This Was Doylestown, 1913

Doylestown escapes serious damage in gale -

Doylestown escaped serious damage in the gale on Friday, and in that respect was much more fortunate than many other towns in Bucks county.

The nearest approach to a serious accident occurred about 2 o'clock, when a large maple tree in front of Howard W. Atkinson's building on Main street, near Oakland avenue, was discovered to be splitting in half about two feet above the pavement. Prompt attention in wrapping it with rope kept the tree from falling before the street could be roped off. Street Commissioner Holcombe, assisted by Robert McNealy and the repair crew of the Rapid Transit Company, had it removed by 4 o'clock.

Main street is, therefore, robbed of one more of its shade trees. During the high wind many other trees about the town were damaged by having large limbs broken off. In the Court House tower and in other buildings about town, a number of window panes were blown out.

A wagon shed on Arabella street belonging to C.H. Magill was destroyed by the wind. On Maple avenue, a tree was blown down at the home of D.S.W. Hess, and parts of the fences of the nearby properties occupied by George Closson and District Attorney C.S. Boyer were destroyed.

John H. Hellerman, who has a large chicken farm near Doylestown, suffered the greatest loss in this vicinity. Assisted by John Naylor, his nephew, he was working on the roof of a new chicken house 152 feet long, which was almost completed. About 11:30 a.m., a gust heavier than any preceding it struck them, lifted the building off the foundations and almost completely ruined it. Mr. Hellerman is as yet unable to determine what the loss will be.

All over the county chimneys were destroyed and roofs on many barns were wrecked. Telephone companies suffered most, for trees and roofs blew onto the lines and made trouble everywhere.

Doylestown Fire Company holds annual meeting -

Doylestown Fire Company wound up another year Wednesday evening at the annual meeting, which was well attended and during which several matters of interest came up.

The annual treasurer's report was presented by John Yardley. It shows the following figures: Balance on hand, January 1, 1912, $31.57; receipts for the year, $1,197.26; expenditures for the year, $1,004.72; cash on hand January 1, 1913, $192.54.

Receipts for the year show that there were individual donations amounting to $273, and one of $200 from Town Council. Other receipts included $289.35 made from an entertainment course in 1912; $200 from rent paid by Town Council [borough offices were on the second floor of the Shewell Avenue firehouse]; and $211 paid in dues by members.

Chief Daniel G. Fretz reported that the company had worked at eleven fires during the year, as follows: January 16 at the Worden tenant house; January 21 at John C. Copple's house on Donaldson street; March 5 at Carversville store; March 20 at Henry C. Mercer's pottery; May 20 at Harry Clemens' residence; September 1 at W. Atlee Burpee's residence; September 5 at the old exhibition building on the Hibbs property; September 6 at the quarry on Ashland street; October 7 at Lehman & Sons butchering establishment; December 9 at John Hertzler's residence on West State street; December 27 at the Bucks County Home.

During the year, the company turned out in the Old Home Week parade [to celebrate Doylestown's centennial as the county seat] and in the parade at Lansdale.

The election of officers was held, and President Henry A. James, who was held that office for a number of years, was re-elected. He made a few remarks in which he thanked the firemen for again honoring him and spoke of the good work the company has done.

"I think the people appreciate the fire company as they should. It has been impressed upon us by their liberal support and the spirit in which it has been given. This encouragement, I am sure, is one of the chief reasons for the interest the men have shown in the company," remarked President James.

In closing his remarks, Mr. James called the attention of the members to a box of cigars sent in with the best regards of the Doylestown Drug Company and a barrel of apples furnished by the trustees.

Judge hears dispute over Pollock House sale -

Several differences of opinion in the matter of the sale of the personal property of John Shuster, former proprietor of the Pollock House [renamed the Doylestown Inn in 1920], including the sale of the bar and the liquor license, and the exceptions to the sale of the real estate, were among the principal issues heard before Judge William C. Ryan on Monday.

The first question argued was as to the bar. The bar, which was erected by the owner and permanently fastened to the building, was necessary to the business. The back bar was made a part of the building and so permanently erected that the purchaser has not yet been able to get it loose without damage to the building.

Counsel for Mr. Shuster claimed that the sale of the real estate was irregular and that, taken in connection with the sale of the license, the most valuable asset of Mr. Shuster, probably did prevent friends of Mr. Shuster from bidding, so that the whole sale was irregular and void.

Mr. Shuster made an offer, in open court, to give an ample bond to cover a re-sale of the property with a guarantee that it would bring more money at another sale, but also contended that under the circumstances no bond was necessary.

The bar was sold to Mr. Metz, who removed the front bar but not the back bar. It was advertised as bar fixtures. It was contended by the Adam Scheidt Brewing Company, of Norristown, that Mr. Shuster had no interest in the bar anyhow, because Mr. Shell purchased the real estate and he would be the person to complain if anyone could. Mr. Shuster's interest in the property having closed, he cannot now complain of the sale, it was argued.

Judge Ryan took the papers and will decide the case in the near future.

Advertisement -

OPENING ANNOUNCEMENT...Messrs. Ed. J. Bowlby and N. F. Power announce the opening of the PRINCESS THEATRE in the P.O.S. of A. [Patriotic Order Sons of America] Building on Donaldson St., between State St. and Oakland Ave., Doylestown, on Thursday Evening, January 2, 1913, in Which They Will Conduct a First-Class MOVING PICTURE SHOW...Music will be furnished by the Misses Ruth Grim and Phylis Ruth. The films will be of the highest character and the very best obtainable. Show will begin promptly at 7 o'clock with a continuous performance. Admission will be 5 and 10 cents.

