TurkeyHill-2

12-28-23

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clearfieldreunions.com

Clearfield, PA

Turkey Hill Rock Festival, 1970's - page 2 ~

www.clearfieldreunions.com149.56.187.129
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The following article was printed in The Progress on Sept. 6, 2021 and harkens back to one that actually
appeared in the paper on Sept. 4, 1971 and which chronicled a court hearing that had taken place on the
previous day, Friday, Sept 3, 1971. The excerpted article by Progress Staff Writer Terry Dunkle seems to
delight in the news that the festival organizers were being made to "jump thru some hoops" in order to
carry out their planned festivity. Maybe even at a 50 year remove I'm being too sensitive but by and
large it did seem back then that the "nice people" of the town were hardly "festival backers."
And the feelings of the "nice people" were surely those that the paper wanted to assuage.

Several articles from Sept., 1971 are reproduced in their entirety below. One is the straightforward
account of the hearing by Ms. Betty Hamilton, a snarky, somewhat smart-assed one by the afore-
mentioned Mr. Dunkle and a couple of others just added. Mr. Dunkle's article after the fact
was more conciliatory toward the day's festivities. Actually sounds like he had a good time.
Sorry that the quality of these reprints is less than ideal.

www.clearfieldreunions.com 144.217.252.134 YES-090921
ypmhqrv 3EP9RpepBa

Back to Page 1

From The Progress, Thursday, Sept. 2, 1971 ~

From The Progress, Friday, Sept. 3, 1971 ~

From The Progress, Saturday, Sept. 4, 1971 ~

From The Progress, Saturday, Sept. 4, 1971 ~

From The Lancaster New Era, Saturday, Sept. 4, 1971 ~

This article actually appeared in many papers. Because it was an AP article,
they were all virtually the same.

From The Progress, Tuesday, Sept. 7, 1971 ~

Back to Page 1

While most of the articles on this page
originally appeared in The Progress in
1971 they were just recently resurrected
from "newpapers.com" and not all of them
reproduced very well. I hope I don't go
to copyright jail.

       "Clearfield County Judge John
A. Cherry granted a preliminary
injunction against a Sept. 5 rock
festival at Turkey Hill, Knox Twp.
       A hearing on the injunction,
requested by the township super-
visors is set for 8:30 a.m. tomorrow.
    The festival is being promoted
by a group of Clearfield area resi-
dents who say some 300 attended
the first one last year and there
were no incidents."

"A hearing on a restraining order to prevent a rock festival
in Knox Township Sunday was postponed until 1 p.m. today
after the defendants weres unable to obtain legal counsel.
    The hearing was scheduled for 8:30 a.m. before County
Judge John A. Cherry. Its start was delayed a half hour and
then Judge Cherry granted a continuance at the request of
two of the defendants - Bernard Billotte of West Second St.
and Charles Leggs of Dorey St.   Mr. Billotte and Mr. Leggs
were the only defendants to appear in the courtroom. Others
named in the action were Terrance E. O'Donnell , Walnut St.,
James Anderson, N. Front St., David Semelsberger, N 3rd St.,
and Pio Di Salvo of Dorey St.
The request for the restraining order was made by Knox
Township Supervisors Harry Robbins, Thomas Hamilton
and Raymond Braid.
They have asked the court to prevent the named defendants
- and others listed only as "John Does and Jane Does" - from
conducting the "Turkey Hill Rock Festival" Sunday after -
noon on a township property owned by Mr. O'Donnell.
     They claim the event would endanger public health and
safety because of inadequate facilities and police protection.
The supervisors' petition included the following reasons for
asking that the event be cancelled:
        1) No showing of adequate medical facilities; 2) Inade-
quate water supply; 3) Access roads to an frompremises are
inadequate to handle anticipated traffic; 4) No adequate
parking places; 5) Inadequate police protection for those att-
ending the festival as well as for township residents;

Clippings that are legible have been left
as is to provide the air of realism.
Others have been transcribed so you can read
them . . . the things I do for you people . . .

