The Call of June 2, 1950

FOUR ESCAPE AS CAR RUNS OFF MOUNTAIN
Four local people had a narrow escape from serious injury early Saturday morning when the car in which they were riding went over the
steep side of the Schuylkill mountain.  Occupants of the car were Mr. and Mrs. Joseph Dallago, Mrs. Harry Dolan and Edgar Deibert.  Mrs.
Dallago, driver of the car, in the heavy fog early Saturday morning, was following the guide posts on the outer side of the highway leading
to the summit of the mountain.  At the place where the road branches off to the left, leading to the old Paxson home, the guard rails follow
the road that branches off.  The car hit the steep embankment between the main highway and this road and was thrown over to the other
side of the road and down over the steep side of the mountain.  The car turned completely over, landing on its top and sliding down the
mountain until it came to rest against a tree.  Mr. Dallago crawled through a broken window and in the fog slowly made his way around the
car to see if it was in danger of continuing its journey down the mountain.  When he saw it was safely lodged against the tree, the other
passengers, dazed but unhurt except for minor scratches, crawled through the window and made their way on hands and knees up the
steep embankment to the road.
The Call of July 7, 1950

TRUCK COMES TO GRIEF IN SEWER
The coal truck of John Spleen, 222 Haven Street, sank to the axle in a refilled sewer excavation in the street running between Hess Street
and Naffin Avenue alongside the Alberta Knitting Mill on Thursday afternoon.  The sewer line was laid there three weeks ago and backfill
made without tamping.  The heavy rain on Wednesday night caused the lower dirt to settle but left the top intact.  The weight of the truck
caused the ground to collapse under it and the sudden drop threw the weight of seven tons of chestnut coal against the one side of the
truck body, ripping it from the chassis and destroying it, while spilling the coal out on the street and into the sewer hole.  Charles Troop,
superintendent of the construction work for the Berlanti Company, brought a bulldozer to the scene and helped push the truck from the
collapsed trench.  Numerous cases of trucks and automobiles breaking through the trenches were reported on Thursday and Friday.  
Streets in Fairmount and Union Street, open to traffic, had holes as deep as fifteen to eighteen inches.  Early Friday morning these streets
were still in the same condition.
The Call of August 4, 1950

CHILD ALMOST DROWNS IN SEWER DITCH
Through quick thinking and action, Judy Brown, nine year old daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Leonard Brown of 409 Naffin Avenue and Jimmy
Miller, nine year old son of Mr. and Mrs. Allen Miller of Pennsylvania Avenue, Donald "Bobby" Martz, three year old son of Mr. and Mrs.
Serjin Martz of Dock Street, was saved from drowning recently.  The children were playing on Lincoln Street near their home.  Judy and
Jimmy saw Bobby fall into an open sewer ditch, which was filled with approximately four feet of water.  As Bobby was coming up for the
second time, the children pulled him out, gave first aid to get the water out of his lungs and took him to his mother, who was unaware her
child had left the yard of his home.
The Call of July 29, 1950

BOY IN SERIOUS CONDITION AS RESULT OF FALL
Vincent Wisner, ten year old son of Mr. and Mrs. Harry Wisner of Garfield Avenue, is a patient in the Good Samaritan Hospital, suffering
with a concussion of the brain and body and face bruises, which he received when he fell from a tree while hunting horse chestnuts on
Wednesday evening.  He and several other playmates were hunting horse chestnuts in back of the Rainbow Hose Company hose house at
about six o'clock that evening.  The boys put pieces of lumber against a large barn adjoining the hose house and climbed on the barn and
out onto a branch of a horse chestnut tree.  The branch broke and Vincent fell about sixty feet, landing between a pile of wood and a large
slab of stone.  The boys rushed to their homes to tell their parents and Mrs. Wisner, who had been looking for her son to come home for
supper, was notified that he had fallen and was unconscious.  The boy was taken to the office of Dr. J. E. Conrad and was then removed to
the Good Samaritan Hospital.  His condition had improved last evening when he became conscious for the first time.  However, the crisis
is expected this evening, when his condition can be really determined.
The Call of December 1, 1950

FURIOUS WIND, RAIN STORM BLOWS OFF ROOFS, UPROOTS TREES AND FLOODS CELLARS
The worst wind and rain storm in the memory of the oldest residents of the community struck here early Saturday morning and continued
in fury until late in the day, causing widespread damage to buildings ans their contents.  The storm began brewing Friday night and by
early Saturday morning had reached "little hurricane" proportions.  Trees were blown over in the eastern section of town and burned out
a transformer at the corner of Main and Haven Streets, cutting off power in that section of town about four in the morning.  Although
heavy grounds were all over the electric system, it wasn't until about ten in the morning that the main cable leading from the plant burned
off.  A tree falling over Jacques Street pulled down a pole and wires.  The main cable was repaired but the lines throughout town were
checked and temporary repairs made where needed before the power was again turned on.  Five trees and four poles fell throughout
town and broke lines.  Most of the town had service resumed by about four o'clock in the afternoon and the entire community was again
receiving light and power by ten o'clock.  
An estimated five and one half inches of rain fell during the destructive storm.  Rising water in the creek at the light plant threatened to
flood the building.  Two fire trucks were called and stood by for about three hours but sandbagging along the banks prevented the water
from flooding out the light plant.  The rapidly rising Schuylkill River soon caused cellars to be flooded in the lower sections of town and
water began backing up and inundating the Penn Street section.  About six o'clock in the evening, water was running into the homes and
the occupants were removed in rowboats.  Many homes on Dock Street, lower Main Street, Columbia Street and the flat sections along
the river had flooded cellars and fire trucks were called upon to pump them out.  Bittle's Dam at the Earl Stoyer garage rose rapidly and by
early afternoon was overflowing onto South Berne Street at the southeast corner.  Water also began accumulating on the street at the
intersection of Columbia and Berne Streets and soon was above the height of the curb, threatening to enter the home on the northwest
corner and came within inches of entering the Earl Stoyer showroom.  A fire company pumper was used to get the water out of the
basement.  The VFW basement was also badly flooded.  The most damage was caused by the high wind which ripped roofs from homes,
blew down trees, chimneys, television antennas and shrubbery and smashed in windows.  With openings torn in buildings, the rain driven
by winds of a velocity estimated as high as seventy five miles per hour at times, caused great damage to interiors and furniture.  
The homes of Melvin Renninger and William Dewitt on Dock Street had the entire roofs blown off and extensive damage was done to the
interiors and the house furnishings.  All six rooms of the Renninger home were damaged.  The show windows at the F. Y. Becker garage
were blown in.  At the Schuylkill County Institutional District, a barn on the old Luckenbill farm was destroyed and a piece of lumber was
blown onto an automobile owned by Charles Brown, parked near the barn and damaged it.  The Liberty Hose Company pumper was used
to remove water from the basement.  The storm gradually subsided Saturday afternoon and evening.  Rain changed to snow which fell to a
depth of about an inch on Sunday morning.  Snow continued falling intermittently until Wednesday.  The Cressona fire companies were
kept busy during the storm.  Straw used to dry concrete on the new bridge at Connor's Crossing caught on fire and the Good Will Fire
Company was called.
The Call of December 1, 1950

STORM CAUSED GAS VICTIMS
Near tragedy followed on the heels of the terrific wind and rain storm on Saturday and four victims of gas were fortunate in escaping with
their lives.  The first indirect victim of the storm was Frank S. Lewis, local newsdealer, who went to his cellar to investigate water that was
coming in and was overcome by coal gas from the furnace.  With him were several newsboys, but no one realized anything was wrong
until Frank staggered up the steps and nearly collapsed.  He went outside to the entrance of his store and there collapsed.  The
community ambulance was summoned and the resuscitator used.  He was removed to the Pottsville Hospital where he remained until the
next day.  He left on Tuesday for his deer hunting camp in the northern part of the state.  It is believed that the high winds and heavy rains
loosened soot in the upper part of the chimney, causing it to drop down and block the flue with the result that the fumes came into the
basement and into the house.  In the other case of persons overcome with gas, Francis Wenrich of East Main Street was overcome by gas
seeping into his home through a broken gas line.  He was removed to the hospital but later returned to his home.
The Call of December 8, 1950

HEAVY RAINS CAUSE FLOODS AND MUCH DAMAGE FOR SECOND TIME IN TEN DAYS
For the second time within ten days, heavy rains resulted in floods to sections located near the Schuylkill River or to streams feeding into
the river and flooded many cellars throughout the town.  A heavy downpour Sunday night and all day Monday quickly brought waters to
the flood stage and flooded cellars which had been cleaned out only a week ago.  On November 25, a terrific rain and wind storm caused
widespread damage throughout this section.  Ten days later, Monday of this week, the rains returned in equal fury but this time without
the fifty to seventy five mile hour gale and again caused heavy damage.  Many of the homes which had roofs torn off or partly damaged
were only temporarily repaired because of the shortage of roofing men available in this area.  The steady downpour soon found its way
into the homes through openings in the roofs.  Locally the greatest damage was caused by flood water backing up from the Schuylkill in
the Penn Street section.  Here water rose to a height of three feet and flooded the homes located in that low area.  Flooding of cellars
was almost to as great an extent as it was o the deluge of November 25.  Again fire trucks were put to work pumping out cellars.  Sump
pumps were quickly brought up where available but in many places they had to be taken out of the cellars because the water was raising
faster than it could be pumped out and would soon have covered the pumps.  Bittle's Dam at the rear of the Earl Stoyer garage on
Columbia Street went over the bank and spilled over South Berne Street to make a wide stream running to the Schuylkill River.  Damage
also occurred in other neighboring towns.
The Call of March 23, 1951

CAR CRASHES INTO PARKED TRUCK, TWO MEN IN HOSPITAL
The drivers of two vehicles are hospitalized as a result of a collision on Centre Avenue last evening about 8:45 o'clock.  Lewis Kramer,
217 Paxson Avenue and Edward F. Higgins of Pottsville were taken to the Good Samaritan Hospital in the community ambulance.  Kramer
has a possible concussion of the brain, laceration of the forehead requiring two sutures, laceration of the nose and a bruised thumb.  
Higgins has a severe laceration of the knee which required five sutures and a bruised chest.  According to Officer Clayton Bashore who
was on duty at the First Reformed Church at the time of the accident, Kramer was coming from the direction of Orwigsburg and swung out
of the line of traffic to pass a string of cars.  Higgins, driving a laundry truck was traveling east and had just pulled to the side of the
street to make a delivery when the truck was struck by Kramer's car.  A third car, parked on Centre Avenue and owned by Alvin Reed was
slightly damaged.  The front left part of Kramer's car struck the front fender of the Higgins truck, causing damage amounting to an
estimated $460 to Kramer's car and an estimated $350 to the truck.  The left rear fender and hub cap of the Reed car were damaged.  
The Call of July 13, 1951

WOMAN, 75, HAS NARROW ESCAPE

Mrs. Elizabeth Uckele, 75, had a narrow escape from death yesterday morning shortly before noon when she fell down a steep, twenty foot
embankment into the mud of the Schuylkill River behind North Berne Street.  She was pulled from the river by Alvin Heffner and Mervin
Ruth of the Heffner Motors and a driver of a truck at the Argo Mills.  She suffered cuts and bruises about the head, face, arms and legs in
her fall down the steep embankment but fortunately sustained no more serious injuries.
Mrs. Uckele, who makes her home with her brother in law and sister, Mr. and Mrs. Joseph Nagle at 83 North Berne Street, had gone to the
edge of the alley behind the Nagle home to dispose of some rubbish.  She evidently stepped too close to the river's bank for the bank
gave way beneath her and she tumbled down the twenty feet to the river.  The water at the river's edge is less than a foot deep but culm
and mud are thick.  Unable to get out of the mud and up the steep bank, she called for help.  Across the river, Alvin Heffner of Heffner
Motors had heard her fall and saw her struggling in the Schuylkill's mud.  He and Mervin Ruth, an employee at the garage, went
immediately to her aid.  Because of the steep bank, Mrs. Uckele had to be pulled out by a rope tied around her.  Dr. J. F. Matonis was
summoned. A quick examination revealed no broken bones and she was then cleaned of the mud and a more thorough examination given.
The Call of October 27, 1950

TRUCK IN DITCH RESULTS IN TWO LEGAL HEARINGS
Last Friday night a large tractor trailer truck loaded with baked beans broke through a refilled sewer trench on parkway and set off a chain
of reactions that resulted in charges against the father of the driver on charges of disorderly conduct and charges of assault and battery
being made against two local police officers.  The accident occurred on Friday about 10:00 p. m. when Robert Leininger of Minersville, a
former resident of Schuylkill Haven, in driving a cargo from the western part of the state of New York City, rode on the refilled trench and
it broke through, causing the truck to sink to the axles and list heavily to one side.  A broken water main on Parkway had undermined the
trench and the heavy weight of the truck caused it to break through.  With the assistance of Officer Roy Ebling, the driver put props
against the truck, bracing it against trees on Parkway to prevent the heavy load from doing further damage to the trailer body.  The truck
remained in the trench until Sunday afternoon when the driver had it unloaded and lifted out of the ditch.  Both the driver and Berlanti
Company disclaimed responsibility for the incident.  The Berlanti Company and local police stated that a barrier and a sign, "Danger Street
Closed," were in position.  Leininger claimed the construction company was liable and that he drove through because cars before him
had driven over this section of Parkway.  When the truck came to rest, all the wheels on the left side were mired in the ditch.
After the truck was removed from the ditch, Officers Bashore and Bubeck asked the driver to produce the weigh slip for his load.  
Leininger refused to produce it and the police prohibited him from driving away.  The difficulty of Harry Leininger, father of the driver,
occurred shortly afterwards.  According to the police, Leininger, driving his station wagon, approached from the lower end of Parkway at a
fast rate of speed and headed straight for the officers who were standing near the truck parked in the middle of the street on the north
side of the Union Street intersection.  When he was almost upon the officers, they stated, he swerved out of the way, brushing Bubeck's
uniform.  He stopped the car and the two officers went over to it to charge him with reckless driving.  A scuffle ensued.
On Monday night the officers had Leininger arraigned before Squire Ernest Singer on a charge of disorderly conduct.  Attorney Raymond
L. Brennan represented Leininger.  Singer heard the testimony and announced that he would make a decision the following night.  
Tuesday night he found Leininger guilty as charged and fined him $25.00 and costs.  On Wednesday, Attorney Brennan brought charges
against the two officers on charges of assault and battery and aggravated assault and battery.  Bubeck originally was charged with surety
of the peace and released under $500 bail on the two added charges.  Bashore was released on $500 bail on the two charges.  The case
was heard before Alderman John T. W. Faulls of Pottsville.  According to Attorney Brennan, Bubeck and Bashore struck and injured
Leininger at the hearing and threatened his life during a discussion which arose Sunday evening when the son attempted to move his
vehicle and the Schuylkill Haven police attempted to stop him to weigh the truck.  He stated that the truck had a reported sixteen tons of
canned goods within the legal limit for the vehicle.  Attorney John S. Lewis, borough solicitor, represented the police during the hearing.  
The police pleaded not guilty and the case will be referred to court.  Attorney James Gallagher, counsel for the Fraternal Order of Police
will have charge of the defense.
The Call of March 23, 1951

DAMAGE SUIT FILED AGAINST BOROUGH

A suit against the borough for $2928.65 was brought by Robert Leininger, formerly of town but now living in Minersville, for his claimed
loss after the wheels of his tractor trailer truck sank into a sewer trench on Parkway on October 21, 1950.  Leininger claims he was
transporting merchandise from Pittsburgh to New York when the rear wheels and one of the front wheels of the vehicle sank four feet
below the surface of the street, causing the truck and its cargo to list and damage the truck.  He claims the estimated cost of replacing
the trailer was $800, that the loss of replacing a fifth wheel destroyed was $63, the cost of temporary repairs was $135.65, the hire of
eleven men to extricate the truck was $220 and the hire of two trucks to aid in extrication was $50.  He also claims a loss of $460 in income
because of interruption of business on a round trip between New York and Pittsburgh.  The additional contention is made that he was
forced to spend $1200 for hire of a substitute truck while the damaged vehicle was in the garage three weeks undergoing temporary
repairs.  He accuses the borough of negligence as follows: failing to maintain the street in a reasonably safe condition, permitting use of
the street to traffic when apparent it was unsafe for use, failing to exercise reasonable supervision over the street and repairing it,
permitting the borough Municipal Authority to dig up and excavate the street and refilling the excavation in a careless, unfinished and
unsafe manner.
The Call of March 23, 1951

CAR CRASHES INTO PARKED TRUCK, TWO MEN IN HOSPITAL

The drivers of two vehicles are hospitalized as a result of a collision on Centre Avenue last evening about 8:45 o'clock.  Lewis Kramer of
217 Paxson Avenue and Edward Higgins, 349 Sanderson Street in Pottsville, were taken to the Good Samaritan Hospital in the community
ambulance.  Kramer had a possible concussion of the brain, laceration of the forehead requiring two sutures, laceration of the nose and a
bruised thumb.  Higgins has a severe laceration of the knee which required five sutures and a bruised chest.  According to Officer
Clayton Bashore, who was on duty at the First Reformed Church at the time of the accident, Kramer was coming from the direction of
Orwigsburg and swung out of the line of traffic to pass a string of cars.  Higgins, driving a laundry truck was traveling east and had just
pulled to the side of the street to make a delivery when the truck was struck by Kramers car.  A third car, parked on Centre Avenue and
owned by Alvin reed, was slightly damaged.  The front left part of Kramers car struck the front fender of the Higgins truck, causing
damage amounting to an estimated $460 to Kramer's car and an estimated $350 to the truck.  The left rear fender and hub cap of the Reed
car were damaged.
The Call of August 10, 1951

AUTO ACCIDENTS CONTINUE, CAR PLUNGES INTO RIVER

Another spectacular automobile accident was added to the alarmingly increased number of auto crashes that have occurred in the last
few weeks, when a new Lincoln car plunged down over the bank into the Schuylkill River early Saturday morning.  The car hit a block
divider in the new four lane highway near Earl Stoyer used car lot on the Pottsville highway and was thrown over into the guard rails and
over the bank into the river.  John Suender, 19, of Mahantongo Street in Pottsville, was traveling south and had just passed a car driven
by Joseph Higgins Jr. of Deer Lake when his expensive car struck the divider.  The car shot off to the right side of the highway and
clipped off seven guard rails before it plunged over the embankment.  It rolled over several times and came to a stop in the river in about
a foot of water, with the car on its wheels facing north.  Higgins and William Shugars Jr., a friend of the injured motorist who was driving
behind him, assisted the injured man to the highway where he was placed in a car and taken to the Pottsville Hospital.  All day Saturday,
Sunday and Monday cats stopped along the scene of the accident and created a dangerous situation with people crossing the
thoroughfare while cars whizzed by on the highway.
The Call of August 10, 1951

CARS COLLIDE AT PARKWAY INTERSECTION

An accident occurred at the intersection of Parkway and Columbia Street on Sunday afternoon at 1:15 o'clock involving the cars driven by
David Hoff of 3807 Duane Street in Detroit, Michigan and Oscar Freeman of 844 Burmont Road in Drexel Hill, Delaware County.  The local
police said as Hoff was driving his car across Columbia Street, it struck the rear left wheel of the Studebaker car, causing it to turn around
twice.  However, the car did not upset.  Damage to both cars was about $100.  Mr. and Mrs. Freeman and son George, former town
residents, came to Schuylkill Haven to attend the Moyer Reunion at the Summer Hill Church grove.  Mrs. Freeman was in the car at the
time of the accident and they were on the way to the home of his parents, Mr. and Mrs. George Freeman of Centre Avenue, where their
son was at the time.  Later both families attended the reunion.
The Call of October 5, 1951

SOLDIER REPORTED WOUNDED IN ACTION IN KOREA

Mr. and Mrs. Samuel Schaeffer of 31 Fairview Street, received a telegram on Wednesday telling them their son, Sergeant Robert B.
Schaeffer, 23, was slightly wounded in the left arm while in action in Korea on September 11 and is now in a Korean hospital.  They also
received a letter from him last week telling them he was wounded.  He is a commander in heavy tanks with the 7th Army.  He has been in
Korea a little more than a year and was expected home soon on the rotation system.  Before going to Korea, he was stationed in Japan for
a year.  Sergeant Schaeffer enlisted in the service January 30, 1949, received his basic training in North Carolina, then was sent to Camp
Stoneman, California and from there went to Japan.  He attended the local schools and before entering the service was employed by
Orval Walter.  Two brothers and a sister, Glenn, Bruce and Elaine all were in the service during World War Two and another brother,
Claude, enlisted in the Navy in May and is stationed at Bainbridge Maryland.  Sergeant Schaeffer has seven brothers and eight sisters.
The Call of June 20, 1952

RESCUE SQUAD GETS ANOTHER CALL FOR HELP

The Schuylkill Haven Rescue Squad, better known as the Rainbow Hose Company, responded to another call for assistance on Saturday
morning but this time their help was not needed.  Walter Staller, who lives on the top floor of a building at the corner of East Columbia and
Parkway, gave the cause for excitement last Saturday when he had a narrow escape from death.  He and a nephew, Glen Reichert, were
placing a television antenna on the roof of the building and had it laying down extended over the edge of the roof when it touched a live
wire.  Mr. Staller was unable to let go of the antenna for several minutes and when he did he fell off the edge of the roof and landed on a
small ledge extending around the building.  Mr. Reichert and Mr. Fenstermacher pulled him in through a second story window.  In the
excitement someone turned in a fire alarm and the Rainbow Hose Company responded.
The Call of November 28, 1952

HEAVILY LOADED COAL TRUCK ENDS JOURNEY ON PORCH

Attempting to avoid crashing into an automobile, the driver of a large tractor trailer loaded with coal mounted the pavement, demolished a
concrete wall and crashed into the porch at the home of Councilman Ralph E. Hartenstine at the corner of Center and Garfield Avenues.  
The accident occurred shortly before three o'clock Saturday morning.  Miraculously no one was injured.  Donald F. Adams of Pottsville,
driver of the new Mack diesel tractor and trailer, and Gerald Haas, driver of the automobile, escaped injury.  Mr. and Mrs. Hartenstine
were sleeping in a front room about fifteen feet from where the truck finally halted.  Mr. and Mrs. James Firth, occupants of a second floor
apartment in the building, arrived home only a few minutes before the accident happened.  A brother brought them home in his car,
letting them out on Garfield Avenue and then pulled away from the intersection only minutes before the crash.
Damage to the large tractor trailer is estimated at $7400.  Damage to the Haas car, a 1950 Hudson, will be between $300 and $500.  No
estimate has been made of the damage to the Hartenstine property.  According to the report made to police, Adams was driving to New
Jersey with a full load of coal.  Haas was driving the car in front of him and approaching the intersection pulled to the right before
attempting to make the turn off Center Avenue onto Garfield Avenue.  Adams, not anticipating the turn, swung to go around the car and
when it swung in front of him, swerved to avoid hitting it broadside.  The tractor struck the side of the car a glancing blow and ran up on
the Hartenstine property, narrowly missing a utility pole on which was a large transformer.  It smashed a three foot high wall of concrete
about a foot thick and came to rest on the porch.  One of Harvey B. Moyer's cranes was required to remove the huge tractor trailer.
The Call of May 29, 1953

