| YEARS GONE BY ARCHIVES |
| Pottsville Republican of September 7, 1932 SCHUYLKILL HAVEN TO LAY CRESSONA WATER LINE The Schuylkill Haven Council held an important meeting Tuesday evening in the council chamber. By a vote of seven to two they decided to lay a new eight inch water line on Water Street, Cressona, which will give adequate water service to the district of that town, which has been complaining. This improvement will be made by the department and also men from Cressona will be employed. The cost will be from $4000 to $4500. By a vote of eight to two it was decided to place a 15,000 gallon emergency water tank at the electric light plant. The cost of this improvement will be about $1900. By unanimous vote it was decided to purchase seven additional water plugs to take the place of that number which can not be standardized. The fire hydrant between the Michel and Stine properties on Main Street which was approved in its old location, it is now desired it should be removed. The water Department was given permission to move it to Saint John Street, where it will not interfere with business parking. This work will have to be rushed so that it will not interfere with the resurfacing work on Main Street. Permission for the excavating had to be secured from the State Highway Department. The matter of the revenue tax on electric light consumption was again discussed. The department is collecting this tax on electric light consumption from manufacturers on current used for light. No distinct ruling has been received from the government and it is not clearly known if all current used for manufacturing purposes is to be free form tax. By motion, the light committee was authorized to use their own interpretation and they will continue to collect the tax until the matter is made clear. If in error, they will later refund the amount. There is some misunderstanding as to what constitutes the use of electric energy for power in manufacturing. Bakeries, shoemakers, dentists might easily be included under this class. The recommendation of the light committee for the purchase of the emergency tank was quite thoroughly discussed. It was brought out that should the water main on Haven Street breakdown the electric plant could not continue to operate until repairs had been made, as the water from the creek is often very low and besides can not possibly be used for the boilers for a number of reasons. A small filtering plant which could be used in emergencies was discussed as was a special water line. Blueprints of the proposed tank were presented to each councilman. A motion to reduce the commission paid for engineering work at the plant from 9 p/c to 6 p/c was lost by a seven to three vote. The sum of $1100 was transferred from the electric light sinking fund to the general electric light fund. By September 10, plans will be ready for the emergency tank and bids must be in by October 3 at 7:30 pm. There are still 22 fireplugs to be standardized and the committee was requested to rush the work as well as to purchase the seven additional new plugs. The new eight inch line at Cressona was recommended by the water committee. The local water department supplies this borough with water and gas. There are four fire plugs for which no rental has been paid for the past two years because there is no flow of water. After the improvement, the rental will again be paid and probably one additional fire hydrant will be placed, but no additional revenue will follow. The solicitor was asked for an opinion in the matter and he said that certainly the council could make this improvement if desired, but he was not sure that the borough, which is a private utility, would be compelled by the Public Service Commission to lay the new line unless some return could be assured. The line will be laid across several private lots. In one instance a small yearly rental will be charged, in another there will be a flat charge for all time. Burgess Scott stated that instead of being compelled to go to Harrisburg in person to approve the application of the East Penn for bus service between this town and Pottsville, the officers were permitted to execute a letter setting forth the council's approval. A letter was received from the borough fire trustees stating the amount of fire hose on hand in each company and the condition of the same. The Schuylkill Hose Company has 700 feet and need 300 feet additional of two and a half inch hose. The Liberty Fire Company has 850 feet and need 50 feet of two and a half inch and 100 feet of chemical hose. The Rainbow Hose Company has 950 feet and require 150 feet of two and a half inch hose. The need of some minor equipment was also reported. The matter was referred to the proper committee for consideration and they will report next month. Burgess Scott turned over to the borough the sum of $921.35 for fines and permits. The amount of $2456.68 has been received on the 1932 tax duplicate from Tax Collector Scherer. Due to a number of improvements, the Water Department showed a net loss for the month of $339.51. The Light Department is paying much of the improvements from current funds and its statement showed a net loss of $7313.85 for the month. There is in the regular fund the balance of $529.79. PEACHES AT MAURERS WERE NEVER MORE CHOICY Maurer's Schuylkill Haven Orchard has again demonstrated that no matter who else has fruit, they