| YEARS GONE BY ARCHIVES |
| The Call of February 16, 1917 ALLEGED THAT BOYS PROCURED DRINK The Law and Order Society of Pottsville are making an investigation of the report that three Schuylkill haven youths, two of whom were only sixteen years of age and the other only nineteen years of age, were sold intoxicating liquor in a saloon at Orwigsburg. The alleged offense was committed during the week. It is further alleged that the boys first procured drink over the bar and that later the three went into a side room where they drank the contents from a bottle containing whiskey that had been previously sold to the older boy. All three of the boys were intoxicated upon their arrival home. Complaint of the offense was made to the local justice of the peace by the father of one of the boys, who wanted to bring prosecution against the landlord. This father was advised to place the matter in the hands of the Law and Order Society and that this Society would take the proper action. All of the boys are residents of the South Ward. OWLS TO ASSIST IN WELCOME The Schuylkill Haven Nest of Owls are quietly making preparation to materially assist in the welcoming home of the soldier boys from the border. They are perfecting their plans and when the time arrives, their "hooting" will be very noticeable. If every organization would follow the example of the Owls, the boys would be assured of even a greater reception home than the farewell accorded them on leaving for Texas. SCHUYLKILL RIVER FROZEN The Schuylkill River, especially that section flowing beneath the covered bridge, is frozen solid. John Sirrocco, who conducts a washery opposite the bridge, stated that there is about seven inches of ice surrounding his plant. A number of youths ventured to skate to Landingville on the Schuylkill and succeeded. The river for its almost entire course through the town is frozen over and as many of the old residents say, "When the Schuylkill River freezes up, you can depend on it, it's cold." WANTS BOARD TO DO WASHING Ordered to appear before the school board and explain the absence of her son, a resident of Columbia Street, wrote a note in which she stated that she would not appear before the board and that if the board wanted her son to attend school regularly, "they would please come to her house and do the washing." When President Paxson called for volunteers to do the washing, not one of the members spoke a word and the president appointed none. The board made it plain that when a parent writes an excuse for the absence of their child, the excuse must plainly state the reasons. The fact that a child is kept home to care for younger children or to work about the house is not valid in law and the parents can be arrested for so doing. About the only excuses that will be accepted are death in the family, sickness of the child or communicable disease in the family. A PECULIAR CASE The school board is confronted with a rather peculiar case of a family on Main Street who recently moved to town. The family has two children both of whom are of the required school age. They can not be admitted due to the fact that neither one of them is vaccinated and the parents claim that their home is too cold to have the vaccinating done at this time. It is understood that the family are in poor circumstances. Yet the school law demands that these children attend school. A case of this nature was decided this week by Judge Orlady in the Superior Court. William Gillen, of the city of Reading, was fixed for violating the provisions of the compulsory education act. Two children of Gillen were refused admission to the school because they were not vaccinated and the father refused to have the same done. The case was carried through the various courts of appeal. Judge Orlady sustained the fine and the Supreme Court refused to entertain an appeal, as the case was fully covered by Judge Orlady. This case is of interest to all parents of children. NEW BOILER FOR LIGHT PLANT HERE The fore part of the week the new boiler for the electric light plant arrived on the siding near the plant. From the fact that it will require the tearing out of a portion of the present boiler house it was deemed advisable to postpone the installation of the boiler for the present on account of the cold weather. The boiler was therefore unloaded and stored in the Rowland building near the plant. Several parts and sections of the boiler were of mammoth size and very heavy. Five men were required to unload it. The boiler firm, the Badenhouser Company, sent a special representative here to superintend the unloading of the same. The order for $2,150 passed at the council meeting Wednesday evening was for part payment for the boiler as per contract. THIS WAS NO JOKE On Sunday morning when one of our hotel proprietors awoke he was amazed to find standing in front of his barroom door, an evangelistic campaign notice. There was no complaint about tis. The next thing done by