| YEARS GONE BY ARCHIVES |
| The Call of September 7, 1917 MANY ATTEND SCHOOL OPENING Schuylkill Haven's finest building, its new high school, was thrown open Monday afternoon for inspection to the citizens of this and the surrounding communities. It would be a difficult matter to attempt to estimate the many who inspected its every nook and corner and then found their way to the spacious auditorium, where one and a half hours were spent in appropriate exercises. Not in a number of years has it been the privilege of the residents of Schuylkill Haven to enjoy gifts of oratory such as were heard on Monday afternoon last, and these gifts coming as they did from no other than residents of Schuylkill haven causes one to feel all the more proud. The exercises of the afternoon opened promptly on time with a selection by the high school orchestra of fourteen pieces. The singing of America was followed by the invocation by Reverend H. W. Hartzler, pastor of Grace United Evangelical church. EXCITING NATURE OF SPRING GARDEN This section of the town can always be depended upon to furnish something of a rather exciting nature and Saturday night last, about midnight, was no exception. The voices of two male persons in more than a friendly argument disturbed the peaceful slumbers of the residents on Dock Street. Men awakened by the loud noise sprang from their beds, believing there was a fire and well enough, but it was a fire of words between a father and his son. Neighbors ran barefooted to the house but were afraid to enter owing to the threats made by the son of what he would do to the first person entering. It remained for Dr. Edward Miller to act as pacifier. Neither the father or son were badly used up from the conflict. COMPLAINING OF NUISANCE A number of the residents of Center Avenue are complaining bitterly of a nuisance that has existed for some time. The nuisance is that of foul smelling water that is allowed to come from the residences of two or three people and remain exposed to the air. The residents claim that council refuses to take any action on the matter and that unless it is remedied immediately, the matter will be carried to the State Health Department in Harrisburg. The Call of September 14, 1917 SERIOUSLY CHARGED BEFORE SQUIRE KLINE On a warrant issued by Squire W. C. Kline, Constable John Butz placed under arrest a party by the name of Lester Mengle, residing about two miles from Friedensburg. Mengle is charged with being the father of the unborn child of Elsie Nunnemacher residing near Roedersville. The defendant waived a hearing and entered bail before Squire Heffner at Friedensburg. DISCOVER ROBBER IN HOME Returning to their home on Garfield Avenue on Wednesday night about ten o'clock, Misses Mattie and Florence Ney, decided they would have a lunch before retiring. Accordingly they had gone down into the cellar and reached the bottom step when a form darted past them and to the cellar window. The man made his disappearance. Investigation showed that he had broken the cellar window and was helping himself to eatables when disturbed. ITEMS ABOUT OUR SCHOOLS With the closing session this afternoon, the first two weeks of the public school term for 1917-1918 will be completed. Probably the first time in the history of the public schools in town, have the scholars been called to order and dismissed with the blowing of a bugle. This is being done at the present time in the new high school building. Owing to the fact that the clock system has not been completed, the bugle call was tried and proved very effective. However, work on the clock system is progressing nicely and will be completed within the course of another week or two. Superintendent Hoover extends a most cordial invitation to the people of the community to attend the opening exercises in the new building any morning they find convenient. It will give them an opportunity of seeing the 600 scholars in the building assembled in one room and at the same time give them an opportunity to visit the several recitation rooms, become acquainted with the teachers and to ascertain first handed, just what their children are learning and studying. Within a short time special exercises will be held in the auditorium each morning. Monday evening next will be the last opportunity for the issuing of certificates for beginners. The state law provides that the first two weeks of the beginning of the term and the first two weeks following the first day of January should be set apart for the admittance of beginners. Probably a score were admitted during the present week. Tuesday morning fire was started in three of the seven furnaces. In a comparatively short time the entire building was comfortably heated. Janitor Confehr believes that no trouble will be experienced during the coming winter months. During the present week the grounds around the new building have undergone a decided change. W. Frank Deibert with three teams and a force of men certainly made a pleasing improvement. One would hardly recognize the grounds of two weeks ago and the same grounds today. The Call of September 21, 1917 SNEAK THIEF ENTERED HOME The authorities are on the lookout for a sneak thief that visited the home of a Dock Street resident and unmolested, got away with nearly twenty dollars worth of goods. Constable Butz who is working on the case attributes the theft to an out of town woman, whose reputation will not bear investigating. DOES NOT RUN FIRST AID SHOP Saturday night last about twelve o'clock a very stylishly dressed woman came from the direction of Center Avenue towards the trolley. From her walk it was observed that she was ill. When near the arch she fell, striking her head on the sharp curb stone. The local gallant youths ran to her assistance. While one of the youths held her tenderly in his arms, the other went into the store of Harry Sterner and asked for court plaster, bandages, ointment and even requested the loan of splints. Mr. Sterner informed the now Red Cross nurses that he did not run a first aid shop. While one of the nurses went back Willow Street for assistance, the victim of the accident and the other nurse disappeared. It is understood that the woman was taken from Mount Carbon and was taken home in a passing auto. A CONTEMPTIBLE TRICK A contemptible and mean trick was played on The Call by some brainless person during the early morning hours of Thursday when the large sheet on the bulletin board of The Call containing all the election returns