| YEARS GONE BY ARCHIVES |
| DECEMBER 1909 |
| Pottsville Republican of December 2, 1909 SCHUYLKILL HAVEN FOR FAIR ASSESSMENT A meeting of the borough auditors of Schuylkill Haven was held at the home of Samuel Cummings, when the auditors organized by electing Samuel Cummings of the East Ward president, and George Gehrig of the North Ward, secretary. In conjunction with the auditors, there was present J. C. Lautenbacher, president of the Town Council, Solicitor James A. Noecker, School Director John H. Minnig and Schhol Board Solicitor C. E. Berger. The object of the meeting was the discussion of the equalization of the borough tax assessment, which was discussed at length. During the discussion the fact was developed that certain properties of the town, principally the smaller ones are taxed as high as three quarters of their actual value, while in several instances the large properties are taxed as low as one fourth their market value. An endeavor will be made to equalize the tax on all properties and all be required to pay their just proportion which assessment may reach forty percent of the market price. It was decided to have both the school board and the town council appoint a member from each ward to go over the assessor's list and decide definitely upon th percentage. The registers will then be able to complete their work which must be finished by the last day of December. The assessed valuation of Schuylkill Haven at the present time is considerably over $1,000,000. Pottsville Republican of December 6, 1909 SCHUYLKILL HAVEN SHORTS The Borough Council and School Board will meet in regular session this evening. The former body will take up the matter of acceptance of and payment for street paving and electric light plant improvements. As is usual in the case of all municipal works there is more or less criticism of both contracts. The borough had its engineer and supervisor on the street paving job and supervisor and inspector on the electric light plant project and the reports of these officials will be taken into consideration when the matters come before council at the meeting. The chief burgess announces that he will hereafter enforce the ordinance relative to the burning of waste paper and rubbish. It is unlawful to do this on the public streets or within seventy five feet of any building and the fine for breaking the law is ten dollars for each and every offense. The ordinance is frequently violated. In view of the fact that the town is without water for twenty two out of the twenty four hours in every day, the burgess considers the violation of this ordinance a most hazardous risk and has decided to prosecute all offenders. Elwood Moyer, P. & R. main line fireman, is rapidly recovering from a serious injury that threatened to cost him the loss of his left arm. While on his duties on his engine he had his arm badly squeezed and as a result blood poisoning set in. He has been confined to the house for several weeks but his physician says the danger point has passed. Contractor Rauen, who has just completed the Main Street pavement has issued invitations to a number of prominent citizens to attend a banquet to be given in honor of the event at the Hotel Grand on Thursday night of this week. Pottsville Republican of December 7, 1909 A regular stated meeting of the Schuylkill Haven Town Council was held on Monday evening with the following members present: Berger, Bubeck, Keller, McKeon, Meck, Mengle, Moore, Rooney, Saul and Umbenhower. President Lautenbacher, Secretary Runkel, Solicitor Noecker, Treasurer Keller, Chief Burgess Hartman, Superintendent Werner, Supervisor Becker and Engineer Butz were also present. Road Committee reported having laid various terra cotta sewers, brick gutters, catch basins put in and filling in streets. An ordinance reducing the width of Castor Street in the West Ward passed final reading. Burgess Hartman reported as follows: I served notice on the School Board regarding their pavement on Pleasant Row as per your instructions. Mr. Noecker at my behest notified the County Commissioners that the bridge in the West Ward needed repairing. During the month I arrested Dr. Hamler of Port Carbon for tacking bills on telegraph poles and fined him five dollars. I arrested two of Gately and Brennan's men for throwing bills on the street and to the front yards and fined them five dollars each. I arrested Washington Bittle for fast and reckless driving and fined him three dollars. I arrested Robert Erps for drunken nuisance, he plead guilty before court and was sentenced by the court. Secretary Paxson reported complaint of John Rickson relative to unsanitary condition of the gutter in front of his property at Union and Margaretta Streets. The Health Officer has investigated and the board recommends that a brick gutter be laid to carry the water away. Secretary Hoofamn of the Manufacturer's Association submitted the request of the association that Council notify Paul Naffin to discontinue giving free skating during the day as it causes considerable annoyance to the manufacturers owing to employees staying away from their work. A motion to request that of Mr. Naffin was made and lost. The Street Committee reported that the street paving is completed. Chief Burgess Hartman read voluminous correspondence between the P. & R. Railway Company and himself relative to the company's contention that the backs of homes on Saint John Street encroach on railroad property and that they may close off the alley. Solicitor Noecker was of the opinion they can not close the road as it has been open at least twenty one years and if the railroad fences it off, the borough will file suit. President Lautenbacher called attention to the threatened switchmen's strike and suggested that the electric light department buy and have on hand two months supply of coal. Pottsville Republican of December 14, 1909 SCHUYLKILL HAVEN SHORTS The Becker and Schumacher Bowling Alley on South