Dec. 6, 1950

Penelec sent five additional crews into Altoona to work on restoring electric power to homes and businesses knocked out by the recent ice storm. Penelec President D.W. Jardine toured Altoona and said, “In my more than 40 years in the utility business, I have never seen or heard of a storm that had caused such widespread destruction.”

Dec. 6, 1975

The Alto Cadets Marching Band members met at the Howard Avenue Armory to plan to add a rifle drill team. Gary Louder was band director, Mark Warfel drum line director and Tom Schraff would be the rifle drill team director.

Dec. 6, 2000

Experts from Purdue Pharma, manufacturers of a drug called OxyContin which was highly addictive, were to visit both Altoona and Johnstown this week to talk with doctors, nurses and pharmacists about its dangers.

Dec. 6, 2015

The former William G. Bigelow II Funeral Home at Seventh Avenue and 17th Street, purchased by Family Services Inc. last year, was chosen by the Altoona Mirror for this year’s Season of Sharing fundraiser. Lisa Hann was executive director at Family Services.

Dec. 7, 1950

The National Board of Fire Underwriters ruled that the massive damage done to businesses and homes in Altoona by the Nov. 26-27 ice storm was not covered by insurance and property owners would have to pay for their own damages, they told the Blair County Association of Underwriters. Wind but not ice damage was covered.

The biggest project ever attempted by the Altoona Senior High School Vocational Department, the fabrication and erection of a sheetmetal waste collector for the planing and milling in the cabinet shop in the school basement, was completed. It kept the air clean from sawdust and wood shavings.

Dec. 7, 1975

Altoona City Patrolman James M. Wineland received the second annual lifesaving plaque from the County Capitol Travel Club, presented at the Geeseytown Firehall. While off duty, he had saved the life of Flavia Tomlinson of Altoona who was choking on food. also attending was State Trooper Harry Wilcox, the first recipient of the award, and Harry Deem, secretary-treasurer of the club.

The Sacred Heart Sodality float, one of 13 entered, won first place in the 22nd annual Altoona Christmas Religious Parade. Mrs. Wilbur Kraybill, president of the Ecumenical Council, City Councilman Eugene J. Duncan and Altoona School District teacher Joseph Priddy were the judges.

Dec. 7, 2000

New Pig Corp. in Tipton expanded by purchasing a firm called EEP, formerly Ergon Environmental Products of Alpharetta, Ga., a manufacturer of absorbent products. New Pig was in the same line of work.

The Southern Alleghenies Museum of Art in Altoona, Karen Serago site coordinator, was holding an antique doll show for the fifth year, featuring at least 124 dolls, some more than 100 years old and from Japan, Germany and the United States. They featured Disney characters, Hummel dolls, Gen. Douglas MacArthur and dolls from the “Little Women” book and movie.

Dec. 7, 2015

The Giant Eagle Team won the ninth annual Scott Grugan Memorial 5K Trail Run and Walk in Huntingdon. Travis Kagarise won first for the boys, and Nikea Ulrich won first for the girls. A special Corporate Challenge race was added this year.

The Arc of Blair County was offering a six-week “Arts of the Arc” Program for students and adults with developmental disabilities at the Becky Sheetz Recreation Center in Altoona. Lynn Heverly (artist) and Cortny Turkal (sculpting) were the instructors.

National, world news

Dec. 6

In 1865, the 13th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution, abolishing slavery, was ratified as Georgia became the 27th state to endorse it.

In 1907, at least 361 men and boys died in a coal mine explosion in Monongah, West Virginia; it was the worst mining disaster in U.S. history.

In 1969, a free concert by The Rolling Stones at the Altamont Speedway in Alameda County, California, was marred by the deaths of four people, including one who was stabbed by a member of the Hells Angels Motorcycle Club that was hired to provide concert security.

Dec. 7

In 1787, Delaware became the first state to ratify the U.S. Constitution.

In 1941, the Empire of Japan launched an air raid on the U.S. Navy base at Pearl Harbor in Hawaii, killing more than 2,300 Americans. The United States declared war against Japan the following day.

In 1972, America’s last crewed moon mission to date was launched as Apollo 17 blasted off from Cape Canaveral.

In 2024, the newly restored Notre Dame Cathedral in Paris was reopened to the public after a devastating blaze nearly destroyed the beloved Gothic masterpiece in 2019. World leaders attended the reopening ceremony amid great fanfare and celebration.