Coudersport's Prolific Artist Turning 90

One of the Coudersport's most visible and revered women turns 90 next month.

You'll find Maxine Shear busy at the drawing table of her Mill Street home just about any given day. She's also active with the First United Presbyterian Church and one of Coudersport's most visible people. Maxine will celebrate her 90th birthday with an open house at the Hotel Crittenden on Nov. 11. Photos by Lugene Heimel Friends of Maxine Shear are invited to join in the celebration on Saturday afternoon, Nov. 11, at the Hotel Crittenden dining area from 1-4.

For many years, Maxine and her late husband, Tom, owned and operated the Coudersport Ice Mine. In its heyday, that freak of nature and accompanying gift shop was one of the region's most popular tourist attractions.

Mrs. Shear also managed the Coudersport Community Swimming Pool for many years. She has been active at the Coudersport Golf Club, the First United Presbyterian Church, community theater groups and other organizations.

But the way many people know Maxine Shear is through her art work. Over the years, she has captured on canvas more than 400 Coudersport area homes, businesses and other landmarks. She's still at it, most recently being commissioned to draw several landmarks in Galeton. Many of Shear's productions appear on the collectors' item Christmas ornaments produced each year by the local New Century Club. She signs each of her works with a tongue-in-cheek pair of shears.

A son, Bill Shear, is one of the world's foremost authorities on spiders. A second son, Tom Shear, is deceased. The Shears' daughter, Laurie, is system librarian for the Potter-Tioga Library System.