the jokers was to stand a basket containing a dozen or more empty beer bottles on the front porch of a merchant. Here was the mean part of the joke. The bottles were all empty. "Fill 'em up next time fellows." APPOINTED CHIEF OPERATOR Miss Ruth Fullerton has been appointed chief operator at the Bell telephone Company exchange in Schuylkill Haven. Miss Fullerton but recently took an examination given by the officials at Pottsville and passed very creditably. The Call of February 23, 1917 SCHOOL BOARD NEWS From present indications, the new school building on Haven Street, will not be occupied until close towards the end of the present term. This is the opinion of one of the members of the board who visited the new high school building on Sunday afternoon last, and made a careful survey of the conditions. Considerable plastering and carpenter work remains to be done together with hundreds of incidentals. This will be anything but pleasing news to the residents of the town who were eagerly looking forward to an early occupancy of the building. The scholars of the public schools yesterday, fittingly observed the anniversary of the birth of George Washington, known as the Father of His Country. One of the most interesting of the many programs rendered was that of the high school. Here the address of the afternoon was delivered by Reverend G. M. Richter, pastor of the United Brethren Church. Reverend Richter was called upon at the last minute owing to the illness of the child of Reverend B. Clinton Ritz, who was scheduled to deliver the oration. Reverend Richter handled his subject in a most creditable manner and showed that he had given it careful preparation. The apparent need for a commercial course in the local public schools that embodies stenography and bookkeeping has been demonstrated on more than one occasion. It was forcibly brought to the attention of the school authorities during the week when two of the high school scholars, Miss Mary Staller and Miss Mary Neiman, stopped school and entered the Pottsville Business College, where they will take up a commercial course. In the course of events the local board may see their way clear to place these studies before the scholars. However, the commercial course should not be allowed until at least an entire year has been spent in the high school. THREE ACCIDENTS FROM ICY CONDITIONS Three accidents occurred Monday night and Tuesday morning as a result of the icy conditions of the streets and sidewalks. The first accident occurred Monday evening to coal merchant Edward H. Borda of Centre Avenue. He was engaged in working at his coal yard when he slipped and fell from a battleship coal car into one of his bins. He fortunately escaped with bruises and lacerations and no broken bones. He is confined to his bed and is under the care of Dr. Detweiler. Julius C. Weiser was one of the first victims of Tuesday morning reported. He was walking near the Spring Garden Hotel when he fell on the slippery sidewalk. He survived with a severe shaking up and a badly sprained ankle. Wilmer Strauss, employed at the Palsgrove Cigar Factory, was the third victim. While enroute to work he fell near his home. He was picked up and assisted back to his bed. BROUGHT SUIT FOR TRESPASSING Officer Frank Duffy of the Reading Railroad police force brought suit Saturday morning against a Cressona youth for trespassing. The youth was allowed to go after the fine and costs were paid. It is understood that other suits will be brought unless the trespassing is immediately stopped. KEEP YOUR LICENSES CLEAN Orders have been sent out to towns, cities and boroughs regarding the reading plainly of all auto licenses. Complaints have been made that the licenses are oily or dirty and cannot be read. The law requires these auto licenses to be kept clean and holds the owner responsible according to law for a violation. BOYS CHARGED WITH TRESPASSING A dozen or more Schuylkill Haven boys were placed under arrest by Constable John Butz on the charge of trespassing on the Baker farm. It is alleged that the boys were warned to keep away and out of the Baker barn repeatedly. Before Squire C. A. Moyer each paid a small fine and costs. RECEIVED BLOODED STOCK Milkman William F. Flammer yesterday received four young pigs from New York state. The pigs are of blooded stock and should they live, are guaranteed to attain a weight of between five and seven hundred pounds each. They were greatly admired while at the local Reading station and it was the general opinion that pigs of this stock could be raised just as cheaply as those of common stock and that better results would be obtained. SOLD 1800 FASTNACHTS Merchant George Butz on Tuesday last disposed of over 1800 fastnachts. This is more than two to each man, woman and child in Spring Garden. Mr. Butz's supply was exhausted long before the middle of the day and several hundred more could easily have been sold. |
| ADS FROM THE CALL IN FEBRUARY 1917 |