YEARS GONE BY ARCHIVES |
Pottsville Republican of April 4, 1911 SCHUYLKILL HAVEN WATER MATTER SETTLED At the regular meeting of the Schuylkill Haven Borough Council, Solicitor Noecker stated that the water situation had been finally settled. The agreement between the water company, borough officials and the attorney general had been signed, but the charter had not yet arrived. The issue is, however, expected before the next regular meeting of council. Now that the water question has been settled, council will turn its attention to improving the streets and highways. That was decided in a motion giving the Road Committee power to purchase a street scraper, procure all trap rock that is necessary for putting the streets in excellent order and when the proper time arrives, to oil all streets throughout the town, the same as was done last summer. Chairman Saul, of the Electric Light Committee, submitted to council several bids handed him for the installation of two new boilers at the electric light plant. The chairman stated that it was not a question of whether council wanted to install the boilers or not but that it was an absolute necessity, as the insurance companies were after them. After considering all the bids, the chairman recommended that the contract be awarded to George A. Schimpf of Pottsville, as he could easily be reached in case necessity demanded his presence. It was stated that the other bidders would only furnish the boilers and stacks and would not consider the erection of the same, as the expense of sending men on from a distance would be too great. After considerable discussion, the contract was awarded to Mr. Schimpf. MINOR MATTERS The proper committee was ordered to rent a fireproof box from the Trust Company for the purpose of keeping all papers and documents therein. The solicitor was instructed to take up the matter of the new street between Dock and Paxson Avenue with the owner and reach a satisfactory agreement if possible. He was also instructed to report back either at a special meeting or at the next regular meeting. The Ordinance Committee was instructed to draw up an ordinance covering the grade on Canal Street. Councilman McKeone called the attention of council to the recent fire in New York, in which 150 lives were lost, and wanted to know whether all the factories in Schuylkill Haven were in compliance with the laws or whether the buildings were being maintained in the same condition as the one in New York. He was informed that the deputy factory inspector made regular visits to the town and if all things were not as required by law, the owners would have been prosecuted long ago, as the proper authority to do so was invested in the inspector. Burgess Hartman reported having notified the Traction Company to repair the tracks along Liberty Street, as the same were in bad condition, some of the sills being exposed. Council decided that in the future all gutters should be grouted and granted the authority for purchasing bricks for the same in the hands of the Road Committee. Pottsville Republican of April 6, 1911 STRICKEN WOMAN DIED ON TROLLEY Mrs. Daniel Marberger, a highly respected resident of Schuylkill Haven, sustained a stroke this morning while seated in a trolley car and before medical aid could be procured for her, expired. Deceased left her home apparently in the best of health, for the purpose of attending the funeral of the late Jere Heisler of Orwigsburg. She boarded the car at Main and Dock Streets, and the car had gone but a few squares when she fell over. The crew, assisted by a number of passengers, carried the aged woman into the home of Jacob Miller on Liberty Street and summoned a physician. Upon his arrival he declared the woman dead. Deceased was born in the vicinity of Drehersville. When quite young she moved with her parents to Schuylkill Haven, taking up residence on the outskirts of town, on what is known as the old Boyer farm. Her son, Carl Saylor, is a well known freight conductor on the mainline of the Reading Railroad. At the time of his mother's death, Mr. Saylor was with his train, somewhere on the other side of Reading, in pursuit of his duties. He was telegraphed for and arrived home late this afternoon. Pottsville Republican of April 8, 1911 SCHUYLKILL HAVEN SHORTS The School Board met in monthly session last Monday night. Members present were: Hoffman, Smith, Reinhart, Kistler, Creran, Webber, Crossley, Brown and Paxson. The averages of the members of the graduating class were reported and the commencement speakers names announced. The board directed that two seats should be reserved for each director in the front of the hall for each night of class exercises. The Rainbow Hose Company was granted permission to store their apparatus in the old quarters of the former Hook and Ladder Company until the board needs the room to fit the same for school purposes. Director Reinhart, Chairman of the Building Committee, reported that the transoms in the South Ward building were stained as the board ordered. Several loads of coal and wood were ordered. He also started a discussion on the stagnant water near that building and invited the board to meet on those grounds some time and inspect the work done there and solve the drainage problem. It was agreed that the board should meet at the South Ward premises next Saturday at three o'clock. The truancy report was read and action taken on several cases. Pottsville Republican of April 12, 1911 GROUND BROKEN FOR NEW ASYLUM Ground has been broken at the Almshouse for the new insane buildings and the work is started. The first digging was through the terraces along the front of the old building, and scared the directors almost green as they thought that it meant railroad connection and the cutting down of some of the trees, several of the officials ran out bareheaded and stopped the workmen and sent for the boss, and then it was explained to them that this digging was for a trench in which to lay the sewerage pipes and that there would be no cutting down of trees and no railroad tracks laid alongside the buildings. The contractors say that they are going to push the work rapidly and thoroughly. Pottsville Republican of April 18, 1911 REFORMED CHURCH LIQUIDATES DEBT Easter Sunday in the Reformed Church of Schuylkill Haven will long be remembered by its members and friends as one of the most glorious in its career. Never in the history of the church was there so much joy manifested as there was last Sunday morning and evening when Holy Communion was served at both services and a debt of $1654.43 was liquidated, leaving a balance in the treasury of $250. During Holy Week, services were conducted by the pastor, Reverend E. G. Leinbach, each evening, he at times exchanging pulpits with Reverend W. Hartman of Saint John's Church in Orwigsburg. The confirmation services on Good Friday evening were an inspiration as new members were admitted to the church, the church auditorium being filled with persons who wished to see the impressive ceremony. At the Easter morning and evening services, the auditorium was beautifully decorated with easter lilies and other cut flowers and potted plants. Reverend Leinbach, since coming to Schuylkill Haven, has endeared himself to the hearts of his parishioners. He is a hard worker, not only aong the members of his congregation but in the town in general and is held in high esteem by the entire community. Pottsville Republican of April 20, 1911 LUNATICS FIGHT TO DEATH AT THE COUNTY ASYLUM As a result of a quarrel between two insane patients at the Schuylkill County Insane Asylum last evening, William Colonis of Mahanoy City, aged about twenty two years, was killed and Adam Hanselman, aged forty five years of Pottsville, is imprisoned in a ward provided for the care of the violent insane. No one was in the room at the time of the quarrel and it is impossible to get a coherent description from Hanselman who has not fully recovered from the violent paroxysm with which he suddenly became afflicted. The men were both considered to be perfectly harmless and roomed together, apparently getting along very agreeably. While the attendants were away from the vicinity of the ward last evening, a commotion was heard followed by a heavy crash. Several attendants rushed upstairs and there found Colonis unconscious, on the floor his head covered with blood, while over him stood Hanselman with the leg of a table in his hand. The leg had been wrenched from a table either before or during the quarrel. Hanselman was admitted to the asylum several weeks ago from the county jail. He was a former resident of Fishbach. He was a mechanic and about thirteen years ago disappeared from home. Nothing was heard of him and it was supposed he had died until about two months ago when he unexpectedly returned. He gave evidence of being mentally unbalanced. He had the notion that he was the possessor of severl valuable inventions which he desired to have put on the market and said he was willing to give a liberal part of the revenue to anyone who would finance the patenting of his ideas and the manufacture of the devices. His wife who had believed herself a widow prior to his return home was obliged to seek the aid of the authorities and Hanselman was arrested and placed in prison until a commission could investigate into his mental condition. The coroner will make an investigation into the affair tonight. Colonis died without regaining consciousness. The blow resulted in a badly crushed skull and he expired at an early hour this morning. |