Those look like they intended to stiffen the lugs up some, I really don't think it makes much difference though. It makes it a unique frame, that's for sure.
Mill Hall is in a really nice area. I don't ride up there much because I'd have headwinds coming home, but I drove up and rode around marking some roads near there for a 1200k brevet two years ago.
A couple of years ago I took my model Piper Cub to Lock Haven for "Wings over Piper." It was too windy for me to fly though