This Was Doylestown, 1925

Dr. William E. Geil dies suddenly in Venice -

Dr. William Edgar Geil, internationally noted as an explorer, author and lecturer, whose home, "The Barrens," is in Doylestown Township, died suddenly in Venice, Italy, according to a cablegram received Sunday by Dr. W.B. Deal, pastor of the First Baptist Church, from Mrs. Geil.

Dr. and Mrs. Geil started some months ago on a tour of several countries of the Near East. For a time they were in Jerusalem, but had returned to Italy, where they were to spend some time before touring certain European countries and spending some time in England.

News of Dr. Geil's death came as a shock to his friends in this country, although since his African explorations he has been feeling the effects of African fever and has spent a great deal of time in sanitariums recovering from recurrent attacks.

Dr. Geil was considered Bucks county's most distinguished and most widely known citizen by reason of his explorations, publications and earlier evangelistic work throughout the world.

He was born Oct. 1, 1865 in New Britain township and was the son of the late Samuel and Elizabeth (Seese) Geil. He acquired his early education in the public schools, the Doylestown English and Classical Seminary, and Lafayette College, graduating from the latter institution in 1890.

On leaving college, where he was noted as an orator, he engaged in evangelistic work and soon made several trips to Europe. He later visited Asia, Egypt, the Holy Land and many of the ancient cities of the Mediterranean.

The crowning feat of his younger days was his remarkable trip around the world visiting missions in obscure and distant parts of heathendom, occupying a period of four years. The result of this trip was told in his book "Ocean and Isle."

In 1901, he started on a journey for comparative study of primitive races and independent observation of the missions of the world; he crossed China and Africa; went farther into the Pigmy Forest of Africa than explorer Henry Stanley; explored the Great Wall of China; visited the 19 capitals of China; travelled 120,000 miles.

Dr. Geil was a Life Fellow of the Royal Geographical Society and the Royal Astronomical Society, and a member of the Royal Asiatic Society. His books included: "A Boy in the Sun," "The Isle Called Patmos," "A Yankee on the Yangtze," "The Man of Galilee," "The Great Wall of China," "The Man on the Mount" and "Adventures in the African Jungle Hunting Pigmies."

Dr. Geil is survived by one sister, Miss Ella Geil, of Doylestown; and his widow, who before her marriage was Miss Constance Emerson, B.A., of Titusville.

Editor's note - The Doylestown Historical Society honored Dr. Geil with an exhibit at its South Main Street headquarters in 2009, and sponsored a historical marker placed outside his former home on South Easton Road last June.

Hundreds of kiddies hunt for Easter eggs -

"No kiddin', that was some fun," said a little fellow almost winded and down for the count as he came running back to the judge after taking part in the Easter egg hunt staged last Saturday night by the Kiwanis Club of Doylestown on the grounds of I.J. Vansartsdalen, Lincoln avenue.

He was but one of the 600 kiddies, ranging in age from four years to twelve, who had the time of their lives for twenty minutes or more as they searched the corn field for 1,200 hidden Easter eggs of all shapes and sizes. Some came from as far as Wycombe and Dublin to take part in the exciting hunt.

As that crowd of youngsters was released to "go over the top" for the hidden eggs, a sight long to be remembered greeted the eyes of the several hundred onlookers who gathered to see the fun.

It was estimated by the committee in authority that within ten minutes at the most practically every one of the 1,200 eggs had been located. Some big-hearted kiddies shared their findings with the smaller youngsters. Mothers stood by holding baskets and bags to receive the findings of their boys and girls.

After the kiddies had searched the corn field and grounds surrounding the Vanartsdalen home for twenty minutes, they were called to the lawn where Mr. Vanartsdalen, president of the Kiwanis Club, handed out the prizes furnished by the club.

It was a great sight to see the 600 smiling kiddies having all kinds of fun simply because it was something new to them. And Kiwanians want to assure the kiddies that the next Easter egg hunt will be held again on a much bigger scale with probably 5,000 eggs hidden.

Doylestown Public School to add three instructors -

Three new instructors will be added to the Doylestown Public School faculty in the Fall.

One will be a male director of physical education, who will devote his whole attention to the boys; the second will be an assistant in the commercial department, which is said to have grown too large for one instructor; and the third will be in the grammar grades.

Enrollment in March was 938, with 443 boys and 495 girls. The attendance rate was 97 percent. Pupils present all the time numbered 639. Twelve children were illegally absent during the term to date.

Twenty visits to homes of pupils were made by the teachers of six grades. Twenty-five visits were made by parents to the school during the month.

The School Board fixed the following salaries at its meeting this week.

First grade: Emily B. Long, $1,200; Mabel A. Barnes, $1,400. Second grade: Reba Barnes, $1,400; Harriet H. Lear, $1,300; Third grade: Isabelle C. McCullagh, $1,300. Fourth grade: Anna V. Keenan, $1,300; Lillie M. Martin, $1,600. Fifth grade: Marie H. Radcliff, $1,200; Helen B. Henk, $1,300. Sixth grade: Gertrude S. Johnson, $1,400; Ellen R. Holland, $1,400. Seventh and eighth grades: Ada M. Griffith, $1,500; Margaret Bittner, $1,300.

