Faces of the Valley: Bill Godfrey uses world experience to grow Natrona spirit

Bill Godfrey graduated from Tarentum High School in 1969, earned an art degree from Edinboro University and didn’t set foot in the Alle-Kiski Valley for the next several years.

“I wanted to see the world,” said Godfrey, 72.

“I was nomadic. I saw the pyramids, the Great Wall of China and the Parthenon. I was everywhere.”

He settled only after finding a “crumbling, old industrial building” in the Natrona section of Harrison.

That was three decades ago, and Godfrey has never looked back.

Using his world experience, he founded Natrona Comes Together to rebuild spirit and aesthetics in the old river town.

Under his leadership, the group spearheaded a plan to create Natrona Community Park. With help from the late Sen. Jim Ferlo, Natrona Comes Together landed a $350,000 grant to transform the park from an empty field to a stunning play space filled with colorful mosaics that tell the history of the neighborhood.

“I create ideas. That’s what I do for a living,” Godfrey said. “I enjoy doing it here, where I feel like it makes a difference.

“I’ve actually gotten so much more from this town than it has gotten from me.”

Ten stone pillars line the walkway and are dotted with picturesque tales of years gone by. Columns are dedicated to the steel mill, Polish heritage and the Penn Salt manufacturing company, among other eras.

Residents were recruited to help compile the historic colonnade, with people from 6 to 96 pitching in, Godfrey said.

“Art is educational,” he said. “When you create ownership in something, people feel pride. It spurs something good.”

Patty Babinsack has worked alongside Godfrey since the advocacy group was founded 17 years ago. She said efforts have brought a variety of cultural experiences to the neighborhood, especially for children. The group sponsors concerts, visits from the Pittsburgh Zoo, tree plantings and picnics in the park, among other initiatives.

“We bring the professionals in and get the children out of the house,” Godfrey said.

Babinsack said the group takes care of “a lot of little things, a lot that people don’t see, but we try to keep on top of ideas.

“We help the neighborhood to gather, which is good for spirits.”

She said the grassroots organization has dedicated thousands of hours in service to try to improve the community’s quality of life.

The group is responsible for a community garden that spans a huge lot on the corner of Federal Street. Members would like to put their might behind an anti-blight program to help clean up some of the vacant or abandoned properties, she said.

“We are all working for a healthy community,” Godfrey said.

With five generations of his family having worked in the nearby steel mill, Godfrey said the town is in his bones.

“I’ve had work produced on all continents of the world, except for Antarctica. But here, this is a sacred area to me, and I’m glad to be part of it.”