"The way you get meaning into your life is to devote yourself to loving others, devote yourself to your community around you and devote yourself to creating something that gives you purpose and meaning."
I met Ed Harrington for the first time when I was 11-years-old.
Mr Harrington was a teacher and principal at Eldred Borough Elementary from 1959-1967. He then began a 20 year term as the superintendent of schools in the Otto-Eldred School District.
I was an Eldred Township kid and attended the Indian Creek school through sixth grade.
My family went to church at St. Raphael's and I took Monday afternoon catechism classes there during the school year.
Somebody once explained it to me, but it was difficult to comprehend then and unclear now, but I played little league baseball in Eldred although the majority of my township classmates played in Coryville.
Everything was okay though because of the above mentioned familiarity and eventual friendships formed with many of the kids in town.
After a year of playing as a 10-year-old in Eldred and having Joe Wolcott as my coach, I was more than comfortable with my baseball status.
Then, the impossible occurred. Mr. Wolcott ended his coaching career.
I loved baseball and he created an atmosphere of learning the game and having fun at the same time. I had two more years of little league remaining and it was difficult to imagine not playing for him.
There was more despondency when I found out that not only was Mr. Wolcott not coaching, but the principal at the borough school would be his successor.
My teammates and other buddies in town didn't help matters when they began to fill my impressionable head with tall tales of Mr. Harrington's teaching and administrative methods at their school
There were no male teachers at the township school and with my friends realizing I was an easy mark-they could play off my fear of the unknown. They made up stories that painted Mr. Harrington as someone, well let's just say I wasn't anxious to meet my new coach.
I never would have imagined that like Mr. Wolcott, Mr. Harrington would become an admired friend for almost half a century.
Ed Harrington was raised in Towanda (Pa.) and served in the Navy from 1950-1954.
He received his Bachelors and Masters Degrees in Education from Mansfield University and Saint Bonaventure respectively. He also completed post graduate work at the University of Pittsburgh-Bradford and Saint Bonaventure.
Ed, his wife Lorraine and three children; Barbara, Mary and Jennifer lived on Elm Street in Eldred. The back of their house was only 100 yards or so from the Eldred Area Park's baseball field.
I quickly discovered my apprehension about my new coach was misguided. I played nine years of youth baseball (Little League, Babe Ruth and American Legion) in Eldred, seven of those summers with Mr. Harrington as the man in charge.
How many times did we travel to away games in Austin, Coudersport, Emporium, Roulette, and numerous other towns, plus all-star game practices?
Each time following the same pattern- cars and drivers (always parents in our early years) meeting under the large trees in deep right field as Mr. Harrington would have his station wagon loaded with the baseball equipment and at least five or six players.
The road to the grade school no longer runs completely past it, but the trees where we met before each road game still remain. This more recent photo shows an outfield fence that did not exist during the 70's, maybe not put in place until the late 80's or 90's.
In fact, it wasn't transported at all. We were playing a Babe Ruth game at Limestone and when Mr. Harrington routinely said, "Unpack the gear," upon our arrival, there was no gear to unload-we left it back in Eldred.
It was back in the day when players did not have individual travel bags that carried their bat(s), glove, catchers' equipment, granola bars or energy bars, sports drinks and a miniature television or whatever else they could stuff in their bags. We carried our gloves and maybe a change of shoes. We used wood bats and they were all stored in one bat bag.
Mr. Harrington's numerous gameday duties included making sure all the players had transportation and all drivers had the correct routes. Our job was simply to make sure all the needed equipment made it to the car.
You would have thought that at least one player would have noticed the tools of our trade were missing, but evidently we were too busy reading comics, telling jokes and basically goofing off the entire drive.
Our team was 6-0 or 7-0 at the time and Limestone hadn't won a game.
Mr. Harrington gathered us all together after we had deplaned and it was evident we had no warmup balls or anything else.
"Boys, I'm usually a very mild-mannered man, but how in the (heck) did you forget to bring the gear," Mr. Harrington stated in a voice that only our group could hear. One of his words "might" have been a soft curse word, but he left little doubt he was upset with us.
The night didn't improve as playing with Limestone's equipment we lost 6-4, our only loss of the year as Mike Miller, Steve Jackson, Jerome Wolcott and the Lathrop brothers were just some of the guys who were part of our league championship team.
Mr. Harrington was one of three coaches on this 1969 Babe Ruth All-Star team that faced Williamsport West End and Wellsboro in the district playoffs. We were one game away from advancing to the next step of the state's playoff system. Kerry Snow defeated West End in game one, we beat Wellsboro in game two, but eventually lost to Williamsport in the championship game.
Eldred teammate and an outfielder on that B.R. all-star team, Lenny Oszustowicz- on the left.
There were lots of baseball highlights during my years with Mr. Harrington and we can take a look at a few of them later in this writing.
