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| This page will feature notable personalities of the past who lived in Schuylkill Haven. |
ROY H. GUERTLER
Roy H. Guertler was the son of Mr. and Mrs. Harry Guertler of Schuylkill Haven. He was a 1924 graduate of
Schuylkill Haven High School and a 1928 graduate of West Point. He was the first Schuylkill Haven boy to
graduate from West Point and when he returned from graduation, a large parade was staged in his honor. A
formal reception was held in the high school auditorium. The town of Schuylkill Haven presented a watch to
Guertler. The Hamilton piece is inscribed, "To Roy H. Guertler West Point '28 by Citizens of Schuylkill Haven
June 11,1928". His initials RHG are engraved on the casing.
Assigned to the cavalry, Guertler was sent to Fort Oglethorpe in Georgia. The Air Service appealed to him
and in 1930 he passed his entrance exam. During advanced training at Kelly Field, an accident occurred. Lt.
Guertler and another pilot were on a picture taking assignment on April 7,1931. Guertler was in the rear of
the open cockpit at the camera. The plane reduced speed in an attempt to secure better photos. It is
believed that the wind caught the over sized aerial camera, stalling the plane's engine which caused it to
tailspin and crash from an altitude of about 300 feet, killing Guertler.
Guertler was a popular boy in town, a Boy Scout and ranked first in his graduating class. He ranked high in
his class all four years at West Point. He had been home just a few months earlier to attend the funeral of
his mother, next to whom he will be buried.
A funeral was held with full military honors at Kelly Field, Texas after which the body was placed aboard a
train for the journey home. Major Martin, commander of Kelly Field wired the family expressing their
sympathy.
The funeral here was the largest ever held in Schuylkill Haven with a crowd estimated at 20,000 viewing the
procession. The two Battery Companies of the National Guard participated along with some prominent Army
men including a number of his West Point classmates. St. John's Reformed Church was filled for the service
and amplifiers were placed outside the church so all those present could hear. A horse drawn caisson
carried his remains to the Union Cemetery while four Army planes flew overhead in a tribute fitting a man
held in high esteem.
Schuylkill Haven High School and a 1928 graduate of West Point. He was the first Schuylkill Haven boy to
graduate from West Point and when he returned from graduation, a large parade was staged in his honor. A
formal reception was held in the high school auditorium. The town of Schuylkill Haven presented a watch to
Guertler. The Hamilton piece is inscribed, "To Roy H. Guertler West Point '28 by Citizens of Schuylkill Haven
June 11,1928". His initials RHG are engraved on the casing.
Assigned to the cavalry, Guertler was sent to Fort Oglethorpe in Georgia. The Air Service appealed to him
and in 1930 he passed his entrance exam. During advanced training at Kelly Field, an accident occurred. Lt.
Guertler and another pilot were on a picture taking assignment on April 7,1931. Guertler was in the rear of
the open cockpit at the camera. The plane reduced speed in an attempt to secure better photos. It is
believed that the wind caught the over sized aerial camera, stalling the plane's engine which caused it to
tailspin and crash from an altitude of about 300 feet, killing Guertler.
Guertler was a popular boy in town, a Boy Scout and ranked first in his graduating class. He ranked high in
his class all four years at West Point. He had been home just a few months earlier to attend the funeral of
his mother, next to whom he will be buried.
A funeral was held with full military honors at Kelly Field, Texas after which the body was placed aboard a
train for the journey home. Major Martin, commander of Kelly Field wired the family expressing their
sympathy.
The funeral here was the largest ever held in Schuylkill Haven with a crowd estimated at 20,000 viewing the
procession. The two Battery Companies of the National Guard participated along with some prominent Army
men including a number of his West Point classmates. St. John's Reformed Church was filled for the service
and amplifiers were placed outside the church so all those present could hear. A horse drawn caisson
carried his remains to the Union Cemetery while four Army planes flew overhead in a tribute fitting a man
held in high esteem.
