Area man got early education in carny lifestyle

By Vickie Babyak

McKeesport Community Newsroom

Robert Babyak of Dravosburg grew up in Chapmanville, a populated place in Plum Township, located in Venango County. Traveling with the carnival from age 9 to 13 proved to be one of his best life experiences. “We traveled through Pennsylvania, Ohio and West Virginia and slept in our old school bus,” he said. Carnivals are more regulated and different from the old days, but Babyak remembers what carny life was like 60 years ago, describing a life of hard work, diversity and sword swallowing.