TWO VIOLENT STORMS CAUSE DAMAGE, LIGHTNING STRIKES HOME AND BUSINESS PLACE

Heavy thunderstorms late Friday night, early Saturday morning and Tuesday morning caused considerable damage in this area.  Although
the first storm was heaviest with the greatest amount of thunder and lightning, damage was limited to flooding of basements and washing
out of gardens and streets.  In the second violent storm Tuesday morning, lightning struck two places in town.  
Damage estimated at between $1500 and $2000 was caused at the Haven Hardware Company on Saint John Street when water backed up
in the new sewer and came into the basement of the storeroom through floor drains.  Grass seed, fertilizers and other garden supplies in
addition to electrical and other supplies were ruined by the water.  The place was flooded during both heavy rains.  Other business places
damaged by water in the basement through backing up sewers were the Crossley Jewelry Store and the Schuylkill Haven Trust Company.
One home on Dock Street and another on Penn Street also reported water damage during the heavy rains.
The home of Esther Frehafer on High Street was struck by lightning Tuesday morning.  The bolt struck one of the high towers and
knocked a large hole in the peaked roof and emerged through the weatherboards farther down the tower.  Miss Frehafer was at work at
the courthouse when the lightning struck about 10:00 a. m. and was summoned home by a neighbor, Mrs. Cora Zimmerman.  There was no
fire.  Lightning at the Schuylkill Haven Provision Company during the same storm gave proprietor, William V. Young, and his employees a
harrowing experience.  The lightning followed wires into the building on Margaretta Street and knocked out a stove that was standing
between tow of the employees, Miss Ethel Hill and Win Moyer.  A large ball of green fire traveled through the building between Mr. Young
and his son, Ronald, who were cutting meat.  Another employee, Robert Yazujian, was in the large meat locker when the crash occurred
followed by the ball of fire and the extinguishing of the electric lights.  No fire occurred and damage was limited to the burned out stove
and burned wires and switches in the building.  The TV Cable Corporation suffered no direct damage to any of its main equipment but had
to spend a day renewing AC switches and replacing fuses along the line of cable installation.  Strong winds brought down the television
antenna at the home of Dr. and Mrs. Allen A. Heller on Avenue B.  The rain Tuesday boosted the total rainfall for the month to a reported
4.98 inches.  Four inches is normal for the month.
The Call of July 1, 1954

CAR UPSETS; STAR HALFBACK INJURED

Robert Drey, 17, son of Mr. and Mrs. Robert Drey Sr., Liberty Street, was injured Saturday at two in the morning when his car upset about a
quarter mile south of Schuylkill haven on the Adamsdale Road at Miller's Pond.  Drey, who was unconscious when removed to the
Pottsville Hospital in the Schuylkill Haven community ambulance, suffered from a possible fractured skull, body bruises and lacerations.  
Xrays show that Bob's head injuries were not too serious and the star halfback of the 1953 Schuylkill Haven championship football team is
expected to be discharged from the hospital this week.  Damage is estimated at $350.
The Call of November 11, 1954

FOUR INJURED IN THREE CAR CRASH ON CENTER AVENUE

Four persons were injured as the result of a three car collision on Center Avenue Sunday at 6:05 p. m.  The accident occurred in a line of
traffic about fifty feet south of the railroad underpass.  A car driven by Edward Gannon of Philadelphia, coming from Pottsville to Schuylkill
Haven struck the line of stopped traffic, smashing the car of Florence Gaffney of Landingville, into the rear of a car driven by Earl S.
Rickard of Bartram Village, Philadelphia.  Mrs. Nellie Rickard, a passenger in the Rickard vehicle, was taken to the Pottsville Hospital in
the community ambulance.  She suffered a concussion, contusions on the right side of the forehead and an injury to the right knee.  
Andrew Bonnonis of Connorton, a passenger in the Gannon vehicle, was taken to the Pottsville Hospital dispensary for treatment of head
injuries.  James Gaffney, 74, father of Florence Gaffney, was taken to his home in Landingville and later removed to the Good Samaritan
Hospital.  He suffered a back injury.  Florence Gaffney suffered a leg injury but was not hospitalized.  
As a result of the collision gasoline and antifreeze were spilled on the highway.  A fire started in the Gaffney vehicle but was extinguished
by the rainbow Hose Company before it could spread.  Damage was estimated at $600 to the Gannon car, $300 to the Gaffney vehicle and
$250 to the Rickard vehicle.  The cars were towed away by Harvey B. Moyer.  As a result of the impact of the crash, the Gannon and
Gaffney cars had to be towed away together.  Chief of Police Frank Deibert and Officer Goetz investigated the accident.  They were
assisted by State Police Phil Melley and Mike Tourick.
The Call of February 10, 1955

SIX NARROWLY ESCAPE DEATH BY GAS FUMES

Fumes from broken gas mains in two sections of town this week seeped into three homes and only timely discovery prevented possible
tragedy.  Fumes escaping from a broken gas main seeped into the Luckenbill and Otterbein residences on Dock Street Sunday morning.  
The occupants were made ill but timely discovery prevented any serious results.  Victims were Mr. and Mrs. Guy Luckenbill, George and
Benjamin Luckenbill of 412 Dock Street and Miss Grace Otterbein of 416 Dock Street.  Guy Luckenbill and his father Benjamin, discovered
the fumes seeping into the cellar and notified the gas company.  A repair crew traced the leak and repaired it temporarily Sunday
afternoon.  The excavation was left open until Monday to allow the fume to completely evaporate.  
Shortly before five o'clock yesterday morning, Mrs. Mae Moore of 126 Columbia Street awoke to find her home filled with gas fumes.  
Although very ill, she awakened Mr. and Mrs. Howard Sampson who make their home with her.  The borough authorities were notified and
repairs were made.  Mrs. Moore was taken to the home of her son, Eugene, on Washington Street.  Mr. and Mrs. Sampson went to the
home of the latter's sister, Mrs. Lester Ney on Berne Street.
The Call of June 16, 1955

RUNAWAY WHEEL HITS PARKED CAR ON LOT

A used car parked on the Earl Stoyer lot on Columbia street fortunately was the only victim in a freak accident Wednesday morning shortly
after nine o'clock.  The left front wheel of a passing Pepsi Cola truck broke loose from the truck and traveled about fifty feet on the
highway before striking the high curb at the parking lot.  When it hit the curb, the wheel bounced about ten feet in the air and crashed
into the windshield and corner post of a 1954 blue Plymouth sedan.  It bounced from the car and rolled slowly across the street again.  A
motorist driving behind the truck and seeing the accident was able to bring her car to a stop as the tire rolled in front of it and came to
rest against the curb.  Damage to the parked car was estimated at $200.  The truck slid across the street on the brake drum for a short
distance before being brought to a halt.
The Call of July 14, 1955

LIGHTNING SLIGHTLY DAMAGES FOUR FAIRMOUNT HOMES, HITS TV CABLE TOWER, BURNS SET

The almost rainless thunderstorm Sunday afternoon about one o'clock brought unusual damage through one powerful bolt of lightning.  
The bolt bounced around the Avenue E and Second Street area, causing slight damage to four homes, the TV cable and telephone
service.  At the home of Joseph Eubanks, the lightning in following the spouting entered the home on the point of the second floor where
the downspout is attached to the house.  It blackened a small area around the fastener on the outside and on the inside wall of the
bedroom produced two burn marks and knocked pieces of plaster from the wall.  Telephone service was knocked out.
Next door at the Charles Deibert home, all the electrical fuses were blown.  When the fuses were renewed, a short circuit in a fixture near
a window set a curtain on fire.  Mrs. Deibert, who was in the room at the time, quickly extinguished the fire.  At the Knecht home next to
Deibert's, bark was knocked off one of the large trees and a wire burned on the television set.  To the rear of the three affected homes,
the lightning entered the home of Mr. and Mrs. Edward Ossman and knocked out an electric clock in the kitchen.  
In the same freak storm, a bolt of lightning hit the tower of the Schuylkill Haven Trans-Video.  It melted fuses and blew open the door to
the fuse box.  It burned out several power units along the transmission cable.  Repairs were hampered because the telephone also was
hit and put out of commission.  Cable service was resumed in all parts of Schuylkill Haven except the Avenues in the Fairmount section by
3:30 p. m.  It was found that the cable box on Second Street had been struck.  Service was resumed in the area at 8:30 that evening.
At the home of the Reverend Mal Kerr on South Berne Street at the foot of the Schuylkill Mountain, the lightning burned out the
television set as well as the cable connection box.  A heavier thundershower visited this area late Sunday night and rain fell heavily for a
short time.  The amount of rainfall gave only slight relief to parched fields and gardens.
The Call of February 23, 1956

RUNAWAY TRUCK HITS APARTMENT BUILDING

A panel delivery truck driven by Ralph Fertig, 209 Parkway, and owned by Elmer Unger, 128 Columbia Street, ran away when its brakes
failed to hold at 9:15 Saturday morning.  Fertig had the truck parked at the corner of Margaretta and East Main Streets.  He told Officer
Lorin Honicker he had set the hand brake before leaving the vehicle to make a delivery.  The runaway truck went down East Main Street
to Dock Street, made a right turn and halted against the Dewald apartment building.  Jamming of the vehicle between two trees saved the
building from damage.  The truck traveled more than 125 feet and crossed one of the main intersections before coming to a halt.  Damage
was estimated at about $125.
The Call of March 8, 1956

DRIVER CLAIMS DIDN'T KNOW CAR HIT CHILD

What was thought to be a hit and run accident Friday night turned out to be a case where the driver involved claimed he did not know he
was responsible for the accident.  Little Betty Jean Bessa, two year old daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Lambert Bessa of Norristown, was
knocked down by a car on Main Street near High Street Friday about 9:15 p. m. She is said to have darted out into the street from the
pavement in front of the home of her grandparents, Mr. and Mrs. Sol Reed, 119 East Main Street.  She was knocked to the street and
suffered brush burns of the face aggravated by the cinders that were on the street.  
She was taken to the office of Dr. Herman Zwerling and then to the Pottsville Hospital in the community ambulance driven by Ken Heiser.  
She was returned home the next day when examination revealed no severe injuries or broken bones.  The driver of the car involved,
Evan W. Arndt of Tamaqua RD, claims that he stopped his car beyond the scene of the accident after he heard someone scream.  He
walked back and saw the little girl lying in front of an automobile and assumed the car in back of him was involved.  He became concerned
when it was reported that it was a hit and run accident.  When informed by police that it was his car involved, he explained the
circumstances and went to Norristown to see the parents of the little girl.  Officers Lorin Honicker and Clyde Manbeck investigated the
accident.
The Call of August 30, 1956

CYCLIST THROWN INTO PLATE GLASS WINDOW

Thirty five stitches were required to close a long cut on the shoulder and arm of Kenneth Umbenhauer, fifteen, that resulted when he was
thrown from his bicycle into the plate glass window at the F. S. Lewis store on East Main Street.  The accident occurred last evening about
8:00 o'clock.  Kenneth was riding down the pavement and applied the brakes at Lewis'.  The brake locked and the youth was thrown from
his bicycle into the window.  The plate glass shattered and a sharp edge cut into his arm, shoulder and shoulder blade.  He was taken to
the home of Dr. John Shantz on Orchard Avenue who closed the wound with thirty five stitches.  This morning Kenneth was taken to the
Pottsville Hospital where x-rays are being taken to determine whether the shoulder is broken.  Kenneth, son of Mr. and Mrs. Kenneth
Umbenhauer of Broadway, is employed as a carrier by the Lewis agency.  At the time of the accident, Mr. and Mrs. Lewis were not at the
store.  A sister of the accident victim, Mary Alice Umbenhauer, was working in the store as a clerk.
The Call of June 13, 1957

PIPE THROUGH BODY PINS ACCIDENT VICTIM IN CAR

Robert Buery of Duncott narrowly escaped death early Sunday morning when the car in which he was riding crashed into the pipe railing
on Saint John Street and a section of the pipe drove through the door of the car, penetrated his side and continued on through the back
of his seat.  He remained pinned in this position until Dr. Herman Zwerling was summoned and supervising the job of sawing off the pipe
so that it could be removed from his body.  The pipe entered his body on the left side of the abdomen, just inside the outer layer of skin.  
It barely missed the stomach and caused no serious damage to any internal organs.  Had it been an inch farther to the right, it undoubtedly
would have killed him.  He was removed to the Pottsville Hospital in the Lion's community ambulance by Kenneth Heiser.
The accident occurred at 1:55 a. m. Sunday when the car driven by Dale Pisher, twenty two, of Lancaster skidded out of control on the old
trolley tracks and crashed into the guard rails on Saint John and Liberty Streets beyond the Williams Street intersection.  Eugene Gibbes,
128 West Main Street, was also a passenger in the car but neither he nor the driver suffered any serious injury.  Local police officers
Clyde Manbeck and Larue Mengle investigated.
The Call of September 5, 1957

CAR CRASHES INTO HUMMEL DISPLAY ROOM

Extensive damage to the new Hummel Buick show room amounting to approximately $3,000 resulted early Sunday morning at 1:30, when a
McKeansburg motorist failed to make the curve on Center Avenue and crashed into the plate glass front.  Arlin Kimmel, a McKeansburg
soldier home on leave, suffered only slight bruises in the crash while causing his car to be badly damaged at the front end.  The car
struck a supporting pillar between one of the large plate glass display windows and the modern glass and aluminum entrance.  Glass was
showered all over and caused damage amounting to $1,200 to the three cars in the display room.  Flying glass ruined the paint, shattered
windshield and windows and damaged chrome strips and bumpers.  The entire entrance was smashed, one large plate glass window
shattered and the flooring badly damaged by the glass.  A temporary plywood front was constructed at the garage on Monday.
The Call of January 1, 1959

CROWD OF OVER 1000 ENJOYS SKATING AT STOYER'S POND

The ideal weather Sunday afternoon brought out more than a thousand skaters to Stoyer's Pond.  The greater number of the large crowd
was composed of small children and teenagers, many of whom had received new skates for Christmas.  The improvements made by Earl
Stoyer provide an ideal winter recreation spot for skaters in the area.  During the past summer and fall the pond was drained, cleaned and
widened at its upper end.  A concrete bank was constructed along the north bank and steps were installed so that skaters can go from
the macadam parking lot directly to the ice.  The main channel of the stream feeding the pond was widened up to the borough limits.
The main skating area is now 240 feet in width and 550 feet long.  The narrow channel extends an additional 880 feet, giving skaters a
straight skating distance of 1430 feet.  Several thousand dollars was spent by Earl Stoyer to improve this excellent facility.
For the further enjoyment of the skaters, Mr. Stoyer purchased a record player and amplifying system and furnishes music through two
large speakers.  The borough cooperated in the project by providing floodlights to illuminate the area for night skating.  In order to keep
traffic moving smoothly on South Berne Street and to remove the danger of accidents, parking has been prohibited by police on that
street at the end of the pond but Mr. Stoyer permits parking of cars on his large paved lot adjoining the west side of the garage and on
the large employees parking lot on the east side of South Berne Street as well as along the south side of the pond.
The Call of January 29, 1959

DIRT IN EYE, CAR ON PORCH

Damage to two cars and a porch, amounting to approximately $675 resulted Tuesday evening on Saint John Street, when a car driven by
Ronald Kimmel of Auburn RD struck the parked car of Roy Barnes, 33 Saint John Street and drove it up on the pavement and into the
porch at the home of Mae Worts.  Kimmel, who was driving a car owned by his father, Roy Kimmel, reported to police officer Cliff Mengle,
that as he turned onto Saint John Street from Main, he opened a vent to let air in the car and when he did, a piece of dirt flew in his eye.  
The distraction caused him to turn over toward the curb and into the car owned by Barnes.  The impact skidded the parked car over the
ice at the curb and onto the pavement where it crashed into the corner post.  The concrete block base and the wooden pole were pushed
in.  Damage to the Barnes car is estimated at $500, to the Kimmel car $100 and to the Worts porch $75.
The Call of September 3, 1959

WATER FLOWS THROUGH CLELAND'S, MANY CELLARS FLOODED BY 45 MINUTE DELUGE

Torrential rains last evening left thousands of dollars of damage in their wake as numerous homes and business places were flooded by
the sudden rush of water.  The terrific rainfall came in three divisions.  The first downpour hit about 4:30 in the afternoon and continued
steadily until 6:30 when it slacked off for a short time.  About fifteen minutes later the rain came down in torrents and for forty five minutes
wave after wave of virtual cloudbursts descended.  The at 8:00 the rains again came and continued somewhat lighter for several hours.  It
was the second of the three rains that caused the flash flooding.
In Schuylkill Haven's business section, surface water rushing in from the alley at the rear entered the new Cleland Furniture Store
building and cascaded down over the balcony at the back to reach a depth of nine inches on the main display floor before the front doors
were opened to permit the water to run out the front.  Water ran from the new building into the older structure and also flooded that
section.  Principal damage was to the rugs and carpeting on the floor.  On the upper side of Cleland's, the F. S. Lewis store had some
water in the basement but a sump pump kept in under control.
SEWER BACKS UP  The King Stores Company, Crossley Jewelry Store and Stramara's restaurant had deep water and sewage in their
basements as water backed up from overloaded sewer mains.  Across the Saint John Street intersection, the post office also had water in
the basement.  Stoyer's Pond quickly overflowed its banks as the steady rainfall drained off the hills into it.  The overflow at the eastern
end was unable to carry the water away as fast as it came into the pond and the water level rose three feet to send the water over the low
south end first and then to overflow the high bank on the Stoyer garage side.  
WATER UP TO HEADLIGHTS  Eugene Moore, who lives on Washington Street along the pond, reported that when he tried to reach his
home at about 8:00 p. m., the water at the South Berne and Washington Streets intersection was up to the headlights.  Farther out the
street, manholes were bobbing up and down.  Reaching his home he found the basement recreation room flooded with eight inches of
water and sewage from water backing up through a cellar drain.
FOUNTAINS IN BASEMENT  The Ken Heiser home on Washington Street had water coming up like a fountain through two cellar drains.  A
small pump was put into operation but couldn't take the water out as fast as it came in.  Heiser immediately went to Hamburg where he
obtained a larger pump but by this time the water was six inches deep in their basement recreation room.  The two pumps continued
working until two in the morning when the big one was discontinued.  The new Jay Kerschner and Lewis Bashore homes also had their
basements flooded in the Columbia Heights section.  Water rushed down from the Schuylkill Mountain through back yards and on the
streets to Stoyer's Pond.  Columbia Street at the Berne Street intersection was flooded to a depth of one foot.  Water rushing down from
Haven Manor through the new Stoyer development brought water and mud into the homes on Columbia Street.  It was reported that the
Paul Donmoyer home on Columbia Street had water in the cellar that reached to the first floor joists.  Other homes in that vicinity also had
deep waste water rushing into their basements.  The new homes of Willard Harris, Bruce Hummel and Lee Wagner in the Stoyer
development were in the way of the onrushing water and had their cellars flooded.  Oddly enough, the Raymond Staller home below the
Hummel home had very little water.  The newly cut roadways were badly washed out.
COLUMBIA STREET  Completely covered with water up to curb out to 439; homes of Homer Fritz, J. McGlinchey, P. Donmoyer, Lulu Bittle
and F. Shanoskie had 13 to 14 inches of water in cellar; McGlinchey's washer, electric water heater and electric mower ruined; Donmoyer's
water heater ruined.  All the walks and cellars of these homes are completely ruined by mud.   Wires leading into the home of Stanley
Luckenbill, 484 West Columbia Street, were struck with lightning.  The only damage inflicted was to the wires and a few shingles knocked
loose.  
IRISH FLAT SECTION  Not too much damage.  Some water in J. Yenosky cellar.  A door at the home of Vincent Montag on Broadway was
struck by lightning and two trucks from the Rainbow Hose Company responded to the call.  Damage was of no consequence.
DOCK STREET  Luckenbill's Cafe had 18 to 20 inches of water in cellar.  Rainbow Hose Company had two hoses on duty pumping out the
water.  Charles Weiser home furnace ruined.  Mrs. Mattie Phillips home had terrific amount of damage from water from underground creek.
CHARLES STREET  Completely flooded but only damage was to cellar of Mrs. George Sage.  Fire company called to pump out the water.
SOUTH BERNE STREET  Completely inundated between four and five feet of water.
HILLCREST AVENUE  The home of Frank Felsburg was badly inundated with water draining from surrounding lots.  A retaining wall recently
built by Mr. Felsburg was completely washed away.
The creek running parallel to Garfield Avenue was badly swollen but didn't overflow its banks.  Also swollen was the creek running
alongside the Pennsylvania Railroad bank to the rear of Naffin Avenue.  Water draining off the hill beyond the football field created quite a
lake in that area.  The cellar in the Clarence Sterner home at 8 Lincoln Street was completely flooded when the concrete flooring was
cracked open in several places by the water backing up from the drainage.  A carpet sweeper and quite a number of the Sterner's
grandchildrens' toys were ruined.
The Call of November 12, 1959

RECKLESS DRIVING CHARGED TO DRIVER IN DOCK STREET CRASH

As a result of reckless driving two persons suffered injuries and two automobiles damaged extensively when one of the automobiles
driven by Wade Schaeffer of Cressona hit a pole and then catapulted into another car.  The accident occurred Friday night at 8:45.  The
car driven by Schaeffer was going east on Main Street and passed another car as he made a left hand turn on Dock Street.  His car hit a
telegraph pole on the right hand side of the street and then went over to the left hand side of the street and struck the curb.  Then,
according to police, the Schaeffer car collided with a car operated by Paul Aulenbach, East Liberty Street, at the intersection of Dock and
River Streets.  Mrs. Verna Aulenbach, who was a passenger in her husband's car, suffered from shock and was examined at the scene by
Dr. Joseph F. Matonis.  She was taken to her home in another car.
S. Willis Moyer of Cressona, a passenger in the Schaeffer car, bumped his head against the windshield and was treated at the dispensary
of the Pottsville Hospital for a laceration above the right eye.  Police said Moyer, one of three passengers in the car, wandered away from
the scene of the accident.  Both cars were damaged so extensively they had to be towed from the scene.  Schaeffer will be charged with
reckless driving and driving too fast for conditions depending on the outcome of the investigation being conducted by officers Earl
Deatrich and Clyde Manbeck, who were summoned to the accident.
The Call of August 18, 1960