I never sat in administrative/teacher meetings or school board meetings or discussions about curriculum and personnel with Mr. Harrington. There are many people who had more time spent with him than I did especially after I graduated from high school and started a series of moves to Washington D.C., Kissimmee (Fl.), Quincy (Il.), Champaign, (Il.) and eventually Davenport, (Ia.).
It still was a rare occasion when I didn't see my coach on a trip or two home each year. He and Lorraine made excursions up to my folks' home once a month or so each summer to talk some baseball, community news and always left with some vegetables from my dad's garden.
Each pilgrimage home almost always included time spent on his front porch, discussing baseball, what had taken place in town during my time away and ALWAYS a conversation about the ever-growing list of O-E graduates and how they were faring. He cared immensely about the students (past and present). 18 or 30 years old, he knew how and what individuals were doing. He never stopped caring about them.
My parents and I had driven from Florida to my brother's home in Louisiana for the 1981 Christmas holidays.
My Floridian cousins phoned my brother's home and notified us about the horrific car accident that killed Mary and Jennifer Harrington. One of my cousins had been a good friend with Mary and the other with Jennifer through their early grade school days before my relatives moved to Florida.
I don't recall every detail of the terrible event, but I know the tragedy was made even worse by the discovery circumstances of the accident. I'm sure many people in town still remember.
I often wondered how a father and mother could survive such a loss and ever take a step forward again. I can only imagine how much strength and faith it took.
I wasn't there often, but I'm absolutely certain our community played a major role in providing all that one could offer.
I always told myself that I never would turn in to one of those folks who continually said, "Well, back when I was a kid we did this or had to do that......"
It's true that I do look back at my younger days, especially when I lived in Eldred, played ball in Eldred and at O-E and still have many friends and family in the area. I don't live in the past, but I respect the history and contributions made by previous generations.
I see clearly now how many people in the community were role models for me; my parents, coaches, teachers, friends' parents and so many women and men in town and school.
The unique part of it all was that they weren't trying to be role models or attempting to impress anyone. They were living life. The folks in our community worked hard providing for their families and creating opportunities for their kids. Somehow they still found time to be there for one another in times of need.
They did things the right way.
As I look at some of the information posted on Facebook now, I realize that same spirit and willingness to lend a hand still exists. There are many who are willing to give to others, simply because it's the right thing to do, not trying to seek praise or accolades.
I read last names that are very familiar. Usually, I don't know the specific person, but there's a good chance I knew their parents and as time has rushed by, their grandparents.
Living in so many places and different environments I can attest that feeling or being part of something and concerned about more than one's self is not present everywhere. I sense that it is even less observable in some places than ever before, but it continues in my hometown and the surrounding area that makes up the O-E community.
I regret that despite all the advantages one could have, there was a period of time in my life that I know would have disappointed Mr. Harrington and I wished I had turned to him sooner.
But like my parents-Mr. Harrington, Mr. Wolcott, the Wolcott family and others stuck with me although we all knew I was letting valuable time slip through my fingers.
I taught two and a half years in the O-E School District both at the Borough and Township schools. I enjoyed the kids, all the people I worked with (Ron Wood, Bob Falk, Norm King, Larry Snyder, Paula Looker, Cindy Barrett Bill Stavisky and others) and the opportunity to hopefully help the youngsters I had every day in class.
One day, Mr. Harrington stopped by my classroom as the kids left at the end of the day.
He knew me so well and had such great perception as he asked me, "This isn't really what you want to do, is it?"
He understood I still had dreams of having a career in professional baseball and until I exhausted all avenues I would never be completely happy in another work environment
I finished the school year, went to New Jersey to work at a baseball camp for two months and then moved to Florida, giving me the best chance I had to work in professional baseball full-time. I was very fortunate that good things happened.
Mr. Harrington gave the eulogy at my father's funeral mass in January '05. He did not repeat the words that were printed in my father's obituary. He truly knew my dad and everything that was important in my dad's life.
Some of the younger members in my family, a few who may have lived outside our community, may have wondered why Mr. Harrington mentioned a couple of subjects. He understood my dad and many others back home so well- he knew people and what individuals enjoyed and took special interest in.
My dad had many likes, but both he and my mother took great pride in taking care of their home and property- inside and outside. I'll always remember how immaculate my father kept his garage- every nut, bolt, washer, wrench and screwdriver in place and always a tool for any task. The lawn was mowed neatly, the garden and flowers always in order-that was my dad and Mr. Harrington knew how important that was to my father. He stated that clearly as part of his recognition of my dad.
Otto's Kerry Snow gave up only two hits , but one was a sixth inning home run by Lenny Oszustowicz, the only run of the game.
A photo of the 1958 squad right before playoff time. Opening game was in Eldred vs. Phillipsburg.
A closeup and a clearer look of some team members.
Jumping to 1972 and Mr. Harrington's league championship team led by Kerry Snow. Kerry pitched against Bradford three times that season, twice in the regular season and in a playoff game to determine the league winner-that game held at a neutral field, Port Allegany. Kerry was 3-0 vs. Bradford that season.