6) Violation of state liquor laws by
selling intoxicating beverages in a township where sale is forbidden;
7) Congregation of 1,000 individ-
uals on propertywithout adequate
sanitary facilities or any provision
therefor constitutes a health hazard
to those attending as well as to the
residents of Knox Township; 8)
Experiences of other areas (where
rock festivals have been held) is
that they involve a congregation of
a large number of individuals who
consume liquor, beer or wine and
who have been known to use
drugs.
   This morning Attorney Joseph J.
Lee, representing the supervisors,
amended the petition to add that
the festival would be in violation
of a law requiring that a permit
from the Department of Public In-
struction for the presentation of a
public concert on Sunday.
   The property on which the rock
festival was to be held is located in
the Faunce area. It is reached in
part by a private road.
    The figure of "1,000 persons"
expected at the festival was an
estimate by the supervisors."

was postponed until 1 p.m. at the request of two of the named defendants; Bernard Billotte and Charles Leggs of Clearfield.
   They claimed at that time that they were un-
able to get legal counsel. Less than four hours
later they appeared in court with two attorneys,
James Naddeo and Carl A. Belin Jr.
    In their testimony they stated that during this
four hour recess they had made arrangements to
have drinking water and portable toilets brought
to the picnic site and had secured proper utensils
for cooking food.
   Mr. Billotte, Mr. Leggs & David Semelsberger
of Clearfield responsibility for promoting and
arranging the affair. They were the only named
defendants to testify.
    They had been named along with Terrance E.
O'Donnell of Clearfield, owner of the 15-acre
property on which the affair is to be held; James
Anderson and Pio DiSalvo, both of Clearfield, and "John Does & Jane Does."
     It was established during the hearing that Mr.
Di Salvo, who is out of state was erroneously
named a s a defendant. The supervisors had in-
tended to name Charles "Buster" DiSalvo, the
operator of Pio's Bar & Grill, the defense
attorney said.
   The three defendants testified, however, that "Buster" DiSalvo had no part in arranging or
promoting the affair and that neither did any of
the other persons named in the petition.
    They claimed the Turkey Hill Rock Festival was not a "rock festival" in the generally accept-
ed term - but rather a "beer picnic" to be attend-
ed by some "300 friends" who frequent DiSalvo's
Tavern and the Inn Between. They denied that
any out-of-towners were planning to attend and
said they had put on a similar affair last year
without incident.
   State Trooper Douglas Wrable, who had inves-
tigated the "Rock Festival" on orders of Troop C
Headquarters, also testified that he believed it was the intention of the promoters of the affair
to hold a beer picnic and added "but sometimes
these things get out of hand."
A ticket to the "Turkey Hill Rock Festival" had
been secured by Trooper Wrable and was pro-
duced as part of the planitff's evidence. On it it
was stated that 200 gallons of beer, beef, pork,
hot dogs and corn would be available and the
price of ticket was given as $3 for men and $2
for "chicks."
   Mr. Billotte disclaimed any knowledge of the
sale of tickets or what was on them. He said he had seen a ticket but hadn't read it.

He claimed the Fifth Amandment - on the
grounds that his answer might incriminate him
- to questions concerning whether or not he had
contacted the Department of Public Instruction
and the Department of Environmental Re-
sources for permits to put on the Rock Festival.
He invoked the same legal protection in refus-
ing to answer the question as to whether or not
he had placed an order for the meat to be
served at the affair.
    Mr. Billotte contended his only knowledge of
beer being provided the party-goers was what he had read on the injunction papers. He also
said he knew nothing about who was selling tickets, what band was to furnish music or who had made contacts with the musical groups.
    Mr. Leggs, in his testimony, identified himself as one of the organizers of the affair but said he "couldn't say truthfully" who was in
charge of ticket sales. He explained that there was no formal organization in connection with the picnic but that "a bunch of people who
associate with each other in the bars got together."
    He testified that "definitely" the beer was to be given away and none sold. He explained that
"15 fellows" were each going to contribute a keg
of beer for which they were not going to be compensated. ( Editor's Note: What a great bunch of fellows. Also, what a bunch of bullshit.) He placed the cost of a keg at about
$32.
    Mr. Leggs also said that John Anderson, a
brother of one of the named defendants, had
made arrangements for sufficient police pro-
tection to keep "minors and dope out."
   He estimated about 300 or so persons would attend the picnic.
    When Mr. Semelsbeger took the witness stand he admitted there were 400 tickets printed and said about 140 had been sold. He denied there was any organized effort to promote the affair and said it was merely 300 people getting together to have a party.
    When asked by the judge why he had 400
tickets printed when only 300 were going to
attend he explained the priniting was cheaper that way. He said the tickets were available at
DiSalvos Tavern and the Inn Between and that the affair had been advertised only "through word of mouth."
   Mr. Semelsberger also told the court that no
one is to receive any profits from th affair and
the money secured will be used to pay for the
food, the travel expenses of the band from

Altoona and for a work crew which has been
making advance preparations at the site.
At the conclusion of the hearing Judge Cherry
told the crowd of young people attending in the
courtroom, "there is nothing wrong with going
to a picnic, listening to music or driving cars to
the site - but I want to caution you against coming into this court on a drunken driving charge as aresult of this picnic."
During the hearing 20-year old Ronald Garceau
of Annangatuck, Conn. Was arrested for disorderly conduct and obstructing an officer.
He was taken to Clearfield County Jail but was
released a short time later after posting $550.00
cash bail. A hearing on the charges is scheduled
for next Tuesday before District Magistrate
William Daisher.

