| YEARS GONE BY ARCHIVES |
| The Call of March 20, 1914 MARCH USHERS IN SEVERE BLIZZARD The blizzard which struck this county Sunday last, as we all know, was the most severe since that of 1888. Schuylkill Haven people who had occasion to venture out either Sunday evening or Monday will long remember the blinding snowstorm driven by a forty mile gale, the snow drifts and the almost impassable condition of the pavements and streets. Navigation either Sunday or Monday was accomplished with difficulty. WITHOUT TROLLEYS While Schuylkill Haven was not completely cut off from the outside world by snow, the railroads and trolley lines were tied up to such an extent that local industries were handicapped, and many local people employed in other towns were compelled to remain home for the greater part of Monday. For the first time in many years the town was without trolley communication to Pottsville for almost twenty four hours. About midnight Sunday the car for Pottsville jumped the track on Willow Street and it was not until Monday evening that it was righted. The first trolley arrived in Schuylkill Haven Monday at eleven o'clock but could get no further than the corner of Main and Dock Streets. By Tuesday morning however, the cars were able to complete the run to Saint John Street and the regular schedule was maintained beginning Tuesday. Trolley communication to Orwigsburg was completely cut off until Wednesday evening, a car having jumped the tracks at Adamsdale on Sunday evening. Snow drifts in Adamsdale were eight to twelve feet high and the sight of snow banked to fifteen feet high can now be seen. TRAIN SERVICE CRIPPLED Early Monday morning employees of both the Pennsylvania and Reading railroads were called out to assist in opening the roads. Because of a snowdrift at Berne, train number one due here at 8:14 did not arrive until 11:45. Almost two hundred persons, professionals, clerks and laborers shared alike Monday morning in not being able to get to work in Pottsville to take up their weekly duties until the arrival of number one train. The local station was taxed to its capacity sheltering these folks. MAIN LINE South bound traffic on the P & R was also delayed about 8:30 when the engine for train number 92, while backing into the station jumped the track at Pottsville Junction. This train did not arrive in Schuylkill Haven until 10:45 o'clock. North and south bound trains were several hours late throughout the entire day. INDUSTRIES CLOSED Every one of the town's industries were seriously handicapped Monday by an insufficient number of employees. Several industries closed for the day. Schools were dismissed about nine o'clock. Fully one third of the pupils of the higher grades were absent and one half of the lower grades were absent. Several roofs of the houses were loosened by the wind Sunday morning and carried away. Several sections of the fence surrounding the baseball park succumbed to the severe gale. One of the electric light department's lines were blown down and a number of persons were without light Sunday evening. Both local telephone companies suffered to some extent by having several lines blown down. CONFLAGRATIONS AVERTED Schuylkill Haven indeed was in luck, it having escaped what might have resulted in serious conflagration, dreadful loss of property and perhaps much suffering and loss of life. About six o'clock Sunday evening fire was discovered at the home of Mr. Sheafer on Willow Street. A still alarm was sent in and members of the Rainbow Hose Company responded quickly and extinguished the blaze. About an hour after the discovery of the fire on Willow Street a small blaze was discovered in the writing room of Hotel Grand. Little tongues of flame were already eating their way across the floor of this room when it was discovered by several occupants. Several buckets of water quenched the blaze. The fire here is supposed to have been caused by someone dropping a cigar on the floor and attempting to outen it by stamping. The sparks flew across the floor but nothing was thought of the occurrence at the time. Members of the Rainbow Hose Company are to be complimented for their thoughtfulness Sunday evening when about twenty members of the company remained at the firehouse throughout the night and morning and were prepared for instant response to an alarm of fire. BLIZZARD PREDICTED BY LOCAL MAN The blizzard was predicted by Reverend R. Hicks, the famous Saint Louis astronomer and prophet, in his forecast for March 1914 made May 3, 1913. It was also predicted by a local man, Gus Luckenbill, who on Saturday was given the laugh by a number of persons when he stated that within a day we would be in the grip of a most severe blizzard. The Call of March 20, 1914 BOY SCOUTS IN NEW QUARTERS The Boy Scouts of Schuylkill Haven are now located in new quarters, they having rented the Schuylkill Roller Rink. A room on the first floor has been secured for meeting purposes and drills are held in the second floor auditorium. This organization is enjoying a rapid growth and Scoutmaster Hays is to be commended for organizing and perfecting the same in this town. During the recent cold weather when the fields were covered with snow, a patrol of Boy Scouts each and every day tramped to the outskirts of the town and scattered grain for the birds so that they would not perish while being unable to secure food for themselves by reason of the snow covered fields. For this act the boys must be complimented. SLIGHT FIRE WEDNESDAY EVENING A slight fire occurred Wednesday evening at the residence of Reverend C. T. Weidner on Dock Street about nine o'clock. The fire was discovered by friends gathered at the home of the reverend gentleman when the room began to fill with smoke. An investigation showed that the fire was in the outer kitchen and when discovered, the flames were rapidly eating their way along the walls, ceiling and flooring. An alarm was sent in, but before the companies arrived, reverend Weidner and the neighbors had extinguished the flames. With the high wind of Wednesday evening, the prompt discovery of the fire was most fortunate. Had it occurred several hours later when neighbors had retired, a serious conflagration would surely have resulted. The cause is unknown. The damage will amount to about one hundred dollars. JURY CENSURES SALOON MEN Charles Wiederhold, aged 53 years of Reading, died in the lobby of Hotel Grand, Saturday night about nine o'clock. Wiederhold was taken from the trolley in an inebriated condition. While being taken from the car it was noticed that he appeared to be almost lifeless. Physicians were summoned, but found upon their arrival, that the an was dead. He was taken to the undertaking establishment of D. M. Wagner and afterwards to the home of relatives in Pottsville. Wiederhold had been in Pottsville Saturday evening visiting relatives and was on his way to visit relatives in Schuylkill Haven. Deceased was born and raised in Pottsville but for the past fourteen years he was a resident of Reading. He was a copper in his younger days but recently acted as a solicitor for the Philadelphia Record. Coroner Moore conducted an inquest into the death of Mr. Wiederhold Monday evening. The jury found that death was due to alcoholism. The jury in its verdict censured saloon keepers for furnishing liquor to habitual drunkards. The jury was composed of Morris Saylor, Jere Huling, Charels Shappel, Frank Heim, Joseph Mulholland and F. W. Swartz. The Call of March 27, 1914 VOTE ON SCHOOL BUILDING DEFERRED At an adjourned meeting of the School Board held last Saturday night, the matter of an election for a new school building was laid aside for the present. The Solicitor's opinion on the legality of holding the election at the time of the primary election was read. He holds that the primary is neither a municipal nor a general election, that the regular election boards can not legally hold the school election at the time of the primary. Therefore in view of probably legal complications which would require the appointment of other election officers, the School Board considered it to be the best to defer action for the present. The Athletic Association of the High School held another meeting on Tuesday at which E. G. Underwood and Reverend F. S. Longsdorf were elected as managers of the baseball team. After this meeting the players of last year's baseball team still remaining in school, elected Max Longsdorf Captain of the team. The High School Literary Society held a program today. The question for debate was, Resolved that every High School student should earnestly work for the interest of high school athletics. |