Episode 120 - The Men Who Created Groundhog Day

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"This is one time where television really fails to capture the true excitement of a large squirrel predicting the weather.​" Phil Conners, "Groundhog Day" - For the past 136 years at 7:20am on February 2nd 15 men dressed in tuxes and top hats gather round a chubby, brown-furred creature named Punxsutawney Phil, Seer of Seers, Sage of Sages, Prognosticator of Prognosticators, and Weather Prophet Extraordinary to find out if spring will arrive early or if we will be forced to endure another six weeks of winter. People from across the globe gather in the Ordinary Extraordinary town of Punxsutawney, Pennsylvania to await the news and cheer on this auspicious rodent year after year, but just how did this tradition even begin? Jennie, Dianne and special guest Charlie visit the graves of two journalists who helped to create this annual tradition dating back to 1886 that has often been called, "one of the greatest ongoing publicity campaigns in history".

Resources used to research this episode include:
"A Little Bit About Us....." https://www.punxsyhistory.org/. A Little Bit About Us.... Accessed 29 Jan. 2023.

Groundhog Club, Punxsutawney. "History & Past Predictions ." https://www.groundhog.org. www.groundhog.org/history-past-predictions. Accessed 29 Jan. 2023.

DiMattia, Anthony . "Groundhog Day: 5 bizarre things you didn't know about this quirky tradition ." https://www.phillyburbs.com. 2 Feb. 2021. www.phillyburbs.com/story/news/2021/02/01/groundhog-day-2021-punxsutawney-phil-tradition-facts/4308977001/. Accessed 29 Jan. 2023.

Orso, Anna. "Groundhog Day 2014: 8 things to know about Punxsutawney Phil's 'Inner Circle' ." https://www.pennlive.com. 2 Feb. 2014. www.pennlive.com/midstate/2014/02/groundhog_day_2014_8_things_to.html. Accessed 29 Jan. 2023.

Klein, Christopher . "Groundhog Was Once on Punxsutawney’s Menu ." https://www.google.com/amp/s/www.history.com. 30 Jan. 2019. www.google.com/amp/s/www.history.com/.amp/news/groundhog-was-once-on-punxsutawneys-menu.

Glass, Nicole. "How German settlers created the traditions behind Groundhog Day ." https://germanyinusa.com. germanyinusa.com/2019/02/01/how-german-settlers-created-the-traditions-behind-groundhog-day/#more-2093. Accessed 29 Jan. 2023.

, Prabook.Com. https://prabook.com. prabook.com/web/mobile/#!profile/1059957. Accessed 29 Jan. 2023.

, Amy. "William Orlando Smith ." http://www.pa-roots.org. 18 Mar. 2001. www.pa-roots.org/data/read.php?4,683. Accessed 29 Jan. 2023.

Ludwig, Don. "Clymer H Freas ." https://www.findagrave.com. 28 Mar. 2009. www.findagrave.com/memorial/35269051/clymer-h-freas. Accessed 29 Jan. 2023.

Peterson, Kris. https://www.findagrave.com. 2 Aug. 2007. www.findagrave.com/memorial/20760474/william-orlando-smith. Accessed 29 Jan. 2023.

Weimer, Dr. Marc. "Punxsutawney's History." Editorial. [Punxsutawney], pp. 1-9.

Photo Credits:
Punxsutawney Phil- Chris Flook 2/2/2018
https://commons.m.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Punxsutawney_Phil_2018_(cropped).jpg#mw-jump-to-license

William Orlando Smith Portrait - Public Domain

William Orlando Smith grave - Marianne 9/2/2010
https://images.findagrave.com/photos/2010/244/20760474_128343530172.jpg

Clymer H. Freas grace - Claire B. 1/5/2020
https://images.findagrave.com/photos/2020/4/35269051_1578245351.jpg