This Was Doylestown, 1940

From the Doylestown Daily Intelligencer, Week of March 31-April 6, 1940

Census-taking begins in Doylestown -

The most elaborate and controversial nose-counting in the history of the United States got under way Tuesday when more than 120,000 enumerators started going door to door in Doylestown and throughout the country.

The first day of the 1940 census was marked with many pleasurable moments on the part of Doylestown's four enumerators. In only two instances did those questioned hesitate to tell what their income was last year. In both instances, the enumerator handed the objector an envelope into which was placed the figure, and then it was sealed and handed back to the enumerator.

Several residents invited the enumerators to lunch or tea.

J. Walter Beck, who is taking the census in the First Ward, completed 23 "counts" Tuesday. His worst trouble was finding people home. Like the other local enumerators, he had to return at night. Everything was rosy the first day. Not a single objection did he hear. Mostly women answered the questions.

Miss Grace Chandler, speaking of her activities in the second precinct in the Third Ward, explained that residents have cooperated most heartily. "In several instances," she said, "the people remarked that the questions were not nearly as hard as they had imagined them to be."

The trained statistic-hunters have a big job ahead to get through on time. The enumerators are paid four cents for every adult name and three cents for every minor's name they enter on their sheet.

[Editor's note - In the 1940 census, Doylestown Borough's population was 4,976, greater than Doylestown Township (1,471), Buckingham Township (2,359) and New Britain Borough (476) combined. Bucks County's population totaled 107,715.]

High school rifle team may have broken record -

Doylestown High School's rifle team came as near as a hair to breaking the world's record in the junior .22-caliber rifle class Friday--if they did not break it--competing in the first metropolitan junior rifle shoot championship at the Philadelphia Rifle Club, 8th street and Talbot road.

It was the occasion of the opening day of the three-day event in which close to a hundred clubs are competing. The Doylestown team, which has brought the County Seat more favorable publicity in town and metropolitan newspapers than all other sports combined at D.H.S. during the past two years, went to town in a grand way Friday afternoon..

Shooting early in the competition, the Seater rifle aces scored a grand total of 797 points out of a possible 800. "Absolutely remarkable; I never heard of such a thing in junior competition," declared one of the officers in charge of the competition.

It's about a 10 to 1 bet that no team will beat Doylestown's team score. It's a 100 to 1 bet that no individual will equal or better the individual score of Dave Gordon, a member of the Doylestown team who shot the unheard-of score of 46 consecutive bull's-eyes before he missed!

Television reception tested in Doylestown -

Two radio and television engineers from the Radio Corporation of America visited Doylestown on Friday to test reception from the television transmission center, which is in New York City. The R.C.A. is surveying reception in every 10-mile radius from the center. Doylestown is in the 70-mile radius.

Doylestown is far above the average for superb television reception. "Doylestown is very fortunate to have such good reception and the signals come in very strong," said one of the visiting engineers.

They conducted the test at the business of Jacob Frater, well-known Doylestown electrician. Mr. Frater said the engineers were working under difficulties because the mast [antenna] was not quite high enough.

A television broadcast that was received at the Scheetz store some time ago marked the first time that a television broadcast was ever seen in the County Seat. The mast was not high enough in that instance as well.

Mr. Frater explained that a town 100 miles away may enjoy better reception than one within the 10-mile radius of the transmitter.

[Editor's note - The National Broadcasting Co., owned by RCA, began television broadcasts at New York World's Fair in 1939. Television was limited until after World War II, when networks started nationally scheduled programming.]

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Company G veterans hold reunion -

Holding their annual reunion the night before the twenty-third anniversary of the declaration of war on Germany by the United States, veterans of "Old Company G" had about eighty of their number at the on Friday evening.

Most of those present served overseas with the Company during the World War. There were some veterans of the Spanish-American War present.

These reunions are about the only time when some of the veterans get together and have an opportunity to recall their experiences as buddies. Conspicuous in their reminiscences were the amusing things that happened in the service, and little reference to the grim and gory incidents. In the gathering were many still handicapped by wounds.

No doubt could be left concerning the admiration of the men for their one-time commander, Captain Charles Johnson.

