| YEARS GONE BY ARCHIVES |
| The Call of July 4, 1919 AEROPLANE PASSED OVER TOWN SUNDAY Many town persons were attracted by the buzzing and purring of a motor in the air Sunday noon. Looking up into the skies an aeroplane was noticed going southeast. An excellent view was obtainable. The same aeroplane passed over town at six o'clock Sunday morning. It is believed to have been a plane carrying mail on the proposed Williamsport to Philadelphia mail air route. PRICE OF ICE GOES UP The price of ice in Schuylkill Haven took a sudden boost on July 1st. Chunks of ice heretofore selling for ten cents are now fifteen cents and the quarter pieces are now thirty cents. These are the prices for manufactured ice. The demand is very heavy and with the increased costs of ammonia used extensively in its manufacture, Mr. Baker found it absolutely necessary to increase the price to this extent. Many towns and cities are already feeling the effects of a probable ice famine and are making all kinds of offers and inducements to take the entire output of the local ice plant. By disposing of the ice to out of town dealers in car load lots, considerable labor would be eliminated and a great saving effected, however, Mr. Baker feels duty bound to supply his own town first with his product. 1026 ATTENDED PUBLIC SCHOOLS For the term of school brought to a close last week, a review of the attendance records show that there were 1026 pupils enrolled in the public schools. There were 502 boys and 524 girls. The high school had an enrollment of 125, there being 58 boys and 87 girls with a percentage attendance of 93.5 percent. The average attendance for the schools below the high school was 423 boys and 455 girls or a total of 878. The attendance for the ninth month was 441 boys and 470 girls or 911. The percentage of attendance was 92.8 percent. There were 21 students who were non residents of the town that attended the schools during the term. Eight were high school students and thirteen were in grades below the high school. The number of pupils in the high school for the term is expected will between 140 and 150 pupils and the graduating class will number from 21 to 25 members. Superintendent Hoover had up until this writing issued 12 vacation employment certificates and two permanent employment certificates. TRAMP MADE HIMSELF AT HOME A stranger, supposed to have been a tramp, and a very bold one at that, visited Fairmount Addition this week. Instead of asking for a handout, the fellow noticed the breakfast table spread with good things and the members of the household not about. He walked into the dining room and enjoyed himself immensely. FESTIVAL LARGELY ATTENDED The festival of the Bressler Band held Saturday afternoon and evening was largely attended and the various refreshment stands liberally patronized. The weatherman worked in conjunction with the band committee and arranged the proper weather. A good sum of money will no doubt be realized. The band members are grateful to the public for the liberal patronage recorded them and extend their thanks. The Call of July 11, 1919 AEROPLANE CONTINUES TO ATTRACT ATTENTION An aeroplane that has been passing directly over the town twice almost daily for the past week or two continues to attract a large crowd almost every day. Some days there is no sign of it but it is understood that on such days a somewhat different course is taken and the machine passes over this section either east or west of the town. Oft times the machine is so high in the clouds that only the hum of the motor is heard and the machine is almost invisible. CHICKEN THIEF CAUGHT A chicken thief that has been visiting chicken pens in the vicinity of Center and Garfield Avenues, was caught in the act early Monday morning on the premises of Norman Lessig. Nine of B. F. Gehrig's brood had met their fate at the hands of the thief and Mr. Lessig's chicks lost their lives. No clue was left nor could a clue be discovered as to the identity of the thief. Neighbors made various predictions as to who the thief was but it remained for Mr. Lessig to make the capture. This was done with a muskrat trap and while caught in the trap his life was brought to a sudden end by a good stout hickory stick. Whether or not his ghost will return again for nine days between nine in the morning and nine at night remains to be seen. The thief was a big, black, bold, fat and striped, Hunish looking cat. HOT ON SATURDAY Saturday last was another of the hottest days of the summer for this town. A local firm that a year or so distributed free thermometers is the authority for the statement that it was so hot at the rear of Main Street this day that the thermometer burst at 130 degrees. A Main Street green grocer states that green peaches received in the morning that had been allowed