This Was Doylestown, 1922

World War memorial fountain dedicated -

Editor's note - William R. Mercer of Doylestown, a sculptor and brother of Henry C. Mercer, designed the World War I Memorial Fountain, located at Main and Broad streets next to the Bucks County Courthouse. William Mercer used two local veterans as models for the monument's two bronze statues, which depict a wounded soldier pouring a canteen into a cup for a more severely injured comrade. John Bateman, a sculptor from Haddonfield, N.J., cast the statues for the fountain, which cost $8,500.

Thousands looked on Memorial Day as three Doylestown young women, sisters of soldiers who gave their lives during the World War, unveiled the impressive and beautiful memorial fountain dedicated by the people of the community.

And as the flag was lifted, revealing the bronze group of statuary depicting one wounded soldier ministering to the relief of a comrade more sorely injured, the audience as one person broke into applause.

Members of the Grand Army of the Republic [an organization of Union Civil War veterans] in automobiles, close to 200 veterans of the World War, the Sons of Veterans and the Boys' Brigade, led by the Doylestown Band, participated in the parade which preceded and followed the dedicatory exercises. First they stopped at the Monument to the 104th Regiment, Pennsylvania Volunteers, where a dirge was played.

Dr. Edward M. Jefferys of Philadelphia, a former rector in Doylestown, who served overseas as chaplain of Base Hospital No. 10 with the British Expeditionary Forces, pronounced the invocation as the dedication ceremonies began at 2 o'clock.

"There is no community in which a Memorial Day observance is more fitting, more appropriate, more deserved than Doylestown in Bucks county, because there is no community which in proportion to its population gave more patriotically to the safety, honor and welfare of our country in men for her defense," Dr Jefferys said.

Miss Harriet Atkinson, Miss Alice Hoxworth and Miss Caroline Moerman, sisters of soldiers who lost their lives in France, then unveiled the monument.

Judge William C. Ryan delivered the dedicatory address: "We are assembled here in the observance of an age-old custom, the dedication of a memorial erected as a tribute to valor and sacrifice... This, as the inscription it bears declares, is erected in commemoration of the service and sacrifice of all the men and women of this community who served in the Great War. It is an expression in beautiful and enduring form of the appreciation of their fellow citizens of that sacrifice.

"But time will dim its details and efface the memory of the names and deeds of those who, on bloody fields, and on the sea, in the military service, and in the innumerable other activities in foreign lands and in the homeland, wrought out the glorious result. It is altogether meet [proper], therefore, that we of this generation should erect these memorials that shall remain to tell the story to future generations after we shall have passed away. It is the story of the American spirit that we would perpetuate.

"For the design of this beautiful memorial we are indebted to the genius of a patriotic fellow citizen. He has embodied in it a phase of war that is born of human sympathy. It depicts that comradeship that remains a precious memorial to all returned soldiers. It symbolizes that service of mercy so conspicious in those troubled days...As this beautiful fountain shall stand here, by this busy highway, in the years to come, may it speak to those who come and go the lesson of the cup of cold water in the name of Him whose mission on earth was peace."

Following the dedication, services were held in the Court House. After that, graves of veterans in Doylestown Cemetery and other burying grounds were decorated with white and colored flowers.

Village Improvement Association holds birthday party -

"Our birthday party has been a wonderful success" was the remark heard on every side at the Doylestown V.I.A. celebration held Friday evening at "Frosterly," the home of Miss Fanny Chapman [on Old Dublin Pike, where the Regency Woods apartments are today].

The party was to have been a lawn fete, but the rain changed the character of the affair into an indoor reception and entertainment. The weather proved no detriment, however, for at least one hundred and twenty-five people, men as well as women, were in attendance, and under Miss Chapman's hospitable roof a feeling of sincere friendliness and good fellowship was evident.

Each member as she entered, deposited in a basket ready for the purpose, a small blue bag, gathered with a white thread (the colors of the V.I.A.) and filled with the number of pennies denoting her age. As a woman is believed to want to keep her age a secret, there was much joking over the amount put into each one's bag, but the total, when counted, amounted to the goodly sum of $56.

Mrs. Ryan, president of the V.I.A., in a few well-chosen words welcomed the members and friends to Miss Chapman's home, and then turned the entertainment over to Mrs. Henry A. James, chairman of the committee of arrangements, who announced the program.