LAST SPANISH-AMERICAN WAR VETERAN DIES

Harry K. Schumacher, 81, former merchant and tipstaff at the court house for twenty years, died Friday night at his home, 118 Columbia
Street, after a lengthy illness.  Mr. Schumacher had been suffering from a heart ailment and had been hospitalized three times in the past
year.  An enlisted veteran of the Spanish American War, he had served with the Army in Cuba and was a member of the Colonel Theodore
Hoffman Camp 32 of Pottsville.  He was a life member of the Veterans of Foreign Wars, Post 4385 and an honorary member of the American
Legion, Robert E. Baker Post 38, both of town.  He was a member of the F. and A. M. and the oldest past master of the organization; the
Cedars of Lebanon and one of the original and charter members of the Liberty Fire Company.  He was a director of the Schuylkill haven
Building and Loan Association.  Mr. Schumacher was very prominent in Democratic political circles and served as a ward committeeman
for many years.  He was appointed tipstaff by Judge Vincent J. Dalton.  Prior to this position, he conducted a grocery store at 128 Columbia
Street for many years.  He retired from this field in 1945.  
Born in Schuylkill Haven, he was the son of John and Margaret Staib Schumacher.  His wife, the former Vida Schumacher died September
19, 1958.  Surviving are a sister, Sadie, at home; a stepson John Kinsey and several nieces and nephews.  Funeral services were held
Tuesday afternoon from the Bast and Detwiler Funeral Home with burial in Union Cemetery.  Reverend Chester W. Hartman, pastor of
Messiah United Brethren Church officiated.
The Call of September 15, 1960

FIVE YEAR OLD GIRL STRUCK BY AUTO

A little girl and her doll were struck by a car while crossing Dock Street yesterday afternoon.  Nancy Miller, five year old daughter of Mrs.
Mabel Miller of Coal Street, had been sent to the Klahr store to purchase a birthday card.  When she attempted to cross the street, she
noticed an approaching car but thought she could still get across the street before the car reached her.  The force of the impact threw
Nancy and her doll from near the Sam Ney house on the east side of the street to the west side in front of Frank's Cafe.  Nancy was taken
to the hospital by the driver of the car which hit her.  She was found to have a fractured left leg and xrays have been taken to determine if
there were internal injuries.
The Call of December 5, 1960

JANET GLASER HIT BY CAR, SMALL BONE BROKEN IN HIP

Janet Glaser, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Ernest Glaser of 53 Stanton Street, was struck by an automobile while crossing the street in the
vicinity of Dock and Main Streets around 6:30 p. m. Monday.  Janet was returning to work at Messner and Hess and did not see the
approaching car.  The driver of the car, Lynwood Bartholomew of Orwigsburg, did not see Janet as she stepped from the curb and
attempted to cross.  She was hit on the hip with the bumper of the car.  Dr. Zwerling was called to the scene of the accident.  Mr.
Bartholomew and Joe Evans took Janet to the Pottsville Hospital where it was found that she has a small bone broken in the hip.
The Call of March 3, 1960

CAR SMASHES GAS PUMP AT STOYER'S

An accident at the Columbia and Berne Street intersection at 7:50 this morning involving a school bus and passenger car resulted in
extensive damage to a gasoline pump at the Earl Stoyer garage.  Russell R. Leiby of Orwigsburg R. D., driving on South Berne Street,
made a turn to the gas pumps at Stoyer's as the school bus turned left from Columbia to South Berne Street.  The impact of the collision
drove the Leiby car into the gas pump.  The school bus was not damaged.  Leiby's car was damaged about the rear fender.  the bus was
driven by Herman Kerschner of 14 Parkway.  It is owned by Harold Reber.  
The Call of January 12, 1961

TANK TRUCK HANGS OVER MOUNTAIN        

A large tank delivery truck owned by Franklin A. Felty narrowly escaped toppling down over the Schuylkill Mountain yesterday at four
o'clock.  Only because it was empty and the weight was low, kept the large tank truck from crashing through the guard cables and toppling
over the steep embankment.  The driver, Eldon Bernheisel of Schuylkill Haven R. D. 1, had just passed Gus Menas' and was starting down
the Schuylkill Haven side of the mountain when he drove to the right side of the road as a car approached.  In doing so the truck crossed
over an ice ridge about six inches thick and the wheels on the right side sank into soft snow which had only recently been scraped level
with the ice.  The truck was turned into the guard rails and began to slip over the side of the embankment before it was brought to a halt.  
With the truck hanging precariously over the embankment, held only by the guard cables, Bernheisel jumped from the cab.  Had the truck
been partially or entirely loaded, it would have tumbled over the cables and crashed several hundred feet down the steep mountainside.
The tank truck was pulled to the highway by Harvey B. Moyer's equipment and, having only slight damage, was put back into service this
morning.  This was the second accident to befall Mr. Felty at the same location.  On December 26 while driving down the Schuylkill
Mountain in his station wagon, the heavy ice and ruts caused the vehicle to upset.  The occupants fortunately suffered only bruises.
The Call of January 19, 1961

GIRLS SLIDE DOWN STEEP HILL INTO CAR, BOTH IN HOSPITAL

Two little girls were injured, one very seriously, in a sleigh riding accident that occurred last night around 8:15 p. m. on the steep Saint
Peter Street hill that leads to Union Street.  Susan Goas, eight year old daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Marlin Goas of Market Street and Sally
Shoener, eight year old daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Clifford Shoener of 302 Saint Peter Street were using a piece of tin to slide down the
Saint Peter Street hill.  Karen Goas, a sister of Susan, was standing at the bottom of the hill and tried to warn them when she saw a car
approaching.  However, the girls could not stop in time and the approaching car, driven by Claude Schaeffer of 31 Fairview Street, could
not avoid hitting them.
Susan, who was sitting on the front of the tin, got the full impact of the blow and was the most seriously hurt.  Dr. Tihansky was summoned
to the scene of the accident and called for the Community Ambulance.  The girls were taken to the Good Samaritan Hospital.  Sally was
found to have chest injuries, bruises, an injured tongue and three teeth missing.  Susan, who was unconscious and did not respond to
treatment, was transferred to the Reading Hospital by the Community Ambulance around 11:00 p. m.  She was put under the care of Dr.
Johnson at that hospital.  This morning Susan is still unconscious and listed as in critical condition in the Reading Hospital.  Sally is in fair
condition in the Good Samaritan Hospital.  Both girls are students in the third grade at the East Ward building.  Susan has three sisters
and Sally has four brothers and two sisters.  Officer Clyde Manbeck investigated the accident.
The Call of September 20, 1962

CAR CRASHES PENSYL FLOWER SHOP

The Pensyl Flower Shop showroom at West Main Street received considerable damage last evening around 8:15 p. m. when a car driven
by David C. Ney, 17, of 201 East Liberty Street, mounted the pavement in front of the store and crashed through the window into the shop.  
Ney was driving a four door sedan on West Main Street during the rain when he apparently lost control of the car.  The automobile
crashed through the large plate glass window, crashed in to the walk-in refrigerator and pushed it out of place about eight foot.  Also
broken were many novelties and items on display for sale.  The showroom will need a complete new side and the refrigerator was a total
loss.  Ney's car had excessive damage to the bumper, hood, fender, grill and wheels.  The driver received slight injuries.  Damage was
estimated at well over $5,000.  Officer Earl Deatrich investigated.
The Call of March 13, 1962

CAR WRECKS PORCH ON CENTER AVENUE

The porch at the Williams home at 122 Center Avenue received extensive damages when a car driven by Leonid Rozenthal of Maplewood,
New Jersey, shot across the street backwards, mounted a curb and knocked down the pillar and rail on the porch.  Rozenthal was
traveling west last Thursday afternoon on Center Avenue around 3:55 p. m. shortly before the time traffic becomes congested on this
street.  Rozenthal, who told local police officers that he fell asleep, mounted the curb in front of the home occupied by the Glincosky
family and struck a cement wall in front of this property.  From here he traveled backwards across the street and ran into the Williams'
home, barely missing an automobile parked in front of that property.  
He was taken to the Medical Arts Building where he was treated for a bruised nose and mouth and injuries to the right hand and chest.  
The car, owned by the Security Paint and Chemical Company of Newark, New Jersey, was badly damaged.  Rozenthal was charged with
reckless driving by Patrolman Keith Murray and Patrolmen Earl Deatrich and William Goetz assisted in the investigation.
The Call of August 1, 1963

WILLIAM CAKE, 9, VICTIM OF NEAR DROWNING YESTERDAY

William Cake, son of Mr. and Mrs. John Cake of 331 Dock Street, was the victim of a near drowning accident yesterday afternoon at Willow
Lake.  Mrs. Cleatus Montag of 719 Speacht Street in Pottsville, pulled the boy from the four and a half foot to five feet of water after she
noticed he was in difficulty.  According to Mrs. Montag she saw Cake struggling in the water and going under.  She said his lips were
getting blue and he had trouble breathing.  
Cake was wearing a mask that leaked water.  Mrs. Montag called her husband, who carried the boy to shore and laid him on a bench.  
Arnold Killian of Willow Lake was the lifeguard on duty at the time.  He said the boy was unconscious when he was placed on the bench
and was not breathing.  Killian applied mouth to mouth resuscitation for five or six minutes before Cake breathed naturally.  He was taken
to the Pottsville Hospital in the Schuylkill Haven Community Ambulance.  Mrs. Cake reported that the boy is in good shape today.  His
lungs were reported to be in good condition, after vomiting about a quart of water.  He is expected to return home this evening.
The Call of April 2, 1964

TWO SIX YEAR OLDS HIT IN SEPARATE ACCIDENTS

Frederick Petrie, six year old son of Mr. and Mrs. Norman Petrie of Hickory Street, was seriously injured when struck by an auto on North
Berne Street on Tuesday afternoon.  The child was enroute to Schaeffer's store on an errand for his mother when he ran from the west
curb directly in front of the car driven by Elizabeth Russell, sixteen of Saint James Street, who was traveling south on Berne Street.  Dr.
Theodore Tihansky was called to the accident and ordered the child to be taken to the hospital in the Schuylkill Haven Lions Community
ambulance.  Ricky received face and head injuries, a fractured right hand and a broken collar bone.  He is reported at noon today to be
progressing nicely at Good Samaritan Hospital.  A registered nurse is in attendance.
Alan Whalen, 134 Broadway, six year old son of Mr. and Mrs. Michael Whalen, was injured Saturday afternoon when he ran into the
automobile operated by Harrison Long of Stanton Street, traveling north on Dock Street.  The child and two of his older brothers were
returning home from an Easter egg hunt at the Willow Street playground when the accident occurred.  The children were standing on the
curb across the street from the Koegel store when suddenly the youngster, clutching a bag of Easter eggs, darted into the street into the
Long vehicle.  Alan was taken to the office of Dr. Cooper after which his uncle and aunt, Mr. and Mrs. Wilbur Gehrig of Coal Street, took
him to the Good Samaritan Hospital here he is being treated for bruises and lacerations of the head.  His condition is listed as good.
The Call of April 2, 1964

AUTO BRAKES FAIL, DAMAGE TOTALS $600

Over $600 in damages resulted from an accident Tuesday afternoon involving three cars when the brakes failed on the auto driven by
Mrs. Sadie Phillips, 128 Columbia Street, as her car entered the intersection of Margaretta and East Liberty Streets.  It is reported Mrs.
Phillips was descending Margaretta Street towards East Liberty Street when the brakes failed.  She made a right turn at the intersection
and collided with the left rear of the car owned by Imelda Pfeiffenberger of 901 Mahantongo Street of Pottsville.  The Phillips car also
collided with the left front of the car owned by Barry Bair, 103 Avenue E in town, parked to the rear of the Pfeiffenberger car.  Damages to
the Pfeiffenberger car amounting to $200, were to the left rear fender and door, bumper and tail light.  The left front bumper, turn signal
and headlight rim of the Bair car were damaged amounting to about $150.  The Phillips car received $250 damages.  There were no injuries.
The Call of December 19, 1957

WAVE OF AUTO CRASHES HITS TOWN

A wave of minor automobile mishaps struck Schuylkill Haven during the past week.  On Friday night, Leonard Ketner, driving out Haven
Street from Dock Street, was blinded by the lights of an oncoming car traveling the middle of the street.  He turned to avoid striking the
car and crashed into a parked car.  Ketner sustained a broken nose, two black eyes and a broken right knee cap.  He is a patient in the
Pottsville Hospital
Mary Jane Goas, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Earl Goas, 50 Dock Street, driving on Columbia Street Monday evening, crashed into a street
light standard when she momentarily looked down at the dashboard to check the heater.  In the car with her was a group of girls returning
from a Sunday School Christmas party at the home of Mrs. Maynard Felty of Long Run.  No one was injured but extensive damage was
done to the car.  The metal light standard snapped off, swung like a pendulum on the electric current wire and came crashing down on the
roof of the car.  The light at the top remained illuminated.
Yesterday afternoon, three cars were involved in a crash on Haven Street.  When Mrs. Roy Stump, 334 Dock Street, attempted to make a
left hand turn into an alley, her car collided with one driven by Russell Cooke of Pottsville which was attempting to pass her.  The Cooke
car glanced off the Stump car into the parked automobile owned by Carl Corby.  No one was injured and only slight damage was done to
fenders, bumpers, grills and tail lights of the three cars.
Last evening at 8:10 o'clock, a hit and run driver sideswiped two cars parked on North Berne Street.  The damaged parked cars are owned
by John Hinkle, 66 North Berne Street and George Triola of 78 North Berne Street.  The driver continued up Berne Street at a high rate of
speed but then turned around and drove slowly past the damage he had caused.  He continued on his way without stopping.  His license
number was obtained and a check showed that it belongs to a Pottsville motorist.  An arrest will be made.
Early this morning the car driven by Mrs. Dorothy Chrin of 408 East Main Street collided with the vehicle driven by John W. Cook of
Cressona as she drove through the alley near the East Ward Club.  About $50 damage was done to the left front fender of the Cook car.
The Call of January 30, 1958

BOYS ALMOST LOSE SIGHT

Putting into action that which was seen in a recent movie almost cost the eyesight of two local boys.  Melvin Ulsh, 13, son of Mr. and Mrs.
Melvin C. Ulsh of 118 High Street and Guy Krammes, 17, son of Mrs. Edith Krammes of 18 William Street, were burned about the face when
their homemade cannon exploded on Friday evening at 8:15.  Melvin suffered severe powder burns about the face and arms and it was
feared that his eyesight would be badly affected.  Guy also had facial burns, not quite as severe as Melvin's.  Dr. N. Albert Fegley on
Sunday at the Pottsville Hospital, operated on the eyes of both boys to remove the burned tissue.  Krammes was discharged from the
hospital on Monday with his vision still slightly blurred.  Young Ulsh is still a patient at the hospital, unable to see clearly.
Having seen it done in a movie, the boys decided to try to make a cannon.  Taking a piece of copper tubing about twelve inches long, they
closed one end and inserted gunpowder taken from a shotgun shell and pumpkin ball.  On the first try, the cannon was fired successfully.  
A heavier charge was tried the second time by adding a larger amount of powder.  The charge, set off in the Krammes yard, exploded the
homemade cannon in their faces.
The Call of March 6, 1958

REMOVE WALL, STEPS AT SAINT JOHN'S, RAZING OLD HOTEL FOR LARGER CLELAND STORE

Main Street was a beehive of activity this week with major demolition and construction work going on at three locations in the two block
area.  Sidewalk superintendents were most numerous at Saint John's reformed Church where Harvey Moyer's crew was removing the
thick concrete wall and steps along the front pavement.  Bulldozer, payloader, pneumatic drills and hammers, and a large crane were all
required to remove the wall and steps.  Some of the sections removed weighed as high as forty tons.  The men are working on the side
wall separating the original church property from the more recently acquired corner property.  Present plans are to grade the properties
so that the two blend together.  Instead of two separate walks leading  to the church entrances, there will be one center walk eight feet
wide to the front of the church.  The bulletin board will probably be placed near the corner of the newly acquired ground.  The entire plot,
except for a small portion at the rear will be planted in grass and landscaped with evergreens and other shrubbery.  
The second project attracting attention is the great improvement already made to the former Michel building, now owned and being
remodeled by Mr. and Mrs. William J. Calsam for their Bonnie Jean store and apartments.  The old bay windows have been removed and
the three story structure is beginning to take on a modern look.  Harvey E. Dewald is doing the work.
The third project is being attacked from the rear.  Cleland's Furniture Store is having the old Central Hotel property torn down to make
way for a new addition to the store.  Previously Walter Mintz had dismantled the small frame buildings to the rear of the main, brick three
story building.  Originally, it was intended to retain the front structure and remodel it and build on an addition at the rear.  It was
discovered that the walls were in poor condition and Mr. and Mrs. Walter Cleland decided to tear the entire structure down and build an
entirely new one story building.  Plans call for a structure 32 x 1809 feet.  It will be separate from the present main store but the two
buildings will open into each other through a wide archway located about midway on the length.  Cleland is endeavoring to use Alcoa
aluminum for his modern front.  The contract for construction of the new building has not yet been let.
The Call of July 12, 1958

HEAVY TRUCK RUNS AWAY, HITS GARAGE

The garbage collection truck of H. Lester Anderson, parked in the street leading to Haven Manor behind Columbia Street, suddenly rolled
down the grade on Tuesday at noon and crashed into the garage and apartment building at the rear of the Homer Fritz home on Columbia
Street.  The heavy truck struck the garage doors and plowed into the garage.  The upper part of the high collection truck struck the
apartment above the garage and drove the entire building forward.  Mrs. Sallie Gilbert, who lives in the apartment, was in the building at
the time.  She was taken to a physician by Mr. Anderson but it was found that she suffered no injuries except shock.
The adjoining garage owned by Paul Donmoyer also was pushed off its foundation about six inches.  Inside the Fritz garage, the truck
knocked over the supporting columns and the floor of the apartment was resting on the roof of the badly damaged cab.  Anderson had
parked the truck when he went home for lunch and says he had it in reverse, with the emergency brake on, and stones placed beneath
the wheels.  Whether or not youngsters were playing around the truck and set it in motion has not yet been determined.  No estimate has
been placed upon the damage to the truck and the other buildings.  In order to fulfill his contract with the borough, Anderson is hiring a
truck to make his regular schedule of collections.
The Call of April 8, 1965

SIX HURT IN FOUR CAR CHAIN REACTION

Six persons were injured and taken to the Good Samaritan Hospital in the Schuylkill Haven Lions Community Ambulance around 8:00 a. m.
today following an accident on Route 61 near the site of the Lehigh Valley Cooperative building which is now being erected.  According to
Pennsylvania State Policeman Anthony Babkowski, a vehicle operated by Harry Dunkelberger, Schuylkill Haven RD, traveling north on
Route 61 was attempting to make a right turn onto the road between the Detroiter and the Lehigh Valley plants.  A second car operated by
Charles Yakimo of Landingville, was halted at the rear of the Dunkelberger car and a third vehicle operated by Nelson Holley Jr. of
Seltzer, Pennsylvania was halted in back of the second car.  A fourth vehicle, a pickup truck operated by Norman Hamm of Tamaqua RD3,
ran into the rear of the Holley vehicle causing a chain reaction.
The Holley automobile and the Hamm truck were demolished.  Damages to the Dunkelberger car amounted to $100 and the Yakimo car had
over $500 in damages.  Admitted to the hospital were Norman Hamm, Nelson Holley with possible internal injuries and passengers in the
Holley car, Thomas Mirosky, New Philadelphia back and elbow injuries; Robert Brennan, Pottsville, chest and back injuries; Chester
Shanoski, New Philadelphia, neck and head injuries and Thomas Grady, Cumbola, cuts on head and neck injuries.
The Call of April 8, 1965

ACCIDENT HALTS TRAFFIC AT LIGHT

For over an hour Monday morning traffic was tied up on Center Avenue, the result of a three car accident involving a Hill farm Dairy milk
truck, a flat bed truck and an automobile.  The accident occurred at 6:15 a. m. as Clayton A. Moyer Jr., 443 Terrace, Schuylkill Haven RD2,
driver for Hill Farm and headed west, pulled away from in front of a customer's home near the traffic light.  Moyer's truck was struck in the
rear by the flatbed truck owned by Del-Penn Steel Company of Philadelphia and driven by John Niessner of Camden, New Jersey, also
traveling west.  The milk truck was spun completely around and flipped over on top of an automobile operated by Arthur Klawitter of
Mount Carmel.  Moyer crawled out from under the overturned milk truck as milk from the broken bottles and cartons began to flood the
street.  There were no serious injuries although Moyer was treated for body bruises and injuries of the hand.  The milk truck was
demolished.  Extensive damage was done to the front of the Del-Penn truck and also to the automobile.  Schuylkill Haven Police Officer
Edward Webber investigated assisted by Sterling Moyer.
The Call of May 6, 1965

EISMANN IN TRACTION WITH NECK INJURIES

James Eismann, teacher in Schuylkill Haven Union School District, remains in critical condition at the Reading Hospital where he was
admitted with neck and back injuries following an automobile crash early Wednesday morning.  The accident occurred shortly after 1:00 a.
m. at the cutoff from Route 61 leading to Schuylkill Haven to the east, the intersection with Route 443.  It was reported that Eismann was
returning from army reserve training, in which he is an officer, in Allentown.  He turned too late at the intersection and crashed into the
fence at the Charles T. Cody home.  His small foreign car, a Fiat sedan, upset and was completely demolished.  He was thrown from the
car, landing about ten feet away at the side of the road.  He was taken to the Pottsville Hospital in the Schuylkill Haven Lions Community
Ambulance.  About an hour later the ambulance drivers, Lee Freed and Jack Strauch, were again called to transport him to the Reading
Hospital.  His injuries consist of possible fractured vertebra, deep cuts of the neck and one eye and possible internal injuries.  He was
placed in traction in the intensive care division of the hospital.  Eismann's home is at 2257 Kensington Street, Harrisburg but he stays at
the Cyril Schaeffer home at 436 Hess Street while in Schuylkill Haven.  He teaches math and general science in the junior high school.
The Call of August 19, 1965

MRS. HAROLD MESSER KILLS COILED SNAKE

Mrs. Harold Messer of 11 Eaton Street had a Friday the 13th experience she will remember for quite some time.  While on her way to work
Friday afternoon, Mrs. Messer decided to stop and see her son and daughter in law, the Harold Messers, who live at 620 Garfield Avenue.
As she walked along a dirt path leading to the entrance of their apartment she heard a swishing noise at her feet and when she looked
down she saw a large snake.  The snake quickly coiled into a circle the size of a dinner plate.  Mrs. Messer's first concern was to kill the
snake since there were many children playing in the neighborhood.  she found a large rock and threw it at the snake, poised ready to
strike.  The rock hit the snake behind the neck, killing it.  When measured the snake described as brown with silver diamonds on its back
was found to be three feet long.
The Call of August 26, 1965

