This Was Doylestown, 1921

Santa Claus visits Doylestown -

The County Seat joined merrily in a community sing at the community Christmas tree on Christmas Eve, and received a visit from Santa Claus, which set the little folks wild with excitement.

They fairly mobbed the old fellow when he appeared with his supply of oranges outside the Court House. Old Kris Kringle had a basket heaped full of little gifts for the youngsters. He left word with the Intelligencer that he had a rough trip from the North Pole this year because a big part of the journey was made in his sleigh without snow.

Santa Claus was invited by Frank J. Gerlitski, who had charge of the music, and his visit made the tree services more delightful than ever. A large crowd assembled to sing Yuletide carols under the electrically decorated tree.

Little acts of kindness were evident about the town over the Christmas week-end, many never to be known to the public. Prominent families every Christmas send baskets of fruit and eatables to the needy families of the town.

The same holds true with the good spirit shown by the . The veterans this year took care of the families of needy service men. And at the county jail and almshouse there were Christmas events.

In the churches of the town there were special services over the week-end. At on Christmas Eve, an impressive service was held at midnight. The Lutheran and Presbyterian churches had special services on Sunday [Christmas Day].

Snow came two days too late for the Christmas celebration. Sometime early Tuesday morning the white flakes made an appearance just in time to be seen by some of those who tripped the light fantastic at the Bachelor Club ball in the Sixth Regiment Armory. The Christmas dance was probably the most successful on record, bringing many out-of-town people. Hershberg's Philadelphia Orchestra played and the Armory was decorated with Christmas greens.

Skating at the Turk Dam [in Doylestown Township] over the Christmas week-end was fine, and present indications are there will be plenty of it during the holiday week.

Doylestown Nature Club hears about Christmas greens -

A most enjoyable meeting of the Doylestown Nature Club was held at the home of Mrs. T.O. Atkinson on Monday. The spacious rooms with the cheery open wood fire and the Christmas greens, together with the snow-covered lawns outside, radiated the true Christmas spirit.

The subject for the afternoon was Christmas greens: their origin, kinds and use.

Miss Ross read a paper on the custom of using evergreens for Christmas and the origin of the custom of kissing under the mistletoe.

There are four hundred species of the parasite mistletoe found in the world, and in Oklahoma where it is very productive it has been named the State flower. The holly plant was supposed by its sticky, rough leaves to represent the crown of thorns of the Saviour.

Mrs. Stace McEntee read of the Christmas tree, original with the early Romans. They were mostly firs and spruces, but other trees were also used. There are twenty-five different species of fir trees found in the world. Balsam is most used for Christmas purposes. Some of the forests are being depleted for Christmas trees, but others are being planted to replace them.

New England produces most of the trees. The hills of Vermont produce some fifty thousand trees yearly. Two million, five hundred thousand acres of unproductive land are being cultivated for the Christmas trade alone, and the profit is said to be enormous.

Mrs. Henry L. Kister read "The First Christmas Tree," by Eugene Field. Mrs. T.O. Atkinson read VanDyke's "Salute to the Tree."

Borough to take over sewerage plant -

Doylestown Borough Council held its last meeting of the year Friday night.

Very little business was transacted with the exception of cleaning up a few odds and ends before starting the new year. The old board will convene a special meeting at 7:30 next Tuesday night. The new members will meet at 8, when the organization of the new board will take place.

Plans were discussed which will result in Council taking over the Doylestown Sewerage Company's plant on January 1. Solicitor Wesley Bunting was present at the meeting and stated that the sewer company is prepared to make the transfer as soon as Council was ready. It was the general belief that the company should be taken over January 1, but final action will probably be taken on Tuesday night [January 3].

One of the interesting things done by Council was the action they took to provide sport for the young folks of Doylestown. Councilman Leattor suggested that the Borough Dam be flooded for skating purposes, and the proposal met with unanimous approval.

A communication was received from the Visiting Nurse fund officials, who thanked Council for the liberal contribution of $100. The donation was the largest single amount given this year.

Advertisement -

15th Annual NEW YEAR'S BALL...Doylestown Armory, Monday Eve, January 2d...7-Piece "Phila. Novelty Orchestra" Featuring 2 Musical Comedy Acts By Andrews & Gardner, Just recently playing in Philadelphia Vaudeville...Ladies, 55c; Balcony, 35c; Gentlemen, 75c.