Mrs. C. Louis Siegler, accompanied by Miss M. Estelle Siegler, sang two contralto solos. Mrs. George M. Whitenack, accompanied by Miss Gertrude Miller, sang two soprano solos, to the delight of the audience.

Miss Haines then introduced Miss Fay Goodfellow, of Lambertville, who is a favorite wherever she goes. For nearly an hour, Miss Goodfellow entertained her audience with readings from different authors, concluding the entertainment with a "rub-a-dub" poem, which set the audience to keeping time with their feet.

Refreshments of ice-cream, cake and coffee were served by the hostess, and after an hour spent in social intercourse the party dispersed, all feeling benefited by the evening spent together under a friendly roof.

Virginia man new co-owner of Doylestown Agricultural Works -

Another change has taken place in the personnel of the firm operating the Doylestown Agricultural Works, which has for fifty-five years been supplying implements to farmers of Bucks county, many other states and several foreign countries.

The active head of the institution has been H.D. Ruos. Wednesday, however, it became known that a deal had been closed two weeks ago whereby Horace L. Smith, Jr., of Petersburg, Virginia, bought a half-interest in the business. He has connected himself with the concern and with the development of the business both on their well-known line of threshers, ensilage cutters, straw cutters and blowers and straw blowers, as well as on some new patents owned by the company.

Associated with the new partner in this business will be Joseph Ruos, son of H.D. Ruos, who is a Penn State graduate, and who has three years experience with his father in the Doylestown plant.

Mr. Smith's father, Horace I. Smith, conducted a retail implement business at Petersburg and for many years was a salesman for the Deering Harvester Company,

The younger Smith, a graduate of Virginia Military Institute, was associated with his father's business until the World War, when he enlisted in the Army and was sent overseas as an officer in the First Regiment Engineers. For bravery in action, he was given the Distinguished Service Cross by General Pershing, in the name of the American government.

On his return, he at once engaged with his father in the development of some new machines, and patents have been granted to them on a lime and fertilizer distributor, corn shucker and peanut sheller. These machines will be developed and placed on the market by the Doylestown Agricultural Works, under the direction of Mr. Smith.

The new deal means that this old and famous plant will be brought up to the highest state of efficiency and production.

Advertisment -

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National Farm School celebrates silver anniversary -

Editor's note - Dr. Joseph I. Krauskopf, a rabbi from Philadelphia, purchased a 122-acre farm in Doylestown Township in 1896 to establish a school to train Jewish immigrant boys as farmers. The National Farm School was chartered on April 10, 1896. Pioneer Hall, the first academic building, was dedicated on June 20, 1897. The school's silver anniversary was celebrated in 1922, 25 years later, although subsequent anniversaries were dated from 1896. The school became the National Agricultural College in 1948 and Delaware Valley College in 1960.

Over 2,500 persons, including men of national fame, dotted the expansive 500-acre National Farm School near Doylestown on Sunday, in observance of the silver jubilee, and to take part in the consecration of over 200 festive and memorial trees, in addition to witnessing an interesting agricultural pageant and an open-air performance of "The Story of Ruth."

Never before has Bucks county had the opportunity of hearing such noted men speak at one gathering. Such men as Irvin S. Cobb, noted author and lecturer; Samuel M. Vauclain, president of the Baldwin Locomotive Works; Adolph S. Ochs, publisher of The New York Times; Hon. Edwin S. Stuart, former governor of Pennsylvania, who was presiding officer.

A special train carried the large assembly to the school grounds from Philadelphia, New York and Baltimore. The day was ideal for the Spring tree consecration exercises and many remarked that it was the finest meeting in the history of the school.

Announcement was made of the donation of a new greenhouse to the school, made by the Rev. and Mrs. Joseph I. Krauskopf, of Philadelphia. Dr. Krauskopf is founder and president of the school.

"Twenty-five years ago, a mere handful of people gathered here to consecrate the grounds," Dr. Krauskopf remarked. "The idea of a National Farm School was greeted with laughter and scorn by many. It was ridiculed for some time. Today, the 2,500 persons gathered here, speak alone for the success of the school."

A stirring tribute was paid to Dr. Krauskopf by the Hon. Harman Yerkes, former president judge of the courts of Bucks county, who twenty-five years ago was the presiding officer at the first exercises held by Farm School.

"Times have changed since this school was opened," said Judge Yerkes. "The community has a different feeling toward Farm School. The entire country has been greatly benefited by such a school. And I might add that Dr. Krauskopf could not have picked out a more ideal spot for the establishment of Farm School."

