ARCHIVESJUN12

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Pottsville Republican of June 5, 1912

THE CHAMPION FISHERMAN
Schuylkill Haven Man Lands Over 500 In April and Almost As Many In May

August Luckenbill, who for many years past has been recognized as the veteran fisherman of this section of
the state, during the month of April caught over five hundred fish in the waters in and about his home town,
Schuylkill Haven. During the month of May he succeeded in catching 367 catfish and 293 perch. Mr.
Luckenbill, who is employed in the Saint Clair yards, keeps an accurate record of all the fish he catches.
These fish were all caught with a hook and line. The majority of the fish were caught in the old dock at
Schuylkill Haven. When a fish is landed, Mr. Luckenbill immediately skins it while alive, claiming that it
improves the flavor of the fish. He sells a greater number of the fish caught and finds ready sale. In relating
his catches to a Republican representative, he stated that several weeks ago he had several poles and lines
stolen while fishing at the dock in his home town. What method he used or with which fairy he consulted he
refused to state but nevertheless on the ninth day he arose from his bed to find that the poles and lines had
been returned not to the fishing place but to his home. Everything was intact with the exception of small bells
that he uses on the lines. These, he believes, were thrown away so no noise would be made when the thief
returned the poles. He stated that he was positive that the lines and poles would be brought back and
although he did not see the party stealing them and knew of no one who had seen the lines, he would have
been able to go the house and pick out the lines and poles.

Pottsville Republican of June 7, 1912

BASEBALL TEAM HAS UPCOMING BIG GAME
TOWN TO HAVE A BANG UP TIME ON JULY FOURTH

The Schuylkill Haven baseball team has a gilt edged attraction for this Saturday, when the Shenandoah team
will play on the local grounds. It is possible that Connelly and Sattizahn will be the battery for the visitors.
Schwenk and Troy will be the local battery. The game will be at 3:30 with admission being fifteen cents. The
fans of Schuylkill Haven and vicinity are eagerly looking forward to this game. A benefit game will be played
for the Fourth of July celebration fund. Auburn will be the attraction.

The Fourth of July Committee held an important meeting Wednesday evening, which was largely attended.
The celebration has been planned in a thorough business like manner and success on a large scale is
assured. Chairman E. G. Underwood of the Festival Committee reported that $375 was realized. His
committee worked hard and the festival was one of the most successful ever. Chairman D. B. Detweiler of the
Tag Day Committee reported receipts of about $80. The matter of selling space along the streets to persons
desiring to erect stands and the charges therefore were left to Messrs. Hartman, Stanton and McCaffrey. The
Third Brigade Band of Pottsville was engaged for the afternoon and evening parade and for a concert in the
evening. A thousand letters have been sent out to former residents inviting to a general homecoming. Mr.
Johnson of the Transportation Committee is working on special rates and trains and these will be secured if
possible. Three hundred dollars will be given as prizes in the industrial parade and two hundred dollars in
the fantastic evening parade. One hundred dollars will be given for athletic events. The town will be
decorated from end to end with the largest crowds in the history of Schuylkill Haven expected.

Pottsville Republican of June 7, 1912

SCHOOL NOTES

The Oscar Bolich property fronting on Haven Street and extending along the alley back of Paxson Avenue was
bought for $1400 and extends back to the Almshouse field. To secure a good site sufficiently spacious for a
good sized high school building the lot along side of the above plot of ground belonging to J. E. Stanton was
also purchased for $1000.Mr. Stanton had selected this location on which he intended to build a home for his
family, for which purpose it would have been an ideal plot. On account of this fact he refused good offers in
the past. Since the board had secured the Bolich property and was going to use the two plots for school
purposes he decided to sell his lot. The board used all reasonable means to secure the ground for a lower
price but failed. It may be asked why the board bought the two plots. The State Board of Education was now
approve all plans for school buildings and that board has stated emphatically that no plans will be approved
unless there is sufficient playground on which the building is to stand. The location is a fine and convenient
one for a school building, no better could have been found in or out of town. Scarcely anything distracting is
near and there is plenty of room for the children to play without crowding them out into the street. With the
new street open at the Episcopal Church, the location is convenient to nearly all parts of town. The building
can be set high and thus excellent drainage can be had. It is a beautiful locality, streets in good condition and
a sidewalk laid. There is no trolley or train nor paved streets to furnish noise. There is sufficient room to put
the building back from the street and from the houses there can be plenty of light. There is hardly any plot of
ground in or near the town having the same conveniences. The citizens of the town can be highly pleased
with the School Board for its decision.

