Railroad City News

On a bitterly cold December day more than a century ago, an act of extraordinary courage unfolded along the West Branch of the Susquehanna River in South Renovo. It remains one of the greatest true stories of heroism in the community’s history.

On December 2, 1924, a group of boys was playing on the frozen river when disaster struck. Ten-year-old Angelo Gughiocello broke through the ice into approximately 16 feet of frigid water. Within moments, he lost consciousness beneath the broken ice.

Nearby, 29-year-old Renovo electrician Calvin S. Orth heard frantic cries for help and rushed toward the scene.

Without a second thought, Orth ran across the ice toward the opening where the boy had disappeared. As he neared the hole, the ice beneath him gave way, plunging him into the icy river.

Orth reached the unconscious child and repeatedly attempted to lift him onto the ice. Each time, the weakened ice collapsed under their weight, sending both back into the freezing water.

For nearly 10 minutes, Orth battled the numbing cold while keeping the young boy from slipping beneath the surface. As the desperate struggle continued, bystanders finally managed to bring a rope to the scene. The rope was thrown to Orth, who secured his grip as rescuers pulled both he and Angelo safely from the river.

Orth suffered cuts and bruises from the jagged ice, but his concern remained with the young boy. Although Angelo was unconscious when he reached shore, he was successfully revived and survived thanks to Orth’s selfless actions.

In recognition of his remarkable bravery, Calvin S. Orth was awarded the Carnegie Medal for Heroism, one of North America’s highest civilian honors for individuals who risk their own lives to save another.

More than 100 years later, Orth’s courageous rescue stands as a powerful reminder of the character and selflessness found in the people of the Renovo area. While many local stories have faded with time, this true account deserves to be remembered as one of the community’s finest moments.

His bravery on that cold, December day in 1924 is why Calvin Orth was truly a Railroad City Legend!