Garceau was stopped by court officials when he
attempted to enter the courtroom from the rear entrance which is not open to the publice while court is in session. The court officials said he was
also not properly attired to go into the courtroom since he was in his bare feet and wearing sleeve-
less shirt open to the waist.
   When police asked his name he refused to give it and was being taken to the sheriff's office for questioning when he broke away and ran down the hall. He was apprehended by sheriff's depu-
ties who placed the two charges against him.
   During the scuffle Garceau tore the shirt of one
of the deputies.
   It was also reported that he showed his disdain by wiping his bare feet on the polished shoes of
one of the officers,

Altoona and for a work crew which has been
making advance preparations at the site.
At the conclusion of the hearing Judge Cherry
told the crowd of young people attending in the
courtroom, "there is nothing wrong with going
to a picnic, listening to music or driving cars to
the site - but I want to caution you against coming into this court on a drunken driving charge as a result of this picnic."
During the hearing 20-year old Ronald Garceau
of Annangatuck, Conn. was arrested for disorderly conduct and obstructing an officer.
He was taken to Clearfield County Jail but was
released a short time later after posting $550.00
cash bail. A hearing on the charges is scheduled
for next Tuesday before District Magistrate
William Daisher.

    "It's just our own little rock festival, that's all."
said Charlie Leggs this morning, one of the org-
anizers of the "Turkey Hill Rock Festival" which
caused such a ruckus in Clearfield County Court yesterday.
   Charlie Leggs, Dave Semelsberger and Terry
O'Donnell sat pensively in the dimness of Buster's Bar this morning and made remarks -
some a bit bitter, some grateful - about the pruning the rock festival underwent yesterday before Judge John A. Cherry.
   "If we had called it a Turkey Hill camp party or
something like that probably nobody'd a-paid any attention to it" O"Donnell said.
     "This is more your home-town stuff than a big-city rock festival."
      It is especially "home town stuff" now that the group has been ordered not to sell any beer to an expected 300 rock enthusiasts, to have on hand 10 policemen; to install a half-dozen portable toilets, to organize parking so that no
one leaves his car along the roads of Knox Town-
ship, and to hire several nurses in event of an
accident or sickness.
    Nearly all these reqired personnel and health
facilities have been hired. The men worked late
into the night acquiring them. The cost?
     "It's going to run about a thousand dollars."
Semelsberger said.
   "yeah, it cost close to five hundred last year,"
Charlie Leggs said, sullenly stirring his coffee.
Semelsberger got off his bar stool and paced over to Buster's screen door and looked out on the street.
   "They'll be paying only for the beef, the corn and the pork." he said."
    " . . and the entertainment." O'Donnell added."

     Four rock groups have been invited to the festival. The Impressions from Altoona, Kelsey & Company from State College, The Woods Kids from Clearfield and Becket from DuBois.
    Are these musicians paid?
    Leggs measured his answer carefully, "we have promised to provide their food" he said.
    Officially, visitors are allowed to bring their own booze but none of the three would commit himself on whether an organized effort would
be made.
   "We're going to prove ourselves" O'Donnell said.
"We thought the court was very fair" said Leggs.

        - unreadable, about one paragraph -

The group is concerned that the "festival as organized must be for our friends" but may mushroom into something they hadn't planned
on. They were asked if the allegation was true that they had advertised in newpapers elsewhere in the state.
   Leggs answered "I know we put no advertising
in either State College or Harrisburg; anybody who knows about it found out in press articles."
    Leggs, Semelsberger and O'Donnell will have their rock festival despite the severe hamstring-ing it suffered as a result of their failure to check into the local laws. They're hoping there will be no trouble.
    Will they have it again next year?
    "Definitely", Leggs said. The others nodded
confidently.