in the sun ripened until three o'clock in the afternoon. At the P & R crossing at four o'clock, the thermometer reached 102 degrees in the shade, at the post office 100 in the shade, at Hotel Grand 98 in the shade, at Bittle Brothers store 101 in the shade and at The Call office 92 in the shade and directly across the street in the sun the thermometer in three minutes time arose to 106 degrees. The Call of July 18, 1919 SOLDIER BOYS TO BE BANQUETED The returned soldier boys, members of the local order of the Knights of Malta will be tendered a banquet at Hotel Columbia on July 25th. The event will take the place of the annual anniversary exercises and banquet usually held in fall. The banquet will be free to all returned soldier boys who are members of the order. Members are requested to meet in the commandery room at eight o'clock. BLOCK PARTY WAS LARGELY ATTENDED The block party held by the Citizen's Band last Friday evening was attended by hundreds of persons. Possibly the largest crowd of persons gathered at any event of a similar nature was on hand. They came from all the surrounding towns. They came early and remained till late. The band located in the center of the square furnished the music for the dancing and it was estimated that fully 125 couples tripped about at one and the same time on the southern end of the square. The refreshment stands were well patronized and between $150 and $175 will be realized from the affair. PREPARING FOR CASKET FACTORY This week Mr. Thomas, of Topton, who has been engaged as superintendent of the Schuylkill Haven Casket Company arrived in town and assumed his duties at the plant of the Casket Company. Under his supervision a new floor is being placed in the plant and other interior changes made to accommodate the new machinery that has been ordered and to equip the plant to begin the manufacture of caskets in the near future. Mr. Thomas was formerly connected with the Boyertown Casket Company's branch factory at Topton. In the meantime, Mr. Schlaybach, who is selling stock for the company, reports the amount disposed of going higher and higher each week. The Call of July 25, 1919 TO BUILD LARGE FIRE PROOF GARAGE A real estate deal was consummated Wednesday of this week whereby George A. Berger acquired the property of Paul Naffin on which had been located the roller rink. Mr. Berger will erect on this site a modern, fire proof garage. The same will be about 70 feet by 140 feet. It will be absolutely of fire proof construction and contain a good sized machine and repair department where all kinds of repairs to autos will be made. Mr. Berger is considering the advisability of making the building two stories and to use the second story solely for any purpose or events that private persons might rent it for. AVERTED RAILROAD WRECK Miss Carrie Reichert, residing on the Filbert farm south of town averted what might have been a serious railroad wreck on the Pennsylvania Railroad near the deep cut. Returning from picking berries last week she noticed an object on the rails of the road and upon examining the same found an inch and a quarter iron bar hooked to the rails. She promptly removed the same and in a short time the northbound express happened by. The company police are investigating the matter to learn who the would be train wreckers are. CHEMISTRY OUTFIT WILL SOON BE INSTALLED IN SCHOOL Notice has been received that the chemistry table ordered by the school board recently is about ready to be shipped. It may arrive here within the next ten days and will be immediately put up. Several classes in this study will be formed at the beginning of the term. Professor R. W. Ziegenfus will be the instructor. Chemistry is an elected study and it is expected a large number of pupils will choose this branch each year. All students of the high school of the eleventh and twelfth grades who would like to take chemistry this year should notify Professor Hoover of this fact at once as the class is now being formed. ENGINE JUMPED THE TRACK Engine Number 1745 in charge of engineer Joseph W. Ryan, going south on number one track Thursday evening, jumped the track near the "J" office. The services of the Cressona wrecking crew were required for several hours before the trouble was righted. NEW AWNING COMPLETED A new awning has been erected at the Schucker garage, being a portion of the awning that once did service at the Saylor property at the corner of Main and Saint John Streets. While the erection of this awning is contrary to a borough ordinance, because of the convenience it affords to the traveling public, it is not believed the local authorities will take action. It is understood another awning is to be erected on Main Street at one of the prominent business houses. |
| ADS FROM THE CALL NEWSPAPER IN JULY 1919 |
