This Was Doylestown, 1957

From The Daily Intelligencer, Week of Aug. 4-10, 1957

Doylestown Hospital seeks to raise $1,500,000 -

on Tuesday began its campaign to raise $1,500,000. The hospital, which recently dropped the name Emergency since it has long ago outgrown that phase, serves about 60,000 persons in the Central Bucks communities.

The $1,500,000 campaign will be made to build a new medical, surgical and pediatric building. The present hospital building, which opened in 1939 at Belmont Avenue and Spruce Street, will be used for a maternity building. It is an accredited hospital and has a medical staff of 34 nurses, doctors and personnel.

Last year, 785 babies were born in the hospital. In 1950, there were 522 babies born, showing the tremendous increase in maternity work. In 1956, there were 1,197 operations performed, compared to 741 in 1950. Last year, the hospital admitted 15,268 patients, compared to 5,801 in 1950.

The slogan for the million-and-a-half-dollar campaign for funds is "Help Build New Hospital"; "Your Job...Your Opportunity." The door-to-door solicitation for funds will get under way in September.

As a kick-off, it has been announced that doctors' pledges amount to $60,000; nurses and personnel, $10,000; and hospital board, $15,605.

Doylestown Hospital is unique because it is the only hospital in the United States built, maintained and completely owned by women, the Village Improvement Association.

[Editor's note - In 1975, the hospital moved to West State Street in Doylestown Township. The former hospital is now a nursing home.]

Lions Club to clean up Courthouse Park -

Doylestown Lions Clubmen will clean up Courthouse Park Monday at 7 p.m., George W. Carver, Jr., chairman of the , announced.

Carver, who said the summer band concert season was one of the most successful in the history of the alfresco musicals held in Courthouse Park since World War II days, lauded everyone who helped make them successful.

"Never have we had better co-operation from Doylestown merchants, the people in Doylestown and nearby communities, and The Daily Intelligencer," Carver said.

He asked that every Lions Clubman report to help remove the bandstand, seats and concrete blocks which provided foundations for the benches, so that it can all be cleaned up in one evening.

L. Lloyd Trauger, Lions Club president, said the offerings given by the music lovers who attended the five concerts during July and August, as well as the donations given by the businessmen and numerous individuals, will help make the season a success. Any money that is left over, after the expenses are paid, will be divided up and returned to the Central Bucks High School student members of the orchestra, band and swing band.

Advertisement -

MOST TREMENDOUS MOTION PICTURE EVER!...Cecil B. DeMille's THE TEN COMMANDMENTS...A Paramount Picture-VistaVision-Technicolor...Last 4 Days; Matinees at 2 p.m., Evenings at 8 p.m....Adults, Evenings, $1.50; Adults, Matinees, 90c; Children Under 12 Years, 75c at All Times..., Doylestown...Scientifically Air Conditioned.

Doylestown Inn may be reopened -

A Doylestown Realtor, J. Carroll Molloy, Jr., said Thursday many persons are interested in reopening the , which closed its doors July 4.

"During the past month, three or four active or 'live' prospects have been inspecting the hotel," said Molloy. He said there is much interest in reopening the hotel, which was one of the best-known eating places in this section of the East.

Mr. and Mrs. Milton Mustin, who purchased the hotel in February 1956 for around $200,000, closed it without warning July 4. Mrs. Mustin said they just couldn't go on any longer because of her husband's ill health due to a heart condition, and they intended to sell the inn.

Doylestown Inn, built in 1902 by James Pollock, has had a varied career. It was known as Hotel Pollock until it was purchased by the late Rudolf G. Hein and Mrs. Hein (now Mrs. Harry C. Wood) in 1919. Under the Heins' ownership, the hotel was renovated, refurnished and enlarged until it became known throughout the East as one of the best eating places, a most comfortable and delightfully family-like hostelry.

In 1938, the Heins purchased the building adjacent to the hotel and constructed two attractive dining rooms, enlarged the lobby, made modern rooms on the second and third floors and air-conditioned the lobby.

The "Jug-in-the-wall" Bar, a grotto, is one of the best-known rendezvous in the Central Bucks area.

(Editor's Note: The Doylestown Inn was recently placed on the auction block; it is at Bucks County's monthly Sheriff's Sale in September.)

Children enjoy watermelon feast -

There was this watermelon feast out at the Blanche Burpee Memorial Playground [East Oakland Avenue and Church Street] the other day and a couple hundred youngsters were putting the stuff away like it was going out of style.

Stan MacFarlane, who coaches basketball and volleyball at Central Bucks High School (now ), was perched on the tailgate of a station wagon slicing the melons and having a hard time keeping up with the demand.

Bob Finn, who used to coach basketball at CBHS, was circulating, seeing that the slices went only one to a customer the first time around and adroitly handling a slice of his own.

Ed Miller, football coach at the junior high and head of the recreation program in Doylestown, was trying to help a photographer set some pictures up, but the kids weren't talking--or posing--while the melons lasted. One little fellow wasn't letting a broken arm keep him from getting his share.

Finally, the last of the twelve melons was sliced and consumed. The kids scattered to the four corners of the playground to work up appetites for supper.

Advertisement -

Delicious Fresh Beef HAMBURGERS...Steak, Ham, Salami, Hoagies...Soda Fountain Service...Phone FI8-5271 for Take Out...Service Hours Daily Incl. Sat. 8 a.m. to 11 p.m., Sunday Noon to 10 p.m....FICKES' DAIRY BAR, 29 South Main St., Doylestown.

Commissioner reports on juvenile detention home -

The Bucks County Detention Home has handled 145 boys' and girls' cases so far this year and 481 since it opened three years ago, Bucks County Chief Commissioner John T. Welsh said at a dinner meeting of the Doylestown Lions Club Thursday night.

He revealed that one quarter of a million dollars of the taxpayers' money is spent annually by the Bucks County Juvenile Court Department.

"Children who break the law pass through our Detention Home," said Welsh. "Good home life, love, care, good food and attention are given the delinquent boys and girls who are kept there until the Juvenile Court authorities can investigate their cases, background and offenses."

Mr. and Mrs. Russell Stewart are in charge of the home, which is regarded as one of the finest in this section of the East. The home, a handsome brick and artistically designed building, is located on ten acres taken from 148 belonging to the County Home Farm in Doylestown township, south of Edison.

It cost $120,000 to build the home in 1954 and $12,000 to furnish it. Eight boys and four girls can be taken care of simultaneously, but it can be expanded to provide space for 20 boys and girls.

"The Detention Home is in excellent condition," said Welsh, who commented that screens instead of iron bars are used at the windows. The screens will withstand 1,000 pounds of pressure and weight. Six rooms with bars in the old men's building at Neshaminy Manor Home previously served as the quarters for juvenile delinquents.