one was over forty, and he was "not just
an observer." A father of eight was seen
with his wife stomping the grass flat to the electronic euphony of "25 or 6 to 4".
Quite a few Clearfield notables were there, including a borough councilman.
One person who might correctly be described as an "oldster" remarked
"you know, this modern music sounds
a lot better for real than it does on the radio. I like it" He disppeared into the dancing throng.

of criticism of the court restrictions. The bad feelings melted away in the first hour or so.
Midway in the celebration a football game materialized that was the cause of
the only accident all day. A man in his mid-twenties went down in a hard tackle and it was thought for awhile that
he'd had some ribs broken. A nurse - one
of those required to be on hand by the court - asked for an ambulance but by the time it came from Curwensville the man was back in action.
   Most of the visitors had come from Clearfield and its environs - just as the promoters had predicted - but a few came from State College and other college towns for a last blast before school. They were dressed for the most part in only slightly offbeat styles and most of the hair was short enough to please any not-too-finicky mother.
There was a smattering of beads, beards and headbands. Nearly everyone wore sandals or went barefoot.
    The celebration broke up about 11:30
when the booze faltered and the bands
started packing up their electronic gadg-
etry.
    A short policing effort made the promot-
ers' morning after cleanup a lot easier. They had only to dismantle the barbecue
equipment, gather up the bottles the
guests had missed and return three portable toilets and other equipment they had rented.
   The court-imposed restrictions had pushed the cost of the affair considerably
higher than it would have been otherwise. Exact figures were not available this a.m.
     Rock groups which performed were
Manchester Bridge from Brookville,
The Impressions from Altoona, Phoenix from Clearfield, Kelsey & Co. from
DuBois and Bartholomew from Harrisburg.

Another over forty participant, clad in a
rather incongruous combination of
dress pants, sandals and a green and white Turkey Hill T-Shirt put away some of the 200 lbs. of roast beef and grinned intermittently, "I don't care what they say, there's nothing wrong with today's youth." "They're letting them vote now, you know." This was
not an entirely apt comment as no one under 21 was admitted to the sunny clearing in the hollow because of the presence of alcohol.
    The machinery of fun, well lubricated
by the booze, included not only the music but also boating and swimming
in a manmade pond. Few people had brought swim suits so they simply jumped with their clothes on.
   There was food, too. Two sides of beef
were roasted all day over a charcoal pit. Hundreds of ears of corn boiled in a huge cauldron. There was a veritable avalanche of chips to whet the thirst of
beer tipplers.
   Except for the booming sound of rock music, the general tone of the affair would have been something like a quiet
family picnic. Some people danced.
Others tossed a "frisbee" around on the
lawn. Most people, however, simply sat on the grass and watched or talked. An
unusual camaraderie developed among
strangers who found themselves partic-ipating in a mutual celebration.
    They were celebrating the sort of
freedom that allows such things to go on. As one visitor put it "It's good to know you can still get together and be yourself."
   "In a way, we have the Judge to thank for this." one of the musicians said to
the crowd and there was general agreement.This was a switch from earlier in the day when conversation at the start of the festival consisted mostly

Click

I just recently discovered some more post-festival Progress articles.

First, each Monday Progress Editor George A. Scott published his weekly column
"The Monday Wash" where he included observations and comments mostly
regarding local goings-on. His entry for Sept. 7, 1971 (which was actually a
Tuesday since The Progress didn't print on Labor Day) included this:

Nice vote of confidence even if done with the benefit of hindsight and
a later "Monday Wash" gave us this info ~

Then, just as promised in court, the Festival organizers donated to charity ~

Which, of course, wasn't enough to please everbody ~

This fellow takes exception to the Progress' definition of "success" since the
real definition of the word
obviously can't refer in
any way to booze and
rock & roll music.

"Why did they have it
in a dry section?"

"Why did they have it
on the Lord's day?"

More of the same,
below - she likes
the Jaycees better.

Now, this one is kind
of fun ~

Remember the 20 year-
old kid ~ the one who
got into some sort of
ruckus in the court
house? (see above)

Turns out that when he wandered into the C.H.,
he wasn't in town for the
Rock Festival, he was just
in town visiting relatives with his cousin and their
grandmother. And he just
happened to wander into the Court House. As one does. And when I read the
original article I couldn't
figure where a dissheveled barefoot 20 year-old
would come up with $550
cash bail. I guess it's good
to tour with Grandma.

At least one local person
felt that Mr. Garceau
was kinda getting a "bum
rap" - arrested because
"State Police didn't like
the way he looked." Good
for you, Jean Ecklund!