Main Street opened to the public on Saturday evening and Chief Burgess Hartman rolled the first ball. There was a large crowd present all evening. With the bowling alley, a big skating rink and two moving picture theaters, there is no dearth of entertainment in this old burg. The Main Street of Schuylkill Haven since being paved presents such a delightful scene that every loyal citizen takes pride in pointing to it as a much needed up to date improvement. So satisfactory is the work and appearance that the citizens of saint John Street have the signatures of the required number of property owners desiring and petitioning the borough council to pave the street from Main to Union just as soon as the weather permits in the spring. This petition will be presented at next meeting of council and it is hoped that good works of progress may go on. Pottsville Republican of December 15, 1909 A NEW WATER COMPANY FOR SCHUYLKILL HAVEN Alarmed over the prospect of a water famine for about six months of every year, the Manufacturer's Association of Schuylkill Haven, which is composed of all of the manufacturers of town, on Monday evening organized a water company. They will at once apply for a charter and will engage a competent engineer to prospect for water and to draw up plans and specifications for a big reservoir and the necessary bylaws. The organization was completed by the election of George P. W. Saul as President, Walter F. Meck as treasurer and Robert Hoffman as secretary. It is assumed that the water works will cost the manufacturers in the neighborhood of $150,000. The idea is not only to secure water for their own purposes but they propose to supply the consumers throughout the entire town. It is presumed that the company has its eye on the borough water rights up on the Schappell farm at Nosedale. Tests were made during the past summer showing that the stream on the borough's water property has about the same volume as that which feeds the reservoir of the Schuylkill Haven Gas and Water Company and the lay of the line is such, and the indications are such that the promoters of the new water company believe that they can secure a large amount of water by uncovering springs on the mountainside. This work is to begin at once. Pottsville Republican of December 18, 1909 The recent rains so materially helped the local water supply that the water has been turned on full both day and night since Thursday morning. With the artesian wells working day and night to help out the natural supply of water, the Water Company's reservoir is slowly but steadily gaining on the consumption and the Water Company officials believe the crisis in the water famine has passed. In order to husband the supply as much as possible the Water Company continues to run the pump at Payne's dam to furnish water for the P. & R. engines at Cressona. After having passed through such a period of drouight as Schuylkill Haven has experienced, we regret to note that there are some people in town so careless and so indifferent to the general welfare of the community as to allow their hydrants and outside spigots to run all night to prevent freezing. By so doing they are wasting the precious fluid. An inside stopcock for outside spigots and care exercised to turn the water off on cold nights and a frost proof box around hydrants, all constructed at very little cost will obviate the becessity of allowing the water to run and will prevent waste. Pottsville Republican of December 21, 1909 BOY KILLED IN RUNAWAY - THROWN FROM STONE WAGON AND HAD CHEST CRUSHED Fred Schappell, the seventeen year old son of Benjamin Schappell, of Nosedale near Schuylkill Haven, was killed late yesterday afternoon. He was driving a team of horses from the Fisher farm on the Second Mountain to the new state road between Schuylkill Haven and Orwigsburg, when the animals became unmanageable and dashed down the mountainside. At a turn in the road he was thrown from the wagon and the wheels passed over his chest. Another teamster found him and took him to the home of Elias Schappell and the Hillbish farm where a physician was summoned. It was found that the entire chest had been crushed in and that there was not the slightest chance for him to recover. Death came at 7:30 o'clock in the evening. Young Schappell was a strong youth and had previously been able to handle the team with perfect satisfaction. It is thought that something broke at the harness and that the horses became frightened and with the heavy load pushing them, they became entirely unmanageable. Pottsville Republican of December 29, 1909 RUN DOWN ON RAIL, FATALLY HURT Charles F. Heisler was run down about fifty yards north of the P. & R. station at Schuylkill Haven last night and died shortly after midnight at the Pottsville Hospital. deceased was thirty two years of age, single, and resided with his parents, Mr. and Mrs. Christian L. Heisler of Hornung Street in Jalappa. The unconscious form was found about 1:30 in the afternoon lying on the tracks by call boy Connelly who happened that way. Assistance was speedily secured and the young man was brought to the Pottsville Hospital without delay, where it was found that the right leg had been severed near the hip and the left leg near the knee. His fingers were also badly crushed. While being removed from the track to the station he regained consciousness long enough to give his name and address and although his relatives were notified, he died at the hospital before they arrived. Deceased was employed at the steel mill and the family are unable to account for his presence in Schuylkill Haven. It is believed that he was endeavoring to board a freight or coal train for home when he was thrown under the rails and killed. To survive he leaves his father and his mother, who was Anna B. Nettlinger of Pottsville, two sisters, Mrs. Benjamin Knowles and Mrs. John Koegel of Pottsville and two brothers, John of Philadelphia and Christian of Pottsville. |