Lunch was served on the Farm School grounds. During the afternoon, the Farm School students had charge of an agricultural pageant in which was exhibited the livestock, implements and machinery employed in the production and distribution of farm products and in the raising of poultry, dairy and market products.

On the lawn fronting Segal Hall several thousand persons witnessed the presentation of a play, "The Story of Ruth," given by the pupils of the religious school of Temple Keneseth Israel.

Four students hurt when car crashes into Edison bridge -

Missing the curve at the unguarded Edison bridge [over Neshaminy Creek] in a heavy fog shortly before 4 o'clock Wednesday morning, four Muhlenberg College students miraculously escaped death when the heavy touring car in which they were riding plunged over the wall to the ground 15 feet below and landed on its top.

The occupants of the machine were rushed to the Abington Hospital by Chester E. Bratsing, a garage man who lives near the bridge. The most seriously injured were J. Birney Crum, with a fractured skull, and Henry Huey, with a fractured spine. The driver, Leon Buehler, suffered a large cut on the forehead, Gomer S. Rees, the fourth member of the party, was not hurt badly.

The students were on their way back to the college in Allentown. They had been at the senior dance given at the Beechwood School, Jenkintown. Dancing stopped at 3 o'clock and the accident happened about 3:45.

Buehler and Rees were later taken into the home of S. Anson Walton, Edison, where they were served with breakfast, Buehler, the driver of the machine, described the accident to a representative of "The Intelligencer" as follows:

"We were not driving fast; perhaps 20 miles an hour. There was a very heavy fog and it was impossible to see very far in front of the car. There was absolutely no warning of any kind that could be recognized. The first thing I felt was the crash and then the drop. I was dazed, but managed to crawl out. The machine landed on the top and pinned us beneath. Crum was unconscious and remained that way until we reached the hospital. I hope everything is alright."

The automobile is ruined and is a mass of twisted wreckage. Where the car hit the bridge there is a broken-down side wall not over 16 inches high. The bridge has not been repaired since the last serious accident six weeks ago.

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Doylestown Town Notes -

The Court Inn ice cream parlor and light lunch restaurant opened for business last Saturday. The new restaurant is located in the front part of the Court Inn and is a very attractive place, everything being furnished in white. An up-to-date soda fountain has been installed.

Ella A. Rohrman and Augustus H. Legenhardt, both of Doylestown, were married Thursday evening by Rev. Vincent Corcoran.

Doylestown High School students are busy getting ready for the bakery, candy sale and dance that will be held in the gymnasium Saturday afternoon and evening for the benefit of the athletic association.

Isaac J. Vanartsdalen and family are taking a motor trip to Washington, D.C., where they will be the guests of Miss Adelaide Borah, niece of Senator Borah, for several days.

The Bucks County Historical Society has been presented with a few adobe bricks taken from an old church in El Paso, Texas. The bricks were sent to the society by the El Paso Chamber of Commerce.

George H. Miller, treasurer of the Bucks County Trust Company, together with Mrs. Miller, returned Saturday night from the silver anniversary convention of the Pennsylvania Bankers Association held in Pittsburgh last Thursday, Friday and Saturday.

Doylestown's ball club will break into New York next Sunday when they play the Bushwick Giants in Brooklyn. If the team shows up well in Brooklyn, the management has been promised regular Sunday games in New York.

Mrs. A. Oscar Martin will entertain the Progressive Thimble of the Salem Reformed Church at her home on Shewell avenue on Thursday afternoon at 2:30.

The "Festival of Nations," the physical culture exhibition that was to have been held on the Court House lawn Thursday afternoon, was postponed until Monday afternoon because of the inclement weather.

The Monday Musicale will present Frank Gittelson America's great violinist, in a violin recital, assisted by Ellis Clark Hamman, pianist, Monday night at eight o'clock in the Doylestown High School auditorium. Tickets are one dollar.

Mahlon Yardley, who has been touring in Europe for the past three months, returned home on Saturday.

Miss Sarah Wismer, of North Main street, has a very odd lily. Some call it a "Snake Lily" and others an "Egyptian Lily." It has no leaves, and the lily which surmounts a tall stalk resembles a calia lily in shape. In the center, instead of the golden plume of the calia lily, there is a dark formation resembling a tongue. The flower is a mottled dark brown. The odor is rank and offensive.

From the Doylestown Daily Intelligencer, Week of May 28-June 3, 1922