This Was Doylestown, 1949

First night football game played in Doylestown -

Nearly 3,000 sports fans turned out Friday night for the first night football game in Doylestown's history.

The "first nighters" who witnessed the affair pronounced it the most colorful in local sports history. There was one sad note for the followers of the Hornets--the score.

With the stands at War Memorial Field jammed to capacity, and another thousand persons standing, Doylestown High and Bensalem Township High battled it out on the finest turf gridiron in this section of the United States. The final result was a 12 to 6 victory for the undefeated Lower Bucks County champions of 1948.

No finer sportsmanship was ever displayed on a local gridiron than was shown by the Bensalem gridders and coaching staff. The Booster Committee acted wisely when they selected Bensalem for the opening game.

Bensalem's well-coached eleven had a slight edge over the Hornets, who were lacking in a balanced offense and needed better blocking. Bensalem registered 11 first downs to five for Doylestown.

The visitors, rated as the underdog by many before the game, displayed the fight that seemed to be missing in the Hornet lineup at various intervals during the game. Bensalem was very aggressive.

During the half, the Jesse W. Soby Post's cadet drum and bugle corps from Langhorne practically stole the entire show, performing in letter-perfect formations and playing tunes that captured the imagination of the large crowd.

The Philadelphia professional football team's Eaglettes, trained by the nationally famous Sam Lange, performed a baton exhibition. Lange's flaming batons, with the field lights out, brought thunderous applause.

Doylestown Agricultural Company opens automobile showroom -

The Doylestown Agricultural Company, dealers in Cadillac and Oldsmobile automobiles and International trucks, on Friday opened a handsome new automobile showroom at 350 South Main street.

Joseph R. Ruos, head of the company, and his associate, Mrs. Horace Redfield, have carried out their original plans to erect a building in keeping with the historic architecture of Doylestown. Located on a three-and-a-half acre tract with 300 feet of frontage on Main street, the new building is 153 by 75 feet.

Grass plots, trees and shrubbery surround the building, which is of Colonial-type architecture with a slate roof over the showroom and offices, and a concrete slab roof over the service department.

Twenty-five cars can be serviced in this department. There are five lifts, four for passenger cars and one for trucks. A Bear Wheel Alignment Machine, undercoating machinery, high pressure lubrication machines, a brake drum lathe and motor analyzers are but a few of the modern machines available.

The State is also approving the garage as an official inspection station.

The present plant of the Doylestown Agricultural Company will continue to operate at the location [South Main and Ashland streets] where it has been for many years--the largest agricultural machinery plant in Bucks county.

Editor's note - The showroom building no longer exists, and the Penn's Court office complex occupies the site. The agricultural machinery plant was restored in the 1980s as the Doylestown Agricultural Works.

Chicken hatchery locates in Doylestown -

Hy-Cross Hatcheries has completed an elaborate plant on Swamp road [at Center Street] and has located the home office for the New England and Middle Atlantic States here.

Two of the officials of the company, which developed the nationally famous "Pioneers" hybrid corn, have taken up residence in Doylestown. They are Ralph Colton, president, and Robert Wallace, vice president.

Hy-Cross Hatcheries was started in the Midwest in 1942 and since that time the business has grown to such an extent that 15,000,000 chicks were sold last year in various sections of the United States.

Ed Harly, a well-known area resident, was recently appointed plant superintendent and district sales manager.

Sales representatives from the New England and Middle Atlantic States met at the Doylestown office on Saturday in the first annual all-day sales conference. They were highly impressed by Bucks county and especially Doylestown as the home for the development of the product they represent.

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Borough Council approves paving two alleys -

Doylestown Borough Council on Monday night adopted a plan to resurface the narrow alley between East State street and East Oakland avenue, starting from the side of Halin's United Cut Rate Drug Store on East State street and running South to East Oakland avenue.

The alley, which Council members believe had a name at one time, will now be named as a street. Council members are desirous of receiving suggestions for a name and will take action at the October meeting after the borough solicitor has received the necessary releases from the property owners.

