Apollo’s Owens Grove turns 100: Cleanup and party set for July 24

Turning a century old can come with considerable wear and tear. Apollo borough will celebrate Owens Grove’s centennial with a work party followed by cake and ice cream on July 24.

The Apollo Events Committee is billing the birthday celebration as “100 years of giving: Apollo pays it forward.” The cleanup starts at 9 a.m. and cake and ice cream donated by Shop ‘n Save and Naser Foods will be served at 4 p.m.

The event will also feature a “rock party” with Kiski River rocks at 11 a.m. at the pavilion. Volunteers will paint rocks from the Kiski River for an upcoming town scavenger hunt and history tour in August and September.

Organizers are collecting personal histories from residents about their favorite memories at Owens Grove. They are tapping the town’s elders at the Apollo Senior Center for stories.

Owens Grove, along North Second Street, has weathered years as a mainstay of the borough as a playground, social hall, picnic area and a gazebo, hosting a myriad of events.

But its facilities are in need of a good coat of paint. The vegetation needs trimmed and gardens mulched.

“The public works staff hasn’t been able to maintain the park substantially over the years,” said Jen Mullins, a borough councilwoman and an organizer of the Apollo Events Committee.

The park has fallen into disrepair and Mullins along with others in the community are looking to resurrect the park.

“It’s a lovely park we want to bring back and use it for the community and hold more events up there in the future,” she said.

But the work will take longer than one day to complete.

Plans are in the works to put together a citizen committee to focus on the grove, Mullins said.

The small community park was donated by Hugh G. Owens and his wife Emma as a gift to area children.

“The Owens family didn’t have children of their own and that’s why they gave the park,” said Sue Ott, vice president of the Apollo Area Historical Society. “In the same spirit of giving, we want to do more than celebrate the centennial. We want to contribute our time and energy there as well.”

Ott would like to see the grove’s bocce and horseshoe courts restored and used by the public again.

If people can’t attend the centennial celebration, they can donate supplies, services or money, by contacting apollopaevents@gmail.com. Visit their website to view the Owens Grove wish list.