EXCITED DONKEYS SHAKE TRUCK; $500 DAMAGE

Excited donkeys was blamed as the cause of an accident on the Schuylkill Haven Little League field, when a runaway truck struck two
cars, ran over a motorcycle and ran down a bank.  The incident occurred at 11:10 a. m. when Jerry Wyan DeBoer of 414 South Lynn Drive,
LeMars, Iowa parked a 1962 Ford truck loaded with donkeys for the donkey baseball game on top of the bank overlooking the field.  The
donkeys who supposedly become overly excited when arriving at a baseball field, began milling around, shaking the truck which released
the brake and jumped the gear.  The truck rolled down the bank, striking the parked cars of William Smith of 216 North Berne Street and
Dennis Cresina, 10 fairview Street and rolling over the Honda motorcycle of Fred Kremer, 510 Schuylkill Street.
Damage to the truck was a hole in the left door, about $50.  The Smith car, a 1956 DeSoto, had damage to the right front door and rear
door, about $75.  The Cresina car was damaged on the rear bumper and left rear fender, about $150.  The motorcycle was completely
demolished, damage listed at $233.  The donkeys were none the worse for wear.
The Call of December 30, 1965

CAR GOES OVER BANK, FOUR YOUTHS INJURED

Four teenage boys from the Schuylkill Haven area were injured and three of them were admitted to the Pottsville Hospital following a one
car accident yesterday about 1:15 a. m. on the Adamsdale-Schuylkill Haven Road near Miller's Pond.  Kerry Bair, 15, son of Mr. and Mrs.
William Bair, Cressona, suffered scalp wounds, cuts of the head requiring numerous stitches, cuts on the face, loss of a front tooth and an
injury to the left leg.  James Steele, 17, son of Mr. and Mrs. Henry Steele, Deer Lake, had injuries to the head, scalp wounds, bruises and a
leg injury.  James Fisher, 17, son of Mr. and Mrs. Lester Fisher Jr., 900 North Warren Street in Orwigsburg sustained cuts of the eyes, ears
and head.  Ray Hoover, 17, son of Mrs. Anna Hoppes, Friedensburg, driver of the car, suffered cuts of the forehead and injuries to the
knee but was not admitted to the hospital.
The boys are reported to have been coming from Ann's Sub Shop and going to Friedensburg to the Hoover home for Steele to get his car.
The boys, riding in a Corvair, state they were forced off the highway by a car approaching in the wrong lane.  The Corvair went over an
embankment, hit a telegraph pole, knocking down the wires and setting them afire.  When going over the bank, the car overturned and
the engine located in the rear of the car was thrown to the front over the top of the car.  The vehicle was split in two, with the two
sections landing ten feet apart.  
It is believed the Steele boy riding in the back, was thrown out of the vehicle.  The Fisher boy was found lying unconscious under a piece
of the car's door.  The boys went to the home of Mr. and Mrs. William Devine and Mrs. Jennie Bowen, where they were given emergency
first aid and their parents contacted.  They were taken to the hospital by the Fisher boy's father.
The Call of April 20, 1967

LEONARD MATZ INJURED BY MORTAR FIRE

Army Specialist Leonard W. Matz, son of Mr. and Mrs. Earl Knarr of Schuylkill Haven RD2, suffered shrapnel injuries last week when his
company came under enemy mortar attack in Viet Nam.  Matz, a member of the 196th Light Infantry brigade suffered metal fragment
wounds to the back, neck, foot and shoulder.  The attack came while the 4,000 man brigade airlifted from its base at Tay Ninh, 55 miles
northwest of Saigon in War Zone C near the Cambodian border to action at Chi Lai on the coast in Quang Ngai Province, 350 miles
northeast of Saigon.  The 1962 Blue Mountain High School graduate was treated at a naval support hospital and transferred to a hospital
in Japan for five weeks of further treatment.  Matz has been in Viet Nam since August 15, 1966 after sailing from Boston July 15.  He was
drafted into the Army on September 28, 1965 and would have finished his two year hitch and been home two months early at the end of
this July.  Matz generally worked as a mechanic in the base camp for the 196th, but had been on road patrol and served as an assitant to
the medics on several occasions.  He had the good fortune to see both Bob Hope and Nancy Sinatra during their holiday entertainment
tours recently.  
The Call of May 18, 1967

ANOTHER LANDMARK PASSES - 100 Year Old Barn Being Razed

Another old landmark in Schuylkill haven is being torn down to make room for a modern one story garage.  The following story about the
building is told by Mr. and Mrs. Franklin Kamp, the present owners.  The building, the former Harry Loy barn, is at least 100 years old and
is located on the property of Franklin and Esther (Koch) Kamp, Margaretta Street.  The Kamps purchased the property from the Mary A.
Deibert Estate.  The Deiberts had purchased it from Henry Fry and John Jacob Bohrman, executor and trustee of the will of Valentine Fry.  
It is said that Fry was in the livery stable business and had mules used when the Schuylkill Canal wa sin operation.  December 1, 1908,
Mary Deibert purchased the property and after her death the Deibert Estate had charge, the children being former Chief of Police W.
Frank Deibert, Lydia Fisher, Mary Neiman, Katie Meck and Tillie Loy.
HOUSED TEN HORSES  Harry Loy, husband of Tillie Loy, leased the building from the estate and used it for housing his horses.  Mrs. Kamp
can remember him having as many as ten horses in this building at one time.  Loy had an office at the old Pennsylvania Railroad station.  
Not too many years ago this building was destroyed by fire.  At his office he had his coal yards and today you can still find remains of the
bins where the coal was dumped after being brought in by railroad cars.  Coal was store din the bins until orders were received.  The
horses and wagons kept in the Loy barn were used to deliver coal.  Four of the last horses kept in the Loy building were named Dick,
Kate, Fred and Ellie.  Dick was a very pleasant horse around children.  Fred was the opposite.  Around the kiddies he was very ugly and at
night he would get so cross he would kick and knock down pieces of wood from in front of his stall.  The neighbors and the Browns who
were renting the home the Kamps now live in would often call Mrs. Kamp's father Milton Koch, or another one of Loy's workmen, and
complain about the noise the horse was making.  Dick and Fred were used for hauling and plowing the field where the Argo bleachery is
now located.
LOY'S EMPLOYEES  Men who worked for Loy included Clayton Witman, now working in Schuylkill Haven; Guy Moyer now a shovel operator
in construction; Carl Loy, Orwigsburg, a brother to Harry; William Brown, Schuylkill Haven now employed at Alcoa; Luther Hasenauer,
operated a store in Pottsville until his death several months ago; Stanley Bair, Schuylkill Haven businessman; Clarence Bair, "Tiny," now
employed by Stanley Bair and Milton Koch, deceased.  John Patterson of Carlisle and Mark Gipe of town along with "Washer" Kelly and his
brother, Gogg, will remember the riding horses, Kate and Nellie.  The medicine closet is still in the same place in the building as it was
years ago.  This was used to keep a supply of medicine for the horses.  In the front of the building is a ladder to the second floor which
was used to put hay in the feed bins.  In the rear of the building are steps leading to the second floor.  The stalls and the loading platform
are still intact.
AT CHRISTMAS  The horse, "Kate," was used every Christmas by Milton Koch who would transport Santa Claus in the Christmas parade
which was led by a band.  If there was snow they used a sled.  If the roads were bare, they put wheels on.  Koch would meet Santa at Town
Hall and then take him to the Pennsylvania National Bank (then the First National Bank) where Santa would greet the children and give a
short speech.  After that they would go to the East Ward school where men from the Rotary Club would distribute oranges and bars of
candy.  Santa was portrayed by Frank Lessig who lived on Columbia Street.  Loy had the contract to dig out the home for Mr. and Mrs.
Harry Schwartz on Naffin Avenue.  He used a big scoop pulled by the horses.  Gradually Loy sold the horses and turned to using trucks in
his business.  The last horses housed in the building in February of 1946 were those belonging to Hen Stoyer and George Seiler.
The Call of May 28, 1968

JACK DREY WOUNDED IN VIET NAM ACTION

Jack Drey of Schuylkill Haven, who in January returned to Viet Nam for a second tour of duty, is hospitalized in Viet Nam with wounds of
both legs suffered in hostile action.  Drey's parents, Mr. and Mrs. Robert Drey of 261 East Liberty Street, received a telegram from the War
Department Saturday morning informing them of their son's injuries which occurred Sunday May 19.  The telegram states he suffered
fragment wounds to both legs during night defense when hit by fragments from hostile mortars.
A 1964 graduate of Schuylkill Haven High School, Drey enlisted in 1965 and had previously served in Viet Nam for one year.  He reenlisted
and spent the Christmas holidays with his parents before returning to Viet Nam in January.  Since his return to action his parents had not
heard from him until Friday when they received their first letter.  Drey wrote in his letter that there was more fighting this time then when
he was there before.  He is serving with the 101st Airborne, 17th Cavalry.  Drey is due to have rest leave in June and his six months tour
in Viet Nam is to terminate in July.
The Call of June 20, 1968

VIET NAM CASUALTY RETURNS HOME

Jack Drey, son of Mr. and Mrs. Robert Drey, 261 East Liberty Street in Schuylkill Haven, who on May 19 was wounded while on duty in Viet
Nam, arrived home Tuesday for a month's leave.  Drey, who has been awarded the Purple Heart, suffered a fracture of the left knee and
back injuries when hit by fragments from hostile mortars.  Two of his buddies were killed at the time.  After being wounded, Drey was
hospitalized in Japan before being sent to Fort Dix where he will return after his leave at home.  A 1964 graduate of Schuylkill Haven High
School, Drey enlisted in 1965 and had previously served in Viet Nam for one year.  He reenlisted and spent the Christmas holidays with his
parents before returning to Viet Nam in January.
The Call of March 6, 1969

JAMES BRIGGMAN, HELICOPTER PILOT, CITED FOR VALOR

Chief Warrant Officer James Briggman, son of Mr. and Mrs. Harry Briggman of 44 Avenue E, who returned to the United States in July of
1968 after a year's tour of duty in Viet Nam, has received several decorations for valor.  A helicopter pilot, CWO Briggman is now a
helicopter instructor at Hunter Army Airfield in Savannah, Georgia.  CWO Briggman has been awarded an air medal and 31 oak leaf clusters
for flying combat missions in Viet Nam.  In addition he received the Vietnamese cross of gallantry with bronze star, the bronze star medal
and the purple heart for wounds suffered when a rocket penetrated his airship during action near the A Shau Valley on April 21, 1968.
The bronze star medal for heroism was awarded to him for action January 2, 1968 while he was attached to the 9th Cavalry Regiment.  The
citation says in part, "While under intense hostile fire, warrant Officer Briggman landed his aircraft near a downed helicopter.  
Disregarding his own safety, Briggman then left his aircraft to assist the injured crew members.  Repeatedly exposing himself to enemy
fire, he pulled the men to safety and administered first aid."
CWO Briggman is married to the former Diane Hyland of Pottsville.  A 1963 graduate of Nativity BVM High School, he attended Villanova
College before he enlisted in the Army in June of 1966.
The Call of June 5, 1969

RUSSELL SCHAEFFER CITED FOR HEROISM IN VIET NAM

Lance Corporal Russell H. Schaeffer, U. S. Marine Corps, son of Mr. and Mrs. Russell Schaeffer, 136 Center Avenue, has been awarded
the bronze star medal for heroic action in Viet Nam where he was stationed from March of 1968 until April of this year.  The citation reads
as follows: "For heroic achievement in connection with operations against the enemy in the Republic of Vietnam while serving as a
member of the duty maintenance crew, Marine Attack Squadron 211, Marine Aircraft Group 12, First marine Aircraft Wing.  During the early
morning hours of March 21, 1969, the Chu Lai Airbase came under a heavy volume of hostile rocket fire.  One round struck an aircraft fully
armed with rockets and 500 pound bombs, causing it to burst into flames which rapidly ignited nearby aircraft and an adjacent bomb
storage area.  Reacting instantly, Lance Corporal Schaeffer raced to the location of the disaster and fearlessly commenced fighting the
fires.  Despite the intense heat and the fragmentation of exploding munitions, he steadfastly remained in the hazardous area and calmly
manned a hose to spray the ordnance in an effort to cool it and prevent the blaze from spreading.  Repeatedly knocked to the ground by
the concussion of detonating bombs and rockets, he resolutely continued his determined efforts to extinguish the fire and assist in
removing undamaged Skyhawks to positions of relative safety.  His heroic and timely actions inspired all who observed him and were
instrumental in preventing destruction of numerous valuable aircraft.  Lance Corporal Schaeffer's courage, bold initiative and unfaltering
devotion to duty in the face of grave personal danger were in keeping with the highest traditions of the United States Naval Service."
The medal was presented to Schaeffer during a ceremony held at the Marine Corps Air Station in Beaufort, South Carolina where he is
now stationed.  A 1966 graduate of Schuylkill Haven High School, Schaeffer enlisted in August of 1966.  He trained at Parris Island, South
Carolina after which he attended an electronics school at Memphis, Tennessee from where he was sent to Cherry Point, North Carolina
before leaving for Viet Nam.
The Call of August 7, 1969

PARTS OF HAVEN UNDER WATER

The waters of the Schuylkill River that flooded parts of Schuylkill Haven early Saturday morning have receded but traces of their being
here still remain.  Flooding, within a block area at the rear of South Garfield Avenue between Coal Street and the sewage water pump
located behind the L. C. Dreisbach garage on Berger Street occurred in Schuylkill Haven early Saturday morning.  Six homes were in
danger of flooding.  One family was totally evacuated from their home.  The cause of this flooding came from two streams, one from the
Willow Lake area and the other originating in the mountains.  The streams come to a fork behind the then evacuated home of Edward
Coller, then empty into the Schuylkill River.  The river backed up and the streams overflowed their banks.
Mr. and Mrs. Coller realized the need to start moving out their furniture at midnight Friday.  Neighbors came from all over to help the
Collers in their plight.  Mrs. Coller said, "I still don't know who one nice man was that helped out."  The Coller house has no basement.  
However, the bathroom and furnace room are located two steps lower than the first floor and are closest to the streams.  Mrs. Coller told
this reporter, "Other times it would rain we would stay up and watch the water for a while before it would be safe to go to bed."  This night
they never did go to bed.  The Collers have lived at their present house for 14 years and this is their first experience with flooding.  
Over a foot of water flooded the bathroom and a little more washed out the furnace room.  Both their washer and dryer were flooded but
they were able to get them running again.  The water rose to the second step in the bathroom but did not enter the first floor.  The
streams receded all day Saturday and Sunday.  "There wasn't any real damage.  The furnace, washer and dryer are all working now."  A
lawn mower which was not moved was not working on Monday.
At the fork of the creeks the water rose six feet and overflowed the retaining walls.  The river dropped its water level only three feet from
Saturday.  Mrs. Raymond Loy of 319 South Garfield Avenue, mother of Mrs. Coller, reported that the last big flood was about 16 years ago
and was much worse than this one.  She said that Friday water started entering her cellar about 10:00 p. m. and that local residents were
getting ready to move about 1:00 a. m. Saturday.  Mrs. Mary L. Dabashinsky, neighbor to the evacuated family, had no furniture damage.  
Firemen were standing by ready to help move people or pump out water.  The firemen reported a flood of great size as having occurred in
1937.  The Dabashinsky home is situated on slightly higher land than the Coller home.  A wall of planks and railroad ties built to retain the
stream's waters was completely knocked down.  Mrs. Dabashinsky first noticed the water at 1:20 a. m. at the top of the banks.  Within 20
minutes the water came up six inches on the back porch but did not enter the house.  She said it was just not clean water either.  "It was
scummy, dirty water."
Water covered the sewage water pump behind Dreisbach's and creeped up toward the garage.  Dreisbach was called and he came down
to remove his cars.  The work pits in the building were flooded.  The waters have receded now from Schuylkill Haven but now starts the
cleanup campaign to wipe away the dirt left behind.
The Call of July 16, 1970

TOWN COUNCIL ACTS TO POST OCCUPIED DWELLINGS - ENRAGED TOWNSPEOPLE SPEAK OUT

Enraged citizens of the rat infested Pleasant Row area of town, Monday night, spoke out about their dilemma as Schuylkill Haven Borough
Council passed a resolution to "post, in the future, occupied buildings as well as unoccupied buildings" due to poor housing and
undesirable health conditions.  Posting of unsatisfactory buildings means placing a notice saying that structure is undesirable for human
habitation, that it is infested with rats and vermin and consists of other substandard conditions.  
Council President Robert Dohner said, "It has been council's attitude to be not so stringent to push our housing ordinance to the letter of
the law.  However we have come to the point where there is no alternative."  Dohner was referring to the unbearable and unsightly
property of Walter Boyer, 23 Pleasant Row, at the corner of Union Street.  Deputy Health Officer Earl N. Goas requested council to give the
Board of Health enforcement powers in such matters as the Boyer dilemma.  President Dohner referred the matter to committee to submit
an ordinance providing the same.
An inflamed Mrs. Betty Moyer of 19 Pleasant Row, asked council, "What can we do about the rats in our yards? What can we do with our
children?  Why hasn't the inside of the (Boyer) home been inspected?  I saw the inspectors go to the front, back and side but never
inside."  Earl Goas explained that the Child Welfare people and he inspected the inside of the property and noted that it was very
undesirable.  "We have asked the people to seek other housing and I know they have tried," explained Goas.  "We want them out of
town!" was the cry from Mrs. Moyer.  Goas replied, "About getting these people out of town, it is the same as if they (Boyer family) would
come to me and demand to have the Moyers run out of town."  Again Mrs. Moyer became enraged, "We are sitting on our porch with
company and the rats come right up on the porch only two feet away."  She also noted catching one rat that measured over 14 inches from
its head to the end of its tail.  Dohner calmed down the meeting saying, "Progress by legal measures are being taken.  As a community,
this is the way we want things done."
Dennis Levan, 11 Pleasant Row stated, "I saw Mr. Goas personally about this problem.  He said action would be taken within a week.  Now
why hasn't any action been taken?"  Mrs. Tobias, also a member of the rat patrol on Pleasant Row, explained to council she is the mother
of eight children.  She added, "It isn't only the rats.  Tempers are being aggravated.  Things are going to crack up there."  Her husband
then asked council, "Why couldn't the house be torn down because of it being a fire hazard like one of my garage lots.  If fire starts there,
all of Pleasant Row will go up and won't stop."
Deputy Health Officer Goas reported, "We have been licensed by a rat exterminator in the county.  They are reluctant to do a good job if
the building is occupied.  The exterminator is also concerned about the children within the house.  It is hard to get rid of rats without
scientific methods.  We need a total extermination."  Councilman Conrad Koch asked, "Don't they have relatives that they could go to until
this mess is cleaned up?"
Borough Solicitor Howard Stutzman explained the legal aspects of the situation:  "The only thing borough officials and the health officer
could do is post the house.  From there they could go to court and get an injunction to get these people evicted.  This would take a very
long time as you all know.  This is a human matter here.  You can't just go into the house and tell the people to get out.  It must be
proceeded legally.  I feel sure you will get positive results in the near future."
The Call of July 30, 1970

$63,700 FIERY CRASH

One man was seriously burned and injured and three others injured in an accident at 4:15 a. m. today involving three trucks (tractor
trailers and a semi trailer) and one automobile on Route 61 at the Gateway Diner.  Total damage was estimated at $63,700 in the accident
which closed Route 61 to traffic for three and a half hours.  Sergeant Oberholtzer of the State Police reports a truck operated by Robert
Buck, 36, 236 Columbia Street, Schuylkill Haven, was parked on the lot at the diner while Buck was inside the diner.  A truck operated by
Alexander M. Godynick, 24, Shenandoah, was traveling south and slowing down to enter the diner when another truck operated by
Frederick Koch, 48, Shenandoah, was also traveling south in the passing lane.
At the same time, Joseph A. McCauley of Bayside, Long Island, was traveling north and attempted to turn into the diner when the Koch
vehicle hit McCauley's car which spun around and ran into Koch's vehicle.  Koch's truck continued past McCauley's car and hit
Godynuck's truck at the gas tank.  Koch's truck overturned, spilling its load of coal and in the process hit Buck's truck parked on the diner
lot.  When Koch and Godynick collided the vehicles burst into flames resulting in all four vehicles being burned.  Joseph Sophy of
Pottsville extinguished the burning clothing of Godynick as he ran from his truck.  Sophy also pulled McCauley from his car before it
caught fire.
McCauley was taken to the hospital for xrays by a police officer.  Damage to the car was estimated at $700.  Koch was taken to a hospital
by a passing motorist.  His damage totaled $28,000.  Godynick was taken to the hospital by a passing motorist.  An occupant, Eugene
Slavinsky, 25, Shenandoah, was also taken to the Pottsville Hospital.  Damage to the Godynick vehicle totaled $10,000.  Buck, who was in
the diner, was not injured.  Damage to his truck was $25,000.
The Rainbow, Schuylkill and Liberty fire companies responded to the call and stood by.  The Schuylkill Haven ambulance was called but
not needed.  Bell Telephone and TransVideo lines were burned.  The Schuylkill Haven police force detoured traffic at Connor's Crossing
over the Gordon Nagle Trail while in Pottsville city police detoured that traffic over the Trail.  Employees of the Department of
Transportation (formerly known as the Highway Department) cleaned the highway, removing the coal and debris.
The Call of August 13, 1970

ALL'S WELL THAT ENDS WELL

Rats no longer roam in and around 23 Pleasant Row.  Action to dispose of them came in rapid fire order.  The Walter Boyer family moved
out of the property on August 5.  The windows and doors on the first floor were boarded shut on August 6.  The exterminators went to
work on August 7.  The few rats that managed to stagger from the building were quickly finished off by a neighboring boy armed with a
baseball bat.  Earl N. Goas, Deputy Health Officer, labeled the house as an unsafe, unsanitary and undesirable piece of property in the
community.  He recommended demolition at an early date.  The former tenants obtained a mobile home and moved to a trailer court in
Schoentown.  Prior to last week's action, Goas obtained Borough Council's permission to post an occupied building as unfit for human
habitation and then placed the sign on the property.
The Call of September 2, 1971

