| YEARS GONE BY ARCHIVES |
| The Call of June 5, 1914 GETTING READY TO BUILD BRIDGE The committee appointed by the Berne Street residents for the completion of the bridge over the Schuylkill River here, held a meeting Monday evening and decided to ask the public to contribute towards the completion of the same. They contemplate the erection of the center pier as soon as the water is low enough. It is estimated this pier will cost about $150, it being necessary first to build a coffer dam. Only one pier, that on the Berne Street side is at present completed. The committee will solicit the town in the course of a week or two and every little mite will help. In case someone would be missed, contributions can be sent to any of the committee by being marked "Berne Street Bridge Comp" c/o J. F. Bast and Sons. COMMENCEMENT EXERCISES The 24th commencement exercises of the Schuylkill Haven High School were held in the Losch Opera House on Wednesday evening, June 3rd. They were attended by a capacity audience, composed of friends and relatives of the graduates of Schuylkill Haven and the surrounding towns. The graduates, ten in number, attired in cap and gown, were seated on the stage in a semicircle. The class pennants, red and black and the class flower, red roses, together with a number of greens and potted plants, composed the artistic stage decorations and added very much to the scene. The speakers, without an exception, proved themselves masters of the situation and rendered their respective parts on the program without error. The exercises were but of two and one half hours duration. In this time the audience was given an excellent example of what local talent can produce. Thursday evening the Alumni Address was given in the Grace Evangelical Church by Professor Abdel Ross Wentz, Professor of History at Pennsylvania College at Gettysburg. The subject chosen was "The Motive of Education." A fair sized audience was present and was delighted with the address. Persons failing to attend this lecture missed a rare treat. Tonight the commencement week exercises will be brought to a close when the Alumni Association will hold their annual banquet. Prior to the banquet an entertainment will be given by members of the Alumni Association. COUNCIL NEWS The regular monthly meeting of Council was held on Monday evening. Probably the most important business of the evening came up at the close of the session. That was the Fourth of July ordinance. Several of the councilmen thought the present ordinance was too drastic, that several portions of it should be changed to allow the use of firecrackers at least. Roman candles, skyrockets and the use of torpedoes and blank cartridges it was thought should be barred. The matter was discussed at some length but no definite action taken for the reason that the period of time before the Fourth was too short. As the council will not hold another meeting until the regular monthly meeting on July 6th, the Ordinance Committee could not be instructed to report an ordinance amending or modifying certain sections of the ordinance. Councilmen expressed their opinion that the Burgess should not enforce the ordinance to the letter. It was expected that at Monday night's session a street sweeper would be purchased. Instead however, the terrible expense of a street sweeper to keep the streets in a clean or fairly clean condition and to prevent the breeding of disease was considered sufficient reason to delay action on the purchase of a machine of this kind until the next meeting. Burgess Lessig stated the Walkin Shoe Company desired to make pavement along their factory and that in compliance with a borough ordinance they desired permission to put down a pavement without a curb. The ordinance states that on any street where there are no curbs, council can designate the street as a street on which the property owners can build pavements without curbs. It is the understanding that if council at any future time desires to have curbs put on the street, the property owners given permission to make pavements without curbs can and will be compelled to put in curbs. Council designated the south side of West Canal Street as a street on which pavements could be made without curbs. Solicitor Noecker reported all property owners along Dock Street had paid for their curbing with the exception of the Rainbow Hose Company. The company objects to paying the same for the reason that some member of the Road Committee told them that there would be no additional expense. Also it was unnecessary to change the runway or driveway to the hose house as the former one answered the purpose. Mr. Betz of the Road Committee stated that Mr. Maberry, one of the trustees of the company, inquired whether it would be possible to change the runway or to widen it, that with the large chemical engine it was difficult to make the turn in the runway that was there at that time. Mr. Betz said he stated there would be no objection but stated nothing as to its cost or who would be required to pay for the same. It was also stated members of the hose company were present when the contractor and engineer made marks for the procedure of the work and that it was done at the insistence of the fire company and not the Road Committee. A motion of Rooney and Betz that the borough pay for the curbing and driveway at the Rainbow Hose Company building was put through and declared carried before the councilmen were given a chance to discuss the matter. Burgess Lessig stated he received an answer from J. Harry Filbert in reference to the notice he served to fix his property at his pavement at the corner of Main and Dock Streets. Mr. Filbert states that the borough changed the grade of the pavement and that he was and is not responsible for its present condition. The Solicitor stated that the surveyor or engineer states that the grade was not changed and regardless of whether it was changed or not it is in a dangerous condition and must be repaired. One of the councilmen inquired whether Dock Street was being paved according to specifications. Mr. Sterner said he knew a place where the concrete was but three inches thick. Mr. Hoffman stated he heard of people who could take councilmen to places along the street where only two or three inches of concrete had been put down. The Road Committee stated all the bad spots in the street are being repaired. Fire Chief C. S. Commings reported that many fire plugs are in need of repair. The majority of the plugs are in poor condition where the use of stelcin wrenches are used by various people not acquainted with the use of the plugs. By information received stelcin wrenches have been used by contractors on roads and even the supervisor which have caused the rounding of the plugs and nipples. Fire companies responded to fires at the Mission Church parsonage and at McWilliams property. Commings stated that eighty percent of the plugs in town have been ruined. The Call of June 12, 1914 DOCK STREET PAVING COMPLETED The paving on Dock Street has been completed. During the week, the steamroller, the water tank and all the tools and equipment were loaded on cars and shipped away. There remains to be repaired a number of spots on the street where the concrete did not properly cover the bricks in flushing, also several spots where new brick will be put in. This work will be done under the personal supervision of the contractor at once. Mr. Trexler has a large contract in Steelton which he will begin in the course of a week. The Call of June 19, 1914 TO CLOSE WEDNESDAY AFTERNOON The majority of storekeepers of Schuylkill Haven have decided to take Wednesday afternoon of each week off during the summer months. Their store will be closed at noon and remained closed for the balance of the day. The movement was given impetus as soon as the matter was first suggested. There will be very few stores in town open for business on Wednesday afternoons during the summer, as the majority of them have joined the half holiday movement. The stores will be closed for the first time Wednesday afternoon, June 24. The Call of June 26, 1914 EDGEWOOD DEVELOPMENT Economy is the true and honest road to wealth. Get ahead and save a part of your income and invest it in real estate in a growing community. At EDGEWOOD is your opportunity, where lots purchased now are bound to increase in value. Invest money at home. There is nothing better than the ground to invest your money, but you want it where you can keep in touch with everything that is going on about it, you can have a home where you know where values are increasing - EDGEWOOD, where it is rapidly becoming the most valuable in town. EDGEWOOD is beautifully located. The lots are restricted so that no offensive or objectionable building can be erected and it will be kept so. Only a small payment down and $1 a week or $5 a month secures any lot. No heavy outlay of cash required. Any ambitious man cannot afford to miss this. Walk down William Street to the Union Knitting Mills and you are at EDGEWOOD. No lot will be sold before Saturday, July 4th. EDGEWOOD REALTY COMPANY |