Submitted Photos
The photo shows the cover of “Juniata Terrace…Time Travel” by Rick Bodenschatz, which was released on Wednesday.
LEWISTOWN — A new book, “Juniata Terrace…Looking Back,” captures the rich history of the Juniata Terrace community, which will be designated a National Historic Landmark on Wednesday, June 19. The book’s release coincides with the ceremony and offers readers a deep dive into the community’s past, present and enduring spirit.
Author Rick Bodenschatz, who grew up in Juniata Terrace, undertook the project to preserve the community’s history for future generations.
“There’s a whole new generation out there that didn’t even experience the events of the ’40s, ’50s and ’60s, so to speak,” Bodenschatz said. “This book will bring to light a lot of that history and give them a lot of knowledge and pride about what’s going on with the National Register.”
The book is a labor of love for Bodenschatz, who has written seven books to date. His journey began with research into a boulevard memorial honoring men from Juniata Terrace who died in World War II and the Korean War. This research led him to delve deeper into the community’s history, which led to the creation of this comprehensive book.
“Juniata Terrace… A Stroll Through the Past” is a 224-page book filled with over 200 photographs and illustrations. The book begins with an introduction to Mifflin County history, including the development of American viscose factories and the influx of workers and their families into Lewistown. It then details the construction of Juniata Terrace as a “garden city community” designed to house these workers, highlighting the challenges and successes of building a community from the ground up.
Bodenschatz’s research has revealed some fascinating details about the construction process.
“Because the terraces were on the side of a hill, they required what we call a ‘great cut,'” he explained, “and they required huge cuts, similar to the cuts that were made to build the canal and to cut the flat area into the hillside to build the Juniata Terraces.”
The book also describes the logistical feat of transporting building materials from the railway line up the hill using specially constructed siding rails.
“There must have been over 3,000 doors, 3,000 windows, millions of bricks, and it was a monumental job, construction began in June 1923 and finished at the end of December 1925, so two and a half years,” Bodenschatz said.
The book goes beyond the community’s physical structure to delve into the lives of the people who lived there, telling the stories of 11 residents who gave their lives for their country in World War II and the Korean War, and how the community came together in the midst of adversity.
Juniata Terrace has faced many hardships throughout its history, including floods, fires and the closure of the American Viscose factory in 1972. But the community has persevered, and Bodenschatz attributes this resilience to the strong sense of community and pride that residents have.
“Juniata Terrace helped sustain the industry that built it,” he said. “The plant employed more than 5,000 people at one time and 3,000 when it closed. It was devastating to the whole county, but Terrace held on.”
The book also celebrates the community’s ability to rebuild and thrive. In 2014, a devastating fire destroyed or damaged 25 homes on the 300 block. Insurance companies were amazed at how quickly the homes were rebuilt, a testament to the community spirit. Homes were quickly rebuilt and better than ever before.
Bodenschatz hopes readers will walk away from the book with a greater understanding of the community’s history and resilience.
“Every resident of Mifflin County should be very proud of that fact,” he said. “Obviously, residents past and present should be very proud, and I think everyone in the county should be. The big accomplishment of this is not only the publication of the book, but the fact that it’s on the National Register of Historic Places gives the community credibility and positions it to get grant funding for infrastructure improvements.”
This book is not only a historical record, but also a celebration of community resilience, a reminder that even in the face of adversity, a community can thrive if its members are united by a shared sense of pride and purpose.
“Juniata Terrace…A Time Slip” is available for purchase at the Juniata Terrace Community Building, Wilson’s Meat Market and the Mifflin County Historical Society Library & Research Center. The book costs $29.
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