FIVE VEHICLES IN ROUTE 61 CRASH

In the heavy rain of last Friday afternoon, a tractor trailer knocked a pickup truck off the road on one side and a car into the next lane on
the other side, crashed into and exploded a trailer camper, hit the car a second time and climbed atop the roof, started several fires and
dripped gasoline on the highway.  Miraculously, no one was killed.  Two women in the totally destroyed, crashed car were seriously
injured.  Others involved in the crash escaped with minor injuries.  
Five vehicles were involved in the chain reaction touched off by a tractor trailer plowing into the line of home going traffic backed up a
half mile south of the traffic light at the Center Avenue- Dock Street intersection at Schuylkill Haven.  The accident occurred shortly after
4:00 p. m. Friday in front of the Detroiter mobile home plant along Route 61, south of Schuylkill Haven.
Thurman F. Pickard, 43, Sanford, North Carolina, was the driver of the truck owned by Harper Truck Lines of Elberton, Georgia.  The rig
included a 1969 International truck trailer pulling a 1967 Fruehoff trailer loaded with 8,000 pounds of cotton goods.  According to State
Police and an account by Mrs. Petrock, Pickard's tractor trailer first hit the 1966 Ford pickup driven by James N. Felker, 29, Pottsville and
drove it off the right side of the highway.   The trailer then hit the 1966 Rambler sedan driven by Mrs. Mary Petrock, 41, Shoemakersville.  
Her daughter, Gloria, 17 was a passenger.  The impact drove the Petrock car into the left lane.  The tractor trailer continued forward into
the Apache camper being pulled by a 1971 Pontiac sedan driven by Leo R. Campbell, 37, Pittsburgh and occupied by his wife Dorothy and
three children, Billy, 11, Diane, 10 and Timmy, 8.  Witnesses said the camper seemed to explode.  The roof which forms the lid for the
collapsed camper on the trailer, sailed over the Campbell car and crashed into the car driven by Harry Kolody, 52, Mount Carmel.
The heavy tractor trailer then veered out into the left lane, again struck the Petrock car, mounted it and rode it across the southbound
highway to the left lane.  The crashes started in front of the Detroiter plant just north of the Schuylkill Haven Trust Company driveway and
ended in front of Integrity Supply Company.  Mrs. Petrock and her daughter Gloria were the most seriously injured of the nine people
involved in the crashes.  Mrs. Petrock was thrown from the car when hit the second time.  Her daughter was pinned in the car by the
tractor upon the crushed roof.
A crew from the Harvey Moyer Construction Company, directed by Lorraine Kunkle, went to the scene with a large crane and lifted the
tractor from the Petrock car so that the girl could be removed from the wreckage.  All the while gasoline was flowing from the tractor
tanks and running beneath the car.  The Rainbow, Liberty and Schuylkill hose Companies responded to an alarm.  They extinguished the
small fires strewn along the highway and kept washing away the spilled gasoline while operations were underway to remove the Petrock
girl.  The girl was removed through the smashed windshield about twenty minutes after the crash.  She was taken to the Integrity building
until the ambulance arrived.  The Schuylkill Haven ambulance driven by Edward Webber ran a shuttle service to the Pottsville Hospital,
making three trips.  Mrs. Petrock and her daughter were placed in intensive care.  Mrs. Petrock suffered six broken ribs, possible skull
fracture, cuts of the head, bruises of the eye and other parts of the body and injuries to her back, both legs and elbow.
Her daughter, Gloria, had a broken nose, two black eyes, cut ear drum, lacerations of the head and behind the ear, sprained arm and
ankle, cuts of the face and chest and back injuries.  There is a possibility they will be discharged later this week.  Pickard, driver of the
tractor trailer, was taken to the Pottsville Hospital where he was treated for an ankle injury and released.  The Campbell family was also
treated and released.  There injuries were, Mrs Campbell, cuts of the hands; William, cut of the knee; Diane, cuts of the ankle and hand;
Timothy, cut of the right hand.  Felker was admitted to the Pottsville Hospital but was later released.  Kolody was not injured.
State Police estimated the total damage at $3,500 with $300 damage to the tractor, none to the trailer; $100 to the Felker pickup; $500 to
the Campbell car and $2,600 to the totally destroyed Apache camper; $500 to the Petrock car and $100 to the Kolody vehicle.  Campbell
was in the area to give a talk on "Safety" for Kreitz Motor Express and to attend an outing at Pine View Acres on Saturday.  He was on his
way to a campground near Tuscarora State Park when the accident occurred.  The Petrocks were enroute to Mahanoy City, the former
home of Mrs. Petrock.
The Call of January 20, 1972

AUTO HITS POLE DISRUPTS POWER

The borough electric crew, employees of Bell Telephone Company and Trans-Video braved the extreme cold of the early morning hours
Sunday to restore services to Center Avenue residents after a car ran into and snapped off a pole on Center Avenue, ripping down
lines.  Damages to the vehicle and properties totaled $5,800.  Acting Chief of Police William Goetz reports that Sunday at 1:30 a. m. a 19721
Ford station wagon operated by Barry P. Jones of Orwigsburg, owned by Jones and Hunt Incorporated of Deer Lake, was traveling north
on Center Avenue when the driver lost control of the vehicle in the vicinity of the old White Church.  The car hit a fire hydrant with
damages estimated at $216 after which Jones regained control but mounted the curb at 54 Center Avenue, then hit a fence at the Dave
Schimpf property at 58 Center Avenue, resulting in damages of $150.  At 60 Center Avenue, the Sterling Merkey property, the vehicle hit
an upright, a seven year old yew tree and a thirty year old maple tree, damages estimated at $200.  In front of this property the vehicle hit
the pole resulting in $625 damages for Bell Telephone and $1519 for the borough electric department and Trans-Video.  The fire hydrant
sprang a leak and water began freezing on the street.  Homes without power became cold.
NOTABLE  NEWS
This page contains a variety of news stories on the
unusual, curious, quirky, newsworthy and interesting
events of the day in Schuylkill Haven.
New articles from 1901 added including: unusual stories
involving a cat, fish and horses, smallpox in town, a man
struck by "hoodoo," a fine memento and serious trouble on
"chalk night."
LAST UPDATED: SEPTEMBER 16
PAGE 2 -POST 1945 ARTICLES
... keep checking back for
additions to this and other pages...
All rights reserved.
The Call of March 3, 1955

HUMAN FLY WILL CLIMB CENTRAL HOTEL BUILDING SATURDAY
Johnny Woods, human fly who has scaled such structures as City Hall in Philadelphia to perch atop William Penn's statue, will appear in
Schuylkill Haven on Saturday at 2:30 p. m.  He will climb the Central Hotel building on East Main Street.  Woods claims to be the only human
fly now in the business.  He has been in the climbing game for the past forty years and has performed his feats in almost every state in the
union as well as Canada and Mexico.  In 1949 he climbed the Necho Allen Hotel building in Pottsville and several weeks ago performed in
Tremont for the benefit of the heart drive.
One of his most outstanding performances before the largest crowd was a four hour climb to the top of William Penn's statue.  The
performance was staged at night following the Dempsey-Tunney fight.  Another of his spectacular climbs has been on the top of the
Tribune Tower in Chicago, thirty four stories above the street.  His most thrilling feat was the 800 foot climb up Devil's Tower, a sheer rock
pinnacle at Sun Dance, Wyoming.  At Reading he climbed the Colonial Bank building.  The local performance is being sponsored by Dave
Fessler of the Central Hotel.  In the event of bad weather, the climbing will be staged on Monday at four o'clock in the afternoon.
The Call of April 14, 1955

BLAST HURTLES STONE TO CENTER AVENUE HOME
The front porch of the Charles Kantner home at 355 Center Avenue was damaged yesterday afternoon when a large stone from the
railroad arch being removed from Garfield Avenue fell on it.  A stone weighing about twenty five pounds was thrown over four hundred
yards through the air when a blast was set off at the arch.  The stone went through the porch banister at the Kantner home, damaging
that, cracked a porch pole, broke three boards on the porch floor, knocked some shingles off of the house and came to rest in the cellar
way.  A window was also cracked in the Wolfe home next door.  An estimate of the damage has not yet been received.
The Call of June 16, 1955

UNCOVERS TOMBSTONE DIGGING IN GARDEN
Local Police Officer William Goetz while digging in his garden uncovered a grave marker.  The headstone bears the name of John
Burkheiser, born 1806 and died 1871.  Goetz lives at 42 Saint Peter Street.  G. I. Bensinger who is looked upon as the town's leading
historian, says that a Burkheiser family lived at that address.  In those days it was common practice to bury the dead at any convenient
location.  Sometimes the grounds near the home were used.  Burial was not regulated.  No permits were required and no specifications as
to depth and location had to be complied with.
The Call of August 25, 1955

HAVOC IN WAKE OF RAGING FLOODS
Schuylkill Haven was luckier than many other Pennsylvania towns during the floods caused by the heavy downpour of rain last Thursday
afternoon.  Flooding in town was confined mostly to cellars.  Stoyer's Dam overflowed its banks and for a time traffic did not venture
through South Berne Street.  A creek flowing in from Long Run swelled and ran into the cellars of the homes along West Columbia Street.  
In the Harvey Moyer addition of town, the Schuylkill Hose Company was called to pump water out of the basement at the Paul Christman
home and the pump of the Liberty Hose Company was used at the Richard Brown home.  The Schuylkill Hose Company pump also had to
be used at the pumping station near Stoyer's Dam.  Water flowing into the Schuylkill Haven Casket Company was reduced by the Liberty
Company.  Basements on South Garfield Avenue were also flooded during the storm but the water receded when the rain stopped.  
At Geary's show store on Columbia Street, some of the shoes had to be removed from the basement as the water raised to a depth of
about one foot.  Schuylkill haven borough workers used a pump there until 2:30 o'clock Friday morning and returned again later in the
day.  The borough workers were kept busy, mostly on Columbia Street, pumping water from the cellars.  Sewerage backed up in the
basements of the S. N. Crossley jewelry store and home, the two five and ten cent stores and the Schuylkill haven Trust Company on East
Main Street.  Mr. Crossley reports that his canned goods stored in the basement and his coal pile were floating around in from nine to
twelve inches of water.  His furnace pit was also flooded out.  
The steady rain all day Thursday turned into a downpour late in the afternoon.  By 5:00 p. m. the floods began.  The small stream that feeds
into Stoyer's Dam which had been almost completely dry during the drought of only two weeks before, filled rapidly and overflowed its low
banks all along the Long Run area.  The water had reached such proportions by the time it reached Stoyer's Dam that the regular overflow
at the breast was unable to carry off all the water.  It quickly backed up and moved toward the houses on Columbia Street.  Cellars were
flooded, garages and stables top the rear of the homes were filled almost to the top.  Three cars parked alongside the Irvin Freeman
home on Columbia Street were suddenly in water as high as the hood.  Water raised the level of the dam within inches of the newly paved
Earl Stoyer parking lot alongside the garage.  It overflowed the southeast corner and covered South Berne Street to a depth of sixteen
inches.  At the flood's crest about 5:15, passenger cars did not venture through.  As the rain slackened, the water level lowered and
traffic proceeded through the flooded street.  Fortunately the Schuylkill River showed only a slight effect from the heavy rainfall.  The
level raised only slightly and the overflowing water from Stoyer's Dam quickly ran of into the river.
Lethbridge, Alberta, Canada Herald of August 13, 1947

JUDGE CHANGES LUCKY STREAK
A bearded, soot covered man, who gave the name of John Smith and said he was "sort of from Schuylkill Haven, Pennsylvania," walked
with Lady Luck through a mile long railroad tunnel near Baltimore on Tuesday.  Smith said he managed to sidestep five trains in the dimly
lighted cavern.  He was straddling a third rail when he came out.  A railroad policeman said contact with the rail would have killed him.  
"Up to now you are the luckiest man I know," Magistrate Preston A. Paire told Smith when he appeared on a charge of trespassing.  "But
your luck is about to change.  You're fined twenty five dollars and costs."        
The Call of December 14, 1945

RETURNED MARINE PAINFULLY INJURED, FOUND LYING ON ROAD
Martin Casey Jr., who returned to his home on the Buffalo train early Monday morning after thirty six months with the Marines in the South
Pacific, was found lying in the street near his home on Caldwell Street on Tuesday morning at 4:15 o'clock in a serious condition.  Ed
Zimmerman of town, an engineer on the Reading Railroad, was returning from work when he found Casey lying unconscious on the
street.  The local police were summoned and Casey was removed to the Good Samaritan Hospital by ambulance.  
His injuries consist of extensive lacerations and abrasions about the head.  His nose was almost torn off, an eyelid was cut and other cuts
were found above and below the other eye.  The bone at the hip was badly scraped and an ankle is said to have a small bone in it broken.  
After Casey regained consciousness at the hospital, he was unable to explain what or who had hit him.  A trainman who had traveled the
road shortly after three o'clock said that the discharged marine was not on the road at that time, so he was hit some time between three
and 4:15 when he was found.  The field jacket worn by Casey bore tire tracks across the back and was spotted with old car grease.  His
shirt was smeared with grease too.  These facts led Chief of Police Frank Deibert to believe that the young man had been hit with a car or
truck and dragged underneath the vehicle, causing cuts and abrasions to his face and the injuries to his hip and ankle.  
The son of Mr. and Mrs. Martin Casey, Martin Jr. served with the Fourth Marine Division in the Pacific for thirty two months and then came
home on a sixty day furlough.  He returned to the Phillipines and began training for a proposed landing in Japan.  The war ended before
the plan was put into effect.  He remained there for four months and then was returned to the states.  He was given his discharge on
November 28 at Great Lakes and visited with a friend in Chicago before returning home early Monday morning.
The Call of March 15, 1946

TWO MEN INJURED WHEN TRUCK STRIKES TREE ON CENTRE AVENUE
Salem Barket of 612 Fairview Street, Pottsville, and his helper Thomas Elia of 1206 Oak Street in Reading, but residing at the Fairview
Street address at Pottsville, were injured on Thursday at 12:50 when the 1941 Dodge eight ton truck, which was empty and driven by
Barket, struck a tree at 18 Centre Avenue in town and then continued on to 26 Centre Avenue and knocked off a light pole and continued
on and struck a tree at the same address.  Both men were thrown out of the truck turned around facing Orwigsburg.  Elia lay in the yard at
26 Centre Avenue and had both his shoes knocked off and Barket lay on the pavement and had one shoe knocked off.  They were
removed to the office of Dr. Fegley who treated them for leg and hip bruises.  Total damage was $850, $625 to the truck and $225 to the
light pole.
The Call of December 6, 1946

1892 BALLOT BOX FOUND IN ATTIC OF OLD BUILDING
While cleaning the attic of the Pflueger building, which is being remodeled into modern offices and two modern apartments, an old ballot
box was found.  It was used for the last time Tuesday, February 3, 1892 at the local election in the East Ward.  The box is not much larger
than a shoe box, is made of wood, neatly mitered at the ends with a sliding end.  There is a small hole in the top with a wooden cover
which is sealed with the names of the election officers.  At this election a vote was taken on the proposal to increase the public debt by
$4500 for the purpose of extending the arc electric light system and to purchase the incandescent light plant to enable this borough to
manufacture electricity for commercial purposes.  The ballots are about three by four inches and all are stored in the box, strung on a
piece of thread for safekeeping.  The election was held in the side room of Peter Bauer's Central Hotel.  The election board sat around a
large table and ballots were received through a small opening cut in a board which was placed under the window sash.  The box was with
the late Squire M. F. Pflueger as was required by law for safe keeping.  It is believed that all of the named election officers and candidates
for offices are deceased but they are remembered for their service to and their active lives in the community.  The ballot box and
contents may be seen at the Pflueger Insurance and Real Estate office at 11 East Main Street.
The Call of October 31, 1947

PILOT, FORCED DOWN BY STORM, LANDS PLANE ON HIGHWAY
The pilot of a two seater Luscombe plane, forced to seek safety on the ground during the violent thunderstorm on Tuesday evening,
brought the craft down on the highway in front of the County Institution district without injury to himself or a passenger who was riding
with him.  The plane came down on the highway in a perfect landing but in taxiing, the right wing struck a railroad crossing sign, causing
the plane to spin around and damage the landing gear and buckle the fuselage.
The pilot of the plane, Vernon Schaeffer, 34, and his passenger, Elwood Angstadt, 33, both of Pottstown, were flying from Williamsport to
Pottstown when they suddenly ran into the thunderstorm that struck here around six o'clock.  Schaeffer was acquainted with the
Schuylkill airport and attempted to find it but in the darkness he could not sight the unlighted field.  An unsuccessful attempt was made to
climb above the storm before Schaeffer decided to try landing on the three lane highway which was lighted at one point by the floodlights
at the garage of H. C. Flail.  After circling several times until the highway was cleared of traffic, the pilot made a perfect landing toward
Schuylkill Haven on the glistening highway.  Unfortunately he did not see the railroad crossing sign and the end of the right wing hit it,
causing the plane to swing from the road.  Damage to the plane consisted of a dented wing, smashed landing gear, broken propeller tips
and bent fuselage.  Damage was estimated at five hundred dollars.
A large crowd of motorists was attracted to the scene and created a traffic tie up until the Harvey B. Moyer wrecker pulled the plane from
the highway to the MYM garage a short distance away.  The plane was dismantled preparatory to having it hauled to Pottstown.  The pilot
of the plane is a salesman for the Luscombe Aviation Corporation of Morrisville and is an expert pilot with both an instructor's and
instrument flying rating.  He was at one time an instructor at the Allentown airport.
The Call of December 2, 1947

TWO PERSONS OVERCOME BY COAL GAS AT DOHNER HOME
Mrs. William Luckenbill was completely overcome and her brother, Robert Dohner was partly overcome Saturday evening at six o;clock
when a blocked chimney caused an explosion when the flue entering the chimney blew out and coal gas seeped through the entire
house.  Mrs. Luckenbill, the former Betty Dohner, had relieved her brother Bob during the lunch period in Dohner's Shoe Store.  
However, Bob took only twenty minutes for lunch and upon his return to the store, he saw his sister lying outside in the flower bed,
completely overcome.  Not knowing the trouble, he carried her into the house.  He then returned to the store and waited on Thomas Head
who wanted arctics.  These were all kept in the cellar and Bob started for the cellar and he got to the top of the steps when he collapsed,
although still conscious.  Realizing that gas fumes must be present, Mr. Head pulled him out of the store.  
Mr. and Mrs. Ray Fleagle and son and daughter, formerly of town and now living in Hamburg, were in the store at the time and had been
waited on by Mrs. Luckenbill.  Knowing something about first aid being a telephone man, Mr. Fleagle went to the house to render aid to
Mrs. Luckenbill.  Earl Jacoby and Walter Straub were leaving the Pepsi Cola warehouse and in passing by noticed something was wrong
and investigated.  Their thought was whether anyone was home in the apartment upstairs and upon going up they found Mrs. Louise Ney
dizzy and brought her down from her third floor apartment.
According to Mr. Fleagle, Mrs. Luckenbill had been unconscious about eight minutes, as she had been gone ten minutes by the time he
went to the house to revive her.  According to Bob, he had difficulty to keep the place heated and thought something was wrong.  The
plant was examined three times during the week but nothing was found and since the chimney had been cleaned out this past April, no
one thought of checking the chimney.  After the explosion it was found that the chimney was blocked twelve feet down to a thickness of
eighteen inches and upon this water was standing which had frozen.  They are unable to understand why the chimney would be blocked,
but think that something probably was thrown in, in some manner or something was blown in it.  Whatever it was, it was found to be heavy.
The Call of October 4, 1946

TRUCK AND AUTO IN $300 COLLISION
A truck and an automobile were involved in a collision on Center Avenue on Sunday afternoon with a result of $300 damage to the
vehicles and an injured ankle suffered by one of the occupants of the car.  The truck owned by Russell Polischeck of Port Carbon was
being driven east and attempted to turn into the alley leading to Zulick's Mill when it was struck by a car owned by Clarence P. Moyer of
Reading, traveling in the opposite direction.  Mrs. Rose Moyer suffered an injury to her right ankle.  She was given first aid treatment by
Dr. Heim.  The Moyer car was damaged to the extent of $200 while the damage to the truck amounted to an estimated $100.
The Call of May 12, 1949

BAND LEADER AND MUSICIAN DIES
Henry W. Bressler, 76 one of Schuylkill County's best known musicians, died on Saturday morning at 11:30 o'clock at his home at 110 East
Main Street.  He had been in failing health for several years.  Mr. Bressler was the son of the late Jonathan and Mary Luckenbill Bressler
and was born in Wayne Township but had been a resident of Schuylkill Haven for twenty five years.  Starting at the age of eighteen he
taught school for thirty years.  He attended Kutztown State Normal School.  Mr. Bressler's musical career began when he became a
member of Brown's Band of Wayne Township at the age of twelve.  Later he joined the Black Horse Band of Friedensburg and became its
leader.  After moving to Schuylkill Haven he merged the Wayne Township and the Black Horse Bands and became the leader of the
organization which was known as Bressler's Band.  
He was a member of the Third Brigade Band of Pottsville, the Shrine Band of Reading and was organizer and leader of the Tall Cedars
Band.  He was also the leader of the 213th Coast Artillery Band.  For a number of years he taught the Lithuanian Band at Shenandoah.  He
also taught the band and orchestra in the Schuylkill Haven high school for a number of years.  Mr. Bressler was a faithful member of Saint
John's Evangelical and Reformed Church of town and for many years directed the Sunday School orchestra.  Fraternally he was
associated with the Blue Lodge of Schuylkill Haven, the Tall Cedars of Lebanon, the I. O. O. F. and the Reading Consistory and was an
honorary member of the Musicians Union.  
His survivors are his wife, the former Cora Warner and the following sons and daughters: Sallie, wife of Herbert Stump; Lillian, wife of
Percy Bubeck; Raymond, all of Schuylkill Haven and Oscar Bressler of Orwigsburg.  Also surviving are eight grandchildren, seven great
grandchildren and a sister, Mrs. Lucy Moyer of Summit Station.  Funeral services were held from his late residence on Main Street on
Wednesday afternoon at two o'clock.  The Reverend F. D. Eyster and the Reverend E. S. Noll conducted the services.  Burial was made in
the Union Cemetery in Friedensburg.  D. M. Bittle was the funeral director.  Pallbearers were members of Page Lodge and the I. O. O. F.
The Call of July 4, 1947

'DROWNING VICTIM' WATCHES FIREMEN SEARCH FOR BODY
Schuylkill Haven firemen and hundreds of residents between Cape Horn and Schuylkill Haven started an hour search on Tuesday evening
when it was reported that Fred Satterwhite, fifteen, of Cape Horn fell into the swollen waters of the Schuylkill River, shortly after the
heavy rainstorm at eight o'clock.  The search came to an abrupt wend however, when the "drowning victim" joined a group of spectators
near his home.  Corporal William Keuch and Private Metro Karliskie, of the Schuylkill Haven State Police detail directed the search.  The
state police learned the youth had gone directly home after falling into the water from a small footbridge.  Paul Zweizig, a Cape Horn
youth, who was also on the bridge, who was unaware the boy had climbed safely out of the water spread the alarm.  Five Schuylkill Haven
fire trucks were placed at several points along the river between Cape Horn and Cressona with the hope that the powerful search lights
would disclose the body in the event it washed downstream.  Young Satterwhite was wearing dry clothing when he joined the spectators
and denied having fallen in to the water but later admitted that he did.
The Call of October 31, 1947

FREAK ELECTRICAL STORM HITS LONG RUN HOMES
Homes along the Long Run Road between Schuylkill Haven and Friedensburg suffered the full fury of a freak electrical storm on
Wednesday evening at about 7:57 o'clock.  Electrical installations were burned out, telephone service was disrupted, trees shattered and
several serious fires narrowly averted.  The damage was estimated at several thousand dollars.  The home of Mr. and Mrs. William G. Long
was damaged the most.  Mr. Long, a retired division manager of the Pennsylvania Power and Light Company and his wife were reading in
the library when a bolt first struck a KVA transformer, shattered four lightning arrestors on a pole and then came through the residence.  
Both were tossed from their chairs by the impact but were not injured.  Damage to the home will exceed $1,000.  
The lightning first splintered a large willow tree, then a pear tree, uprooted a large trench through the lawn and then ruined completely
the entire electrical installation.  A shingled kitchen addition to the stone home was struck in seven different spots, shingles were ripped
off and that part of the home scorched.  The door of the kitchen cabinet was opened, its contents emptied on the floor.  Both glass and
wooden frames of storm windows were shattered on the first and second floors and inside plaster was split the entire length of the hall.  
Switches were shattered and the main line switch, circuit breaker and electric meter exploded into a thousand pieces.  Locks on several
of the doors were blown off and others twisted so badly the doors could not be opened.  A telephone line caught fire in the cellar but Mr.
Long extinguished that with a bucket of water.  The entire home was filled with a heavy blue smoke.
At the homes of Wilson Kramer, Alfred Krause and Joseph Stoyer, the telephone instruments were shattered.  At the Roeder service
station it traveled through one electrical circuit and burned out a quarter horsepower motor on the water pump.  At the homes of harry
Bowen and Lloyd Staller, serious fires were narrowly averted as radio sets were burned, the intensity of the heat melting their intricate
wiring into molten masses.  It was reported that at various homes flames leaped out of electrical receptacles in their kitchens.  Shattered
pieces of arrestors and insulating knobs from nearby poles showered the porch of the Roeder service station.  The lightning struck the
12,000 volt Friedensburg-Pine Grove tap line, but the Long home was the only one where electrical service was completely disrupted.
Pottsville Republican of August 8, 1935

DRAG LAKE FOR MISSING BOY
Lester Ketner, twenty, son of Harry Ketner of Schuylkill Haven, is missing from the bungalow at Sweet arrow Lake, where he visited
friends.  According to his friends, Ketner left the bungalow during a card game about eleven o'clock Wednesday evening and has not
been seen since.  When he failed to return to the house they started a search for him and continued to look about the woods and vicinity
of the lake all night and Thursday morning, notified the youth's father of his absence.
He had a machine but this was left at the camp, and it is feared he may in some manner have fallen into the lake.  He was fully clothed with
the exception of his coat, and his continued absence Thursday morning prompted his father to summon state and state highway police aid
and shortly after two o'clock the dragging of the lake was begun.  A machine wrecked along the lake front last night gave rise to the rumor
that Ketner's machine had been wrecked and he probably drowned.  It was not his machine.
His father said that he was a splendid swimmer and as he was in perfect health no reason can be advanced for his disappearance.  He left
the bungalow complaining of an attack of indigestion.  He had been employed as a driver for Ehly's bakery at Schuylkill Haven until a year
ago and recently was selling cars for Gipe.  The youth's mother died when he was an infant and his grandmother, Mrs. John Ketner, of
Parkway, Schuylkill Haven reared him.  Chief of Police Deibert, of Schuylkill Haven, accompanied the boy's father to the lake Thursday
morning.

