This Was Hatboro-Horsham, 1944

From the Public Spirit, Week of Dec. 21-27, 1944

Hatboro schools, churches celebrate Christmas

The annual Christmas carol service was held Thursday in the auditorium of Hatboro High School with Miss Hester Fleck, head of the vocal department, conducting.

More than a hundred pupils of the third, fourth, fifth and sixth grades sang, in addition to both the Junior and Senior Glee Clubs. Russell Alden was tenor soloist and Bryant Mitchell was violin soloist. William Hobensack, Mary Beth Bechtel and Helen Kreider were accompanists.

The annual Christmas assembly took place on Friday under the direction of Mrs. Pearle Norris. In addition to students from the high school, pupils in the first three elementary grades took part.

At Loller School, attractive Christmas remembrances were sent from all the homerooms to the Junior Red Cross, including toys, games, potted plants, menus, decorated vases, books, tray covers and puzzles.

Pupils in the first two grades enjoyed pictures of "Toyland Adventures" and "Our Furry Friends in Winter," shown by John McKiernan.

Church sermons on Sunday [Dec. 24] were devoted to Christmas. At Lehman Memorial Methodist Church, the sermon at the morning service was "The Wonderful Gift" and the sermon at the evening service was "Our Debt to Christ."

Rev. Kenneth Lloyd Garrison, minister of Hatboro Baptist Church, preached "The Christmas Secret" at the morning worship. In the evening, members of the church presented a Scriptural play, "I Am Gabriel," and the choir performed special Christmas music.

"Christ Jesus" was the subject of the lesson-sermon in the Church of Christ, Scientist. The Golden Text read: "The people that walked in the darkness have seen a great light; they that dwelt in the land of the shadow of death, upon them hath the light shined" (Isaiah 9:2).

Lieutenant commander leaves Naval Air Station 

Lt. Comdr. Carl L. Estes, second in command at the Willow Grove Naval Air Station, left this week for sea duty in the South Pacific.

Estes, a Texas oil magnate and Democrat, came to Pennsylvania in 1935 to act as political mentor and advisor to Arthur H. James [Republican governor from 1939-43]. Estes arrived at a time when James appeared to have a chance to become a national figure.

In August 1942, Estes joined the Navy and was assigned to the newly established airfield at Willow Grove. During his assignment, he met Ensign Margaret V. McLeod, a member of the WAVES [Women Accepted for Volunteer Emergency Service], and they were married in November, 1943.

She has since resigned from the Navy, and will go next week to Longview, Texas to take over the extensive Estes interests, which include a chain of 11 newspapers.

"I've had a marvelous time in Pennsylvania, but now I look forward to taking part in the actual fighting," Estes said. "When the war's over, I expect to make my home in Texas and again participate in Democratic affairs."

Advertisement 

As the spirit of Christmas warms our hearts it renews hope that the dark hours we have seen will soon be dissipated in the brightness of the New Year--that again we shall enjoy in Peace those things that mean most to us--family--country--home--friends, and all the pleasant associations of business. In appreciation of the friendliness you have shown, we extend Greetings of the Season and all good wishes...DR. FRANK A. HIRSCH and ASSOCIATES, Hatboro, Pa....Phone Hatboro 0399.

Hatboro sailor killed in plane crash; two soldiers wounded in action 

Ensign Gerald Short, U.S. Navy, of Hatboro, was killed in an airplane crash at Daytona Beach, Florida last Wednesday. He was twenty-one years old and a graduate of Hatboro High School.

The body was sent home under escort of Ensign Aurel Moldoyan of Ohio, and full military honors were accorded him at the funeral this week. Services were held at the Felty Funeral Home, with burial at Wrightstown, Bucks county. The color guard and firing squad were from the Willow Grove Naval Air Station.

Ensign Short's father, John Short, U.S.N., now stationed in California, was able to get home in time for the funeral. Besides his father, he is survived by his mother, now Mrs. Addie Vigh of Central avenue, Hatboro.

On Tuesday, Elmer Hoffman of Continental road, Hatboro, received a telegram from the War Department notifying him that his son, Pfc. Lawrence H. Hoffman, had been seriously wounded in action somewhere in France, and is now hospitalized.

