This Was Doylestown, 1936

Doylestown factories busy at Christmastime -

Doylestown workers have a right to be thankful this Christmas, for every manufacturing plant is working full time, with prospects of continuous operation throughout 1937.

Wages have been increased in a number of places, working conditions made more enjoyable for employees, and Christmas parties have been planned by a number of business places.

The Clear Spring Worsted Mill on North Main street, the borough's largest industry, increased all wages 10 percent starting with the last payroll, a very nice bonus for anyone.

"We are very glad to be able to increase wages 10 percent at this time," declared Harris Holmes, a member of the firm. "We have always been against low wages for they get you nowhere. This increase in wages has taken place throughout the textile trade because the trade is sold on the idea that only by the increase in wages will times continue to be good."

Another big plant, Doyle Hosiery, is working full time, and the large number of employees have every reason to feel happy at this season of the year. The owner of the plant, John Doyle, has always been just "one of the gang" among the mill workers. For that reason, his Christmas party planned this year will be another very enjoyable affair.

The Fretz clothing factory reports an excellent business with enough orders on the books to keep its local plant working at full-time capacity.

Community Christmas tree lighted -

Nothing but comment of a complimentary nature was heard Thursday night in Doylestown's business center when the community Christmas tree lights were turned on for the first time.

The tree, located on Fountain House plaza, is probably the largest community tree ever planted here for the Yuletide season. Five hundred new electric lights, 500 new sockets, new wiring and fencing were used this year.

Incidentally, this tree and the lights were erected this year by members of the Christmas tree committee, including R.C. Tell, Charles A. Rowe, Francis Ellsworth, Claude Meyers and a number of others who got a big kick out of the thing because they did all the work themselves. Mr. Meyers donated the tree, while the electrical service and some additional paid help was donated by Mr. Tell.

The Kiwanis Club, sponsors of the community tree, will next year consider seriously the purchase of a permanent tree to be placed at some central location.

Canadian Mountie speaks at high school -

Sidney R. Montague, a member of the Royal Canadian Mounted Police, spoke before several hundred boys and girls at an assembly Monday morning in the Doylestown High School auditorium.

Speaking on "Eskimoan modes of living and life in the Arctic lands," the Canadian version of the G-man [federal government agent] deplored the idea that most Americans think Eskimos are dirty and slovenly.

"If the Eskimos didn't keep clean, or were half as dirty as they are supposed to be, they would freeze to death. They keep themselves, as well as their clothing, very clean because in an Arctic climate it is necessary to keep moisture off the body," Officer Montague said.

"Their fur-lined undergarments are changed each night, and in the morning the first thing they do before putting them on is to scrape the frozen moisture off the fur which has accumulated while were sleeping in their night garments," he said.

Pointing out that the Eskimos have a unique civilization all their own, the officer explained they never had a depression, nor any crime sufficient to mention. Eskimos never suffer from cancer nor do they ever have a toothache--and they better not because there are no dentists.

The guest speaker illustrated the use of the harpoon, used entirely for the catching of seals. To shoot a seal with a gun or pistol is to lose him in the icy water because the fur-bearing animal, unlike a fish, sinks and falls to the bottom after it is killed in the water.

Advertisement -

HOLIDAY BAKING...Nut and Fruit Cake, 50c lb....Springerles, Cinnamon Stars, Pfefferneusse, Anise Drops, Sand Tarts, Honey Animals, Mince and Pumpkin Pie, Coffee Cakes, Whipped Cream Eclairs...WAGNER'S BAKERY, "For Good Things To Eat," 42 East State St., Doylestown, Pa....Phone 184W

Woman artist stages exhibition -

Mrs. Pemberton Ginther, well-known local artist, staged a one-man [sic] exhibition of pictures in the office of Theodore Kline on North Main street.

Represented in the exhibition are 35 hangings, including landscapes, portraits, sketches and flower studies. Of interest are the handsome gold-leaf and polychrome plaques.

Numerous local art lovers visited the show on Saturday and Sunday. "Sea Water" and "Rolling Green," both colorful and moving, are the artist's latest works and drew an enthusiastic response.

