This Was Hatboro-Horsham, 1949

From the Public Spirit, Week of Feb. 17-23, 1949

Horsham taxpayers protest assessments - 

Over 300 well-riled citizens and property owners of Horsham township were in attendance at a public meeting held last week in the basement of the Horsham School in protest over the new triennial assessment figures recently announced.

The meeting was the second held by the Horsham folks and was called for the purpose of forming a permanent organization to not only attempt to rectify alleged injustices in assessments but to represent them in other civic affairs.

Irate citizens testified that some of their assessments for 1949 had been jumped as much as 500 percent over last year's figures, and that more and greater inequities exist now among their properties than there were before the revision was made.

Alfred P. Hulme, temporary chairman, introduced Edwin Winner, of Hatboro, a member of the State Tax Equalization Board. Mr. Winner stated that great inequities had been uncovered throughout the state in assessments and cited figures showing they ranged all the way from 5 percent of true value to nearly 200 percent. He said also that the study had revealed that Horsham township and Lansdale borough had been the lowest two in Montgomery county.

Attorney Moe Hankin said that so far as he could determine, township assessor Arthur Jarrett and the County Board of Assessments had complied with all legal requirements, and that it would be necessary for individual property owners to appear before the County Board to present their appeals.

Food company to build factory - 

V. LaRosa & Sons, Inc., manufacturers of LaRosa Grade A Macaroni, Spaghetti and Egg Noodles, has purchased an 18-acre tract in Hatboro to erect its third manufacturing plant.

The tract of land is part of the historic Raab farm and runs approximately 1,200 feet along Jacksonville road and more than 700 feet along County Line road. The brokers in the transaction were Warren M. Cornell, of Hatboro, and George Cordier, of Mt. Vernon, N.Y.

Stefano LaRosa, President of the company, stated that construction would begin without delay. "It will be a modern, streamlined 2 1/2-story factory construction with approximately 150,000 square feet of floor area," he said.

Peter LaRosa, Treasurer of the company and general sales manager, stated that a plant in Eastern Pennsylvania became necessary because of the unprecedented demand for LaRosa products. The company's other plants are in Danielson, Connecticut and Brooklyn, N.Y.

Establishment of this new plant in Hatboro marks another big step in the industrial development of the community in which Mr. Cornell has played a very important part. He was instrumental a quarter century ago in bringing the Roberts & Mander Stove Company to Hatboro.

Firemen put out jewelry store fire - 

Fast work by Hatboro firemen Thursday evening saved the new A.C. Frattone jewelry store on S. York road from destruction.

The fire started about 7:30 when jars of cleaning fluid suddenly burst into flame in the repair department in the rear of the store. Mr. Frattone and his assistant, Carl Klimosh, were in the shop at the time and immediately sent in an alarm.

When the fluid blazed up, it ignited the clothing of Klimosh, who was working nearby. He ran outside and rubbed it with snow to put it out, suffering minor burns.

Efficient handling of chemicals by the firemen quickly put out the blaze, which had filled the place with smoke and choking fumes. Stock in the shop was damaged by moisture to the extent of about $1,000, Mr. Frattone estimated.

Advertisement - 

HORSHAM--2 Apt. dwelling, frame, asbestos roof. 1st floor--living room, bedroom, kitchen, bath. 2nd floor--living room, 2 bedrooms, kitchen and bath. Hot water, coal heat. On main road. Bus passes door. $10,000...EDWIN WINNER, Realtor...Real Estate and Insurance, Willow Grove, Pa....Phone Willow Grove 0900, Hatboro 0900.

Girl Scouts start cookie sale -

Esther Habgood, a member of Brownie Troop 625, opened the annual Girl Scout Cookie Sale for Hatboro by presenting the first box to Police Chief Foster.

The leaders have made an attempt this year to divide the borough into districts, with an adult in charge of each to direct the Brownies and Girl Scouts in their door-to-door canvass. It is hoped that the girls will sell within the areas assigned them.

The new plan was undertaken with the thought that every housewife would be given the opportunity to support the sale, and also that overlapping would be reduced to a minimum.

Everyone connected with Girl Scouting in Hatboro earnestly hopes that the girls selling cookies will practice their law, "A Girl Scout is courteous," and that they will be received courteously and enthusiastically every time they ring a doorbell.

Horsham Farmers Club meets - 

The Horsham Farmers Club met Saturday night in Hatboro at the home of Mr. and Mrs. Harry M. Worth.

Frank B. Carrell told the members that commercial weed killers have their advantages. Use of the commercial weed killer, he said, may be good in wet season, when it is impossible to get on the ground, or in case of a heavy infestation of blind weed or thistle, but it is no good in grassy corn because corn belongs to the grass family.

The consensus of opinion during the discussion was that the commercial weed killer is still too much in its experimental stage, and what it does to the bacterial growth in the ground remains undetermined.

Reporting for the crop committee, William Penrose said winter grains are in good condition and that prices are making a comeback. Joseph W. Hallowell commented upon the decline in high farm prices. Mrs. John J. Stover, Jr. gave hints on domestic economy.

Village Players to present play -

The Village Players of Hatboro will present "Ladies In Retirement," a drama in three acts, Friday and Saturday at 8:30 p.m. in the Hatboro High School auditorium. Tickets are 75 cents and $1.00.

The play was written by Edward Perry and Reginald Denham. They also wrote "Suspect," which the Players presented to packed houses two seasons ago. The dramatic qualities that held the audience spellbound in "Suspect" are also present in "Ladies In Retirement."

The excellence of the play, the exceptionally fine cast and the skillful handling by director Edward Ott should combine to make "Ladies In Retirement" an entertainment event of the season.

Advertisement -

Mowers--Saws--Tools--Knives--Scissors SHARPENED by Charles R. Lewis, 317 Crooked Billet Road, Hatboro, Pa.

Hatboro and Horsham Happenings -

Ray Loller, of Horsham, drove a horse and sleigh into Hatboro on Friday morning.

Mrs. George Greeley and son, Guy William, have returned to their home in Hatboro from the hospital in Doylestown.

The Horsham Fire Police, sponsors of Boy Scout troop No. 1, held on Thursday night the third annual Father and Son banquet in the Horsham fire hall. One hundred and four Scouts, dads and friends enjoyed a meal prepared and served by Fire Police wives and friends. Harry Back, chairman of training for Valley Forge Council, the master of ceremonies, was repeatedly praised for his abilities as speaker, jokester and magician.

A new floor has been lain in the Lillian H. Krewson Sunday School classroom in the Methodist church in Hatboro. Other renovations are to follow.

Mrs. Clarence Butterworth, of Hatboro, has returned to her home from Abington Hospital, where she underwent treatment.

The World Day of Prayer will be observed by Horsham residents on Friday evening, March 4, at the Wesleyan Methodist Church, corner of Easton and Mill roads.

Mr. and Mrs. Walter C. Roberts, of Loller road in Hatboro, were given a surprise party for their thirty-sixth wedding anniversary on Saturday evening.

R.T. Burns has sold ground on Easton road in Horsham for a golf range.

The twelfth grade classes at Hatboro High School are now holding mock cabinet meetings in class to teach the students how the executive department of the Federal Government is run. The President and his cabinet members are represented by 10 of the students. The rest of the class act as their under secretaries and assistants.

A Washington's Birthday dance will be given at the Lower Horsham School on Friday by the eighth grade pupils of the two schools of Horsham township.

The many residents of Hatboro staying in Florida report delightful weather.

 [Editor's note- The factory site actually was in Warminster. Today, Conte Luna Foods occupies the plant.]