High school basketball teams defeat alumni -

Playing one of the best passing and scoring games ever witnessed on the Sixth Regiment Armory floor, Coach Alan Gardy's Doylestown High quintet defeated the Doylestown High alumni five, 46 to 18 Wednesday night before a crowd of 400 persons. The Gardy passing machine played rings around the Alumni five and showed up better than any pervious time this season.

The extra attraction Wednesday night was the opening of the Doylestown High girls' basketball season. The High sextette cavorted about the floor in good style and turned in a 26 to 16 victory over the Doylestown High girls' alumni team.

In the boys' game, the defense was perfect, and the scoring machine was for the first time seen in real operation. The Alumni five was no mean team, and the 46 to 18 victory is a great credit to Doylestown High.

Playing like they did in this game, the High team will be able to go through the Bux-Mont League season in excellent style with fine chances of a clean slate if over-confidence does not prove disastrous.

The High girls' team showed a big improvement over last year. Miss Fretz was high scorer of the game for the High lassies with 14 points, while her running mate, Miss Irwin, registered 12 points. At center, Miss Bigley played a good game for the High sextette.

Wedding takes place on last day of year -

One of the important weddings of the Christmas holiday season, a quiet and pretty home affair with members of the immediate families in attendance, was solemnized at 11 o'clock Saturday morning [Dec. 31], when Miss Jean Sharpe Jackson, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Arthur W. Jackson, of Doylestown, became the bride of Douglass Earl, son of Mr. and Mrs. Howard M. Earl, of Doylestown township.

The ceremony was performed by the Rev. William E. Boswell, of St. Paul's Episcopal Church, at the home of the bride's parents, Maple avenue and Cottage street.

Miss Jackson had as her maid of honor her sister, Miss Catherine Jackson, of Doylestown. The bride was given away by her father, Arthur W. Jackson. She wore a travelling dress of pense velvet. The best man was Lieutenant John H. Earl, a brother of the bridegroom.

Following the marriage ceremony, a wedding breakfast was served.

Mr. and Mrs. Earl, after their honeymoon, will make their home in Madison, New Jersey.

Advertisement -

We wish to thank our friends for their generous patronage during the year, and to wish them a Prosperous and Happy New Year. We also hope to merit their continued confidence and good will...PETER'S BAKERY, Doylestown, Penna.

Doylestown Town Notes -

Mrs. Hugh B. Eastburn and Miss Laura Haines gave a recital Thursday afternoon at the home of Mrs. Eastburn, which was thoroughly enjoyed by the eighty guests present.

Mrs. John Y. Henk, of Clinton street, is suffering a serious attack of blood poisoning due to an infected foot.

Harold W. Keller, a student at Dickinson College in Carlisle, is home on vacation and is visiting friends in Doylestown and Buckingham this week.

Miss Katherine Siegler's students of music were entertained Thursday evening at a party in the Social Center.

William H. Ruos has returned to his home in Doylestown after spending the holdays with his daughter, Mrs. Daniel W. Patterson, in Bethlehem.

Miss Marie Kelly, of South Clinton street, was given a surprise party Wednesday night by eighteen of her friends.

Company D held their regular drill in the Armory Tuesday night. Captain Atkinson is preparing for the annual State inspection which will probably be held some time in January or February.

George Witte and family moved this week from the Bean Apartments on Monument Square to a house on Harvey avenue which Mr. Witte purchased.

Mrs. William Morgan, who was taken to the University Hospital in Philadelphia on Monday, is improving nicely.

Announcement has been made of the engagement of Miss Caroline E. Moerman, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Louis Moerman, of Broad street, to Gustave Sanders, of West State street.

Miss Margaret R. Grundy, of Bristol, visited friends in Doylestown on Wednesday afternoon.

It is understood that plans are under way in Doylestown for the organization of a gun club and to secure grounds where an up-to-date club house can be erected. The project was mentioned Thursday night at a meeting of the Bucks County Fish, Game and Forestry Association.

From the Doylestown Daily Intelligencer, Week of Dec. 25-31, 1921