This Was Hatboro-Horsham, 1955

From the Public Spirit, Week of Feb. 24-March 2, 1955

Hatboro to compete in contest -

Hatboro is one of 154 communities in Pennsylvania which have decided to compete in the community development contest sponsored by the Pennsylvania State Chamber of Commerce. Other local towns competing are Souderton and Langhorne.

Winners will be named in three population classes, with a $1,500 first prize and three other awards in each class. Towns will be selected on the basis of progress during 1955 on specific community projects listed in their official entry blanks.

Associated with the State Chamber as co-sponsors are the Bell Telephone Company of Pennsylvania, Pennsylvania Farm Bureau, Pennsylvania Gas Association, Pennsylvania Electric Association, and Pennsylvania Motor Truck Association.

The contest has been endorsed by Governor Leader and U.S. Senators Martin and Duff.

Horsham holds Civil Defense practice -

[Editor's note - Civil Defense units were common during the Cold War as towns prepared for evacuation and shelter in the event of a Soviet nuclear attack.]

A very realistic practice run of the Emergency Welfare Unit of the Horsham Township Civil Defense was held Monday evening with about 40 members of the Springfield Township Civil Defense team acting as homeless refugees.

The latter were brought to the Horsham Mass Care Center at the College Settlement Camp in Horsham, where they were housed, clothed, fed and given emergency first aid treatment.

Reviewing the evacuation procedures were George Schwab, Director of the Springfield Civil Defense, and Joseph C. Hess, Jr., Horsham Civil Defense head. They stated they were well pleased with the efficiency with which the trial run was carried out.

Manager of the Horsham Mass Care Center is Mrs. Edward Britland, and her assistant managers are Mrs. John Nesbitt, Mrs. Earl Blair, Mrs. Rita Scott, and Mrs. John Moorhouse. Mrs. William Miller is Chief of the Horsham Welfare Unit.

Hatboro variety store sold -

Hatboro's Ben Franklin variety store, 24 S. York road, owned and operated for a number of years by B.H. Brockley, has been sold to Robert Berlin, a Philadelphian, who took over the business on Saturday.

Mr. Berlin has had fifteen years experience in this type of business, having operated and recently sold a store of his own in the city. The Ben Franklin stores comprise the largest retail chain in the country. They are locally owned and operated.

Mr. Berlin stated that he will improve the store's facilities and add new lines of merchandise to those already handled in an effort to make it the number one variety store in the area.

The new owner is a World War II veteran and spent three years overseas with General Eisenhower's unit. He intends in the near future to move to Hatboro with his wife, Frances, and two young sons.

Advertisement -

WEE BONNIE BABY SHOP, 50 E. Moreland Avenue, Hatboro...KIDDIES WEARING APPAREL--Infants to 6 years...Shower Gifts--Free Gift Wrapping...Open Thur., Fri. 'til 9 P.M....OSborne 5-0393.

Amusement tax challenged -

Horsham Township may soon have a court suit on its hands as the result of an amusement tax ordinance passed last month.

Solicitor Elmer Menges informed the Horsham Board of Supervisors at its regular meeting this week that Jules Pearlstein, attorney for the 309 Drive-In, located partially in Horsham and partially in Montgomery Township, has requested a copy of the ordinance so that court action may be instituted. The amusement tax was enacted primarily because the drive-in movie had not been paying admission taxes to Horsham Township.

It was brought out that all collections are made in Montgomery Township, as is the projection machine. Persons attending the movie must, however, enter through Horsham Township and watch the movies in Horsham.

Technically, the drive-in movie is violating Horsham law in that it is showing moving pictures on Sunday, when the township prohibits such entertainment.

Teacher discusses choral speaking -

Rosetta F. Barrett, fourth grade teacher at the Martha Washington School in Philadelphia, was guest of honor at a luncheon attended by Hatboro kindergarten teachers on Saturday.

Miss Barrett is a specialist in choral speaking and trains a "Verse Speaking Choir" from children in her school. These youngsters are continually in demand to demonstrate the possibilities of choral speaking as a means of teaching.