I can recall Mr. Harrington and Lorraine joining my parents and I on an excursion to Pittsburgh to see the Pirates face the Dodgers. Mr. Harrington was a huge L.A. fan and I think we saw a three games- Friday evening, Saturday afternoon and Sunday afternoon. I don't know who won the three-game series, but I'm sure the Dodgers weren't swept because that would have been a long-g-g-g drive back to Eldred for Mr. Harrington.
What I absolutely remember is that we stayed in Wexford, Pa.-maybe ten miles from Three Rivers Stadium. There was a drive-in theater less than a mile from our motel. The adults (I think I still fell in to the "kid" category) drove over and watched "Blazing Saddles."
When they returned all they could talk about was the scene when the cowboys sat around the campfire eating beans. They were still laughing about that part through the rest of the evening."
Here's some comments from various people about Ed Harrington.
"He was a great man. I looked up to him."
"A gentleman, a scholar and a friend."
"He was the epitome of the word "educator." This man cared about each and every student that passed through the doors of Otto-Eldred, knew us all by name and never judged. His faith was tested by tragic losses and still he persevered.
"What an amazing man he was!"
"My trips home to Eldred were not complete until Ed and I solved the world's problems while sitting on his front porch. Ed was my second dad."
Pennsylvania was always noted for their American Legion baseball programs. For many years there was no high school baseball in the state and Legion ball filled that void in the warmth of the summer and the competition was always intense.
Mr. Harrington followed us from Babe Ruth to American Legion ball (ages 16-18) or it would be better said that we followed him.
Before we recall Mr. Harrington's 71-73 teams, we flash back to Eldred's league championship team of 1958.
Front row from left to right: Dan Fuss, Mike O'Brien, Bob Bean, John Sifferin, John Farris and manager, Bob Bradt.
Back row from left to right: Coach Bob Fuss, Bill Slavin, Bud Downey, Stub Wirtz, Dan Kelly, Paul Bates and Andy Ellenberger.
Sitting in the front is batboy, Teddy Bradt.
Snow then won two district playoff games vs. Warren as Eldred won that series, two games to one. Whitey Peterson, George Lathrop, John Hepfer, Len Oszustowicz and Jim Russell were some of the members of that squad.
I'm not certain how many years or even if Mr. Harrington continued coaching a year or two after our time together in the American Legion program. I know we never had a losing season during the seven years I played for him and most of that time our record was well over .500.
Jimmy Green, on the right, played a major role in the success of the Eldred American Legion teams.
Unlike football and basketball, summer baseball though it was covered well by the local papers, had few if any feature articles on area baseball coaches.
Mr. Harrington, during his tenure, achieved one of the top coaching marks in the area, but his career coaching record and accomplishments went basically unknown to most, except his players, parents and our fans.
He would never say anything about something like that. He coached and we played-pretty darn well.
He loved baseball so much. The Dodgers were his team and on several trips home through the years, he would tell me about his record in his fantasy baseball league, who "owned" the top teams in the league and the success or failure of some of his choices.
We didn't learn all of the x's and o's of baseball-few do in their teens, but we were taught so much more. I was fortunate to play with guys who were very good players, but more importantly, we always enjoyed every part of the game while playing for Mr. Harrington.
In every environment, he was always a teacher. His voice was deep, but soft (almost all the time) and you hung on every word. He never over-coached and in a school environment, on the baseball field or on his front porch, he never lectured you.
He never tried to impress anyone with all that he knew. He understood that kids aren't searching for all the answers from someone until they know you care about them. Ed Harrington was a wise man and he cared about everyone.
My final conversation with Mr Harrington was at the Sena-Kean Manor in Smethport.
Late in life, he became a resident there as did my mother at approximately the same time.
On my trips back to McKean County, I visited my mom daily and ate lunch with her each day in the large dining room.
Mr. Harrington came in to the eating area just as my mother and I were finishing lunch. I'd join him at his table and it never took long to break in to a somewhat lengthy recall of our baseball days.
"Yeah, Jimmy. We did pretty well, didn't we." He was at a point in his illness where he still recalled players and games spot on almost all the time.
Progressively his health worsened and he passed away on September 20, 2016 at the age of 85.
Five years have passed and visions of time spent with him continue to remain in high definition.
My mother kept some scrapbooks of my years playing ball in Eldred (almost all of them with Mr. Harrington as my coach) and they are now in the Eldred Library-photos and clippings of our playing days.
There's pictures and articles about our teams, but they can't capture what is in our hearts. Ed Harrington contributed so much to so many in the Eldred and O-E community.
He was a teacher, friend and dedicated to serving the community in a number of ways (school, coaching, the Senior Center, etc.) His teachings still live in many of us.
Terrific writer. If you haven't read much of Jim's material, you don't know what you are missing. Check out his other writings. You won't be disappointed!
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