Another son, Pvt. Robert Hoffman, was wounded in Sicily, returned to Africa, was again hospitalized and is now presumably somewhere in Italy.

Horsham Farmers' Club discusses labor shortage 

"The farm labor shortage during the war has been responsible for many changes on the farm," said Joseph H. Penrose at the meeting of the Horsham Farmers' Club on Saturday night at the home of Mr. and Mrs. F.W. Ochrle on County Line road.

Despite the labor shortage, farmers have done a good job, with elderly persons and those too young for military service doing most of the work, said Mr. Penrose. He mentioned the tractor, combine and corn husker as labor-saving devices farmers are using.

Joseph W. Hallowell reported for the Crop committee that winter wheat is in good condition. Dairy farmers are concerned about next year's hay crop, as the stand appears to be poor. Shipments of potatoes from the West have stopped, and the residents of the East now have to depend on Pennsylvania and Maine for their supply of potatoes.

Frank B. Carrell of the same committee spoke of the good crops of peaches and apples this fall. He said this is the time to trim fruit trees. The State is urging a fight against the coddling moth, and it has recommended the scraping of loose bark from the trees and burning it in order to destroy the larvae. It has also suggested that boxes and baskets in which the apples are kept be screened in order to keep the moths from the fruit.

An interesting account concerning the preparation of a Christmas dinner some years ago was read by Mrs. Grant C. Swartley of the Domestic Economy committee. Mrs. Joseph Kirk gave recipes for food to go in lunch boxes, speaking in particular about sandwich preparation.

Georgina Mather gave a demonstration of making corsages, trimming Christmas boxes and Christmas wreaths. Mrs. Walter Comly sent a poem about "The gift or gifts I most appreciate and the gifts I would not want repeated."

Advertisement 

CHRISTMAS DINNER Will Be Served on Sunday, December 24th with Turkey and All the Trimmings. Also Our Usual Dishes. Open from Noon to 8 P.M....SHIP AHOY RESTAURANT, 24 N. York Road, Hatboro, Pa. Opposite Hatboro Theatre. Specializing in Home Cooking and Sea Food Platters...Phone Hatboro 9728.

Hatboro and Horsham Happenings 

Tech. Sgt. and Mrs. Mark Willier and infant daughter, Dottie Ann, spent the weekend at the home of his mother, Mrs. Maude Willier of Harding avenue, Hatboro. This was the first time Tech. Sgt. Willier had been home since he enlisted in the Army thirty-two months ago.

Nearly a hundred persons attended the Christmas program of the First-day school of Horsham Friends' Meeting on Sunday morning.

Mr. and Mrs. Joe Mignon of East Moreland avenue, Hatboro, are receiving congratulations on the birth of a daughter on Sunday.

Tommy Berridge, of Horsham, is ill with the mumps. George Gotshalk has just recovered from the mumps.

Hatboro Rotary Club members and several guests enjoyed a Christmas dinner and party at Forest Inn, near Ambler, Wednesday evening. Dinner was followed by an exchange of gifts, limited to "two bits," and accompanied by appropriate remarks on the part of the donors.

The Gruenbaum Begonia Club, composed of ladies from Horsham, Hatboro and a few other places, met on Tuesday at the home of Mrs. W. Ernest Jones on Dresher road, Horsham.

Mrs. Charles O. Dager and daughter, Miss E. Marie Dager, of Byberry avenue, Hatboro, spent Christmas weekend at The Claridge, Atlantic City, N.J.

Miss Iona Evans, who has taught the eighth grade at the Lower Horsham school since the beginning of the term in September, resigned last week.

Christmas gardens were made and delivered to shut-in friends by Senior Girl Scout Troop 168, of Hatboro, at Tuesday's Christmas meeting, when they had refreshments and exchanged gifts to mark the final meeting for the year 1944.

Mr. and Mrs. Walter R. Comly, of Horsham, went on Saturday to Eureka, N.Y. to spend Christmas with her mother and other relatives.

Pupils of Hatboro High School are assisting in the post office during the Christmas season. Both incoming and outgoing mails, which are heavy, have been dispatched with promptness, many of the workers staying until midnight some nights to do this.

"Hristo Se Rodi," a play given at the Dorothea Hughes Simmons School, Prospectville, one evening last week, was very well received by the many parents and friends.