Pottsville Republican of August 9, 1935

MISSING YOUTH RETURNS HOME; 'THUMBED' RIDE TO WASHINGTON
Lester Ketner, Schuylkill Haven, Surprised to Find Police and Highway Patrolmen Dragging Sweet Arrow Lake for Body
Lester Ketner, twenty, son of Harry Ketner of Schuylkill Haven, returned to his home late Thursday afternoon to find police dragging
Sweet Arrow Lake for his body.  Ketner, who had been visiting friends at their bungalow at the lake, left the house during a card game
about eleven o'clock Wednesday evening.  When he failed to return, a searching party was organized.  An all night search of the woods
and lake shore failed to reveal a trace of him.  On Thursday morning his friends, thoroughly alarmed, notified his father.
The father summoned the State Police and the Highway Patrolmen to aid in the search.  Shortly after two o'clock the dragging of the lake
was begun.  Late Thursday afternoon, while three power boats were still engaged in dragging the lake and the woods near the lake were
being scoured for him, police were notified Ketner was in Pine Grove.  He returned to the bungalow a short time later.  Ketner expressing
surprise at the furor his disappearance created, told police he left the house and walked to the highway after leaving the card game.  He
"thumbed" a ride on a coal truck, intending only to go a short distance.  He fell asleep in the truck, however, he said, and when he awoke
he was in Washington.  Ketner said he spent all day Thursday hitchhiking back to Pine Grove.                                                                                                                                        
The Call of January 4, 1935

COAL TRUCK RUNS AWAY, CRASHES INTO PORCH
Saturday noon, occurred in Schuylkill Haven, an accident which for plain good fortune or dumb luck, in that injury to persons or greater
damage to property did not result, has anything wiped off the slate for some years.  The empty coal truck of Jesse Templin, standing in
front of the property of Fred Reichert on Market Street above Saint Peter Street, started away in the absence of the driver.  The brakes, it
is said, loosened causing the car to move.  As the truck reached Saint peter Street, it bounded over and continued toward the very steep
incline of Market Street that ends on Saint John Street.  As the car reached the crest of the steep hill, it gained considerable momentum.  
Crashing into the trees on the property of Reverend John Reber, it clipped them off and also tore away the front steps leading to the
home.  At the foot of the hill, it shot across saint John Street, missing the automobile of James Schucker, parked near his home, by the
fraction of inches.  It mounted the curb and crashed into the front porch of Charles Schucker, knocking out several of the concrete
blocks from the porch pillar and breaking the railing and several of the floor boards.  Outside of a broken axle, the truck was little
damaged.  As there is usually a considerable amount of motor traffic on Saint John Street, and pedestrian travel as well, at the noon hour,
that a head on collision did not occur, or persons on the sidewalks injured, was considered remarkable in every way.       
The Call of March 8, 1935

LOCAL MAN BUILDS HIS OWN COFFIN
Occasionally, one hears of an individual making preparations for his funeral, selecting a casket, text, hymns, minister, undertaker and
bearers.  Sometimes the very intimate details are planned and provided for.  There are many persons who purchase their casket and
other items that are required for burial.  However, it is very rare that an individual, looking toward his comfort and protection when cold in
death, builds for himself, his own coffin or casket.  There are mighty few persons capable of doing this.  Schuylkill Haven, however, has
one individual, skilled as a mechanic, who has been capable of doing so and has done this very thing.  Mr. James Lash, one of the town's
well known residents, has recently completed his burial casket and to say that he has made a good looking job of it is putting it mildly.  
While Jim, as he is better known, has no premonition of death at this time, he has built for himself this casket, as he says, merely to save
money.  Mr. Lash resides to the rear of South Garfield Avenue, near the Harry F. Loy Builder Supply Yards.  In his bedroom on the second
floor of the building, and right close to his bed, he has his casket.  Aside from a constant reminder of death while in the room, one might
consider the fact that friends some night, merely for a joke, might visit the home and Mr. Lash might wake up in the morning and find
himself all bedecked with his burial casket.
The casket is six feet, two inches in length and eighteen inches deep.  The Call man expressed the idea that this was entirely too deep
and much deeper than the average casket.  Jim said that he couldn't change it now anymore and that anyway, he wanted lots of room.  The
coffin is built of pine boards carefully planed and squared and covered with copper sheeting.  The casket is octangular and is fastened
with large screws.  The handles are made of iron and give the appearance of holding quite a weight.  Around the edging of the lid is a
finished board, octangular in size, set in the center with moulding about it, all finished in copper.  Around the edge of the casket proper is
also to be found a moulding that has been coppered.  The finish is just several shades lighter than the copper and lends a proper
contrasting and finished effect.  The inside of the lid and the inside of the casket is lined with cotton flannel and covered with tapestry, a
large portier or door curtain having been used for the purpose.  A cushion of the same material has also been made and is found already
in the bottom of the casket.  Jim laughingly stated to The Call man that he at least wanted to be comfortable.  His suit of clothing,
underwear, shirt, necktie, shoes and socks have also been provided for.  
And so that future generations might know of his exact burial place, Jim has made his own grave marker.  In fact, Mr. Lash for the past two
years has been manufacturing an inexpensive and yet indestructible grave marker and has sold quite a few of them.  The marker is made
of galvanized iron and aluminum thus making it rust proof.  It is about twenty inches square.  Around the edges is attached round
moulding, the whole making a very neat marker.  Upon the marker can be attached with solder, brass letters for the name and the date of
birth and death.  In the case of Mr. Lash, he has already attached his name and date of birth.  He expects to manufacture the markers on a
large scale and can offer them at a most reasonable price.           
The Call of June 14, 1935

AUTO ALMOST GOES INTO HOME
Failing to make the curve at Columbia Street and Parkway, Wednesday evening around 11:45 o'clock, the auto of Charles D. Koch of
Schuylkill Haven R. D. and driven by Martin Donnati and occupied by Pete Merlino, struck the porch of the property of Edgar Palsgrove at
that point.  The car mounted the pavement and crashed through the concrete block foundation walls of the porch, brought down the top
of it and stopped just a few inches from pushing its radiator into the front room of the Palsgrove home.  The crash awakened neighbors in
the vicinity and soon there was quite a crowd of persons gathered.  The autoists, however, when they found they could not back, pull or
push the machine from the wreckage, made off and left the car.  The police were required to call Harvey Moyer, garageman, to the scene.  
With the wrecker he raised the porch roof sufficiently to move the car.  The car was then towed away not so very badly damaged bit
sufficiently so to make driving impossible.  
Donnati and Merlino were found an hour and a half later walking up the pike.  They were placed under arrest and several charges
including reckless driving will be preferred against them.  The corner at which the accident occurred has been the scene of several
crashes, more or less of a serious nature, but all resulting in property damage.  The corner is miserably protected with caution signs.  The
borough authorities should by all means demand that a larger reflector be placed at the point and that the said reflector be kept in repair.  
As this part of the highway has been taken over by the state, it is up to the State Highway Department to properly protect it.                                          
The Call of February 21, 1936

SOUND PICTURES NOW AT HOSPITAL FOR INSANE
Patients at the Hospital for the Insane at Schuylkill Haven will now be privileged to see and hear motion pictures.  This through the
consideration and efforts of Dr. W. G. Bowers, Superintendent.  The first showing of the sound pictures took place on Tuesday evening in
the large auditorium of the institution that
holds over four hundred persons.  A complete and most modern RCA sound equipment and new fireproof
booth has been installed.  Tuesday evening, the effect upon the patients of the sound pictures was watched with interest as it was the
first time many of them had opportunity to witness and hear motion pictures.  The effect was nothing out of the ordinary excepting that all
of the patients appeared to have enjoyed the pictures very much and at the outset showed wonder and unusual surprise.  Motion
pictures have been shown to the patients regularly at the Hospital for the Insane since the year 1918.  No pictures, however, were shown
during the year 1935 during which time the new equipment was being placed.  Pictures are projected from a Peerless Simplex machine
which is also quite new onto an eight by twelve foot asbestos roll screen.  The cost of the new equipment was in the neighborhood of
$2400.  Seven to eight reels of pictures will now be shown once a week.  The operator is a licensed state operator, Mr. Foose of Schuylkill
Haven.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        
The Call of April 3, 1936

UNKNOWN MAN LEAPS INTO RIVER
Thursday afternoon about 5:30 o'clock a man, as yet unidentified, jumped over the guard rail along the river bank and landed at the edge
of the Schuylkill river on his stomach.  He was uninjured and taken to the Town Hall.  He spent most of the night asleep but this morning
up until eleven o'clock, he could not remember his name or whereabouts.  The man came to the home of Officer Deibert on Saint Peter
Street and asked the question of where he was.  He was told Schuylkill Haven.  He then held his hands up to his head and said, " Help
me."  Officer Deibert told him alright and turned around to get his coat from the home.  The man walked about twenty five feet from the
porch of Officer Deibert's home to the guard rail of the river bank.  Just as the officer came out of his home, he saw the man with his
hands raised and about to leap.  He could not be stopped.  The bank at this point slopes toward the river and the drop is about thirty feet.  
The man evidently struck a part of the sloped bank in his leap and rolled to the river's edge.  His one leg was in the river and the balance
of his body was on th bank.  
A witness to the man's leap was Mr. Joseph Reber, who was standing in the alley several hundred yards above the point from where the
man jumped.  He states he noticed the man standing along the fence waving his hands and putting them to his head.  He noticed him
stepping over the fence and then assuming a position as about to make a dive.  In a fraction of a second he had made the plunge.  No
means of identification of any kind were found in his clothing.  He speaks good English and answers various sorts of questions but can
not remember his name or where he came from.  He is about thirty years of age and is fairly well dressed.  He measures five feet and eight
inches.  He had a slough hat, dark blue suit, oxfords and checkered necktie.  He has black hair and dark eyes.                                      
The Call of June 26, 1936

TRUCK GOES OVER FORTY FOOT EMBANKMENT
The fore part of the week the truck of Lewis Noecker of Schuylkill Haven R. D. went over the high embankment along Haven Street at the
Harry F. Loy coal yards.  The truck had been stopped at the office of Mr. Loy which point is fully forty feet above the level of Haven Street.
Without warning the truck began to go backwards.  It struck the fence along the top of the embankment and broke off the posts and guard
rails and began its plunge down the embankment.  The  truck in its backward descent rolled over and landed four square on the wheels,
on Haven Street, after bounding over a five foot high wall along the base of the hill, without as much as doing damage to any of the flower
beds maintained by individual persons at this point.  The ignition key was found on the hill, was inserted and turned and the engine
started. Except for a burst radiator and some other damage, the truck was in good condition.  However, had the truck been occupied at
the time of the plunge, a more serious tale might have been written.  Or in the event of an auto passing on Haven Street at the time,
greater damage would have resulted by reason of a collision.                  
The Call of July 17, 1936

BUSINESSMAN HAD NARROW ESCAPE IN SWIMMING POOL
Had it not been for the prompt response to the calls for help emanating from the darkness of night, Thursday, Schuylkill Haven might have
been minus one of its prominent Main Street businessmen this morning.  The weekly meeting of the Rotary  Club was held at the summer
home of Abe Maberry in Long Run Thursday.  The home is located in the woods. Autos park on the highway some distance from the
grove.  A stream of water runs through the field that separates the two.  Children this summer, built a small dam along the creek and used
it for wading purposes.  The pathway from the house to the roadway is unilluminated and takes a winding and devious course through the
woods, across a wooden foot bridge and over the field to the highway.  Now, in the darkness, if someone unacquainted with the pathway
slightly wanders from the same, it may be too bad.
Well that is just what happened to one Frank Lewis, newsdealer who after detouring around several obstructions and missing the
pathway entirely found himself suddenly going down, down, down.  His feet began to get wet, and putting out his hands, they too, touched
something wet.  Sinking further, he realized he had either walked into that dam or someone had put the dam in the pathway.  And then that
noise of nature all its own, a noise that is feared by most every man and beast, that noise that sets one sense is tingling and puts him on
guard.  Surely it was the noise of a rattlesnake!  And then upon the stillness of the night rings out that call “hey Abe.  Hello Abe.”  And host
Abe, just about ready to crawl into his bed, hears the call of distress.  Quickly he sends his relative, Floyd Mattern  Jr., with a flashlight.  
The plight of the unfortunate Rotarian is soon discovered.  Ropes, chains, several planks and several rocks and a bar are procured and
finally Mr. Lewis is pried loose from the bottom of the dam, directed to make but one step and he is on shore, safe and sound.  He is also
badly scared and fearful that his friends will learn of his narrow escape from a possible all night stay in a wading pool with no other
companions then bugs and birds of the night.  He declares that for all future outdoor meetings of his Rotary Club, wherever held, he will
provide himself with a flashlight so that there will be no further horrible experiences such as that of Thursday evening.
The Call of August 21, 1936

FISH IN LOCAL DAM POISONED
For the past week, a regrettable site each morning is that of scooping dead fish from the Stoyer Dam, formerly better known as Bittle's
Dam.  On one recent morning, one hundred and sixty dead fish a fair size were taken from the dam.  On another morning, eighty, and, on
the following morning, sixty dead fish were found.  On Monday morning of this week, twenty five were gathered, on Tuesday about thirty
five.  At this rate, all the fish in the dam will soon be dead.  Not only this, it will be a long while before the dam will be in condition to be
habitable for fish again.  Just what is causing the fish to die is not known.  It is believed, however, due to the fact that some farmer
residing in the Long Run Valley, and along the creek which flows into the Stoyer Dam, has been emptying the residue from his spraying
tanks into the creek.  This would surely result in death to the fish in the creek and the dam.  The person, it is understood, has been
advised or notified of this condition, but has not discontinued the practice.  It is understood the Fish and Game Association will take
immediate steps to prevent any further contamination of the stream and dam.  During the week, The Call was unable to get in personal
touch with Mr. Stoyer, owner of the dam, to learn what action he intends taking in the matter.  He was out of town.  It is believed when he
returns and alarms of the condition that his action will be prompt and affect them.
Mr. Stoyer has in the past several years put considerable money into enlarging and beautifying this dam.  It's now resembles more of a
lake than a dam.  Boating is enjoyed to a certain extent.  Fishing has always been fairly good at this place.  Swimming, too, for the
youngsters, is much enjoyed.  This summer, Mr. Stoyer made special provision at one end of the dam for the youngsters, so that they
believe he bathe to their heart's content without danger.  Many youngsters have taken advantage of the opportunity.  Fishing has been
enjoyed by children and adults.  It seems a crime that through carelessness or upon deliberate intent, something should be placed in the
waters that would kill fish life and possibly make it dangerous or unhealthful to bathe in the waters.  It is understood a similar condition
existed some eight years ago when a considerable amount of fish were destroyed in a manner similar to that which it is believed is
destroying the fish at this time.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        
The Call of October 1, 1937

CHILD SAVED FROM DROWNING
Saturday afternoon, Herman Clauser, who is employed in the office of the Earl Stoyer Garage, while walking around the back of his car,
near Stoyer's dam, noticed something in the water.  Thinking it was a dog playing in the water, he went on.  Something prompted him to
look again and as he did, he noticed that the object had disappeared and small bubbles were forming on top of the water.  Jumping in, to
the place where he had last seen the object, he pulled out two and one half year old Peggy Ann Kramer, the daughter of Mr. and Mrs.
Joseph Kramer.  Peggy Ann wandered away from her home and had been walking along the edge of the dam when she fell and was
struggling so unsuccessfully to keep from drowning, when noticed by Clauser.                                                                                                                                                                                                   
The Call of July 26, 1940

LOIS RUNKLE SAVES SIX YEAR OLD CHILD FROM DROWNING
Miss Lois Runkle, the twelve year old granddaughter of Mr. and Mrs. Elmer Neiman of Union Street, was swimming on Tuesday afternoon
at Willow Lake, when she saw a six year old girl who could not swim going down for the second time at the deep part of the lake.  Lois
immediately dived into the water and got the little girl by the arm, who grabbed her body so tightly that it was only after a hard struggle to
keep from drowning herself, that she brought the girl to the surface.  The little tot's sisters stood by and watched the scene, screaming
and crying.  None of them could swim to help their sister.  When the girl was brought to the surface, the sisters thanked Lois, but in the
excitement the name of the little girl was not learned, nor her residence.                                                                                                                                                                                                                             
The Call of November 8, 1940

TWO INJURED WHEN CAR HITS FIRE PLUG
On Sunday evening at 11:45, the car driven by Clifford R. Nichols of 208 Saint John Street, Schuylkill Haven, smashed into a fire plug near
Main and Saint John Streets.  Patrolman Clayton Bashore, after investigating the accident, stated that Nichols lost control of the machine
as he rounded a curve at the intersection and the car mounted the curb at Stine's Drug Store and hit the plug.  Mr. Nichols was not
injured but the other two occupants of the car were taken to the Pottsville Hospital.  They were John Reber, twenty of 412 East Main
Street and Miss Ann Martin, twenty one of Broadway, both of Schuylkill Haven.  Reber was badly injured about the jaw, nose and face
while Miss Martin suffered lacerations of the face and a sprained foot.  Both were removed to their homes where their condition is
reported as good.  Damage to the car was estimated at approximately $400.                                                                                                                                                                                                                          
The Call of November 28, 1940

SUNDAY MORNING ACCIDENT AT SCHUYLKILL HAVEN
An automobile collision occurred on Sunday morning about nine o'clock at the corner of Main and Dock Streets.  The sedan owned by Mrs.
John Bolton and driven by her daughter, Miss Dorothy Bolton, rounded the turn and in order to avoid a car stopping on Dock Street,
turned sharply and collided with the sedan of George Striegle which was parked on the opposite side and which was driven back and into
a tree.  The left front and side of the Striegle car was damaged.  The front of the Bolton car was badly damaged.  The occupants of the
Bolton car were Miss Bolton, the driver, Mrs. Bolton and her son Harry and John Doll and his two sons of Schumacher Avenue.  They were
all shaken up and bruised.  The group were on their way to Sunday School.  Officer Bubeck investigated.                                                                                  
The Call of November 29, 1940

NO FRAUD, ERROR FOUND IN LOCAL BALLOT BOXES
For the first time in the history of Schuylkill Haven borough, petitions were presented to the Court of Schuylkill County asking that the
ballot boxes used in two wards be brought into court and the ballots recounted.  They are the boxes from the East and South Wards and
were among thirteen brought to court in the Fourth Legislative District by the Democratic Party, whose petitions are said to have alleged
fraud and substantial error in computation and return of the votes.  
Only slight discrepancy was found in the Schuylkill Haven ballot recount by the board appointed by the court.  The change in the vote
from that reported by the local election board was due to markings on several ballots made by the local board when the vote was counted
on election evening.  Ballots designating straight party votes are placed in piles of one hundred or twenty five to expedite the counting
of the votes.  A notation is made on the top ballot of a counted pile for the board's information.  It was these few ballots, upon which a
board member had written the number in the pile, that were thrown out by the recount board because of the marking son them.
Recount of all thirteen ballot boxes in the Fourth Legislative District, including those of Tower City borough and Porter Township, which
also were brought into court for the first time in the history of those two districts failed to disclose any evidence of fraud or gross error in
computation or report of the vote.  The recount did not materially change the vote of any of the candidates of either major party.  
Schuylkill Haven has always prided itself upon the honesty, fairness and ability of its election boards.  They are men and women who can
not be influenced by any party or individual to make a fraudulent return of the votes cast.  The official count in court only proves to all the
county what almost everyone in Schuylkill County believes, that the honesty and fairness of their election board members are above
question.  The petition in the South Ward was signed by Thomas A. Umbenhauer, William L. Collins and William Schumacher.  In the East
ward, Miss Dorothy McGovern, Margaret McGovern and John W. Freeman requested that the ballots be recounted.                                                                       
The Call of July 25, 1941