"How that baby could fight," explained an enthusiastic buddy to a reporter. He added, pointing to the Captain's two legs, "He has two legs today only because he fought against amputation when he was wounded and they wanted to take one off."

Public schools to be repainted -

The Doylestown School Board, at its meeting held Monday evening, authorized specifications to be drawn up by A. Oscar Martin & Son for the painting of the two school buildings, for the purpose of receiving bids.

"The school buildings will not have to undergo any alterations in the interior this Summer, with the exception of painting a few of the halls, but the roof and exterior are badly in need of painting," said Frank Mitch, chairman of the building committee. He pointed out that he wanted a tinsmith to go over the metal shingles on the roof, making replacements if necessary, and then do the painting.

Mr. Mitch estimated that it will cost about $1,200 to paint the exterior, including the fire escapes and ventilators which need it also.

Following a discussion of the estimated school budget of $113,300, it was decided by the board to advertise a notice of the budget so that the taxpayers may have the opportunity of examining it before it is adopted by the school board.

President William H. Satterthwaite, Jr. said that changes will be made in the budget before it is finally adopted at the meeting in May.

Church to erect educational building -

Ground breaking exercises for the new $35,000 educational building of the will be held Monday at 6 o'clock. The program calls for a half-hour ceremony.

The program will start off with chimes played by the church organist, Howard M. Barnes, followed by invocation and Scripture reading by the clerk of the Session, J. Purdy Weiss. There will be a short address by the pastor, the Rev. Dr. Meyer M. Hostetter, whose subject will be "We Must Be Building." The ground breaking, in the charge of Arthur Gross, president of the board of trustees, will then take place.

The new building will be the last word in recreational halls in the County Seat. Construction work on the building will start next week.

When completed, the structure, of beautiful design and in an ideal location, will contain ample Sunday school rooms for the young children, and for the religious and social activities of the young people and adults of the church. The lower floor will have a large kitchen, social hall and gymnasium.

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Doylestown Town Notes -

Miss Cora Stover, of East Court street, has an unusual fan palm plant which blooms but one day a year. Today there are three gorgeous blooms showing.

Carol Kane, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. William Kane, entertained eight of her little friends Saturday afternoon at a party in honor of her birthday anniversary.

James M. Shellenberger, who is confined to his home on Golf View Road because of the flu, is improving.

Samuel L. Ely 2d, son of Mrs. Moses K. Ely, has resumed his studies at Stoney Brook School For Boys on Long Island after spending his Easter vacation in Doylestown.

Mr. and Mrs. Albert S. Caffey are quietly celebrating their forty-fifth wedding anniversary at their home on North Clinton street.

Mrs. Harry McKinstry, 75, of East Court street, who had the misfortune to slip and fall in her own home on Monday evening, is confined to her bed with injuries about the head.

Owing to the recent death of her mother--Mrs. John T. Magill of Astor street, Norristown--Miss Margaret Allen, superintendent of nurses at the Doylestown Emergency Hospital, will not return to her duties until next week.

Mr. and Mrs. Alvin Lippincott, of Andalusia, have moved into an apartment on Broad Street opposite the Court House park. Mr. Lippincott is a member of County Treasurer Althouse's staff.

Robert Gene Bryan, son of Mr. and Mrs. Warren F.Bryan of South Franklin street, who was injured while playing football for Doylestown High School last Fall, is a patient in Jefferson Hospital, Philadelphia, where he will have to undergo a bone scraping operation on his leg.

The next meeting of the Doylestown Nature Club will be held at the home of Mrs. F. Cyrus Twining, on Maple avenue, next Monday at 2:30 p.m. The topic for discussion will be "Penguins."

Miss Helen Whitenack will be the reader Saturday afternoon at the children's hour, two to three, at the Melinda Cox Free Library.

Between 50 and 60 new students from thirteen different States have been admitted so far this year to the National Farm School [now ], Dr. Harold B. Allen, president, announced Wednesday. The students come from as far west as California, as far south as Florida, and from the New England States in addition to the Middle West. Among the new candidates are seven refugee boys.

Illustrations courtesy of Spruance Library/Bucks County Historical Society, Doylestown, Pa.