Portage, Pennsylvania 15946

 I was fortunate to be born and raised in Portage, Pennsylvania—a small town filled with caring people and a strong sense of community. Surrounded by an amazing, loving family and neighbors who genuinely looked out for one another, I learned early the importance of family, friendship, kindness, and community. Portage will always be a special part of who I am and a place I am proud to call home 

 Our little Portage was FIRST in many things.  Here is the list of FIRSTS that I could find.  Does anyone know of any others? 

• FIRST over-mountain railroad IN THE WORLD was the Allegheny Portage Railroad
• FIRST man to be killed on the railroad in Pennsylvania was Matthew Gillan, and he was killed on the Allegheny Portage Railroad between what is now Portage and Cassandra
• FIRST blood transfusion in Western Pennsylvania performed by Doctor Josiah F. Buzzard who had offices in Portage and Cassandra.
• FIRST high school band in Cambria County organized by Fr Habrowski was in Portage and also the first high school orchestra
• FIRST town of its size in the nation to have air-mail pick-up
• FIRST town between Harrisburg and Pittsburgh to be granted experimental postal delivery in 1915.
• FIRST licensed optometrists in Pennsylvania had Mr. Moskat of Portage among them in 1918
• FIRST machine to play a choice of ten records was invented by Mr. Joseph Noel of Portage.  Mr. Noel owned Noel’s Jewelry Store in Portage.
• FIRST device that received the 12 o’clock noon signal every day direct from Arlington, VA, was invented by Mr. Noel.  The railroaders would come to his store every day for the correct time.
• FIRST system for shoe re-coloring invented by Jimmie Natale, owner of Jimmie’s Rite Way, a shoe repair shop on Main Street.  He was sent to Illinois by the Cleveland Shoe Polish Manufacturer in 1926 in introduce the idea to the State shoe rebuilders.
• FIRST basketball player to be a double scorer in points and rebounds for two years in a row in the ACC (Atlantic Coast Conference) was Len Chappell of Portage 
• FIRST winners of  the very first Majorette Contest held at the War Memorial in Johnstown, 1963 Portage Area Majorettes
• FIRST girl in Cambria County to receive a complete grant to college in any sport was Tammy Etienne of Portage
• FIRST place in the very first State Trampoline Competition was won by Kathy Smetana of Portage