This Was Doylestown, 1949

Committee favors Doylestown site for new high school -

The site committee of the Central Bucks Joint School Board voted Friday night in favor of building a new high school for area students on a site at West Court and Lafayette streets in Doylestown.

Committee Chairman George D. Richardson, of Chalfont, emphasized the fact that a high school for Central Bucks shouldn't be located in some area where a road may have to be constructed or some spot difficult to reach by automobile.

"The Doylestown site, located between two roads--West Court street and West State street--has everything to offer," he said. He also enumerated the advantages of a water and sewer system, police protection, and many other advantages.

Support for the Doylestown location was also expressed by representatives from Doylestown borough, Doylestown township, Buckingham township, New Britain borough and Warrington township.

Robert J. Schleicher, representing Plumstead township, explained that his district hasn't officially decided whether to join the Central Bucks Joint High School set-up, but that so far as he is concerned he has no objection to the Doylestown site.

Frank H. Trembly, Jr., of Doylestown township, pointed out that the Doylestown site will permit a school building with auditorium facilities for 1,200 persons.

"It will be a real community attraction. Nowhere in the Central Bucks area is there a meeting place where 1,000 or 1,200 persons can be seated and enjoy auditorium facilities," he said. "We are taking into consideration that this school building and auditorium must be a civic attraction and reflect the culture, taste and historical background of the community."

The committee's decision will have to be voted on by the entire Central Bucks Joint School Board.

Editor's note - The board, representing the seven municipalities already mentioned plus New Britain and Warwick townships, approved the site in February 1949, and school construction began in July 1950. Central Bucks Joint High School, serving grades seven through 12, was completed in September 1952 at a cost of $2.75 million. It is now .

Factory owner praises Doylestown's appeal -

Charles Greenholt, head of a prosperous Lansdale pretzel and food manufacturing plant, was the guest speaker Tuesday night at this week's meeting of the Kiwanis Club of Doylestown.

Kiwanian Greenholt, who recently moved to Doylestown from Lansdale, was introduced by Vice President Paul H. Gottshall.

"There is something about Doylestown that attracts folks to this community," Kiwanian Greenholt declared. "You have a culture, public spirit and home surroundings here that are hard to match anywhere in the country.

"Your homes are attractive, your stores very modern and your people progressive in every detail. I like Doylestown very much, and my wife shares that opinion with me. And I am convinced that Kiwanis has had a part in making Doylestown an interesting place in which to live," he said.

"Kiwanis is not a club for the advancement of any particular individual, although some members naturally have become highly respected in their communities because of unselfish service rendered in club work," Kiwanian Greenholt continued.

"Doylestown is located in a center that should make it easy to have interesting programs each week," he said. "It is not always necessary to get someone from out of town to talk at the weekly meeting. Doylestown has many interesting folks."

Borough council approves new water line -

At its monthly meeting Monday night, Doylestown Borough Council authorized the laying of a new 10-inch water main in one section of town.

Councilman J. Donald Bean reported that he and several other members of council had met with officials of the Prudential Worsted Company recently, and that the company had offered to pay $6,000 cash toward the installation of a new 10-inch water main from the corner of Church and Court streets to the Prudential mill [on North Main Street, where Belvedere at Doyle Square is today].

The new line will be 1,540 feet in length and it was estimated that the total cost will be approximately $13,000. Engineer Boardman advised Council to advertise for bids for the new 10-inch pipe, and stated that he had recently priced 10-inch pipe at $3.12 per foot.

Engineer Boardman and Council members agreed that the new 10-inch line will give all residents of the area through which it will run far better fire protection. The Prudential mill will use the new line for its sprinkler system, and will be charged according to rates fixed by Council.

Council passed a motion made by Councilman James Rufe, and seconded by Councilman Frank D. Good, authorizing the water committee to enter into a contract with the Prudential mill to accept their offer of $6,000 toward the cost of laying the new line, on condition that the entire transaction can be handled without legal hindrances. Bids for the pipe will be received at the next meeting.

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Doylestown Fair to be dissolved -

At the annual meeting of stockholders of the Doylestown Agricultural and Livestock Development Association on Tuesday night, a committee was appointed to make a study of the Doylestown Fair Grounds and draw up a plan for dissolution of the corporation.

