PUNXSUTAWNEY—The former Punxsutawney post office, now home to the Punxsutawney Weather Discovery Center, is celebrating the building’s 110-year anniversary this month.
Director Lisa Waksmunski said, “We wanted to celebrate this milestone by giving back to the community that so generously supports us and welcome everyone to stop by and see what has changed, and what still remains the same in this historic landmark.” The Weather Discovery Center will be hosting Punxsutawney Appreciation Day on Wednesday May 29 as part of this 110-year anniversary celebration. Visitors can bring an item that will be donated to Leslie’s Closet, which is part of a program at the Punxsutawney Area School District and receive half price admission to the center. Leslie’s Closet provides the items to students when the need arises. Items being collected include deodorant for boys and girls, hairbrushes, shampoo, body wash, conditioner, hair ties, and chapstick. Waksmunski hopes to provide a nice donation to the district ahead of the 2024-2025 school year.
Board Chairman Casey Lellock said “We’re extremely grateful to everyone who contributes to our organization in every way possible, and to the board members, staff and volunteers who keep our facility up and running daily. “We invite the community members to come out and enjoy a day of fun at a reduced price while helping collect items for Leslie’s Closet.” Lellock also said the center has recently installed a Hurricane Machine that he thinks visitors will really enjoy. “The structure, history, and integrity of the building remains the same,” said Lellock, “and we have been able to add to the history by turning it into a place where visitors can learn about the science of weather prediction in an easy-to-understand manner using folklore, history, science, and technology.” In addition to the interactive exhibits, visitors can also see pieces of the post office past, including one of the highlights of the building – an exposed ladder that extends down from a hidden ceiling catwalk. The Weather Discovery Center is open Wednesday-Sunday 11:00 a.m.- 3:00 p.m. Visitors on Appreciation Day can bring an item from the list and receive 50% off admission from 11-3. Anyone with questions can call 814-938-1000 or visit the Weather Discovery Center on Facebook for more information.