FOUR INJURED IN CENTRE AVENUE AUTO ACCIDENT

Three Pottsville men and one Schuylkill Haven man were injured in a two car crash which occurred on Centre Avenue, Schuylkill Haven on
Wednesday morning at 7:40 o'clock.  Those injured were Edward Lord, 39, of 509 North Seventh Street, Pottsville, the most seriously
injured, suffered lacerations of the face and a deep laceration of the left arm.  He is a patient in the Pottsville Hospital.  Alex Zimmerman,
58, of 702 Laurel Street, Pottsville and Guy Warner, 30, of 731 Garfield Avenue, Schuylkill Haven were treated at the Pottsville Hospital for
lacerations and sent home.  Edward J. Poppert, 44, of 1814 West Norwegian Street in Pottsville was treated at the Schuylkill County
Hospital for slight lacerations of the head and hands.
Lord and Zimmerman, together with Warner, whom they had picked up in Schuylkill Haven, were on their way to the Ira Hurst coal washery
at Landingville where they are employed.  As they approached Mildred Street, a milk truck owned by the Bast Dairy stopped in the middle
of the street to make a left turn.  Mr. Poppert, who was driving toward Pottsville from his summer home at Deer Lake made a left turn
around the truck, colliding head on with the Lord vehicle which was passing the truck on the right side of the highway.  The three men
were removed to the Pottsville Hospital by Willis Deibert, of 8 Centre Avenue, in front of whose home the accident occurred.  Mr. Poppert
was taken to the hospital by Dr. Heim.  Both cars were considerably damaged.  An investigation was made by Chief of Police Frank Deibert
of Schuylkill Haven.
The Call of October 31, 1941

POLICE SEEK AID TO STOP SPREAD OF RABIES IN TOWN
With eleven dog owners under a one hundred day quarantine and a twelfth under arrest, Chief of Police Frank Deibert today issued an
appeal for citizens of Schuylkill Haven to help him wipe out any threat of rabies brought on by the mad dog that ran amuck here a few days
ago.  The dog, a brindle bull owned by Harold O. Seltzer of 429 Naffin Avenue, was shot by the chief of police Sunday morning and an
examination of the head at Harrisburg definitely disclosed that it had rabies.  Deibert made a special appeal for the identity of a young girl
whose dog is believed to have been bitten T the Schuylkill Haven-Saint Clair football game last Saturday.  The girl was at the game with
her pet when the dog appeared and while spectators grabbed the pet and held it aloft it is feared that it was bitten before they reached
it.  The mad dog was beaten off.  The identity of the girl is asked so that her dog may be kept under observation and so she may be
protected should it develop rabies symptoms.  
Before the mad dog was killed after running at large for an afternoon and a night, it had bitten Junior Crossley, 12, and William Crossley,
16, on the hands.  They are being given treatment by a physician.  It attacked and killed a valuable coon dog owned by Dewey Ditzler and
bit another dog in his kennel.  It attacked a dog owned by Homer Ribkee of 315 Haven Street, which has subsequently been destroyed.  It
also attacked and killed another dog, the owner of which is unknown.  Chief of Police Deibert, State Dog Law Enforcement Officer Charles
T. Llewellyn of Saint Clair and State Motor Police are making an investigation in Schuylkill Haven to determine the number of dogs that
may have been bitten.  Yesterday they placed eleven homes under quarantine and arrested another dog owner who refused to admit
them to her home and answer questions.  She was given a hearing before a Schuylkill Haven squire Thursday night.
A stray dog on the streets was shot and killed.  They appeal to residents of the town who know of any dogs that have been bitten to notify
Deibert. Dog owners are also asked to carefully examine their dogs for bites.
The Call of December 19, 1941

THREE GIRLS HIT NEAR ALMSHOUSE
Three girl attendants at the county almshouse hospital were injured when struck by an auto while walking along the highway between the
almshouse and Schuylkill Haven on Saturday evening at 6:30 o'clock.  One of the girls, Elizabeth Sudick of Glen Alden, is in serious
condition at the Good Samaritan Hospital with a fractured skull.  She also received bad lacerations and brush burns of the body.  The
other two victims were Eva Lolinsky, stepsister of Miss Sudick, of Glen Alden, who received lacerations of the scalp and brush burns of
the left arm and Eleanor Zeiler of Pottsville, who lost several teeth and received brush burns of the left hip.  Both were taken to the
almshouse hospital.  Pottsville Motor Police report that the automobile which struck the girls was driven by Jack O'Connell of Pottsville.  
O'Connell says that he did not see the three girls because of the heavy rain until it was too late to stop.  The girls were walking on the
highway because of the icy condition of the pavement leading toward the almshouse.
The Call of July 12, 1935

HEAVY RAIN CAUSES FLOOD DAMAGE ALL OVER TOWN
A fifteen  hour steady and unusually heavy downpour of rain from Tuesday midnight until three o'clock Wednesday afternoon, caused one
of the worst midsummer floods in the history of Schuylkill Haven.  Not only were street swashed out in all sections of town, vegetable and
flower gardens badly damaged and in numerous cases, completely destroyed, but the borough electric light plant, for the first time in its
history, was flooded and put completely out of commission from 9:00 a. m. until 6:00 p. m.
The rain of Tuesday morning, afternoon and evening up until midnight, had greatly swollen the small creeks running through the town, as
well as having caused the Schuylkill River to assume a high water level.  However, an almost continuous rainfall and for long periods at a
time the heaviest downpour in years, almost reaching cloud burst stage, turning creeks into veritable small rivers and sent up the
Schuylkill River to within eight inches of its highest water mark of several years ago.  
The worst damage was suffered by the borough, for its only recently completed resurfacing and repair of streets were badly torn up in
numerous places.  Added to this is the damage caused to the electric light plant machinery and the loss of revenue for the day.  Only with
and through the use of the three borough fire department pumpers was the electric light department enabled to resume operation about
six o'clock, Tuesday evening.  And then only to the extent of providing power and street lighting.  The plant is located on the banks of the
creek known as the Almshouse Creek.  With no chance for the water in the creek to spread, by reason of a fifty foot embankment of solid
rock on its one side, a veritable wall of water burst into the boiler room about nine o'clock.  The water in a few minutes time had flooded
the entire boiler room to a depth of four and one half feet and naturally had put out the fires in the boilers.  This caused an immediate
shutdown.  Instruments registered the fact that the power went off about 9:30 o'clock.  The engine room of the plant, about four feet
higher than the level of the boiler room, was covered with a foot or more of water and the numerous pits and tunnels leading to the three
engines, as well as the pit underneath the switchboard, all were flooded.  The 17 foot pit of the ash conveyor in the boiler room filled to
the level with water in a few minutes time.  The water rushed in from the creek to the boiler room, swept on through the engine room and
right out into the street.
\Little time was lost in preparations being made to resume operations.  as soon as the water in the creek had subsided, the fire trucks
were on hand and began pumping out the water.  Later the electric generator, mounted on a truck, the property of Ebinger Iron Works,
was called into service to dry the coils in the old Corliss engine.  Extra men were put to work wiping and drying instruments and other
machinery.  Along about three o'clock, sufficient steam had been generated but the coils on the engine had not been sufficiently dried.  
About three thirty steam was turned into the steam chest and the ponderous 25 foot diameter wheel of this old standby engine, a Corliss
engine, in service since 1916, and the standby engine that had been put into service in recent years on numerous occasions, began to
whirl but by reason of some short circuit as a result of the drenching, current could not be generated.  The 750 kw engine was then called
on to perform but before this was possible, more water had to be pumped out of the pit underneath.  Current was finally available at 6 p. m.
CELLARS FLOODED  The Almshouse Creek caused further damage all along its course through town.  The cellar of the Christ Lutheran
Church on Dock Street was flooded.  The gas main on Dock Street was broken at a point where the creek flows underneath the street.  
Continuing on past the Stump garage, it flooded Berger Street and South Garfield Avenue.  On Berger Street the cellars of Messrs.
Winters and Koch were filled and on South Garfield Avenue, the cellars of these persons were filled with water: Clarence Sterner Jr., Mrs.
Greenawald, Raymond Loy, Mrs. Mary Loy, Charles Gehrig and William Gehrig.  The Harry Loy garage and all other garages in the rear of
South Garfield Avenue were flooded as were also the J. J. Lash tinsmith shop and garage.  On Coal Street, the cellars of John Hinkle and
William Brown and of other properties on the street were filled with water.
DOCK STREET CELLARS FLOODED  Dock Street from the Pennsylvania arch to Coal Street looked like a small sized river.  This by reason of
the culvert and pipes that under very ordinary conditions take care of water of a creek that crosses Centre Avenue halfway between Dock
Street and the First Reformed Church.  The culvert laid underneath the Pennsylvania arch has on several occasions been complained
about by reason of its not being of sufficient size to take care of the water of this creek and the surface water from Pennsylvania Avenue
and Stanton Street.  The stream washed along the east side of the arch nd into Dock Street and on down Dock Street to Coal and to the
old docks.  Quite a number of cellars on Dock Street were flooded as were also lots of properties on both sides of the street.  The yards at
the properties of Harrison Miller and Mrs. Teter and Rudy Moyer, above the Pennsylvania arch, were under several feet of water and
were badly washed out and covered with muck.  
RIVER ACROSS CENTER AVENUE  Another good sized river of water washed across Center Avenue at the Hummel Garage.  The water was
two or more feet deep about 10:00 a. m.  Only one way traffic was possible and this for several hours, only ventured by large trucks.  
Touring cars were lined up for the entire Center Avenue length and towards Connor's for quite a distance, as the drivers did not wish to
take the chance of having their machines flooded and becoming stalled.
DAMAGE ON GARFIELD AVENUE  The river across Center Avenue was caused by the Garfield Avenue Creek having been turned into a
raging stream.  This creek was swollen to several times its rainy weather size by reason of having its source in and draining the farms and
hilly section in the township above Willow Lake.  Every property owner along this creek had his or her back yard uprooted and badly
damaged.  At a point halfway down the stream, it left its banks and completely washed out Eaton Street which runs parallel to Garfield
Avenue.  Near the Lehigh Valley Company's high railroad embankment, the two streams had to force their way through but the one
opening.  This caused the water to back up into a number of yards and flooded the basement cellars of Calvin Snyder, John Mengle, Mr.
Heffner and Mr. Spangler.  Some of these cellars had 18 inches of water.  The progress of the water in the creek was considerably blocked
by reason of lumber from foot bridges in many yards laid across the creek, that were washed away.  Up at Willow Lake a large bridge was
washed out and part of the concrete foundations washed away.  Opposite Willow Lake, the water from the mountain at the rear of the
properties of Albinus Luckenbill and William Corby swept down through the yard and down the front steps in a young river size.  This
continued down the entire length of Garfield Avenue, washing a deep gully for it, the entire length.
HEAVY DAMAGE AT BASHORE'S  The large truck patch, flower and vegetable garden at the Bashore property, a short distance below
Willow Lake, and just about on the border line of the borough, was completely ruined and the owner will suffer a heavy loss.  Shrubbery
as well as concrete retaining walls at this place was washed away.  A chicken house from the Ney property above Bashore's was washed
down and further blocked the stream.  Mr. Bashore had a large variety of vegetable as well as green truck and had given much labor and
time on their cultivation.  He had the garden laid out in fine style and it had been a very pretty spot and is now a complete wreck in ruins.
PAXSON AVENUE DAMAGE  Water from Fairmount and the Almshouse fields rushed down Paxson Avenue and the alleys to the rear of the
properties on both sides of this street to Haven Street, when the sewers were unable to carry off the sudden flood waters.  The yards of a
number of the property owners in this section were flooded to a depth of several feet, uprooted and badly damaged.  Several cellars
were also flooded.  Crossing over Haven Street, the stream continued toward Dock Street and at the corner of Dock Street and Paxson
Avenue, it was several feet deep.  It washed a considerable portion of the bank away alongside the Schuylkill River and one way traffic
was in order for the entire morning.  With the flooded Paxson Avenue near Dock Street, the water backed into the yards of Arthur Yost
and George Saul, and when these were filled, swept across the concrete wall and dropped into the yard of the Editor, which is about four
feet below the level of the above named yards.  In a few minutes time the Editor's flower garden was flooded to a depth of four and one
half feet at certain points.  About one o'clock the Liberty Fire Company pumper was procured and the water pumped out.  It required until
close to four o'clock before the greater part of the yard had been pumped out.  The entire length of the yard and full width was under
water and instead of having the appearance of a flower garden it resembled more a swimming pool, with the tops of the high shrubs
sticking out along the water's edge.  Properties at or near the corner of Paxson Avenue and Margaretta Street were flooded to a depth of
several feet.  At the garage of the Editor, the water was three feet deep and its force and swift current forced open the garage doors and
swept into the yard, as if to make sure that the entire premises would be completely covered and that flowers in the garden would not
have to be sprinkled from time to time and many of them never again.
BALL DIAMOND FLOODED  The old ball diamond along the Schuylkill River was again completely covered, the water rushing into and on it
at a point nearly opposite the rear of the Town Hall.  When this abandoned ball park was flooded, the waters backed up and flooded many
gardens and yards along Jacques Street in the West Ward.  The street too was badly torn up.
RIVER EIGHT INCHES LOWER  High water marks established along the banks of the Schuylkill River two years ago during the late summer
flood were not reached.  The river was just about eight inches below the previous high water mark.  However, by reason of the frequent
very heavy downpours of rain, the several creeks running through the town rose more rapidly than in the previous flood and therefore
did more damage than heretofore.
SWIM IN CHURCH YARD  It is a most unusual sight to see youngsters swimming in a church yard, yet that is just what was witnessed on
Dock Street about ten o'clock.  The church yard of the Episcopal Church was covered to a depth of three to four feet of water.  
Youngsters from the neighborhood soon found this out and attired in bathing suits, for a time enjoyed wading around in this very cold
water.  The water from the church yard forced its way into the basement of the church and did considerable damage to the furniture of the
Sunday school room as well as damaging a small organ and other church and Sunday school supplies and equipment.
PUMPERS KEPT BUSY  The fire company pumpers were kept busy for the entire day, Tuesday, as well as for a time during the early
evening pumping water out of cellars of residences and store rooms.
SCOUT ROOM FLOODED  The Boy Scout cabin or headquarters for the Boy Scouts in the Christ Lutheran Church was flooded to a depth of
four feet.  The water was pumped out Tuesday evening by one of the fire trucks.  The extent of the damage to the Scout cabin cannot as
yet be determined.  The Christ Lutheran Church lot, together with the adjoining property occupied by Reverend E. H. Smoll, were under
several feet of water for several hours.  This section usually feels the effect of high water by reason of the Almshouse Creek flowing
through these properties.  Tuesday, however, the property was flooded to a greater depth and covered a larger area than at any previous
time.  This was due to two causes: a greater rush of water and the fact that several large logs became blocked in the passageway beneath
Dock Street and with other refuse caused a blockade.
REFORMED CHURCH YARD COVERED  The church property in front of the First Reformed Church was torn up by the force of the water
coming from several nearby creeks.  For a time it was completely covered by water.  Youngsters for a time enjoyed wading about in it.
SIXTY FOOT WATER DAM  At the dip of the State Highway to Orwigsburg near the County Almshouse, the fields were covered with water to
a depth of three to twelve feet.  The water covered an area of 60 to 75 feet deep and gave the appearance of a large dam in that section.  
FAMILIES WERE MOVED OUT  All cellars on Parkway connected with the sewers were flooded, the water backing up.  The home of Mrs.
Deibler on Railroad Street was filled with water and damage of course resulted.  As there is no creek or stream of any kind near this
property, the family and neighbors are still trying to determine just what caused the cellar of this home to fill up with water.
Down on the lower section of the South Ward, it was again necessary for a number of families to move out of their homes.  The water as
usual backed east from the Schuylkill River or "Eck" section of the Flat.  It backed up on Saint James Street as far as Columbia Street but
was not over this street.  The entire area south of Market Street, from Saint James to Saint Charles, was under several feet of water.  On
Saint James Street water was within one and a half inches of getting into the Columbia Machine and Fix It Shop.  The place was
surrounded by two or more feet of water.    Penn Street properties were surrounded and lots were covered with about two feet of water.  
Two feet of water covered this entire section from Saint James to Saint Charles Street and all the growing vegetable gardens and truck
patches were completely ruined.  This because they are now covered with several inches of muck and coal dirt.  It will require several
years before these gardens can be expected to produce very much in the way of vegetables.  These families on Penn Street were taken
out of their homes in autos about 9:00 a. m. when water was about a foot deep around their homes:  Mrs. Koch, earl Drey, John Noecker,
Harry Neidlinger, Albert Confehr, Clarence Reed, Mary Coup, Charles Wildermuth, Isaac Ney and Joe Smith.  
LOTS COVERED THREE FEET  Properties south of Penn Street were covered with at least three feet of water and the gardens totally
ruined.  Many of the property owners in this section of the town had been looking forward to harvesting worthwhile crops of various
kinds of vegetables.  Their hopes have been blasted to a great degree as it is said the coal dirt muck that now covers the ground causes
the plants to die and rot.  These families were also moved out of their homes about nine o'clock: Mrs. Weaver, Joe Bensinger, Alice
Wildermuth, Kate Yost, Charles Smith and Jack Harner.
WATER IN CELLARS  The section of the South ward above Saint Charles and south of Penn Street was also under water.  These properties
had water in their cellars but not to the depth of several years ago: Mr. Miller, Miles Moyer, Harry Ankerbrandt, John Kramer, Warren
Felty, Charles Roeder, Harvey Heinbach and Bud Becker.
DAMAGE ALONG CENTER AVENUE  The Garfield Avenue creek worked heavy damage, not only along its course from the borough line to
Center Avenue, in washing out cribbing,m foot bridges, upsetting toilets, chicken pens and what not, but did considerable damage at the
point where it crosses under Center Avenue.  Instead of crossing under Center Avenue a considerable body of water crossed over the
top.  The Hummel Garage is built directly over the creek.  The water in the creek is believed to have risen five feet in two hours time.  The
creek emerges from the culvert underneath the Lehigh Railroad embankment just about fifteen feet from the rear of the Hummel Garage.  
Fortunately this building is of brick and there are no rear doors.  The water washed up against the building and then was turned to the
side where it washed out along the building, covered the adjoining lot of Robert Gehrig to a several foot depth, destroying the garden
and hedge.  The water then crossed Center Avenue.  At times it was two to three feet in depth.
The heavy planking in the Hummel Garage, put down on top of concrete, was forced loose by the force of the water.  A heavy log coming
down the stream crashed through one of the windows and this left in a stream of water into the garage and covered the floor to a depth
of a foot or more.  The water rushed out the front of the garage.
The stream seemed to have unusual, swift and powerful current.  Some idea may be gained from the fact that concrete blocks at the rear
of the Hummel Garage were washed across the street and found at the rear of the lots on the other side of Center Avenue.  The stream
crossing Center Avenue washed into the property of Joseph Maberry.  The pavement was undermined to a depth of six feet for a space of
at least seven by ten feet.  The concrete retaining wall on the Maberry side of the creek was soon washed out and the water flooded the
yard.  In a short time it had undermined and swept away a concrete foundation wall supporting an enclosed porch.  The brick wall on the
opposite side of the stream or along the Schuylkill Haven Body and Fender Works was washed away.  Fortunately the wall of this plant is
of concrete and this prevented any great damage to the plant basement.  The Maberry property occupied by Joseph Smith had about six
feet of water while other nearby properties, those of Harold Sheaffer and Floyd Mattern had six and four feet of water.  Other nearby
cellars as well as the yards were flooded.  The Brownmiller Body Works did not suffer any great damage although it adjoins the Hummel
Garage.  Water to about a foot in depth backed into the plant.  Several truck loads of lumber have been hauled away from near the
Hummel Garage, the same having been washed down from Garfield Avenue.  The alley running parallel to center Avenue and along the
railroad bank was cut up as if a steam shovel had been working on it.  
FLOOD NOTES  The cellar of John Bubeck's store on Center Avenue was filled and a considerable amount of stock ruined.  A number of
homes on Center Avenue in the vicinity of the Bubeck store had water in their cellars to several feet in depth as the result of the
overflowing of the creek which passed underneath Center Avenue.  As the result from the water from North Berne Street rushing to
Columbia Street, that entire section was covered by water a foot or more in depth and came within an inch of flooding the display room of
the Earl Stoyer Garage.  Had the water in the engine room of the electric light plant risen nine to twelve inches higher, the windings on
the turbine engines would have become water soaked and no doubt damaged beyond repair.  This would have made it impossible to
operate either one of the turbine engines for several days or a week.  The Corliss steam engine would then have had to be put into
operation.  At some points along the Schuylkill River, between the railroad bridge and the Columbia Street bridge, the river was within
nine to fourteen inches of overflowing the banks.  Had this occurred, the flood damage in the South Ward , particularly properties along
West Main Street, would have been exceptionally severe.  Early Wednesday morning, the employees at the light plant had the plant
looking quite spic and span again.  Except for damp spots in the concrete flooring, there was little evidence of the dirty and muddy water
that had been washed in and through the plant.  Cellars in home son Columbia Street just naturally had water again but these cellars have
had water every time there is a heavy rainfall.  This condition has existed since the heavy flood back in the eighties.  Many cellars in
these homes are never without water, the same seems to back in from the river several blocks away.
The Call of April 3, 1936

AUTOS COLLIDE ON DOCK STREET
Two autos came together with a "bang" on Tuesday evening about seven thirty o'clock with a crash that could be heard squares away.  
Fortunately, no one was injured.  The machine of William Crossman, a Plymouth, and the Ford of George Bair of Landingville figured in the
crash.  The Crossman machine, being driven in Dock Street, had been stopped on the left side of the street, to procure information from a
pedestrian.  Just as the machine was starting out, the auto of Bair and occupied by Stanley Moyer, happened out Dock Street.  They came
together and the Bair machine came to a stop on Paxson Avenue and the Crossman car, on the right side of Dock Street, above Paxson
Avenue.  The running board on the right side of the Bair machine was splintered and the right rear tire bursted.  The right front fender of
the Crossman machine was somewhat bent and the right front tire flat.  This machine was probably saved from going over the bank along
the river by the six inch curb at this spot.
The Call of August 16, 1935

LOCAL MAN RESCUED FROM RIVER
Saturday evening, "Skipper," or Ira Wenrich of Schuylkill Haven, in some way or other lost his bearings while walking along Main Street
and at Saint John Street corner he turned north and kept going.  As this street comes to a dead end two hundred yards from Main Street,
Wenrich dropped into the Schuylkill River.  He kept on going on his hands and knees until he began to sink deeper and deeper into the
muck and the roar of the six inch stream of water came closer and closer.  His cries for help were heard by James Corcoran, who
happened to be standing on the railroad bridge.  He notified the police.  An investigation showed the man to be in a precarious position.  
Officer Bashore pulled him back toward the bank and with the assistance of some bystanders, finally got him up the bank.  The officer had
his clothing badly soiled with the black coal dirt, muck and water.  He was turned over to Officer Bubeck and made to walk to his home on
Columbia Street, a trail of black water being left behind.  "Skipper": states he will bring suit against the borough for not having  abridge at
this particular point.  Had the man's cries for help not been heard, he might have been drowned, as his crawling would surely have gotten
him into deeper muck and perhaps the deep hole at the breast of the old lock which is near this point.  Here the water is deeper and it
might have resulted in a drowning.  While the incident was taken more or less in a humorous manner, it really could have resulted more
seriously.
The Call of September 6, 1935

