This Was Doylestown, 1959

Doylestown Shopping Center opening draws big crowd -

Editor's note - The Doylestown Shopping Center, built on a former farm on North Main Street, was the Doylestown area's first shopping center when it opened in October 1959. The 20 or so businesses included the Acme and A&P supermarkets, Sears and W.T. Grant department stores, Penn-Jersey Auto Store, Endicott-Johnson Shoe Store, Thrift Drug and Doylestown Key Bowling Center. The only original store remaining is Acme, which has been considerably enlarged over the decades.

An estimated 5,000 men, women and children visited and shopped at the official opening of the new Doylestown Shopping Center on Wednesday.

Everything from peanuts to furniture was offered to the public on the opening day, but the cash taken in on the opening day was anything but "peanuts."

Central Bucks countians got a first-hand glimpse of what an up-to-date shopping center looks like and how it operates. Some folks spent the entire day there with their families, many participating in the gifts and free articles given away.

The cash register tapes at the , according to store manager Enos Wonsidler, showed that 3,500 sales were transacted on the opening day, but at least another 2,000 persons were in the store during the day as "lookers on." The same kind of a crowd jammed the W.T. Grant department store.

Hornberger's Doylestown Bakery did "a wonderful business," and during the day more than 3,500 ice cream cones were given away to the youngsters and the grownups, too.

Shoppers not only came from central Bucks but from several nearby counties. Philadelphians with summer homes in this area were noticed in the big crowd.

Mrs. Richard Moyer, of Pipersville, a registered nurse, said: "First of all, you can park and walk, and not too far at that. Children love it because there is so much to see. It's like going to a picnic to shop in this new Doylestown Shopping Center."

Mrs. Yvette Mullen, of Valley View Trailer Park, Danboro, said: "I like this new Doylestown Shopping Center. Prices seem very fair; in fact, I found many bargains and excellent food, very well displayed. So far as parking is concerned, we will have no more headaches about whether we need a penny, a nickel or a dime [for a parking meter]."

Mid-town merchants, who were on hand to see what it looked like at the opening of the Center, saw plainly what they will have to do to keep up with the Center promotion. However, there is little doubt but what the Center will increase the business of mid-town stores, for many folks will visit the mid-town stores for articles not available at the Center.

Folk Dance Festival to welcome foreign students -

Sixty Doylestown families are ready to receive foreign students in their homes as part of "Operation Handshake," which gets off to a start this Saturday.

Students and families will gather Saturday evening at the Central Bucks High School cafeteria for the Folk Dance Festival. The entertainment will be provided by a group of colorful dancers from the Folk Dance Center of Philadelphia, who will present a program of traditional folk dances from many countries. Included among the dances will be the wild Tarantellas of Italy, the romantic Laendler of Bavaria, the stately country dances of the British Isles and lively group dances of Israel.

The traditional costumes which they wear are representative of the countries from which the dances are drawn, and the music is authentic, in many cases having been recorded by the native musical groups. The Folk Dance Center has been seen throughout the Philadelphia area and has always met with an enthusiastic reception. They have also appeared on television, both live and filmed.

The program, which is sponsored by the United Nations Committee of Doylestown, is the first of four programs which carries through to next summer, winding up with a swimming party and a barbecue. The idea of developing international friendships and understanding by informal family visiting is the heart of the program.

Doylestown's warm reception throughout last year's program is resulting in many friends returning, plus the addition of new students who are eagerly looking forward to their first visit with an American family.

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Doylestown Art League organized -

The Doylestown Art League was organized Thursday night in a meeting at the Swartzlander Community House, South Main street and East Oakland avenue. Fifteen of 20 persons present paid dues immediately.

Walter B. Fell of Doylestown, who served as the chairman, consented to serve in that capacity until a president and vice president are elected at the next meeting.

Mrs. Richard A. Sherman, of Spring Valley, was elected secretary-treasurer. Vernon Wood, of Doylestown, and Mrs. Ida Cooley, of Chalfont, were appointed members of the program committee to arrange for the next meeting.

Twenty persons attended the meeting and it was decided to meet twice a month if a suitable place can be found. The artists would like to do some painting while in sessions.

"Everyone was so enthusiastic," said Fell. "We are thinking of planning trips to the art museums in Philadelphia and New York. We could take sketching hikes. We can hold exhibits several times a year, plan dinners and get-togethers, all of which would combine the social phase with the academic and working classes."

Central Bucks secondary enrollment totals 2,288 -

The total enrollment of Central Bucks junior and senior high schools is 2,288 students, according to Jack L. Livingston, director of secondary education.

, which was built for a capacity of 800 students, has 874 boys and girls in grades seven and eight. Central Bucks High School has 1,414 students in grades nine, ten, eleven and twelve.

The grade enrollment is as follows: Seventh grade, 471; eighth grade, 403; ninth grade, 374; tenth grade, 371; eleventh grade, 381; and twelfth grade, 288.

There are 120 teachers and administrators, including 19 new teachers in Central Bucks High School and 12 in Lenape Junior High School. Thirteen student teachers from Penn State University are now doing observation practice teaching for eight weeks and will be finished Nov. 13.

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New shop to open on East Oakland avenue -

Mr. and Mrs. Herbert C. Eberhart have renovated their brick residence at 62 East Oakland avenue into a most attractive and modern commercial establishment.

As a part of the Doylestown Chamber of Commerce's program to beautify the mid-town business section and keep it appealing and inviting to shoppers, Mr. and Mrs. Eberhart are readying for the opening of their shop. The establishment bears the name, "The Eberharts - Interior" above the entrance on East Oakland avenue, near Pine street.

Mr. and Mrs. Eberhart, who are interior designers, will carry accessories for the home, furniture, antiques, lamps, glassware and many other kinds of merchandise that beautify, adorn or enhance the interior of a home.

Mrs. Eberhart said they expect to carry many imported articles, merchandise from Europe, Japan, the Orient, glass, copper and brass. "We will have some really fascinating things for the home," she said.

The front and side porches of the house were removed and replaced with a showroom that is 24 feet by 32 feet. The side and streetfront walls are panels of plate glass, which will provide a glimpse into the stunning interior.

National Agricultural College expands faculty -

The National Agricultural College [now ] has expanded its faculty to an all-time peak in the face of the largest student enrollment in its 63-year history.

James Work, president of the school founded by the late Rabbi Joseph Krauskopf of Philadelphia, said 10 new members have been added to the faculty this fall. This brings to 40 the size of the expanded staff.

The college, which is now planning a development program to enlarge its physical facilities and broaden its curricula, enrolled a record-breaking 345 students for the term. There are 131 students in the freshman class.

Heading the list of new faculty appointees is Ned A. Linta. He has been made chairman of the Department of Health, Physical Education and Athletics. Dr. David Blumenfield has been named an assistant professor of horticulture, and Paul. M. James an assistant professor of mathematics.

Other faculty additions include instructors in physics, German, animal husbandry and accounting; the head football coach, assistant football coach and assistant librarian.

From The Daily Intelligencer, Week of Oct. 11-17, 1959