"Choral speaking is helpful in both speech work and reading readiness. It can lead to other worthwhile activities, such as singing, expression through art, and initiative on the part of the child," Miss Barrett said.

Miss Barrett gave a demonstration to the Hatboro kindergarten teachers, Mildred Bond, Beatrice Allen, Alice Nugent, and Flora Cairns. She also listed a number of poems that are adaptable for the kindergarten age child. Miss Barrett has traveled extensively and has spent three summers in Europe, where she has pursued her studies.

Hatboro businessman dies -

Harvey Stein, prominent Hatboro businessman, died at 2 a.m. Monday in the Graduate Hospital, Philadelphia. He was 41 years old and had been in the hospital for about a week.

A resident of Hatboro for over 25 years and a graduate of Hatboro High School, Mr. Stein, until recently, had been in business with his father at Stein's Clothing Store, York road, Hatboro. He was a member of the Hatboro Kiwanis and the Hatboro Chamber of Commerce. He was a member of the Old York Road Temple, serving as Secretary-Treasurer.

Mr. Stein, who lived on Williams lane, is survived by his wife, Mildred; two children, David Bruce and Marim Lisa; his parents, Lewis and Sadie Stein; and a brother, Leonard.

Advertisement -

HORSHAM- 6-year-old Bungalow, 2 nice bedrooms, Large kitchen with knotty pine cabinets, basement...Close to transportation and shopping...$9,500...MILLER & CORNELL, Inc., Realtors, Insurance Brokers...112 S. York Rd., Hatboro, Phone: OSborne 5-1627.

Hatboro and Horsham Happenings -

Five years ago, the women on Crescent road in Hatboro formed a Canasta Club for the purpose of creating a closer relationship among the neighbors. On Saturday night, the Club gave a Progressive Dinner party, which was a huge success.

The Boy Scouts of Troop 81 of Hatboro feel extremely fortunate in having secured Commander Rex Rader as their Scoutmaster. Commander Rader is Deputy Director of the Aircraft Armament Laboratory at the Naval Air Development Center in Johnsville.

Mr. and Mrs. Emil Kraiser, of Meeting House road in Horsham, celebrated their 29th wedding anniversary on February 20. Many happy returns to a charming couple.

Alan Shank, of South York road in Hatboro, a freshman at Franklin and Marshall College, is on the dean's list of distinguished students, according to a recent announcement by Dean A. G. Breidenstine.

Mrs. Joseph Lyttle was discharged from Abington Memorial Hospital on Saturday and is now convalescing at her home on Williams Lane in Hatboro.

Several members of Horsham Boy Scout Troop No. 1 accompanied Scoutmaster Tinner and Assistant Scoutmaster Gerald Mattocks on Saturday, when they took part in the parade and ceremonies at Valley Forge for the annual Pilgrimage.

Sgt. William Thomas Eardley, U.S. 8th Army, stationed in Japan, called his father, William Eardley, of North Penn Street in Hatboro, on Sunday morning from Tokyo, Japan.

Mr. and Mrs. Joseph Kirk were host to the Horsham Farmers Club at their home in Hatboro last Saturday. It was one of the most interesting and informative meetings, with a report on proposed calendar revisions, highlights of a European trip, and first-hand observations about Japan.

The Gardners of the Crooked Billet held their February meeting at the home of Mr. and Mrs. James R. Marvel, of Crescent road in Hatboro. After the business meeting, Mrs. William H. Regelman spoke on spices and plants of the tropics, which was both educational and interesting.

Mrs. James Pryce, of Norristown Road in Horsham, is giving a Tupper Ware Home Party for the benefit of the Horsham Boy Scout Mothers on March 3.

Each Friday, during the 6th period, approximately 15 boys gather in the cottage of the Home Economics Department at Hatboro-Horsham High School for the purpose of gaining knowledge in the culinary arts. At Christmastime, they turned out a batch of Christmas cookies that would make Betty Crocker sit up and take notice. When asked what he had gained from the club, one of the senior members replied, "Weight."