Doylestown defeats Philadelphia in basketball -

Doylestown Athletic Club basketball players had every reason to throw out their chests Wednesday evening after defeating the Crusaders, of Philadelphia, 22 to 19, for the visitors not only came with the reputation of having beaten the crack Rockwood team three years in succession, but gave the fastest exhibition of basketball seen in Doylestown this season.

There were a few fumbles in the game, but there was little poor headwork, and the game was so fast and furious, every minute of it, that an occasional slip-up was easily excused. D.A.C. has been playing such excellent games, however, that the audience of from 200 to 250 people have come to expect nearly perfect playing, and that is very nearly what they saw on this occasion.

Thanks to the excellent refereeing of Henry Ruos, the game was more open than in the earlier games and there was a prettier exhibition of passing, with the rough tactics almost entirely eliminated. D.A.C. far surpassed the visitors in their passing, but missed a number of easy opportunities for field goals by too much haste.

The Crusaders were a little more accurate in their goal throwing, yet because of the splendid aggressiveness of the D.A.C. players they had few opportunities. Timely interference by D.A.C. players lost the Crusaders goals which seemed certain on half a dozen occasions. Every man of Doylestown's "five" played his man cleverly from start to finish.

During the first half of the game the score was always very close, with the Crusaders always a point or two in the lead. In the second half Doylestown quickly took the lead and kept it except for a few minutes. The visitors then had a little spurt and tied the score, but this only seemed to put new energy and determination in the D.A.C. boys, whose passing continued to improve.

The Crusaders, in a last desperate attempt with only a few minutes of play, started an even faster pace, and for a time the crowd seemed raving mad with excitement and enthusiasm. It was a game where no one sat still or kept quiet.

Doylestown Buillding and Loan Association marks success -

Editor's note - Founded in 1906, Doylestown Building and Loan Association became Doylestown Federal Savings and Loan Association in 1952. The thrift moved in 1964 from West Court Street to a new building at 60 N. Main St., site of the former Monument House hotel. Third Federal Bank, of Newtown, acquired the Doylestown institution in 1992.

Shareholders of the Doylestown Building and Loan Association held their annual meeting Thursday evening and congratulated themselves upon the success of the past six years. Hellyer's Hall was crowded with shareholders when the meeting opened with Dr. James E. Groff, vice president, in the chair.

The past year has been one of the most gratifying in the history of this unusually successful association. There has been about 6-1/2 percent gain with 4,291 shares issued, upon 991 of which money has been borrowed. In their report, the auditors, Charles R. Nightingale and Thomas Ross, spoke very highly of the condition of the association.

Their report said, in part: "We cannot speak too highly of the methods and manner in which the business of the association is being conducted by the officers, directors and committees. Intelligent care is evident in the making of the loans and in the custody of the papers. The books show that the officers have spared no skill and trouble in recording and transacting the business of the association."

Mr. Ross spoke briefly afterward of the excellent condition of the association. "It behooves the people of the community to keep the association going, and I'm sure they seem to show a disposition to do so."

The sixth annual report of the association shows that the receipts amounted to $47,914.90 and expenditures $47,693.29, leaving a balance of $221.61 on hand.

Assets of the association amounted to $99,230.44, as follows: Mortgage loans, $88,800; judgment loans, $4,350; stock loans, $5,495; unpaid dues, $163; unpaid interest, $118; unpaid fines, $12.83; books, furniture, safe, etc., $70; balance on hand, $221.61.

Advertisement -

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Doylestown Town Notes -

A lecture description of Panama and the Great Canal [the Panama Canal was completed in 1914] will be given in Lenape Hall on Friday evening under the auspices of the Doylestown High School. It will be given by Mr. Helmus, of Washington, D.C., and promises to be of unusual interest. Many beautiful colored views will be shown upon the screen.

Mrs. Thomas Blakie has closed her bungalow on Linden avenue and has returned to Philadelphia for the winter months.

Henry Forman and son, of India, arrived from Switzerland on Tuesday evening to visit Mrs. Sarah Newton, of East Oakland avenue. Mrs. Forman, daughter of Mrs. Newton, died recently in Switzerland.

George H. Miller is confined to his home by a heavy cold.

Seven live opossums have been caught by John Barnes, one of the most experienced trappers of this section, who has them all at his home. Recently, he also had a live raccoon.

Eugene Garges, of East State street, has returned to Lehigh University to resume his studies.

Misses Mabel and Ethel Ott entertained four tables of bridge Tuesday afternoon at their home on East Court street. Miss Addie Ruos won the first prize and Mrs. George Shellenberger the second.

The oldest daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Asher K. Anders has the chicken pox.

Benedict Bestler, Jr. has discontinued his huckster business, he says, "until the blackbirds come again."

The Boys' Brigade held a competitive drill Friday evening. Lester Selner won the two squad medals and Corporal Fretz got the corporal's medal

Wilson Case, who tore the ligaments in his ankle in a fall last Thursday, shows little improvement.

Miss Grace Pennington, teacher at the Shady Retreat school in Doylestown township, presented her resignation to the board of school directors at their meeting on Saturday afternoon, to take effect February 4th. Miss Pennington resigned as she is soon to be married.

From the Doylestown Daily Intelligencer, Week of Jan. 1-7, 1913