gathered during the evening was torn off and destroyed. Many persons interested in the election were surprised to find the bulletin board without a trace of election returns on Thursday morning. Returns were posted as late as 1:00 in the morning and from the fact that duplicate sheets had not been kept of all returns it was impossible to give the public very much information on the results during the day. The Call offers a reward of ten dollars to the person or persons giving information that will lead to the arrest of the perpetrators of the above act. PERMANENT CERTIFICATES BEING ISSUED Both of the local banks are now issuing permanent certificates to the subscribers of the Liberty Loan. These certificates are only issued to those persons or corporations that have already paid up the full amount if their subscription. The certificates will be recognized just the same as the bind itself. Thus far only a few have been issued in town but it is believed that by the first of October all amounts will have been paid in. SEVERAL EXEMPTION CLAIMS DENIED Following their second examination on Monday last, two local residents filed claims for exemptions, swearing to the same. Yesterday these two persons were called before the board at town hall, and when quizzed on the subject, admitted that the persons who they claimed they were supporting could easily be supported in another manner. As an excuse, the two drafted men stated that they did not understand the provisions of the exemption paper. Mr. Hoffman, secretary of the board, wants all persons making claims for exemption that they must be sure that what they swear to as answering is true and if not it is nothing less than perjury, punishable by law. Every application for exemption is being thoroughly investigated. THIRTY DRAFTED ME LEFT THIS MORNING The thirty drafted men, from this the Fourth District, who left for Camp Meade, Maryland, were given a royal send off this morning. Practically every one of the men reported at the town hall promptly at eight o'clock. John A. Moyer, of Orwigsburg, on of the drafted men, was given charge of the conscripts. The Schuylkill Hose Company Drums Corps volunteered their services and led the men from the town hall to the Reading station. Each one of the drafted men carried an American flag and a suitcase containing only a few articles of wearing apparel. Upon each one's face was that look of determination and the seriousness of the occasion as realized by each man could not be mistaken. Tears were noticed in the eyes of some of the men as they marched down the street but they were not tears of sorrow because they were called to fight for their Uncle Sam but more for the thought of leaving their parents and loved ones behind. Hundreds of relatives and friends lingered with the men until the last minute before the train pulled out they were showered with cigars and dainties. Many an affectionate scene was witnessed as a fond mother kissed her son goodbye. Tears even came to the eyes of bystanders who had neither relatives nor friends in the body. The men are scheduled to reach the B & O station in West Philadelphia about 12:30 o'clock. Here they will be provided with dinner. Just where they will be served with supper is not known. Several of the factories closed down for a few hours in order that the employees might participate in the parade. The proprietors showed their patriotic spirit as the going away of the conscript men was somewhat harder to witness than when the soldiers who enlisted went away. ABOUT OUR PUBLIC SCHOOLS The period for beginners to the public school in town closed on Monday evening last. From the beginning of the term until the above mentioned time, certificates were issued to just 94 beginners. This number is about six less than last year. However, about fifteen other students were admitted to the various grades so that the total enrollment in the schools is greater this year than it was last year. A number of supplies that had been delayed owing to poor railroad facilities, have arrived and have been distributed. All of the scholars and teachers are now down to hard work. Tuesday noon the clock system throughout the entire building was completed and put into working order. The master clock is located in the office of the superintendent and another clock in each recitation room. The teachers are expected to govern themselves in timing their classes by these clocks and also in dismissal of the scholars. In all probability a gong will be constructed when the playgrounds are completed. Starting with next week, the scholars will enjoy a recess period of twenty minutes. This period will be observed in the afternoon but not in the morning. Details are now being worked out by Professor Hoover. The Call of September 28, 1917 COUNCIL MET AT MIDNIGHT Town Council finally managed to hold a meeting, the session having been held on Monday night. Note that we have written it "night" rather than "evening," as night is what it really was, for the meeting was not called until eleven o'clock p. m. However, this was very necessary, else there could have been no meeting because of the same reason which prevented a session for almost a month, namely, no quorum; hence the members arranged to wait until the above mentioned hour, when Mr. Garner, a newly appointed member, would have finished his day's work on the railroad and would be able to attend the meeting. Nothing of great importance developed but the fact that the borough hands were unpaid for the month of August, also all of the bills for the same month being unpaid, it was necessary to have a meeting and go to the extreme of holding it at the hour of midnight in order to obtain a quorum. The Street Committee reported that all of the gutters were pretty well gone over and were now in good order. Upon the recommendation of the same committee, it was decided to order a small quantity of eighteen inch pipe to correct drainage problems near the Sticher residence on Railroad Street, and to repair the street at the same place. So that the wages of the borough employees and also the regular bills can be paid in the future without delay because of the failure of council to meet on the regular meeting night, it was decided to authorize the president and secretary to pay the said wages and bills whenever council fails to meet on the appointed evening. This will eliminate all delays in the borough hands receiving their wages. |
| ADS FROM THE CALL NEWSPAPER IN SEPTEMBER OF 1917 |