Last April, the grandstand, home economics building and all other smaller buildings located on the west end of the grounds were sold at public auction, and have been removed.

Present plans call for the clearance of all parts of the fairgrounds [bounded by East Court Street, East Street, Maple Avenue and Swamp Road]. The only buildings remaining are the horse stables, the pens formerly used for rabbit and poultry shows, and the farm products exhibition building--all located on Swamp road.

Although there are no definite plans for its future use, the half-mile track will be kept in shape for the time being.

The Doylestown Fair was first held in October 1923 and returned annually. Every year, thousands of people flocked to the fair for harness and steeplechase races, agricultural exhibits and midway attractions. The fair was called off in 1942 due to World War II and did not resume after the war.

At Tuesday's meeting, three of the four original fair officers were re-elected for the twenty-fifth time. They are: Dr. H.W. Turner, of New Hope, president; Robert H. Engart, of Willow Grove, treasurer; J. Allen Gardy, of Doylestown, secretary. Harry W. Kelley, of Chalfont, was re-elected vice president for the sixth consecutive year.

Editor's note - The fairgrounds was sold in the 1950s and turned into a housing development called Fairview.

Doylestown township school to get part-time nurse -

Nurse service on a part-time basis in the Doylestown Township Consolidated School will be sponsored for the remainder of the term by the Doylestown Township Parent-Teacher Association.

During its monthly meeting Tuesday night in the school, the association decided to adopt as its project for the remainder of the term a health program to be worked out in two phases. The one will be the nurse service, and the other will be a Spring roundup for children entering the first grade next Fall.

The association, under the leadership of Mrs. William A. Christman, president, also decided to provide blackout curtains for more of the rooms so that each may have its own motion picture programs.

Wilma Kummer, an eighth-grade pupil, who was awarded first place in the talent show in Doylestown on Saturday evening, played several selections on the accordion. These included "Jolly Cabbalera," "Twelfth Street Rag" and "Dark Eyes," the latter two of her own arrangement.

Room Four received the award for the highest percentage of parents present, and the mothers of Room Four served refreshments.

The next meeting will be held on Wednesday evening, Feb. 16, when the subject of a round table discussion will be "The Needs of the School."

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Doylestown Town Notes -

Democratic County Chairman John T. Welsh and Mrs. Welsh, Postmaster Frances Fonash, William Cathers, Miss Geraldine Hamilton and Miss Beverly Falardeau will attend the inauguration of Harry Truman as president on Thursday in Washington, D.C.

Frank T. Reynolds is in New York for several days, attending the National Furniture Exposition.

William Vanartsdalen, an employee of Clymer's Department Store, is on the sick list.

A son was born to Mr. and Mrs. Robert Craig, of South Main street, at the Doylestown Emergency Hospital on Tuesday.

The Samaritan Class of met Monday evening with about forty-five present. Only routine business was presented. There was no program.

Mrs. Harry Smith, who underwent an operation in the Abington hospital, has returned to her home on Mary street, where she is improving.

The Bucks County Magistrates and Justices of the Peace Association is holding a ladies' night and informal program at a dinner Thursday night at Cross Keys Inn.

Miss Dorothy Moyer entertained her card club Monday evening at her home on Mechanics street.

Raymond J. Barney's sixth-grade students and those of Mrs. John Jacobs, of the Doylestown Public School, will be taken on a bus trip Thursday to visit places of historic interest. Leaving at 8:30, they will visit Independence Hall, Congress Hall, Carpenter's Hall, and the Betsy Ross House in the morning. After lunch, they will then spend the afternoon at the Franklin Institute and the Planetarium.

William S. Smith has sold one acre on Route 313, the Doylestown-Dublin pike, to the Key Theater Corporation, and one acre on Route 313 to Bucks County Motors, Inc.

Rev. and Mrs. Alexander B. Davidson, of Elverson, were Monday dinner and overnight guests of Mr. and Mrs. Earl Overholt.

Peter Moen, of Highland Farm, Doylestown township, was discharged Tuesday from the Doylestown Emergency Hospital, where he had undergone an operation.

From the Doylestown Daily Intelligencer, Week of Jan. 16-22, 1949