(Editor's note - Today, the northern half of the alley is pedestrian-only Market Way, and the southern half is the entrance to a parking lot.)

Another small alley running at a right angle from this one will also be resurfaced.

In other business, Council approved the lone bid for $1,200 for garbage disposal in Doylestown. The bid was submitted by the present contractors, Gorski Klimazewski and Joseph Gorski, of Penn's Park.

A bill for $355 submitted by a local contractor, with a notation that the borough's share is one-half that amount for installation of a new curb and sidewalk in front of the Knower & Jackson shoe store on West State street, was tabled for further consideration. Secretary C. LeRoy Frack was authorized to write Mr. Knower advising him that the Borough cannot agree to lay sidewalks unless there is a stipulated agreement with Council as to the price ahead of time.

Patrolman McIntyre was placed on the regulation pay scale, marking the end of the three-month probationary period as a new officer. His salary automatically is raised from $45 to $50 a week.

National Agricultural College breaks ground for dormitory -

Another important step in the development of the National Agricultural College [now Delaware Valley College] as an accredited four-year educational institution took place Wednesday afternoon when ground was broken for a new $60,000 gift dormitory which carries with it $10,000 additional for furnishings.

Declaring "the best way to help humanity in general these days is to help people help themselves," Edwin B. Elson, prominent New York City manufacturer, lifted the spade of dirt that featured the informal ground-breaking ceremony.

The well-known philanthropist said that he had been interested in the National Agricultural College, formerly the National Farm School, for many years. He said it was his belief that if a person has the financial means, nothing is better than to make it possible to turn out good Americans.

James Work, president of the college, in introducing Mr. Elson, said: "In my opinion, our generous friend of today typifies sincerity without the least bit of fanfare and show."

Ground was broken just off Memorial Lane, where the new dormitory will get under construction immediately.

Attending the ceremony were the entire student body; Mrs. Joseph I. Krauskopf, of Philadelphia, wife of the late founder of the school; Dr. Louis Nusbaum, former president of the school; and a number of distinguished patrons of the school from Philadelphia and New York who have had much to do with the development of the school.

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Doylestown Town Notes -

The twelfth birthday anniversary of Miss Almeana Carver, of Lafayette street, was celebrated with a party held in the American Legion Home on North street, attended by about 45 guests. In addition to music provided by the juke box, accordion selections were presented by Frank Udinski, with the guest of honor receiving many beautiful gifts.

Joseph Gryson has purchased 26 acres in Doylestown township adjoining his property from Mrs. Phyllis R. Crawford.

Mr. and Mrs. Edward M. Happ entertained their card club at a picnic supper and corn roast at their home on Maple avenue Wednesday evening.

Miss Thelma Brewer, instructor of English at Doylestown High School, who has been ill at her home in Green Lane, is much improved and may return to her classes next week.

Mr. and Mrs. Joseph Reshetar, of Mary street, are receiving congratulations on the birth of a daughter Thursday morning in the Emergency Hospital.

The Doylestown Lions Club bowling team won four games in the bowling league this week.

Mr. and Mrs. Archibald B. Hubard have purchased a property on East State street from William H. Taylor, of Lionville.

Mrs. Kenneth Taylor, of West Ashland street, was admitted to the Emergency Hospital to undergo an operation.

Mr. and Mrs. Raymond Wodock, of Lower State road, and Mr. and Mrs. John Evans, of Hamilton street, have returned after spending a few days in Wildwood, N.J.

Miss Nellie Holland, of Philadelphia, who was a member of the Doylestown Public School faculty more than a quarter of a century ago, visited friends here Wednesday. She is now retired.

Mr. and Mrs. Norman W. Lear, of East Court street, attended the Allentown Fair on Thursday.

A Doylestown man complained to police that he attended a sale this week, and after having his fortune told by a band of gypsies, found that his wallet had been "lifted," the cash removed and the wallet returned.

From the Doylestown Daily Intelligencer, Week of Sept. 18-24, 1949