"Sea Water" depicts the rugged Maine coast near Ogunquit. "Rolling Green" is the stone home of Mrs. William R. Nichols at Aquetong, which dates back to Revolutionary Days.

Another of Mrs. Ginther's works is "Graeme Park," the Horsham home of Sir William Keith, first provincial governor of Pennsylvania, now owned by Welsh Strawbridge. The handsome residence was built in 1722 and was recently executed in oil by the artist.

Other paintings include studies of Buckingham Mountain, Autumn vistas and a study of chorines aptly named "Chorus Girls." Portraits of various friends in oils indicate the versatility of Mrs. Ginther, who provides for the County Seat the sole art exhibition of the season.

P.T.A. hears talk on peace -

Members of the Doylestown Township Parent-Teacher Association, attending the monthly meeting Friday evening in the consolidated school, were given a talk on peace by Mrs. John A. Lester, of the township.

Mrs. Lester spoke about the recent peace conference in Geneva, Switzerland, which she attended.

She said that people of this nation should have a peace philosophy. She also urged that people keep an eye on affairs in Washington, D.C., especially in reference to the Neutrality Bill. She said that affairs in the Near East should be kept in mind.

The meeting was opened with the singing of a number of Christmas carols, with teachers Miss Marie Barton directing and Miss Martha Diehl at the piano. The violin accompaniment was played by Gladys Frankenfield and William Partsch, two youthful musicians from Doylestown, who also rendered a number of duets during the evening.

To the delight of the audience, Herman Hessler, of the National Farm School [now Delaware Valley College], rendered the well-known Christmas carol, "Silent Night," in the German language as a vocal solo.

Miss Sara E. Hall, principal, announced that the various grades of the consolidated school will present a Christmas program on Wednesday afternoon, December 23, beginning at 1:30 o'clock. She stated also that the school will close for the Christmas season on December 23 and reopen on January 4.

Advertisement -

You are assured an evening of healthful exercise and fun and you may win your Christmas turkey at EDISON ROLLER RINK...Sunday Nite, December 20...Good music, Building well heated.

Doylestown Town Notes -

A six-foot candy cane, which tips the scales at 14-1/2 pounds, is suspended on three white ribbons in the show window at the Palace of Sweets in the Odd Fellows Building [Lenape Hall]. It will be a Christmas gift to the Tabor Home.

Miss Marian Michener, of West Court street, returned to her home on Sunday from Miami, Florida, where she spent a week as the guest of a friend.

William C. Fell, of Edison, was treated for a laceration of the scalp at the Emergency Hospital on Saturday after falling in the street.

Members of Doylestown Lodge, Patriotic Order Sons of America, defeated a Southampton team in an indoor baseball game on Tuesday by a score of two to one.

Mrs. Domer N. Shaw, a transcriber in the Orphans' Court office in the Court House, is confined to her apartment on North Main street by an attack of the grippe [flu].

Henry A. James is sailing Friday on the Brittanic on a cruise to Bermuda and the West Indies during the holiday season.

Mr. and Mrs. Russell B. Gulick were awarded the favors at a bridge club party given Thursday evening by Mr. and Mrs. Edward G. Biester at their home on Shewell avenue.

About 60 people, including children, attended a Christmas party given Tuesday evening in the basement of the Church of Our Lady of Mount Carmel by members of the Doylestown Catholic Club. Paul Petrillo impersonated Santa Claus during the exchange of gifts.

Henry Trauger, son of Harry Trauger of Harvey avenue, who is confined to his home because of an attack of pneumonia, is improving.

Mr. and Mrs. George Fields, of Mercer avenue, are receiving congratulations on the birth of an eleven-pound daughter at their home on Friday.

Rudolph Hein, son of Mr. and Mrs. Rudolf Hein of West State street, a student at Lafayette College in Easton, is spending the Christmas vacation season at home.

Anthony A. Beshel, instructor of the Doylestown High School Rifle Club, announced that in the near future the student sharpshooters will stage a movie benefit to raise money to buy at least two first-class rifles, to be used in shooting matches with other schools. This will mean an outlay of more than $100.

From the Doylestown Daily Intelligencer, Week of Dec. 13-19, 1936