Pottsville Republican of June 22, 1912

BETTER FOOD FOR COUNTY INSANE

Assuring the Grand Jury that their recommendations as to better food at the Almshouse for the inmates would
be followed out, Judge Bechtel in discharging the Grand Jury on Saturday morning, pointed out the fact that
the completion of the new asylum would put an end to the troubles at the Almshouse and in the meantime the
proper authorities would be notified to give the inmates better rations. The Grand Jury reported the food
given the paupers and insane was worse than prison fare and that better conditions would be insisted upon.
It is not the fault of the officials but of the institution said the Court, that the manner in which the paupers and
insane of the county have been treated in the past has been deplorable but because of the conditions at the
institution, the officials were unable to do better because of the inadequate facilities at their command. He
also said that it was too bad the count should have so many insane but that the Court and all the county
officials would see that better conditions prevailed when the new insane hospital is completed and the county
rendered better able to attend to their insane.
Recommendations regarding the placing of fly netting over the windows of the insane building, the purchase
of fire hose for better protection of the almshouse buildings and better ventilation in the bake house and
conveniences for the prisoners in the county prison were also made.
The Grand Jury report was as follows: We have acted upon 119 bills of indictment submitted to us for our
consideration of which number we have returned 57 as true bills and 62 as not true bills. We have placed the
costs in fifty cases of bills ignored, where we have had the disposition of the same on the prosecutor or
prosecutrix. We have visited the several buildings of the Almshouse at Schuylkill Haven and in reference to
the same we desire to submit the following report and recommendations. We found everything in good order
and we were generally impressed with the clean and sanitary conditions of the several rooms and
departments.
We suggest or recommend, first, that fly netting be put up on the third floor of the hospital in the toilet room
to keep out the flies which are already swarming there. Secondly, that one thousand feet of fire hose and
carriage be purchased and also a chemical hand engine. The few feet of hose now there is old and probably
nonserviceable. Thirdly, we find that the recommendations of the former grand jury with regard to the quality
and quantity of food furnished the inmates is well founded. On the whole the food furnished the patients is
poorer than that furnished at the prison. They ought at least receive a substantial cereal for breakfast and an
occasional change from bread and molasses. Fourthly, some of the patients affected with a mild form of
insanity complain that they are obliged to mingle with the violent patients. The present buildings do not
permit segregation. When the patients are removed to the new insane building, an effort should be made to
separate the curable from the incurable patients. Fifthly, we find that some of the patients are unable to move
around for want of crutches and wheelchairs. What are needed could be supplied at small expense. As
recommended by the former grand jury, we think that the able bodied patients should be obliged to walk the
weaker ones around daily. Lastly, we recommend that a water closet be erected for the convenience of the
employees an and about the boiler house.

Pottsville Republican of June 24, 2012

CONTINUANCE IN SCHUYLKILL HAVEN CASE

Attorney C. E. Berger applied for a continuance in the Schuylkill Haven case in which the paving of Dock
Street is involved and although Messrs. Reilly and Noecker for the borough opposed the continuance, the
case went over until Monday, July 29 at the midsummer session. The only question involved is the fact as to
whether or not the borough macadamized Dock Street, in the event of which the taxpayers of the entire
borough will be forced to pay for the paving instead of ordering it done at the cost of the property owners.
The borough claimed that the authorities were anxious to have the case disposed of so that the street, for
which the contract has already been let to the Coryell Construction Company may be paved during the coming
summer if possible.