High school: Principal, M. Elizabeth Lamb, $1,900. English: Lois Ryan, $1,600; Mary S. Baumgartner, $1,500. Mathematics: Vera R. Spencer, $1,600. History: Raymond V. Mood, $1,600. Science: Harold A. Secley, $1,500; J. LeRoy Arnold, $1,700. Commercial: Blanche W. Cliffton, $1,600. Manual training: Frank B. Yocum, $1,800. Music: Grace M. DeWitt, $1,600. Physical education: Marsden Heinrich, $1,500.

Supervising principal [superintendent]: Carmon Ross, $3,600.

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Fountain House remodeling, other building projects under way -

Building improvements, including the erection of new buildings and alterations under way at the present time and contemplated for the Summer months, represent an expenditure of close to $500,000 in the borough and vicinity.

Francis C. Mireau is making extensive improvements to the Fountain House. The building is being painted inside and out. Up-to-date plumbing is being installed and next year Mr. Mireau intends changing the roof on the building.

It is Mr. Mireau's plan to beautify the front of the hotel property that is now used as a parking place for automobiles.

J.F. Moore will erect a new business building and apartments on West State street at a cost of approximately $25,000. The new garage of the Hayman Motor Company on West State street will probably cost $25,000.

Among the manufacturing plants of the town, the Derk Manufacturing Company, a new concern that recently acquired the silk mill property, is making extensive improvements and alterations preparatory to opening the plant in a short time. The George Sommer creamery has made extensive improvements that cost over $10,000 and approximately doubled the capacity of the plant.

Work will start in the near future on the remodeling of the law offices of Arthur M. Eastburn on East Court street. An addition will be built to the rear of the present offices.

At 97 Union street and adjoining, David D. Nyce has erected a new bungalow and a house. On the extension of Clinton street, the same builder has completed four cottages. A new concrete garage has been erected by Mr. Nyce adjoining his mill property on Union street.

One of the most extensive home building projects under way in the borough is the new home of Charles C. McKinstry on East Ashland street, on Cider Mill hill. An old mill property is being remodeled into what will be one of the finest residences in the entire county, overlooking the picturesque grounds of the Doylestown Country Club.

District attorney proposes county children's home -

Kiwanian Hiram L. Keller, district attorney of Bucks county, spoke on "What Bucks County Most Needs" on Wednesday night at the weekly luncheon of the Kiwanis Club of Doylestown.

The district attorney contended there is an urgent need of a children's home in Bucks county. District Attorney Keller gave his heartiest endorsement of the plan, which has been proposed many times in the past.

The condition of certain families in various sections of the county was described. In many cases, these conditions are almost unbelievable, it was pointed out. The district attorney said that as many as fifteen cases in a week have been called to his attention.

Kiwanian Keller said legislation authorizes the county to provide, where the occasion arises, a home for children. The speaker urged Kiwanians to co-operate with the county officials in the establishment of such a home when the proper time arrives.

It was announced that the Kiwanis Club and the Rotary Club will join with the American Legion in the Boy Week celebration. The Kiwanis activities in this week have been turned over to Dr. Carmon Ross, chairman of the educational committee of the club.

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Doylestown Town Notes -

One of the largest lists of applicants for automobile examinations so far received, was presented Thursday morning to the highway patrolmen from Bethlehem on Maple avenue, where the examination of new drivers was held. One of the examiners said the large crowd indicated that the automobile salesmen are doing a record business with the arrival of warm weather.

John P. Stillwell is erecting an elaborate fence on his property on South Main street.

Miss Helen L. Ryan, who has been spending some time at her Doylestown home, has returned to the South, where she is affiliated in Red Cross work.

Announcement has been made of the birth of a daughter to Mr. and Mrs. Earl Frye, of Doylestown, at the Emergency Hospital on Wednesday afternoon.

The country home of Rudolf Hein, proprietor of the Doylestown Inn, has been remodeled. The place is located in Doylestown township.

Borough carts assisting in the Cleanup Day program were loaded Thursday morning with all sorts of rubbish set out along the curb in front of homes East of Main street.

Mitchell Hodges gave an interesting talk on American and European scenery Wednesday night at the first social gathering of the Young People's League of St. Paul's Episcopal Church. The talk was illustrated with lantern slides.

At the meeting of the American Legion Auxiliary Tuesday evening, $15 was donated to the Emergency Hospital, and it was reported that Easter boxes were sent to several ex-servicemen in hospitals.

The addition to the J.K. Musselman store on South Main street has been completed, making it one of the most attractive stores in the county.

Ten members of the Doylestown Commandery, No. 80, P.O.S. of A. [Patriotic Order Sons of America] visited the Perkasie camp Wednesday night, where there were forty members in attendance.

A meeting of the Progressive Thimble will be held at the home of Mrs. Russell Rutherford, Franklin street, on Thursday afternoon at 2:30.

Mrs. Margaret Sharrett has erected a new hog barn at her home on the Lower State road.

From the Doylestown Daily Intelligencer, Week of April 12-18, 1925