A RELIC OF 1775
B.. Frank Reider of Schuylkill Haven has in his possession an interesting relic in the form of a weight used to tie horses.  It bears the
numerals 1775, the same being of the raised type, therefore proving the genuineness of the same.  It weighs about twenty pounds and is
made of cast iron.  It shows the fact that at this date the method of extracting air from iron had not been learned.  Up until the automobile
age, weights of this character were carried along on the wagon or buggy by many persons.  This made it possible to stop at most any
place, all that was necessary was to put down the weight and attach a line to the horse.  The relic was found some time ago at the rear of
the Reider factory and, perhaps if its history were known, it was used in later years on the boat yard which occupied the site of the
present Reider shoe factory.
The Call of September 27, 1935

ABSENCE OF BOY SCARES PARENTS
Mr. and Mrs. Clinton Confehr, of Dock Street, were given quite a scare Sunday evening, when upon their return home, they discovered
their fourteen year old son, Kenneth, missing.  No word had been left by him and his movements could not be traced after eight o'clock, at
which time he left his home.  Inquiry was made from many sources and the police were asked to cooperate in the hunt.  Monday morning,
however, word came from him, via post card, to the effect that he had gone to Harrisburg.  He arrived home Monday evening.  He had no
thought of the anxiety his absence would cause his parents and he merely thought he would make a trip all of his own.  Starting out
Sunday evening he thumbed a ride to Harrisburg.  He arrived in Harrisburg shortly before the midnight hour and going to the station, read
a book until the train for Reading happened along about three a. m.  Arriving gin Reading, he hunted up a boy friend, where he spent the
day and returned home in the afternoon.
The Call of October 6, 1939

MOTHER AND SON OVERCOME BY COAL GAS THURSDAY
The fortunate return to the house by Robert Reider, early Thursday evening, prevented a horrible tragedy in his home on Columbia
Heights.  His wife and three year old son had been brought home by him and had entered the home.  The presence of coal gas was
immediately noticed, but before the wife could walk to a door or window, she had been overcome and fell, unconscious, on the floor.  Mr.
Reider did not immediately enter the home, as he desired to complete some errand.  However, upon his return he found the unconscious
forms of both his wife and son upon the floor.  Neighbors were summoned and a physician called.  It required several hours work to have
the lad respond to treatment and fully work off the effects of the gas.  A dampened coal fire in the house caused the fumes to collect
during the absence of the mother and son in the afternoon.
The Call of August 2, 1940

TUESDAY'S WIND STORM RAZES TREES HERE
During the high wind storms that passed over Schuylkill Haven between four and five o'clock on Tuesday evening, one of the large willow
trees along the Schuylkill River at the Columbia Hotel was blown down.  Part of the branches fell upon the Columbia Street bridge
and impeded pedestrian traffic.  The Highway Department was soon on the job and removed the same.  Several of the large trees at the
lake near Stoyer's were blown down.  At the Reider Shoe Factory on West Main Street, two of the very large willow trees between the
factory building and the residence of Mr. Christman, were blown down.  They fell in such a way that the top branches rested upon the roof
of the garage in the rear.  A number of men and two wreckers were called into service to cut off the large limbs and remove the trees so
that they would not crush the garage.  A large willow tree along the lawn of Walter Meck on Saint Peter Street, was uprooted by the wind
and narrowly missed falling upon the Gray residence adjoining the Meck home.  A bolt of lightning struck the home of Dr. Santo Clement
on Moorenoll Street, Tuesday evening.  It traveled from the eaves of the house through the kitchen, where Dr. Clement and wife and child
were seated.  There was considerable fire and sparks and the family was badly frightened.
The Call of October 18, 1940

GROUSE ENTERS SAINT MATTHEW'S CHURCH WITH A CRASH
Saint Matthew's Lutheran Church had an unusual visitor last Sunday evening.  Following the church service, William Bachert, sexton, with
several other members, went to the Sunday School part of the church.  In the middle of the room a large bird was lying on the floor.  
Investigation revealed a broken window and glass and feathers strewn beneath it.  It is thought that the bird, a large male grouse, came
from the wooded section across the Schuylkill River.  It probably was raised by a dog or someone in that section during the day, and in its
flight it crossed the river and flew through the church window, killing itself by striking the sash.  Momentum from its fast flight carried the
bird into the middle of the room amid a shower of glass and feathers.
The Call of September 5, 1941

CHILDREN BANNED AT PUBLIC PLACES - Under 16 Not Permitted In Churches and Theatres, In Fighting Infantile Paralysis
School children in Schuylkill Haven were given an extra two weeks of vacation through the forced postponement of the opening of the
schools due to the infantile paralysis epidemic in the county.  The opening date, September 15, is tentative, and if the number of infantile
paralysis cases continue to increase, the opening of schools may be further postponed until the end of the month.  Although the
beginning of the school term has been delayed, the term will not be lengthened to make up the time lost, according to an announcement
made by Supervising Principal Paul S. Christman.  The scheduled closing date is June 12.
On Saturday the ban on the assembling of children was placed on churches, theatres, parks and other public places.  The Rio Theatre was
forced to cancel the popular Saturday afternoon matinée for children, much to the disappointment of many youngsters who gathered
outside and wanted to be admitted.  Churchgoers on Sunday found notices on the doors of the buildings stating that children under the
age of sixteen would not be admitted.  As a result, the local Sunday Schools and churches reported exceptionally low attendance.  Young
peoples meetings have been cancelled.  Parks in this section, which had been unfortunate in having a rainy Fourth of July, were also
again hit, this time by the ban on children and the announcement of health authorities for people to avoid crowds at parks over the
weekend and Labor Day.  Although reports had been circulated during the past week that another case of infantile paralysis had
developed in Schuylkill Haven, the local board of health denied the rumor and reported that there are no new cases.
The Call of April 9, 1943

QUARANTINE WILL BE ENFORCED HERE
At the meeting of the Schuylkill Haven Board of Health, which was held in the Town Hall on Tuesday evening, the quarantining of homes
where there are cases of measles, mumps, whooping cough and chicken pox, was authorized to prevent the spreading of contagious
diseases.  This practice had been in effect prior to July of 1941.  Thirty one cases of measles were reported in this community by Health
Officer W. G. Roan. Officer Roan was instructed to quarantine all homes, starting April 7, 1943, and where there were children residing on
the premises in which measles, chicken pox, or mumps exist, they will be quarantined also unless the Health Officer records show that
said child or children had the disease mentioned heretofore.
The Call of September 4, 1936

KILLED LARGE COPPERHEAD SNAKE WEDNESDAY
A copperhead snake measuring three feet and five inches was killed on Wednesday at the rear of the Schuylkill Haven Casket Factory
building.  The snake was shot by Ernest Huling.  From the snake was taken seven live and wiggling snakes measuring six to twelve
inches.  The small snakes were bottled up, put in alcohol and were brought to The Call office building for display in one of the windows.  
They were quite an attraction for children and adults.
The Call of September 25, 1936

SPARROWS CHASE SQUIRREL ON MAIN STREET
Early morning pedestrians on Main Street on Thursday were amused and entertained by a squirrel, high atop the power lines, running
down the street and chased by three sparrows.  Finally when it reached the corner of Main and Saint John Streets, and the squirrel found
the sparrows were getting too bold and too annoying, it turned abruptly and darted up the street again, over the electric lines, to the
corner of Main and Saint Peter Streets.  At this point, it leaped from the lines into the trees and was lost sight of, and the three sparrows
were left all to themselves.  One lover of birds and animals concluded that the squirrel may possibly have been caught in the act of
robbing a bird nest and was being chased for this act.
The Call of January 22, 1937

COASTER HAD NARROW ESCAPE UNDER AUTO
Ray Gipe, a four year old youngster, residing on Saint Peter Street, had a most miraculous escape from probable fatal injury, Wednesday
afternoon about 4:30 o'clock, when he coasted underneath the auto of Dr. Lyons of Cressona.  Young Gipe, with a number of other
youngsters, were enjoying the coasting on Union Street hill.  The child did not realize the danger or was too small to make any effort to
stop.  The sled passed directly in under the machine between the front and rear wheels.  Bystanders screamed and closed their eyes as
they thought the child would be crushed to death.  It was all over in a flash, however.  Fortunately, the car was being driven slow by Dr.
Lyons and the coaster was going at high speed, the street being covered with ice and very slippery at that hour.  As a result, the sled and
coaster passed underneath the car before the wheels reached him.  Witnesses said the sled scooted underneath the car between the
front and rear wheels and came out on the other side of the car before they knew what had happened.  The child, being badly scared,
then fell off.  The sled continued on.  Dr. Lyons brought his car to a stop, picked up the child and notifying witnesses who he was, took the
youngster to the hospital, where an examination showed he escaped with but a few bruises.  The child was then brought to the home of
his parents.
The Call of February 5, 1937

PEDESTRIANS NARROWLY ESCAPE INJURY MONDAY
Pedestrians on Dock Street, Monday evening about seven o'clock, narrowly escaped injury as the result of tow crazy speed fiend
automobilists.  The two drivers, at unusually high speed, drove out Dock Street, one endeavoring to pass the other.  Just in front of Town
Hall, one machine "kissed" or just touched the other one.  There was a crack and the entire bumper from one machine was hurled across
the street and struck directly in front of a woman pedestrian.  Another woman and her child were but several feet away and other
pedestrians were nearby.  The drivers of the cars, fortunately, must have had a firm grip on their steering wheels for they did not crack
up.  Neither did they abate their speed, but continued on and out Dock Street.  Residents along the street, expecting to see a wreck, by
reason of the noise of the speeding machines and collision, came to their front doors and were surprised to see nothing of the sort.
The Call of April 9, 1937

ROLLER SKATERS DAMAGE STORE FRONT
The statement that roller skaters damaged a store front on Main Street in Schuylkill Haven may seem odd or look rather unusual; perhaps
it would sound better to say: automobilists or motorists damage Main Street store front.  This, however, would be entirely incorrect,
because it was through the speed and force of one or two youngsters on roller skates that the very pretty store front of John Corrado on
Main Street was recently damaged.  Inquiry as to what caused several of the large blocks of the building glass at the base of the windows
at the entranceway to the store, to be cracked and broken, revealed the fact that several weeks ago, one of the youngsters, who was in
the habit of roller skating down the Main Street pavement, and after having gained momentum, turned into the store entranceway, failed
to stop and crashed into the store front, with the above results.
The Call of June 11, 1937

LOCAL MAN SHARES IN CASH ESTATE FOUND IN CLOTHING
George Biehl, a well known resident of Schuylkill Haven, was made very happy when he learned that he shared in the estate of his
brother in law, a resident of Philadelphia, who died in April a year ago.  The estate was valued at $8,200, $6,700 in which was found in the
clothing of the deceased brother in law, Harry Bunn, upon his death on April 2, 1936.  An article appearing in the Philadelphia papers
recently, concerning the matter was as follows:
More than $6,700 found hidden in the clothing of a supposed derelict, who died in Philadelphia Hospital, was ordered distributed today to
his heirs; Samuel and Harry Biehl of Phoenixville and George Biehl of Schuylkill Haven.  The man was Harry Bunn, who lived in a dollar a
week room on Second Street, near Spruce in Philadelphia.  He was found unconscious on the street and died at the hospital April 2, 1936.  
Bunn formerly resided in Phoenixville.  Every pocket in his clothes was jammed with bills and more money was tied under his shirt and
crammed in a paper bag.  Judge Allen M. Stearne, of the Philadelphia court, directed an investigation to determine heirs and relatives.  
Two women claimed to have been his wife, four alleged sons, a group of second cousins and the Commonwealth also put in claims for
cash.  All the facts were laid before the court, and Judge Stearne, in his opinion, late yesterday, holds that the proof shows Bunn was a
barge man, with a checkered career, and that he married Anna Biehl in Schuylkill Haven in 1886, and deserted her about five months
afterwards.  She died in Phoenixville where she had come to live with her brothers.  Since she died before the estate could be settled,
the court directed her share in the estate will go to her heirs, who are the three brothers; George, Samuel and Harry Biehl.  Besides the
cash in his clothes, Bunn had more than $!,500 in banks in Philadelphia and at Elizabeth, New Jersey.
The Call of July 30, 1937

MADE TEN DOLLARS ON ONE DOLLAR FORD
Saturday there was held a sale of household goods of the estate of John Noecker of Penn Street.  Not in years has there been so many
persons at a sale of household goods and not for some time have articles sold so readily and at such good prices as compared to their
values.  Antiques and worn out furniture and household articles of all descriptions were garnered in at the bargain prices.  One of the
money makers was a Ford of 1919 vintage, that was sold for one dollar.  The purchaser began selling it, part by part, and had ten dollars in
his pocket and still had the engine and a number of other parts that could be used.  The property of Amanda Noecker of Penn Street was
purchased by Mrs. Sophie Smith of Auchey's Station.
The Call of September 17, 1937

CHURCH STONES USED IN RETAINING WALL
The fine, squared, cut stones from the more than century old DeBinder's Church near Rock, are being used in the retaining wall that is
now being built along the Schuylkill River at the Gordon D. Reed property, formerly the Harry Yost property on East Main Street.  Mr. Reed
purchased the church building some time ago.  Fire resulting from lightning, during the summer months, had gutted the woodwork of this
church building which, for a number of years, had not been used as a church building.  The church building is estimated to be one
hundred years of age or perhaps 125 years of age.  Some of the descendants of the original members of the congregation of this church
now attend Brown's Church, Manbeck's Church or the Summer Hill Church.  The graveyard to the rear of the church building, containing
the graves of two dozen persons, will not be distributed in any way.  The stones are being hauled to the new location by the truck of
Charles Faust.  Last week, Mr. Faust backed his truck just a little bit too close to the edge of the bank and had it not been for some
additional support or props that had been placed near the bank just a day before, the truck, with its load of six tons of DeBinder Church
stones would have tumbled down the bank and in to the river.
The Call of October 29, 1937

HITCHHIKERS PRESENT PITIFUL SIGHT
A father and mother and four children, hitchhikers, presented a pitiful sight when brought to Schuylkill Haven, on Monday evening, from
Cressona, at which place they had made an appeal for assistance and shelter for the night.  Not being able to accommodate them, the
local police were called.  Shelter was provided for them in the Town Hall, with the police obtaining blankets and pillows for them.  Tuesday
morning the police department explained the case to Steward Powell of the County Home and he agreed to provide them with a
breakfast.  They were taken to the institution for this purpose.  And then the family was brought back to Schuylkill Haven, put on the Flyer,
and presented with tickets for transportation to Lancaster, where the father hoped to obtain work on a farm.  The family came from some
town in New York State and landed in Cressona.  They had been hitchhiking for some tine, with the father endeavoring to find work
wherever possible.  With a large bag of clothing, two suitcases, the mother carrying a fifteen month old child, and with three other
children aged two and a half, four and six years, the family presented a pitiful sight indeed.  Tears came to the eyes of the father and
mother as Police Chief Deibert put their tickets of transportation in their hands as they boarded the Flyer, Tuesday morning, and
bystanders, too, could not help but feel their heartstrings touched in a way that only scenes of this nature can effect.
The Call of November 26, 1937

HUNTERS SHOT PET SQUIRRELS
Some hunters have taken the liberty of deliberately going on to the grounds of the Hospital for Mental Diseases and shooting some of the
pet squirrels which were placed on these grounds through the efforts and kindness of Senator Dando.  The Board of Trustees take this
means of warning hunters that anyone shooting on the hospital grounds in the future, will be prosecuted to the full extent of the law.  
Under an act of the legislature, it is even unlawful to trespass on the grounds of the institution.  There is always the additional danger
that some of the patients or employees may be seriously injured by stray bullets.
The Call of February 18, 1938

PET CAT OF D. M. BITTLE KILLED BY AUTOMOBILE
The pet cat, "Beauty," the pride of and a member of the D. M. Bittle family was killed Monday evening, about seven o'clock, when struck by
an auto while crossing Dock Street.  The accident was witnessed by a neighbor, Mrs. Edward Rowland.  The pet will be buried today,
Friday, in the rear garden of Mr. Bittle, amidst the shrubs and trees.  A special casket was provided and will be placed in a concrete outer
case or vault, and the matter of burial will be made with sadness, as Beauty had been a pet and great favorite in the Bittle family for the
past fourteen years.  She had become greatly attached to the family and was also a friend of the neighbors, whose homes she frequently
visited.  Beauty was not like the ordinary neighborhood cat, that can make itself a nuisance and annoyance.  She was what was most
desired of any cat, a fine "ratter," remained at home nights and kept the peace.  She frequently crossed Dock Street to visit the homes of
neighbors, and had acquired, from experience, the habit of being careful to the highest degree.  However, Monday evening, she
misjudged distance and was struck.  Readers who have also lost pets to which they had become very much attached, can sympathize with
Mr. Bittle and family in their loss and appreciate their sadness.
The Call of March 11, 1938

PROUD OF 15 YEAR OLD CAT
Mr. and Mrs. William Nye, of Columbia Street, have a fifteen year old pet cat which they are very proud of and a cat that has almost become
an actual part of the family circle.  The cat was procured in Minersville when a kitten.  Sometime during this month she will be fifteen years
old.  "Budda," as she is called, is a three color cat, the colors of her fur being grey, white and yellow.  The greatest of care and attention
has at all times been given this cat, so that her fifteen years show very lightly upon her.  Her eyesight is of the best and her hearing is
also good.  Her fur does not show the usual signs that mark age in cats.  Her movements, too, are as wiry and quick as a young kitten.  
Budda is occasionally given a diet of raw meat, which she loves very much, and this it is believed, has been one reason for the cat being
in such good physical condition.  
Another reason for her condition is that in all the fifteen years she has been with the Nye family, she has had but one night out.  She then
got marooned on top of a telegraph pole and it required all kinds of persuasion and effort to get her down.  This experience, together
with the watchfulness of the members of the Nye family, has resulted in her being kept in the house evenings.  Tomcats from the
neighborhood long ago learned that the Nye premises was a bad one to go visiting at night, or to do any renegading on the premises, as
their reception was usually that of a bucket of water from some unexpected quarter.  Budda, therefore, was in many ways trained to forget
all about boyfriends and devote her time to home duties, such as catching rats and mice, romping and playing and cutting up, even in this,
her mature age, all kinds of tricks that never fail to entertain and amuse.  Nine years ago Budda was struck by an auto while crossing the
street.  Since that time, she does not attempt to cross this busy thoroughfare on which her master mistress reside.
The Call of June 24, 1938

BOY SCOUTS CALLED TO HUNT FOR LOST MAN
Quite a bit of excitement resulted in town, Thursday, as a result of the announcement that a local resident who had left home on
Wednesday, had not returned.  Fear was expressed that it would be difficult to find the man because of the fact that he was mentally
unbalanced.  A little toy poodle dog resulted in the man being discovered early Friday morning in the woods near the Kraft farm on Long
Run.  Had not Chief of Police Frank Deibert and Officer Reinhart heard the barking of the dog while in that vicinity, a fruitless search might
have resulted.  Following the sound from which the barking came, the man, William Luongo of Caldwell Street, might not have been
discovered and he might have starved to death.  
Luongo, 29 years of age, had been on parole from the Hospital for the Insane for the past three months.  He previously had been a patient
at the institution for six months.  He left his home in the West Ward on Wednesday morning and no trace of him could be found anywhere.  
Thursday evening, the local police were notified and, after tracing several clues and making every effort possible to locate him, it was
decided to call on the Boy Scouts to put on a wide search.  Scoutmaster Rankin was contacted and about one o'clock Friday morning he,
with the officers began to notify the Scouts to report at the Town Hall at nine o'clock on Friday morning.  Members of the Schuylkill Haven
troops, Scouts from Cressona and about forty from the Orwigsburg troops, now stationed at the Blue Mountain camp, assembled at the
Town Hall.  There were at least one hundred boys under their Scoutmasters or Assistant Scoutmasters, ready to receive instructions at
nine o'clock.  Their services were not required as the man had been found as above related by the police officers.  They were ordered
demobilized.  
After being all prepared for an intensive search, the question arose as to whether the boys might wish to organize for a day's hike.  This
question was submitted to them but they decided not to take a hike and some of them began to eat their lunches they had prepared for
them rather early in the morning in order that they could report for service in good time.  By reason of the high temperature, it was
fortunate that the man was discovered, as a tramp over the mountains and gulleys in the Long Run Valley, as the search would have been
directed in that direction, would have been rather tiresome.  Luongo, when discovered, was lying on the broad of his back in a field near
the woods.  His illness is the type that makes him refuse to talk, so questioning him elicited no information whatsoever.  He was again
committed to the Hospital for the Insane.
The Call of July 1, 1938

HEAVY RAIN CAUSED DAMAGE HERE
The heavy rain of Saturday, Sunday and Monday, particularly that of Monday, caused damage by the flooding of cellars, washing out of
streets and gardens, etc.  In addition, damage was caused to interior of homes by leaking roofs, or rather by water getting through at
points in the roof that it wold not do under ordinary circumstances.  Tinsmiths had calls and more calls from all parts of town.
The entire athletic field at the high school building was under water as the sewers could not carry off, immediately, the rush of water that
came from the fields on an elevation near to it.  Water rushed down from the upper end of East Main Street and Fairmount and collected
on the field giving it the appearance of a veritable lake.  Thursday morning there were still small puddles of water along the sides of the
playing field and track.  It is not believed any damage was caused to that section that had been prepared for use.  Some washouts of the
drainage system or gutters around the field may have resulted.  
Sewers on Paxson Avenue, east of Haven Street, could not carry off the extra quantities of water that came from the athletic field and
upper part of East Main Street.  As a result, the water backed in to cellars along Paxson Avenue through the private drains.  Out on Dock
Street the drainage system underneath the Pennsylvania Railroad arch could not carry off the extra amount of water that came through
the open creek which it drains.  As a result, the yards and cellars of Mrs. Elijah Miller, M. M. Merkey, Rudy Moyer and John Ebling
received a flooding.  Out on Center Avenue, in the vicinity of the Fidler property, the sewers could not accommodate all the water and
flooding resulted.  Late Saturday afternoon, following the rainfall and storm, the Highway Department put men to work cleaning up the
debris so that the town would have a clean appearance on Sunday.  Public comment was freely made on this good idea.  Sunday
afternoon, however, a downpour again washed a great deal of ground onto the street intersections where sewers were too small to take
care of the flood.  The Schuylkill River, by late Monday afternoon, raised at least two feet over its normal height.  The river bed for its full
width was soon covered.  Measurements at the Town Hall showed it maintained its height pretty well until Wednesday morning.
The Call of September 9, 1938

OLD WINE (NOT ENOUGH) IN OLD BOTTLES
Old wine in an old bottle came to light the fore part of the week with the improvements being made by the Schuylkill Haven Highway
Department at the corner of Haven and Main Streets.  The bottle was of good size and contained grape wine.  It was found underneath the
crossing at the aforementioned point.  Along with it, or nearby, was another bottle containing a note to th effect  that a bottle of wine
would be found nearby.  The two bottles had been placed by Howard Oswald on August 27th, 1924.  Both were in a splendid state of
preservation.  The wine was shared with a number of friends of Mr. Oswald, all of whom declared it was extraordinary.  The only fault to
find was that there was not a greater quantity of it, stated several of his friends.