, means stream, like Susquehanna.
In the bygone years, the hills around here were covered with virgin forest of hemlock and pine. Williamsport’s lumber era was fed by many a tree from the Lycoming Creek Valley. The forests in which the Native Americans roamed gave way to clearance and then cultivation. May history always remind us of our original residents – the Indians, who were without a doubt, the greatest environmentalists the world will ever know.
Of course, time does not stand still and change always comes. Through the years changes have occurred in our township. The Indian way of life may be gone, but not altogether. Their trail became a road, a railroad and even a bikepath. Their creek is still traveled by canoes, fished in and swam in. As for hunting, it’s not all done at the Weis Market. Hunters are still tracking through the forested hills. There are still deer, bears, raccoons, opossums, skunks, rabbits, turkeys, pheasants, squirrels, minks, groundhogs, muskrats, beavers, etc. and an infinite variety of birds that inhabit our area. The Indians never made any of these species extinct. What a marvelous legacy has been left to us.
Our landscape is still breathtaking! Drive any of our country roads and be rewarded with the beauty of nature. Gaze from the hills at scenic views. Every season has its own kind of beauty.
We are a good mix of city and country. Downtown Gardenview is our commercial center and seems to add a new feature every year. Just about everything we need is available in our township; the services, the commodities; no need to drive for miles if we don’t to or haven’t the time.
Most of the industries we have in the township have been here quite a while. They are good ones, and we hope they will stay. A lot of us work in the township we live in. That’s convenience and economy.
Most of the changes from our past have been gradual, and we have grown gracefully and learned a lot about development. We have learned how important it is to plan carefully for the future, no matter what aspect of township growth we are dealing with; housing, public services, recreation, etc.
We have had heroes from all the wars. We’ve had peacetime heroes, too. Some heroism has been performed quietly, while some gained more recognition. We’ve had our share of traumas. We’ve experienced floods, fires, a tremendous gas explosion, a major highway cutting through the very heart of our municipality; but we have always stood. We’ve always had those who loved their neighbor as much as themselves and were willing to put that belief into practice.
Life will go on. Some will leave our township; some will stay; and there will be newcomers; but the underlying current will always be the same one that has held us together so strongly for 212 years. We care about each other; therefore, we care about our community – Old Lycoming Township.