| Above the narrative is Guertler's tombstone. To the left is his picture and biography as it appeared in the "Blue and Gold" yearbook of Schuylkill Haven in 1924. |
| Roy Guertler in the cockpit of his plane on the right. (225th Anniversary Book of 1975) |
| Is there someone you feel would be a good subject on the Personalities page, email me at: personalities@schuylkillhavenhistory.com |
Gideon Bast was one of the most prominent merchants and coal operators in Schuylkill County during his
the age of twelve. He was endowed a reasonable property which was lost to poor management before
Gideon became of age to legally claim his share. He had little educational training and spent his boyhood
working on a farm. At the age of fifteen he began his life as an entrepreneur peddling his wares
throughout the valleys of Berks and Schuylkill Counties. He eventually extended the range of his trade by
acquiring a wagon and thus increased his wealth. At the age of twenty five he partnered with his
brother-in-law, Samuel Heilner, and opened a general store in Berks County. Eight years later they moved
their business to Minersville and became engaged as coal operators. The partnership was dissolved in
1935 and at that time Gideon bast moved to Schuylkill Haven, where he opened a store while retaining coal
operations at Wolf Creek, in partnership with Lewis Audenreid and with David Pierson at Ashland. By 1838
he had ended his coal interests and ceased to trade in 1845.
Bast erected a luxurious home in 1845 on Center Avenue where he raised his family. On August 5, 1833 he
married Mary Moyer of Berks County with whom he had ten children. Bast was a self made man who with
meager beginnings amassed a remarkable fortune. The old Jerusalem Church was built largely through his
monetary donations. He died March 10, 1880 and is buried in the Union Cemetery in Schuylkill Haven.
the age of twelve. He was endowed a reasonable property which was lost to poor management before
Gideon became of age to legally claim his share. He had little educational training and spent his boyhood
working on a farm. At the age of fifteen he began his life as an entrepreneur peddling his wares
throughout the valleys of Berks and Schuylkill Counties. He eventually extended the range of his trade by
acquiring a wagon and thus increased his wealth. At the age of twenty five he partnered with his
brother-in-law, Samuel Heilner, and opened a general store in Berks County. Eight years later they moved
their business to Minersville and became engaged as coal operators. The partnership was dissolved in
1935 and at that time Gideon bast moved to Schuylkill Haven, where he opened a store while retaining coal
operations at Wolf Creek, in partnership with Lewis Audenreid and with David Pierson at Ashland. By 1838
he had ended his coal interests and ceased to trade in 1845.
Bast erected a luxurious home in 1845 on Center Avenue where he raised his family. On August 5, 1833 he
married Mary Moyer of Berks County with whom he had ten children. Bast was a self made man who with
meager beginnings amassed a remarkable fortune. The old Jerusalem Church was built largely through his
monetary donations. He died March 10, 1880 and is buried in the Union Cemetery in Schuylkill Haven.
| GIDEON BAST |
Much of the biographical information obtained from Munsell's History of Schuylkill County of 1881.
| At left is the elegant home built for Gideon Bast and his family on Center Avenue. At right is an image of him from the 1881 Munsell's History of Schuylkill County. |
| All rights reserved. |
children, several who died at an early age. The family lived for many years at 204 East Market Street in Schuylkill
Haven. Graeff was more familiarly known as "Bags", a nickname he inherited from a deceased brother. In later
years, he was also known as "Mr. Republican" because of his dedication and active participation in the
Republican Party in Schuylkill County. He was married to the former Marian Maberry and had one daughter,
Suzanne. A lifetime resident of Schuylkill Haven, he died on November 18, 1984 and is buried in the Union
Cemetery in Schuylkill Haven.
Charles Graeff worked in the railroad yards as a young man before enlisting in the Pennsylvania National Guard
in April 1915. He served in Company C, 103rd Engineers Regiment of the Pennsylvania 28th Division. He was
involved in the Mexican Border War of 1916-1917 and later served overseas in World War One. During his
service in France, his unit fought in the battles at Chateau Thierry, the Fifth German Offensive, Oureq-Vesle, the
Meuse Argonne and the Thiacourt Sector. His brother Clarence "Dewey" Graeff also served in the same
Haven. Graeff was more familiarly known as "Bags", a nickname he inherited from a deceased brother. In later
years, he was also known as "Mr. Republican" because of his dedication and active participation in the
Republican Party in Schuylkill County. He was married to the former Marian Maberry and had one daughter,
Suzanne. A lifetime resident of Schuylkill Haven, he died on November 18, 1984 and is buried in the Union
Cemetery in Schuylkill Haven.
Charles Graeff worked in the railroad yards as a young man before enlisting in the Pennsylvania National Guard
in April 1915. He served in Company C, 103rd Engineers Regiment of the Pennsylvania 28th Division. He was
involved in the Mexican Border War of 1916-1917 and later served overseas in World War One. During his
service in France, his unit fought in the battles at Chateau Thierry, the Fifth German Offensive, Oureq-Vesle, the
Meuse Argonne and the Thiacourt Sector. His brother Clarence "Dewey" Graeff also served in the same