have an abundancy which brings us to the point where attention is drawn to the advertisement notifying the public the peaches, the handsomest found in any marketis being sold there and before the crop are garnered it is a sight that one should never permit to go by without paying the orchard a visit. Of course, visitors are expected to drive through with care and not do anything which would injure the trees. The fruit is so heavy that branches at least three inches in diameter are breaking down by the weight of the fruit. This week the fruit is at its height of perfection. Pottsville Republican of September 8 SCHUYLKILL HAVEN SCHOOL BOARD REPORTS ON SCHOOL OPENING The Schuylkill Haven School Board held the regular monthly meeting last evening with all members present except Mr. Bast and Mr. Luckens. The latter has been quite seriously ill, but is improving nicely. The principal item of business was the official recommendation of substitutes which are to be used this year. Misses Mary Alice eves and Helen Fox will substitute in the primary grades, Misses Mary Bautsch and Dora Reed in the intermediate grades four to six and Miss Ruth Bubeck and Robert Peel in high and junior high and Mrs. Charles Lechner in commercial school. Any teachers who are qualified and who have substituted heretofore may be called in if those named are not available. The contract for two drinking founts in the East Ward building was awarded to Charles A. Meck, the lowest bidder. Only one bid was received for the electric clock in the East Ward building and this was not opened as it is probable that additional bids will be received. The opening of school this year was the smoothest ever. Teachers and pupils fell right in line and the schedules for the term were immediately started. GARAGE WAS BURNED DOWN Fire totally destroyed the small garage at the Merton E. Suits home on Fairmount at one o'clock this morning. The barking of his dogs woke Mr. Suits and he saw the light of his burning garage, then a mass of flames. Oliver Wagner, who lives above, also saw the fire about the same time and both turned in an alarm. Mr. Suits turned the water from the garden hose on his home only twenty feet distant until the fire department arrived, when they aided in saving the dwelling. The wind direction was away from the home or probably the story would have been different. The garage and new Oldsmobile sedan are a total loss. The loss will be over $1000, partly covered by insurance. The fire companies responded promptly, but could not possibly save the garage. The cause is unknown. There was no electric wiring in the building. Pottsville Republican of September 10 SCHUYLKILL HAVEN BANK BUILDING REMODELED FOR POST OFFICE On Monday, the work of renovating the Schuylkill Haven State Bank property, which was badly damaged by fire last March, will be started. The contract has been given to E. H. Becker, the lowest bidder. The work has been planned by the State Bank Liquidating Committee. The principal object is to provide quarters for the post office which is cramped in its present quarters in the Luongo building on Saint John Street. The brick portion of the building will be leveled above the third floor and roofed. A brick wall will be placed across the back and the entire frame portion will be torn to the ground. A neat board fence will be placed along the Saint John Street side to protect the public. The post office room will be refinished and some of the facilities improved. The vault will remain in the banking room which may be rented. Office rooms and possibly several apartments may be arranged on the second and third floors. The heating plant will be removed from the cellar of the frame portion to the basement of the brick. The work will be rushed as the post office department must be placed before the Christmas rush. LODGE TO ENTERTAIN Carroll Lodge Number 120, I. O. O. F. of town will entertain the County Past Grands Association in October. Some of the members are planning a minstrel show as part of the entertainment. Rehearsals are held every Tuesday evening. Pottsville Republican of September 20 TRACKS TORN UP TO SCHUYLKILL HAVEN All tracks and overhead equipment of the trolley company between Pottsville and Schuylkill Haven has been removed. The work of tearing up rails, wires, etc. was completed late Monday. The tracks were torn up from Centre Avenue in Schuylkill Haven to a point near the arch at Mount Carbon. |
| Pottsville Republican of September 10 ELECTRIC LIGHT PLANT WORKING TEN HOUR DAY The borough electric light department this week started its plant on a full ten hour day shift. The plant is now in first class shape to furnish light and power both day and night and already has a number of day consumers with a prospect of many more. The new generator, which has displaced two old machines and which has a capacity of 1000 more lights then the two old machines combined, is giving the utmost satisfaction. The lights, both street and incandescent, burn clear and bright and with no flickering as was the case with the old machinery. A considerable saving of coal has been one result of the installation of the new machine. Chairman Runkle and the members of Council's Light Committee and Superintendent Marshall have every reason to congratulate themselves upon the splendid showing of the plant. Schuylkill Haven is to have a new millinery store, a couple of ladies