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| Constructed in 1853, the Potter County Courthouse is full of history. A portion of that will be told when the Pennsylvania Cable Network programs debuts at 7 pm Thursday, Sept. 14. David Castano, president of the Potter County Historical Society, discussed the historic Statue of Justice now protected from the elements and on display in the lobby. A replica appears atop the courthouse. |
A program about Potter County history and interesting features for visitors will be aired in millions of Pennsylvania households at 7 p.m. Thursday, Sept. 14. It will also be shown at 2 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 16.
A production crew from the Pennsylvania Cable Network spent two days in Coudersport earlier this summer filming local scenes and conducting interviews as part of PCN’s Historic Courthouses series.
Major focus is on the Potter County Courthouse, which is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. However, Historical Society President David Castano and Commissioner Paul Heimel, as hosts, made sure the 30-minute program spotlighted stories and attractions that would be of interest to tourists.
Filming took place in and around the courthouse, as well as nearby sections of Coudersport with interesting architecture or historical significance. The crew also filmed at the Potter County Historical Society Museum.
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| Producers from the Pennsylvania Cable Network film narrators David Castano (left) and Paul Heimel outside the Potter County Courthouse. The program on the 156-year-old courthouse and many chapters in local history will be broadcast at 7 pm Thursday, Sept. 14, on PCN. |
“The producers were very interested in Potter County’s connections to crimefighter Eliot Ness, the infamous thieves known as the Brinks Gang, famous musician Ole Bull, and other local story lines,” Commissioner Heimel said.
Castano, who was the narrator and tour guide, shared colorful stories about local history, including the public execution of wife-killer Joshua Jones – whose skull is on display at the museum – and the fierce political battle that preceded the construction of the 156-year-old courthouse.
Among local familiar faces appearing in the program are Judge Stephen Minor, Tillie Masolotte, Ed Thompson, Alex Fish and Kim Schaar.
“We were pleased to hear from the crew that this was one of the most interesting shows they’ve worked on since the courthouse series began several years ago,” Heimel pointed out. “One of them said the biggest challenge was assessing the volume of material they collected to determine what would make the cut for a half-hour program.”
PCN is carried locally on channel 22 of the Zito Media cable system. The program will be rebroadcast numerous times after Thursday’s debut.