This Was Hatboro-Horsham, 1925

From the Public Spirit, Week of Oct. 2-8, 1925

Old York road to be paved with concrete

Work is progressing rapidly on the building of the new concrete roadway on Old York road from County Line road south through Hatboro. With favorable weather conditions, the work will be completed and the entire new roadway open to traffic by the middle of December.

At the end of this week, the mammoth steam shovel, which has been tearing off the surface of the old road from Monument avenue south, will have reached Moreland avenue. The Union Paving Company, contractor for the operation, plans to continue this work south through the Byberry avenue-Moreland avenue block, which will mean the blocking off of Hatboro's main business section.

North of Monument avenue, a machine has been at work ripping up the macadam surface. Steel beams for the first of the concrete have been laid from County Line road south for several hundred yards. The contractors plan to pour the first concrete in about one week.

The Philadelphia Suburban Gas and Electric Company, working in advance of the paving company and where the roadway is to be widened, is replanting their poles to conform with the new curb line.

The Hatboro Board of Trade is arranging a comprehensive plan for the free parking of automobiles in the borough during the period that Old York road is torn up and being concreted. All traffic will be cared for during this time and no one need stay away from the town.

Horsham to vote on high school loan

The school board of Horsham township will put before the voters in the November election the question of whether or not Horsham shall increase its indebtedness by $65,000 to join with Warminster township and Hatboro in constructing and furnishing a new high school.

Many persons in the township appear to be of the opinion that they are voting for or against a proposition whereby a school structure built and conducted by these townships shall be placed only in Hatboro. No such motive is expressed.

However, if it is agreed by the boards of all three districts that a high school, supported by all, shall be placed at any point, it may be done only with the ultimate assent of the state department of education.

As the state department has offered an opportunity to Horsham, Hatboro and Warminster to finance in part a first-class vocational high school, the school boards of each district have studied and found this a most splendid opportunity to afford their respective sections with a source of maintenance of one of the finest schools that can be placed in a rural district.

Whether or not in turning down the joint proposition with the two other school districts Horsham will be able to secure an appropriation from the state is a matter of great uncertainty. Without state aid for construction, and for maintenance as well, a township of the fourth class cannot hope for any up-to-date schools.

Therefore, the matter of accepting or rejecting the indebtedness means accepting or rejecting an opportunity to gain access to a high school to be built of the finest type and to be equipped in a first-class manner.

Editor's note - In the Nov. 3 election, Horsham voters rejected the proposed loan by a margin of 417 to 170, ending plans for a joint high school. However, Hatboro voters in 1926 approved a loan for Hatboro High School, which was built in 1927. Horsham paid tuition for any township students who attended that school. In 1950, the two districts formed the joint Hatboro-Horsham High School.

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Hatboro factory to spur demand for houses 

The influence of the coming of the Oscar Nevel Company to Hatboro, where they are erecting a large hosiery mill on Northampton street, is already being felt in the demand for dwellings.

Two attractive bungalows facing on Northampton street above Montgomery avenue, which were built some time ago by Messrs. McIlhatten and Slatter, have been sold to the Oscar Nevel Company, presumably for executives of that concern.

The Oscar Nevel Company will employ a large number of hands, and many dwellings will be required for their employees. Hatboro builders and realty developers will find active demand for moderately priced dwellings in this connection.

It is stated that Messrs. McIlhatten and Slater are considering plans for the erection of additional houses. In the same vicinity, a number of other houses are planned. The outlook for Hatboro's building boom to expand is excellent.

Two adjoining farms sold in Horsham 

Two adjoining farms in Horsham township have been sold to K.C. Acton, of Philadelphia and Bryn Athyn.

On the Megargee farm, along Easton road above Maple avenue, an aviation field is to be constructed [this became Pitcairn Field, later Willow Grove Naval Air Station]. On the Charles A. Schlachter place, along Horsham road opposite Norristown road, a golf course is to be laid out.

The Schlachter farm of 74 acres and the Megargee farm of 70 acres were sold at the approximate figure of $150,000. The deal was made by B.B. Lister & Son, realtors of Germantown.

It is reported that the same purchasers, desiring to acquire the Jonathan Stackhouse farm, which adjoins the Megargee and Schlachter properties, offered $118,000 for it, which offer was refused. The Stackhouse farm has a long frontage upon Easton road and has excellent buildings. It has long been one of the most productive farms in the township.

Also, the 30-acre farm of Ellwood Kneezel on Easton road, opposite Davis Grove road, was reported sold. His son, Walter Kneezel, and wife now reside on the place. Possession is not to be given until some time next year.

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Hatboro and Horsham Happenings

When called for jury duty at Norristown on Monday, Welsh Strawbridge, farmer, of Horsham, said he was willing to serve, but thought it his duty to tell the Court he was hard of hearing. Judge Miller tested his hearing by asking him questions. He was not excused by the Court but was told that if he was embarrassed at any time by inability to hear, he should call the Court's attention to it.

Mrs. David Schuler, of Hatboro, suffered a fall last week and has been taken to Northwestern Hospital, where she is under the care of two nurses.

Harry Yochum's large gray stone house at Easton road and Maple avenue, Horsham, is nearing completion. He plans to build two more houses on Maple avenue.

The ladies of the Methodist Episcopal Church in Hatboro held a successful cake and candy sale at the Town Hall last Friday afternoon.

Mrs. Louis Hillyer and Miss Sarah Hillyer, of Philadelphia, visited Mrs. Chester Duckworth, of Horsham, on Sunday.

An aluminum demonstration was held on Monday at the home of Mrs. Sarah Heaton Yerkes in Hatboro. The salesman prepared a luncheon and served it to the ladies who attended.

Mrs. Edward Cribb, of Horsham, has been carrying her arm in a sling, having strained her left shoulder when she slipped and fell on the porch of her home on Sunday.

The new house of Mrs. Mary A. Kearns on the Hatboro Heights tract is nearing completion.

The choir of Grace Union Church in Horsham held its weekly practice Thursday at the home of Mrs. Howard Smith on Norristown road. After rehearsal, the members of the choir enjoyed the evening around the open fireplace, roasting frankfurters and toasting marshmallows.

Russell Williams, of Hatboro, was operated upon at Abington Memorial Hospital on Friday for the removal of his tonsils.

Mr. and Mrs. Charles Schlachter and Miss Hannah M. Comly entertained friends at cards on Monday evening at their home on Horsham road, Horsham.

Prof. H. Clay Borden is making extensive alterations to his summer home on the Horsham and Hatboro turnpike, in Hatboro. The house has been raised and a cellar dug, new porches and another story added. The stone was secured from the old breast dam on the property.