up to date milliners from Philadelphia having leased the Saylor store room where the bank used to be. Our town is also to have a first class shoe store. John Bowman of D P and S store at Pottsville, and a son of Mrs. M. Bowman of town, having leased the Moser store where he will open with a fine stock of shoes early next month. Pottsville Republican of September 27 PROPERTY IS BOOMING - BUILDING GOING ON IN ALL PARTS OF TOWN Schuylkill Haven is certainly booming. Never before have there been so many sales of property in a year as during the past twelve months, and never has property brought such high prices. Building is going on in all parts of the town and a great deal more is projected. Anticipating a great demand, the Schuylkill Haven Gas and water Company has been extending its mains and replacing small ones with large pipes, while its gas plant has been improved to provide for greater consumption. The borough electric plant has been practically rebuilt with extra capacity for lights and power and in addition gives us a splendid day service. During the summer suspension all of our mills and factories made big improvements, and the G. H. Gerber Shoe Company expect shortly to occupy the mammoth four floor annex to their factory that is now being completed. The local Board of Health and the Town Council have passed some rigid rules that will, if enforced, insure the health and cleanliness of the borough. The Municipal League is wrestling with problems of local improvement, chief among which is the establishment of a public sewerage system. Cummings Brothers of Pottsville, who about six months ago bought the valuable block of building lots on the top of Prospect Hill will shortly break ground for the erection of twenty dwellings. These houses are to be cozy, comfortable, compact dwellings that will rent for a reasonable sum, or will be sold at a price that will bring them within the reach of persons of modest means. The location of the property is excellent, the air is pure and the natural drainage unsurpassed, making it an ideal residence section. Work preliminary to large building operations has begun on the plot of ground recently purchased by a party of capitalists headed by F. B. Aldrich, the manager of the local Gas and Water Company. The laying of the water, gas and sewer pipe has already begun. This plot is on the east side of Haven Street and at right angles with that thoroughfare. This street runs as far as the almshouse property, where it intersects a street that comes out on to Main Street a square above Haven Street. The fifty five foot street, which runs east and west, will probably be cut through to Dock Street at a not far distant day and will make Mr. Aldrich's property and those surrounding it among the most valuable residence properties in town. It is understood that Mr. Aldrich has already let the contract for a dozen modern dwellings, which will each contain eight rooms and bath, and will be supplied with all of the modern conveniences including a gas range in the kitchen and will be sold upon very reasonable terms. These houses, it is understood, are to be ready for occupancy by April first. D. M. Wagner, the undertaker and furniture man, has been making some big improvements to his mammoth store building. The old cellar under the rear of the main store room has been transformed into a light comfortable apartment and as soon as the cement floor is laid and the entrance completed, will be used as winter quarters for his hearse and funeral carriage. Incidental to the improvements the rear wall and the lower side wall of the big brick building had to be broken open for doorway and windows, and huge iron girders had to be put in place to hold up these walls. All the local contractors being busy, Mr. Wagner undertook the task himself and the accomplishment of the work stamps him as an architect and building engineer of considerable ability. Fire early Sunday damaged the gas works of the Schuylkill Haven Gas and Water Company to the extent of several hundred dollars. The flames were discovered at about six o'clock by a crew of a P and R locomotive and they gave the alarm of the engine whistle, which was later taken up by the school house bell. All three of the town's fire companies responded promptly and soon had the fire extinguished. As soon as the firemen finished their work, General manager Aldrich, Superintendents Werner and McKnight had on the ground the combined forces of the Schuylkill Haven and Pottsville plants with a gang of laborers from the P and R storage yard, and by three o'clock in the afternoon had the plant running again. The building being of brick, tin covered roof, doors and windows and window casings and the small amount of oil about the machinery constituted all of the inflammable matter, but the fire was so hot the Babbitt metal plunger in the oil pump at the foot of the gas generator was welted out of all semblance to its normal shape. The big gas generators, built of steel and intended to stand terrific heat, were not damaged in the least. The damage was confined to the woodwork before mentioned, the oil pump, engine and blower belts in pipe connections. Repairs to the building were begun this morning by contractor Rudy Moyer. The roof will be replaced by a metal one, all floor supports will be of metal, and as soon as they can be obtained, a flooring of metal plates will be laid. |