Punxsutawney, PA (1/14/2025)

Tuesday, January 14, 2025

Thirteen degrees Fahrenheit!

We know we are a few weeks early, but decided to avoid the crowds to see Punxsutawney Phil.

Officer Phil and Fury, one of the 41 Phantastic Phils
that can be found around town

Phillage stands outside of Phil's
Burrow in the Memorial Library

Phil's Burrow is where Phil, the prognosticating
groundhog, lives throughout the year

Looking inside Phil's Burrow

There appear to be multiple groundhogs in the
burrow; Phil lives here with his wife, Phyllis,
and their two children, Sunny and Shadow,
who were born in March of 2024

A realistic sculpture (1977, by Jimilu Mason)
of Punxsutawney Phil

Get Your Fill of Roses

Slice to Meet You

Postcards from Phil

Punksutenink Phil (Lenni Lenape)

The Wizard of Weather

You Can't Keep a Good Phil Down

There's Work to be Done

Oh The Places We Will Go

The Spirit of Punxsutawney (The
Punxsutawney Spirit is the local newspaper)

Phil the Flames

IUPhil (Indiana University of
Pennsylvania - Punxsutawney)

Mary A Philson: Undercover (apparently
a Mary Wilson was a beloved librarian)

Fireman Phil

Hope-Phil

Philatelic Phil

Phil My Prescription Please

Through the Eyes of Pizzeria Phil

Photo Op at Gobbler's Knob,
with the stage in the background

Gobbler's Knob is a couple miles from downtown, but
here is the tree stump where Punxsutawney Phil emerges
each Groundhog Day (February 2nd); if he sees his
 shadow, it means there will be six more weeks
of winter, and if not, spring will come early

Kent and Rob G, a member of the Inner Circle
(a group of local dignitaries responsible for carrying
on the tradition of Groundhog Day every year);
although today Rob was working on the display habitat
for Sunny and Shadow, in his real job he is known as
'Storm Builder' and he wears a tux and top hat
to greet Punxsutawney Phil on Groundhog Day

"Storm Builder" is following in the
footsteps of his father, and grandfather
(who is seen in the top photo)

There is 'Storm Builder' in tux and top hat,
on the left in this photo

Punxsutawney Phil is at least 138 years old, thanks
to his Elixir of Life that he receives in September
of each year; for each sip Phil takes of the elixir, he
receives seven more years of life and longevity

Groundhog Day paraphernalia includes scrolls from the past;
each year the Vice President of the Inner Circle prepares
two scrolls; after Phil emerges from the tree stump, he
speaks in Groundhogese to tell the President of his
prediction, and the President uses the cane to point to the
appropriate scroll to be read in proclamation to the world

Leaving Punxsutawney, we saw another
groundhog sculpture